FUEL CARTRIDGE

• US 20100012568A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited, Mitsubishi Pencil Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited, Mitsubishi Pencil Company Limited
• Inventors: Kabasawa, Yasunari, Kamitani, Toshimi, Fujisawa, Kiyoshi, Matsuda, Yugo
• Granted Patent: US 7,951,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7313 Control of outflow from tank

Abstract

Provided is a fuel cartridge in which a liquid fuel is not lost in storage, in which a follower is prevented from being deformed and separating even when heavy vibration is exerted onto the fuel cartridge to make it possible to stably supply the liquid fuel directly to a fuel cell main body, in which in particular, even when a volume of a liquid fuel is big and a cartridge diameter is large, the liquid fuel can stably be supplied directly to a fuel cell main body and which is suited to a small-sized fuel cell. It is a fuel cartridge detachably connected with a fuel cell main body and assumes the following constitution; that is, the fuel cartridge is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel 10 for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part 11 and a follower 20 which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed at a rear end part of the liquid fuel; and the follower 20 is provided with a follower auxiliary member 21 and a cap member 22 both of which have no fluidity and are insoluble in the liquid fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel cartridge detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, wherein the fuel cartridge is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed at a rear end part of the liquid fuel;

and the follower is provided with a follower auxiliary member which has no fluidity and is insoluble in the liquid fuel and a cap member which has no fluidity and is insoluble in the liquid fuel.

2. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the follower auxiliary member and the cap member are connected via a connecting member.

3. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein a distance between the follower auxiliary member and the cap member accounts for 50 to 200% of a diameter or a width of an inner face of the fuel-storing vessel.

4. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the follower comprises at least one selected from a liquid which is insoluble or slightly soluble in the liquid fuel and a gelatinous matter of the liquid.

5. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 4, wherein the insoluble or slightly soluble liquid comprises a non-volatile or slightly volatile organic solvent, and the gelatinous matter of the insoluble or slightly soluble liquid comprises a gelatinous matter containing the non-volatile or slightly volatile organic solvent and a thickener.

6. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 5, wherein the non-volatile or slightly volatile organic solvent is at least one selected from the group consisting of polybutene, mineral oils, silicone oils and liquid paraffins.

7. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 5, wherein the thickener is at least one selected from the group consisting of styrene base thermoplastic elastomers, vinyl chloride base thermoplastic elastomers, olefin base thermoplastic elastomers, polyamide base thermoplastic elastomers, polyester base thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethane base thermoplastic elastomers, calcium salts of phosphoric acid esters, fine particle silica and acetalkoxyaluminum dialkylates.

8. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the follower auxiliary member has a cross-sectional area of 50% or more based on a cross-sectional area of the fuel-storing vessel in a diameter direction.

9. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the cap member has a cross-sectional area of 50% or more based on a cross-sectional area of the fuel-storing vessel in a diameter direction.

10. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the follower auxiliary member has a cross-sectional figure which is similar to a cross-sectional figure of the fuel-storing vessel in a diameter direction.

11. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the cap member has a cross-sectional figure which is similar to a cross-sectional figure of the fuel-storing vessel in a diameter direction.

12. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the follower auxiliary member and/or the cap member comprise any of a solid matter, a hollow structure and a porous body.

13. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 2, wherein the follower auxiliary member, the cap member and the connecting member comprise a material which is insoluble in the follower and the liquid fuel or a slightly volatile material.

14. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the cap member is provided with a through hole for installing the follower therethrough.

15. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 14, wherein the cap member is provided with an aperture for air release which is used for installing the follower therethrough.

16. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein the liquid fuel is at least one selected from the group consisting of a methanol solution, an ethanol solution, dimethyl ether (DME), formic acid, hydrazine, an ammonia solution, ethylene glycol, a sodium boron hydride aqueous solution and a sucrose aqueous solution.

17. The fuel cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein a surface free energy of at least a wall face of the fuel-storing vessel which is brought into contact with the liquid fuel is controlled to a lower value than a surface free energy of the liquid fuel.