Device for Refilling a Fuel Cartridge for a Fuel Cell

• US 20100028748A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Gray, David, Curello, Andrew J., Fairbanks, Floyd, Curello, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/410
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A refillable fuel supply assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed herein. The assembly includes a refillable fuel supply adapted to supply fuel to a fuel cell, a refilling fuel cartridge containing fuel to be transferred to the refillable fuel supply, and a lock-and-release device connecting the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply to transport fuel from the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply. The lock-and-release device also retains the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply until the refilling fuel cartridge is substantially free of fuel.

Claims

1. A refillable fuel supply assembly for a fuel cell comprising:

a refillable fuel supply adapted to supply fuel to a fuel cell,

a refilling fuel cartridge containing fuel to be transferred to the refillable fuel supply, and

a lock-and-release device connecting the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply to transport fuel from the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply and retaining the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply until the refilling fuel cartridge is substantially free of fuel.

2. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 1, wherein the refillable fuel supply comprises a fuel bladder containing fuel transferred from the refilling fuel cartridge and to be transferred to the fuel cell.

3. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 2, wherein the lock-and-release device comprises

a movable carriage connected to the fuel bladder,

a releasing clamp connecting a front portion of the refilling fuel cartridge to the refillable fuel supply.

4. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 3, wherein the lock-and-release device further comprises a release pin operatively connected to the releasing clamp.

5. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 4, wherein when the refilling fuel cartridge contains a substantial amount of residual fuel, the movable carriage is disposed in a first location that blocks the release pin from acting on the releasing clamp to allow the refilling fuel cartridge to be disconnected from the refillable fuel supply.

6. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 5, wherein when the refilling fuel cartridge is substantially free of fuel, the movable carriage is movable to a second position that allows the release pin to act on the releasing clamp to allow the refilling fuel cartridge to be disconnected from the refillable fuel supply.

7. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 3, wherein said releasing clamp is pivotally connected to a housing of the refillable fuel supply.

8. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 1, wherein the refilling fuel cartridge is pressurized.

9. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 8, wherein the refilling fuel cartridge is pressurized by a spring, compressed gas or liquefied hydrocarbon.

10. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 9, wherein the refilling fuel cartridge further comprises a variable volume device to absorb at least a portion of the pressure.

11. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 5, wherein when fuel is transported from the fuel bladder, the fuel bladder'"'"'s volume is reduced and the movable carriage is moved away from the first position.

12. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 2, wherein the fuel bladder is elastic.

13. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 6, wherein the movable carriage is movable from the second position to the first position to establish a flow path between the refillable fuel supply and an unopened refilling fuel cartridge.

14. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 1, wherein a fuel flow path is established between the refilling fuel cartridge and the refillable fuel supply and said fuel flow path comprises a valve that opens when the pressure in the refilling fuel cartridge is greater than the pressure of the refillable fuel supply.

15. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 14, wherein the valve opens when the pressure in the refilling fuel cartridge is greater than the pressure of the refillable fuel supply by a predetermined amount.

16. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 1, wherein the refillable fuel supply comprises a fuel chamber adapted to receive fuel from the refilling fuel cartridge and said chamber is pressurized at a first pressure.

17. The refillable fuel supply assembly of claim 16, wherein the refilling fuel cartridge is pressured at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is higher than the first pressure.