INTERFACE SEAL FOR A FUEL CARTRIDGE

• US 20160181629A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Inventors: Choudhury, Monjur, Payne, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 10,211,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/06 with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/104 characterised by structure
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/12 with metal reinforcement or covering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/186 characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A resilient sealing member (27) has a first face (40) and a second face (41) and an aperture (42) extending between the first face and the second face. At least two, preferably three or more, circumferential ridges (43, 44, 45) surround the aperture on the first face. Channels (46, 47) may be disposed between each adjacent pair of circumferential ridges and a flat seal may be provided on the first face, peripheral to the circumferential ridges. The flat seal may occupy a different plane than the plane occupied by apexes of the circumferential ridges. The resilient sealing member may be incorporated into interface seal assembly comprising a rigid frame (26) onto which it is moulded. The rigid frame may comprise a printed circuit board (25). The interface seal assembly allows for an easily interchangeable seal on a refillable fuel cartridge (1) for a fuel cell apparatus.

Claims

1. An interface seal assembly comprising:

a resilient sealing member having a first face and a second face and an aperture extending between the first face and the second face and at least two circumferential ridges surrounding the aperture on the first face; and

,

a rigid frame into which the resilient sealing member is moulded.

2. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the rigid frame includes a printed circuit board.

3. The interface seal assembly of claim 2 in which the rigid frame includes one or more electrical contact terminals.

4. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the resilient sealing member comprises at least three of said circumferential ridges surrounding the aperture, including an inner circumferential ridge and at least two successively larger outer circumferential ridges, each being circumambient to the inner circumferential ridge.

5. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the resilient sealing member further comprises at least two circumferential ridges surrounding the aperture on the second face.

6. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the resilient sealing member includes a channel disposed between each adjacent pair of circumferential ridges.

7. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the resilient sealing member further includes a flat seal on the first face, peripheral to the circumferential ridges.

8. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the flat seal occupies a different plane than the plane occupied by apexes of the circumferential ridges.

9. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the at least two circumferential ridges occupy different planes.

10. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the aperture is tapered.

11. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the rigid frame includes one or more sprues, the sealing member being engaged with the rigid frame by retention of the resilient material within the one or more sprues.

12. The interface seal assembly of claim 1 in which the first face of the resilient sealing member projects above an upper face of the rigid frame.

13. A fuel cartridge comprising the interface seal assembly of claim 1.

14. The fuel cartridge of claim 13 having a fluid fuel source contained within the cartridge and a fuel flow path extending therefrom to an engagement surface of the cartridge, the fuel flow path extending to and through the aperture in the resilient sealing member, the first face of the resilient sealing member forming a part of the engagement surface of the cartridge.

15. The fuel cartridge of claim 14 in which the engagement surface further includes a rigid engagement plate surrounding the resilient sealing member.

16. The fuel cartridge of claim 15 in which a portion of the engagement surface defined by the resilient sealing member is recessed below a portion of the engagement surface defined by the rigid engagement plate.

17. The fuel cartridge of claim 14 further including a pair of valves disposed within the fuel flow path, the valves being configured such that the fuel flow path is blocked unless both valves are actuated.

18. The fuel cartridge of claim 17 in which the valves are mechanically actuable from the engagement surface of the cartridge.

19. The fuel cartridge of claim 18 in which the valves are poppet valves both configured to be axially displaceable within chambers so as to enable fluid flow from the fluid fuel source in the cartridge to the aperture in the resilient sealing member, through a bridge chamber extending between poppet valve chambers.

20. A fuel cell apparatus comprising the interface seal assembly of claim 1.

21. An interface seal assembly comprising:

a resilient sealing member having a first face and a second face and an aperture extending between the first face and the second face, and at least one circumferential ridge surrounding the aperture on the first face, and a planar sealing surface surrounding the at least one circumferential ridge, the planar sealing surface defining a plane different than a plane defined by the apex of the at least one circumferential ridge; and

,

a rigid frame into which the resilient sealing member is moulded.

22. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the rigid frame includes a printed circuit board.

23. The interface seal assembly of claim 22 in which the rigid frame includes one or more electrical contact terminals.

24. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the first face of the resilient sealing member projects above an upper face of the rigid frame.

25. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the resilient sealing member comprises at least two of said circumferential ridges surrounding the aperture, including an inner circumferential ridge and at least one larger outer circumferential ridge, each outer circumferential ridge being circumambient to the inner circumferential ridge.

26. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the resilient sealing member further comprises at least two circumferential ridges surrounding the aperture on the second face.

27. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the resilient sealing member includes a channel disposed between each adjacent pair of circumferential ridges.

28. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the aperture is tapered.

29. The interface seal assembly of claim 21 in which the rigid frame includes one or more sprues, the sealing member being engaged with the rigid frame by retention of the resilient material within the one or more sprues.

30. A fuel cartridge comprising the interface seal assembly of claim 21.

31. The fuel cartridge of claim 30 having a fluid fuel source contained within the cartridge and a fuel flow path extending therefrom to an engagement surface of the cartridge, the fuel flow path extending to and through the aperture in the resilient sealing member, the first face of the resilient sealing member forming a part of the engagement surface of the cartridge.

32. The fuel cartridge of claim 31 in which the engagement surface further includes a rigid engagement plate surrounding the resilient sealing member.

33. The fuel cartridge of claim 32 in which a portion of the engagement surface defined by the resilient sealing member is recessed below a portion of the engagement surface defined by the rigid engagement plate.

34. The fuel cartridge of claim 31 further including a pair of valves disposed within the fuel flow path, the valves being configured such that the fuel flow path is blocked unless both valves are actuated.

35. The fuel cartridge of claim 34 in which the valves are mechanically actuable from the engagement surface of the cartridge.

36. The fuel cartridge of claim 35 in which the valves are poppet valves both configured to be axially displaceable within chambers so as to enable fluid flow from the fluid fuel source in the cartridge to the aperture in the resilient sealing member, through a bridge chamber extending between poppet valve chambers.

37. A fuel cell apparatus comprising the interface seal assembly of claim 21.

38. A method of reconditioning a fuel cartridge,

having a body and an interface seal assembly comprising a resilient sealing member moulded onto a rigid frame, the resilient sealing assembly having a first face and a second face and an aperture extending between the first face and the second face, the aperture forming part of a fuel flow path from the cartridge to an external interface defined by the first face, and the second face defining a seal to an internal part of the fuel cartridge, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the interface seal assembly by detachment of the rigid frame from the cartridge body;

attaching a new interface seal assembly to the cartridge body, thereby renewing the seals defined by the first face and the second face of the resilient sealing member; and

,

replenishing a fuel source within the fuel cartridge.

39. The method of claim 38 in which the rigid frame includes a circuit board component having electrical contacts thereon, wherein the step of removing the interface seal assembly includes simultaneous removal of electrical contacts coupled thereto and the step of attaching a new interface seal assembly includes simultaneously attaching new electrical contacts.