Fuel cell recharger
First Claim
1. An apparatus for recharging a fuel cell, comprising:
- a housing having a fuel cell cartridge holder;
a water reservoir disposed in the housing and having water disposed therein;
an electrolysis chamber for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen, the electrolysis chamber being in fluid communication with the water reservoir;
wherein the electrolysis chamber includes a hydrogen passage for passing hydrogen from the electrolysis chamber to the fuel cell cartridge holder;
a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the fuel cell cartridge holder, the vacuum pump being configured to selectively vent residual hydrogen from a fuel cell cartridge disposed in the fuel cell cartridge holder; and
a controller coupled to the vacuum pump, the controller configured to activate the vacuum pump to vent residual hydrogen from a fuel cell cartridge disposed in the fuel cell cartridge holder prior to recharging of the fuel cell cartridge with hydrogen from the fuel cell cartridge holder.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for recharging a fuel cell cartridge and methods for recharging a fuel cell cartridge are disclosed. An example recharging apparatus may include a housing having a fuel cell cartridge holder. A water reservoir may be disposed in the housing and may have water disposed therein. The recharging apparatus may also include an electrolysis chamber for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The electrolysis chamber may be in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The electrolysis chamber may include a hydrogen passage for passing hydrogen from the electrolysis chamber to the fuel cell cartridge holder. The recharging apparatus may further include a vacuum pump at least selectively in fluid communication with the fuel cell cartridge holder. In some instances, the vacuum pump may be used to evacuate residual hydrogen and/or other gases or materials from the fuel cell cartridge and/or determine if the fuel cell cartridge is leaky and requires replacement.
143 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for recharging a fuel cell, comprising:
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a housing having a fuel cell cartridge holder; a water reservoir disposed in the housing and having water disposed therein; an electrolysis chamber for converting water into hydrogen and oxygen, the electrolysis chamber being in fluid communication with the water reservoir; wherein the electrolysis chamber includes a hydrogen passage for passing hydrogen from the electrolysis chamber to the fuel cell cartridge holder; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the fuel cell cartridge holder, the vacuum pump being configured to selectively vent residual hydrogen from a fuel cell cartridge disposed in the fuel cell cartridge holder; and a controller coupled to the vacuum pump, the controller configured to activate the vacuum pump to vent residual hydrogen from a fuel cell cartridge disposed in the fuel cell cartridge holder prior to recharging of the fuel cell cartridge with hydrogen from the fuel cell cartridge holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for recharging a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising:
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providing an apparatus for recharging a hydrogen fuel cell cartridge, the apparatus including; a housing having a fuel cell cartridge holder; a water reservoir disposed in the housing and having water disposed therein; an electrolysis chamber; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the fuel cell cartridge holder; disposing a fuel cell cartridge in the fuel cell cartridge holder; venting residual hydrogen from the fuel cell cartridge with the vacuum pump; and after venting residual hydrogen from the fuel cell cartridge, recharging the fuel cell cartridge by passing hydrogen generated in the electrolysis chamber into the fuel cell cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hydrogen fuel cell cartridge recharging apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a water reservoir; an electrolysis chamber in fluid communication with the water reservoir; a hydrogen conduit extending from the electrolysis chamber to a fuel cell cartridge holder; a vacuum pump at least selectively in fluid communication with the fuel cell cartridge holder, the vacuum pump configured to selectively vent residual hydrogen from the fuel cell cartridge prior to recharging the fuel cell cartridge; and a controller coupled to the vacuum pump, the controller configured to activate the vacuum pump and to monitor a pressure in a fuel cell cartridge disposed in the fuel cell cartridge holder to determine if the fuel cell cartridge holder contains a leak.
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Specification