IP Library Granted Patent US 8,317,884
Granted Patent B2
US 8,317,884 · App. 13/019,738 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Hydrogen generating fuel cell cartridges

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,317,884
App. No.
13/019,738
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas-generating apparatus ( 10 ) includes a reaction chamber ( 18 ) containing a solid fuel component ( 24 ) and a liquid fuel component ( 22 ) that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.

Claims (32)

1. A gas-generating apparatus comprising:

a reaction chamber containing a solid fuel precursor;

a reservoir containing a liquid fuel precursor; and

a fluid path for introducing the liquid fuel precursor into the reaction chamber, wherein a portion of the liquid fuel precursor, which portion is less than all of the liquid fuel precursor, is introduced into the reaction chamber to react to produce a gas in response to a pressure within the reaction chamber, and

a means for introducing the liquid fuel precursor through said fluid path at at least one movable point.

2. A gas-generating apparatus comprising:

a reaction chamber containing a solid fuel precursor;

a reservoir containing a liquid fuel precursor; and

a fluid path for introducing the liquid fuel precursor into the reaction chamber, wherein a portion of the liquid fuel precursor is introduced to the solid fuel precursor in the reaction chamber to react to produce a gas, wherein the fluid path comprises at least one movable point of introduction of liquid fuel precursor, and

wherein the reservoir comprises a flexible liner and the at least one movable point of introduction comprises a nozzle attached to the flexible liner and wherein the flexible liner is compressed to introduce the portion of the liquid fuel precursor into the reaction chamber.

3. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a first spring acts on the flexible liner, said first spring is capable of compressing the flexible liner.

4. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the spring is a constant-force spring.

5. The gas generating apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the liquid fuel precursor is introduced to the solid fuel precursor in the reaction chamber in response to a pressure in the reaction chamber.

6. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the pressure in the reaction chamber acts on a pressure-sensitive member, wherein when the pressure in the reaction chamber exceeds a threshold level, said pressure causes the pressure-sensitive member to act on the first spring to pause the compression of the flexible liner.

7. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pressure-sensitive member is supported by a second spring.

8. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the liquid fuel precursor is introduced at a plurality of locations in the solid fuel precursor.

9. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible liner comprises a corrugated liner.

10. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the solid fuel precursor is separated into a plurality of smaller portions.

11. A gas-generating apparatus comprising:

a reaction chamber containing a solid fuel precursor;

a reservoir containing a liquid fuel precursor; and

a fluid path for introducing the liquid fuel precursor into the reaction chamber, wherein a portion of the liquid fuel precursor is introduced to the solid fuel precursor in the reaction chamber to react to produce a gas, wherein the fluid path comprises at least one movable point of introduction of liquid fuel precursor, and

wherein the fluid path is disposed on a slidable piston separating the reaction chamber from the reservoir.

12. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fluid path comprises a fluid transfer tube connected to the slidable piston.

13. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 12 further comprises a sprag connected to the slidable piston to limit the movement of the piston to a direction toward the reservoir.

14. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the liquid fuel precursor is introduced to the solid fuel precursor in the reaction chamber in response to a pressure in the reaction chamber.

15. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the reservoir is pressurized.

16. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the reservoir is pressurized by a pressurized gas.

17. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the pressurized gas is contained within an elastic bladder positioned inside the reservoir.

18. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 14 , wherein when the pressure in the reaction chamber exceeds the pressure in the reservoir, the slidable piston is moved to introduce liquid fuel precursor to the reaction chamber.

19. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 14 , wherein when the pressure in the reaction chamber exceeds a combination of the pressure in the reservoir and a pressure drop along the fluid transfer tube, the slidable piston is moved to introduce liquid fuel precursor to the reaction chamber.

20. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the solid fuel precursor is separated into a plurality of smaller portions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2015
From: SOCIÉTÉ BIC
To: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 036303/0915 →