Disposable component on a fuel cartridge and for use with a portable fuel cell system
First Claim
1. A portable fuel cartridge for storing a fuel for use in a portable device having a portable fuel cell system, the portable fuel cartridge comprising:
- an elongated housing having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width;
a volume internal to the housing for storing the fuel;
an elongated mechanical connector coupled to the housing that extends along the elongated length side of the housing, the mechanical connector being configured suitably to facilitate fastening the housing to an outside wall of the portable device along a length of the connector such that the fuel cartridge is positioned external to the portable device along a side of the portable device and is not received within the portable device;
a fuel connector configured to permit transfer of the fuel between the internal volume and the portable fuel cell system; and
an air filter distinct from the elongated mechanical connector, proximate to the mechanical connector and mechanically coupled to the housing, configured to intercept cooling air before the portable device receives the air,wherein the portable fuel cartridge is configured to guide air intended for delivery to the portable device through the air filter and through the connector such that filtered air is delivered to the portable device.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable cartridge that stores a fuel for use with a fuel cell system includes one or more disposable components for use by the fuel cell system. The disposable component may be included on a fuel cartridge, but used by a fuel cell system when the cartridge and a package that includes the system are coupled together. The disposable component may include: an inlet filter that regulates passage of gases and liquids into the fuel system, an outlet filter that cleans fuel cell system exhaust gases, a sensor on the inlet air stream to the fuel cell system; a sensor on the exhaust; a desiccant that sinks moisture from within the fuel cell system package; or a fuel absorbent that soaks fuel between connectors on the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell system.
225 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A portable fuel cartridge for storing a fuel for use in a portable device having a portable fuel cell system, the portable fuel cartridge comprising:
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an elongated housing having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width; a volume internal to the housing for storing the fuel; an elongated mechanical connector coupled to the housing that extends along the elongated length side of the housing, the mechanical connector being configured suitably to facilitate fastening the housing to an outside wall of the portable device along a length of the connector such that the fuel cartridge is positioned external to the portable device along a side of the portable device and is not received within the portable device; a fuel connector configured to permit transfer of the fuel between the internal volume and the portable fuel cell system; and an air filter distinct from the elongated mechanical connector, proximate to the mechanical connector and mechanically coupled to the housing, configured to intercept cooling air before the portable device receives the air, wherein the portable fuel cartridge is configured to guide air intended for delivery to the portable device through the air filter and through the connector such that filtered air is delivered to the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A portable fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising:
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a portable device that includes a fuel cell; and an elongated portable fuel cartridge having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width, said elongated portable fuel cartridge including an elongated housing, a volume internal to the housing for storing a fuel, an elongated mechanical connector coupled to the housing that extends along an elongated side of the housing, the mechanical connector being configured suitably to fasten the housing to an outside wall of the portable device along a length of the connector such that the fuel cartridge is positioned external to the portable device along a side of the portable device; a fuel connector configured to permit transfer of the fuel between the internal volume and the portable fuel cell system, and an air filter, distinct from the elongated mechanical connector, configured to intercept air before the portable device receives the air, wherein the portable fuel cartridge is configured to guide air intended for delivery to the portable device through a plurality of intake vents disposed along the length of the elongated portable fuel cartridge, and thereafter through the air filter and through the connector such that filtered air is delivered to the portable device, and wherein the portable device includes air channels that are configured to guide cooling air over external portions of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A portable fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising:
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a portable device that includes a fuel cell having; at least one heat transfer appendage at least partially arranged external to the fuel cell; and an elongated portable fuel cartridge having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width, said elongated portable cartridge including an elongated housing having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width, a volume internal to the housing for storing a fuel, an elongated mechanical connector coupled to the housing that extends along the elongated length side of the housing, the mechanical connector being configured suitably to fasten the housing to an outside wall of the portable device along a length of the connector such that the fuel cartridge is positioned external to the portable device along a side of the portable device; a fuel connector configured to permit transfer of the fuel between the internal volume and the portable device, and an air filter distinct from the elongated mechanical connector configured to intercept cooling air before the portable device receives the air, wherein the portable fuel cartridge is configured to guide air through the air filter of the cartridge and through the outside wall of the portable device, and wherein the portable device includes air channels configured to guide cooling air over the heat transfer appendage of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A portable fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising:
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a portable device that includes a fuel cell including a fuel cell stack that is configured to produce electrical energy using hydrogen output by a fuel processor, the fuel cell stack includes a set of bi-polar plates and a set of membrane electrode assembly layers, where each bi-polar plate in the stack comprises i) a substrate, and ii) at least one heat transfer appendage in material continuity with the substrate and at least partially arranged external to the fuel cell stack, wherein the heat transfer appendage and substrate are formed from a single sheet of material; and an elongated portable fuel cartridge having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width, said elongated portable fuel cartridge including an elongated housing having a length and a width, wherein the length is substantially larger than the width, a volume internal to the housing for storing a fuel, an elongated mechanical connector coupled to the housing that extends along the elongated length side of the housing, the mechanical connector being configured suitably to fasten the housing to an outside wall of the portable device along a length of the connector such that the fuel cartridge is positioned external to the portable device along a side of the portable device; a fuel connector configured to permit transfer of the fuel between the internal volume and the portable device, and an air filter distinct from the elongated mechanical connector configured to intercept cooling air before the portable device receives the air, wherein the portable fuel cartridge is configured to guide air through a plurality of intake vents disposed along the length of the elongated portable fuel cartridge, and thereafter through the air filter and into the portable device, and wherein the portable device is configured to guide cooling air over the heat transfer appendages of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification