Fuel-cell connector

A fuel-cell connector for releasable connection to a fuel cartridge comprising an interior filled with fuel to be supplied to a fuel cell, a fuel-supply opening which opens to the outside of the cartridge, a cartridge-side valve capable of opening or closing the aforementioned fuel-supply opening, and a cartridge-side connection element provided with the aforementioned cartridge-side valve, said connector being characterized by further comprising:

• a fuel-receiving opening that opens to the outside and communicates with the fuel-supply opening when the fuel cartridge is connected;
• a connector-side valve that opens and closes the fuel-receiving opening and performs an opening movement together with the cartridge-side valve under the effect of the first-insertion movement of the cartridge-side connection element;
• a connector body unit moveable in the insertion direction of the aforementioned cartridge-side connection element, containing the aforementioned connector-side valve and telescopically connected to the cartridge-side connection element;
• a resilient element for resisting movement of the connector body unit in the insertion direction;
• and
• a stationary mechanism part that surrounds the connector body unit, is provided with engagement means for engagement with the cartridge-side connection element, and is attached to a fuel-cell-using device;
• the connector operating so that when the aforementioned cartridge-side connection element is moved further from the first insertion position to the second insertion position, the aforementioned connector body unit is moved as a single unit with the cartridge-side connection element while the fuel-receiving opening and the fuel-supply opening are maintained in close proximity so that the aforementioned engagement means are engaged with the cartridge-side connection element, whereby the fuel cartridge is connected and fixed in the connected position.