US 7,252,899 B2Granted

Fuel cell

AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

InventorsNobuyasu Tajima, Nobuo Shibuya, Eiichi Sakaue

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Abstract

A generator section of a fuel cell comprises an electromotive unit, a fuel tank, a passage through which fluids, including fuel, water, and air, are circulated, and a valve mechanism in the passage. A control section has a connector connectable to an electronic device and controls operation of the generator section. A locking mechanism has a locking member, movable between a locking position in which the electronic device connected to the connector is locked in a connected position and a release position in which the electronic device is unlocked, and an eject member which moves the locking member to the release position. The control section has a detector which detects movement of the eject member and a valve drive unit which closes the valve mechanism of the generator section when the movement of the eject member is detected by the detector.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A fuel cell system comprising:

an electromotive unit which generates power based on a chemical reaction, an air pump which supplies air to the electromotive unit, a fuel tank which contains fuel, a passage which is connected to the electromotive unit and through which fluids, including the fuel, water, and air, are circulated, a liquid pump which is located in the passage and supplies the fuel to the electromotive unit, and a valve mechanism which is located in the passage and regulates the circulation of the fluids;
a connector which is connectable to an electronic device and applies the power generated by the electromotive unit to the electronic device;
a locking mechanism having a locking member, movable between a locking position in which the locking member locks the electronic device connected to the connector in a connected position and a release position in which the electronic device is unlocked, and an eject member which moves the locking member from the locking position to the release position;
a detector which detects movement of the eject member;
and
a drive unit which closes the valve mechanism and stops the air pump and the liquid pump when the movement of the eject member is detected by the detector.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/945,267Filed 21 Sep 2004
Priority: JP 2003-34233430 Sep 2003
Published: US 2005/0095467 A15 May 2005
Granted: 7 Aug 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H01M 8/04201
Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration: reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
H01M 8/04194
Of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants: concentration measuring cells
H01M 8/04059
Related to heat exchange: evaporative processes for the cooling of a fuel cell
H01M 8/04097
Of gaseous reactants: with recycling of the reactants