Fuel Supply with Improved Connecting Valve
Disclosed herein are connecting valves ( 12, 14 ) with an interchangeability feature ( 18, 20 ) to ensure that the fuel cell fuel matches the fuel cell. Also disclosed are retainer mechanisms ( 28, 30, 32, 36 ) capable of releasably connecting the fuel supply to the fuel cell or to the electronic device equipped with a fuel cell. An improvement to the connecting valves to decrease the amount of residual fuel left in the fuel supply is also provided.
1 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . A method for connecting a fuel supply to a fuel cell or to a device equipped with a fuel cell comprising the steps of
providing a first valve component on the fuel supply;
providing a second valve component on the fuel cell or the device, wherein when the first valve component is connected to the second valve component a flow path is formed through the valve components;
ensuring the compatibility of the fuel supply to the fuel cell with a first interchangeability, wherein the first interchangeability comprises at least two keys and at least two corresponding matching keys located on the valve components, wherein the keys are received in the corresponding matching keys and wherein an angle or a distance between the two keys or between the two corresponding keys identifies the type of fuel contained in the fuel supply; and
ensuring the compatibility of the fuel supply to the fuel cell with a second interchangeability, wherein the second interchangeability comprises a retention mechanism to retain the valve components together, wherein the retention mechanism comprises a first member and a second corresponding member and the locations of said members further identifies the type of fuel contained in the fuel supply.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first member of the retention mechanism comprises a hook disposed on one valve component and the second member of the retention mechanism comprises a catch disposed on the other valve component, wherein the hook and catch releasably retain the two valve components to each other.
20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of
activating a release member to disengage the first member of the retention mechanism from the second corresponding member of the retention member.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the key and hook are disposed on the same valve component.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the key is positioned adjacent to the hook.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the key and hook are spaced apart.
24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the key has a rectangular, circular or triangular profile.