Patent ID: 7115335
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cartridge comprising a housing, a fuel reservoir therein, and a fuel supply connector on the housing, the connector having a flow passage extending to the fuel reservoir, and a valve within the connector in the flow passage and movable between a closed position where the flow passage is blocked to an open position where the flow passage is not blocked; a base with a fuel cartridge receiver and a fluid inlet connector, the fluid inlet connector having a body portion with a flow passage there through, and a valve member positioned within the body portion in the flow passage, the valve member movable from a closed position where the flow passage is blocked to an open position where the flow passage is not blocked, the valve member biased toward the closed position, wherein the fuel cartridge receiver is rotatably attached to the base; a fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, an inlet, and an outlet; the inlet of the fuel cell in fluid communication with the flow passage of the fluid inlet connector of the base; and wherein the fuel cartridge is adapted to engage with the rotatable fuel cartridge receiver on the base and rotate therewith, the fuel supply connector of the fuel cartridge confronting the fluid inlet connector of the base such that rotation of the rotatable fuel cartridge receiver and fuel cartridge causes engagement of the fluid inlet connector and the fuel supply connector and moves the respective valve members of the fuel supply connector and the fluid inlet connector from their respective closed positions to their respective open positions thereby opening fluid flow communication between the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell.