JP2005247404A - Joint device for feeding and receiving liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a freely mountable joint device feeding and receiving the liquid for introducing the liquid from a liquid reserver to a liquid accepter, which is simply structured and compact with fewer parts, contaminates no liquid, and causes no liquid leakage. <P>SOLUTION: The joint device for feeding and receiving liquid whose liquid reserver joint and/or a liquid acceptor joint has an elastic body with a preformed through cut in a liquid feeding direction for providing the same with a valve function. The liquid reserver and/or the liquid acceptor having the elastic body is provided with an insertion part for opening the cut by pressing the elastic body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid transmission / reception joint device that guides liquid from a liquid reservoir to a liquid acceptor that receives the liquid in a liquid supply unit in a fuel cell, an ink jet printer, or the like.

  Currently, in an ink jet printer, a lighter using liquid fuel, medical liquid medicine administration, etc., a liquid supply means in which a liquid reservoir for containing and flowing out a liquid and a liquid acceptor for receiving the liquid from the liquid reservoir are detachable are used. What has been widely spread. The liquid supply means can directly replace the liquid reservoir itself when the supply liquid is insufficient. Therefore, compared with directly supplying the liquid to a reserve tank or the like mounted in the main body, the hands are hardly soiled by the liquid, the safety is high, and the supplied liquid can be easily supplied. In particular, the liquid supply means is a very effective liquid supply means when a liquid that affects the human body or a liquid that deteriorates drastically when exposed to outside air is used.

  Recently, development of fuel cells that generate electricity using liquid as fuel has been promoted. In particular, methanol direct fuel cells (DMFC) using methanol as fuel have been actively developed by many electric appliance manufacturers. Therefore, it is expected as a next-generation new battery for use in notebook computers, portable electronic devices, mobile phones and the like. However, methanol generally has a great effect on the human body, and if inhaled, it affects the central nervous system, causing dizziness and diarrhea. In addition, if inhaled in large quantities or enters the eye, it is highly toxic liquid that has a high possibility of causing optic nerve damage and blindness. Therefore, even in DMFC, when supplying fuel safely and simply to general consumers, it is considered that a means for supplying methanol using a liquid reservoir as a cartridge without using methanol directly is considered optimal. Widely developed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-308771, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-12301, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-317756, etc.).

The liquid supply means needs to have a detachable liquid transmission / reception joint that guides the liquid from the liquid reservoir to the liquid acceptor. As joints conventionally considered, JP-A-10-789, JP-A-8-50042, JP2003-528699, JP2003-266739, JP2001-524896, JP2000-289225, JP7-68780, JP-A-5-254138, JP-A-2003-331879, and the like.
JP-A-10-789 JP-A-8-50042 Special table 2003-528699 JP 2003-266739 Special table 2001-524896 JP 2000-289225 A JP-A-7-68780 JP-A-5-254138 JP 2003-331879 A

However, since any joint device has a complicated structure with a very large number of parts, there is a limit to downsizing and cost reduction. In addition, when the pressure in the liquid reservoir and the acceptor is increased, the valve or the like is opened, so that the liquid is likely to leak. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a joint device that simplifies the joint structure, does not cause liquid leakage even under high internal pressure, and can be smoothly attached and detached. In particular, in a DMFC that is considered to be applied to a portable electronic device, it is considered that a joint member of 10 ³ mm ³ or less is required from the recent size of the portable electronic device. In addition, in one of the above-cited examples, a spring or the like is disposed in the flow path through which the liquid passes when both the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are fitted. The components such as metal ions are eluted and the liquid is contaminated. Also in the DMFC, the elution of metal ions is considered to affect the characteristics of the DMFC, such as deterioration of the catalyst, conductive material, electrolyte membrane, etc., which are materials constituting the DMFC main body, and reduction in electrochemical reaction efficiency.

In order to solve the above problems, the present applicant has previously applied for a patent for a liquid transmission / reception joint device having a simple structure and a smaller number of parts than the above-mentioned inventions (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-6615). The following is a brief description.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-6615

  FIG. 1 is an external view of an example of a liquid transmission / reception joint that guides liquid from the liquid reservoir 8 to the liquid acceptor 7. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the liquid reception side joint portion 19 of the liquid acceptor 7 shown in FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the liquid supply side joint portion 18 of the liquid reservoir 8, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the main part when the elastic packing 13 of the liquid supply side joint portion is viewed from the back side (viewed from the right side direction in FIG. 3). ). FIG. 4 has the same shape as the enlarged view of the main part of the elastic packing 1 of the liquid receiving side joint (viewed from the left side direction in FIG. 2).

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the liquid reservoir 8 and the liquid acceptor 7 in the liquid transmission / reception joint shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are fitted. As shown in FIG. 5, when the liquid feeding side joint portion 18 of the liquid reservoir 8 and the liquid receiving side joint portion 19 of the liquid acceptor 7 are fitted, the joint tube 2 of the liquid receiving side joint portion 19 becomes the main body of the liquid reservoir 8. And the biasing device 3 contracts, and one end of the joint tube 2 is pushed in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 2 to enter the inside of the notch 11 of the elastic packing 1 and pass through before the penetration. Is inserted to the correct position. As a result, the shape of the cut portion of the elastic packing 1 of the liquid receiving side joint portion 19 is deformed, and the cut is opened. FIG. 6 shows a state where the cut 11 of the elastic packing 1 is opened.

  Further, the other end of the joint tube 2 enters the inside of the cut 14 of the elastic packing 13 of the liquid feeding side joint portion 18 and is inserted to an appropriate position before passing through, similarly to the liquid receiving side joint side. Is done. Thereby, the shape of the cut portion of the elastic packing of the liquid supply side joint is deformed, and the cut of the elastic packing of the liquid supply side joint is also opened. The state in which the cut 14 of the elastic packing 13 is open also has the same shape as the liquid receiving side joint (FIG. 6). As described above, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 8 passes through the portion of the elastic packing 13 where the cut 14 is opened, passes through the flow path 17 inside the joint tube 2, and the cut 11 of the elastic packing 1 opens. It flows into the liquid acceptor 7 through the existing portion. Each joint on the liquid feeding side and the liquid receiving side can send and receive liquid.

  The liquid transmission / reception joint of the present invention is an invention in which the joint structure of the invention according to the above-mentioned application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-6615) is further improved in view of the above problems of the conventional products. By simplifying the joint structure, the number of parts is small, it can be manufactured at low cost, and it does not leak even under a wide range of conditions, regardless of the internal pressure level, and does not contaminate the internal liquid. As a result of intensive studies aiming at a simple and reliable joint, it was found that the above problems can be solved as follows.

  In a liquid transmission / reception joint that connects a liquid reservoir that contains liquid and a liquid acceptor that receives liquid from the liquid reservoir, either one of the liquid reservoir and / or the liquid acceptor, or both joints, penetrate from the outside of the liquid reservoir to the inside. The liquid transmission / reception joint device further comprises means for applying a load to the elastic body from the outside of the elastic body when the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are connected. As a means for applying a load to the elastic body, a pressure or an attractive force is applied from the outside of the elastic body. In the elastic body, a portion of the elastic body that is in contact with the liquid (that is, a flow surface) The innermost end of the path is long in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cut and has a cross section One or a plurality of wedge-shaped notches are formed into a check valve shape, and the shape of the cross section where the cut is made is the length A in the longitudinal direction relative to the cut, and the length in the direction perpendicular to the cut. In the elastic body, a member that presses the cut of the elastic body in a state where the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are not connected is provided in the elastic body. In the elastic body, when the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are connected, the elastic body has an annular convex shape centered on the cut on the surface that contacts the other side. The elastic body includes a magnetic body in the elastic body.

In the liquid transmission / reception joint device, an electromagnetic force is applied as means for applying a load to the elastic body. In particular, the size of the elastic body is 10 ³ mm ³ or less.

  The liquid acceptor is a fuel cell that generates electricity using liquid as fuel, the liquid reservoir is a liquid fuel cartridge, and the fuel used in the fuel cell is a liquid containing at least methanol, The joint device for sending and receiving liquids is characterized in that a liquid feeding flow rate of the joint is 100 ml / hr or less.

Since the liquid transmission / reception joint device of the present invention employs the above-described configuration, the following effects can be obtained.
Since the joint device for liquid transmission / reception according to the present invention has a simplified joint structure and a reduced number of parts as compared with the conventional product, it is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the product. In addition, as the size of the joint of the present invention, it is possible to realize an elastic packing having a size of 10 ³ mm ³ or less, and means for applying a load to the elastic packing is not limited by the design of the apparatus using the present invention. Can be designed. In addition, the cut of the elastic body is opened simply by connecting the liquid reservoir to the liquid acceptor, and the liquid inside the liquid reservoir can be easily sent and received into the liquid acceptor, and at the same time, the inside of the liquid reservoir or liquid acceptor container is high It is possible to realize a highly reliable joint that does not easily leak even under pressure.

  The joint can also be used in a liquid fuel cartridge of a fuel cell that generates power using liquid as fuel. The joint device for liquid transmission and reception according to the present invention can control the flow rate of the liquid to be transmitted and received by changing the size of the inner diameter of the elastic packing and the size of the cut. Thereby, since the liquid feeding flow rate can be suppressed to 100 ml / hr or less, an appropriate amount of liquid can be supplied little by little. This is because when the joint is used in a fuel cell, it is possible to suppress an excessive supply of liquid fuel. In particular, when used in a DMFC using methanol as a fuel, a crossover phenomenon (the fuel liquid is contained in the fuel cell). The effect of preventing the phenomenon of flowing into the electrolyte without causing a reaction at the fuel electrode is obtained.

  The joint device for liquid transmission / reception according to the present invention can be used by being attached not only to the fuel cell but also to an ink cartridge and a container for chemical solution administration, and as a joint device for the purpose of transmitting / receiving liquid from container to container. Can be used for various purposes. In particular, it is considered to be an effective means as a joint device although it is small and has a low liquid flow rate.

  In addition, since the elastic packing of the joint device for liquid transmission and reception according to the present invention is not deteriorated due to wear due to the attachment and detachment of the joint tube, as a whole, the durability against repeated attachment and detachment between the liquid supply side and liquid reception side joints is improved. Can be planned. Even after the attachment and detachment of the liquid-feeding and liquid-receiving joints is repeated, the shape of the elastic packing is restored to be in a close contact state, as before the attachment and detachment. Furthermore, a liquid spring can be prevented by disposing an urging device such as a metal spring and applying pressure perpendicular to the cut surface. Therefore, after the liquid acceptor and the liquid reservoir to which the liquid transmission / reception joint device of the present invention is attached are used, it is considered that the liquid can be replenished and reused.

  Further, the liquid transmission / reception joint device according to the present invention can transmit and receive liquid from the liquid reservoir to the liquid acceptor without contacting the urging device or the insertion portion, so that the material of the urging device, in particular, metal ions, etc. is dissolved. The main body to be supplied is not hindered without being mixed into the liquid inside.

  In addition, the liquid transmission / reception joint device according to the present invention is long in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the notch on the surface in contact with the liquid in the portion where the cut of the elastic packing is formed, that is, on the innermost end of the flow path. Since one or a plurality of wedge-shaped cutouts are formed in the cross section, when the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir or liquid acceptor is high, pressure is applied from the internal liquid to the cutout portions of the elastic packing. Thereby, the notch is pressed so as to widen the wedge-shaped angle, and the notch is brought into close contact with the pressing force of the liquid. By the above functioning as a check valve, the liquid inside the liquid reservoir or liquid acceptor can be prevented from leaking outside.

  Furthermore, in the joint device for liquid transmission and reception according to the present invention, one or a plurality of annular convex shapes are formed on surfaces that are in contact with each other in the connected state of the elastic packing, and when the elastic packing is joined, Since the convex shapes of the two do not overlap each other, this improves the sealing performance, prevents liquid leakage from the contact surface between the elastic packings, and is a more reliable liquid joint joint device Can be provided.

  Examples of the joint device for liquid transmission and reception according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 35, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a liquid reservoir and a liquid acceptor at the same time. However, in actual use, both can be used alone, not both simultaneously.

  FIG. 7 shows a liquid reservoir 30 of the joint device for liquid transmission and reception according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 shows a liquid acceptor 32 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a state where the liquid reservoir 30 is connected to the liquid acceptor 32. However, the liquid reservoir 30 is a methanol fuel cartridge used for the DMFC, and contains a 3 wt% methanol aqueous solution. The liquid acceptor 32 has a built-in DMFC main body (product number 6061, manufactured by Eye Free). .

  When the liquid in the liquid reservoir 30 is supplied to the liquid acceptor 32, it is used in the state shown in FIG. Since the liquid is in the liquid reservoir 30 in advance and is sent from the liquid reservoir 30 to the liquid acceptor 32, the liquid supply joint 30 for the liquid reservoir 30 and the liquid receiver 32 for receiving the liquid. A joint portion 56 is provided.

  The shapes of the liquid reservoir 30 and the liquid acceptor 32 are not limited to the examples in these drawings, and can be used in various shapes. Further, in the present embodiment, the liquid-receiving side joint portions 56 of the liquid acceptor 32 are shown at four locations, but the number of liquid-receiving side joint portions 56 can be increased or decreased according to the supply amount required according to the application. The number of liquid reservoirs 30 that can be mounted can also be increased or decreased.

  FIG. 23 is a front view of the liquid acceptor 32 and the liquid reservoir 30 before connection (only the main part is enlarged for easy viewing), and FIG. 22 is a plan view. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a liquid-receiving side joint portion of the liquid acceptor 32 before connection, and FIG. 11 is a left side view of FIG. FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a liquid receiving side joint portion of the liquid reservoir 30, and FIG. 13 is a right side view of FIG. An elastic packing 33 formed in a cylindrical shape having a substantially circular cross section is fitted into a hole 43 opened in the liquid acceptor 32 body, and an urging device 35 is disposed on the outer periphery of the elastic packing 33.

  As the material for the elastic packing 31 and the elastic packing 33, various known elastic materials such as various rubbers and elastomers can be used. Specifically, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene terpolymer, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, Chlorsulfonated polyethylene, silicone rubber, vinylidene fluoride rubber, tetrafluoroethylene / propylene rubber, tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoromethyl vinyl ether rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, polysulfide rubber, urethane rubber, natural rubber These can be used, and one or more of these can be used in combination. The elastic body is desirably selected according to characteristics of the liquid to be fed, sliding characteristics of the elastic body, permanent compression strain characteristics, rebound resilience, resistance to dissolution, and the like. This time, because it is used for DMFC, ethylene-propylene rubber having excellent methanol resistance and permanent compression strain characteristics was used.

  The elastic packing 31 and the elastic packing 33 may have various shapes other than the substantially circular cylindrical shape disclosed above. However, as shown in FIGS. And has a cut through it. The shape of the cut (width, length, etc.) is preferably selected from the physical properties, flow rate, etc. of the liquid to be fed. However, when the flow rate is 100 ml / hr or less, it is considered that the cutting width is 10 mm or less and the shape of the product using the present invention is 5 mm or less. This time, both the elastic packings 31 and 33 were introduced with a 3 mm wide cut.

  Further, the elastic packing 33 is formed in a bellows shape from the middle of the cylindrical shape. This is because the bellows-like portion of the elastic packing 33 elastically deforms and expands and contracts, so that it can be contracted when the liquid reservoir 30 is connected to the liquid acceptor 32, and serves to prevent the center axis from being displaced due to the contraction. . Furthermore, when the liquid reservoir 30 is mounted on the liquid acceptor, the biasing device can be assisted by utilizing the force that elastically restores (extends) the bellows-shaped portion. When the joint device according to the present invention is used for both a liquid reservoir and a liquid acceptor, it is desirable to use an elastic rubber packing having a shape having a bellows structure on one side. However, as long as it has a shape that can be expanded and contracted without shifting the central axis, not only the bellows shape but also a known shape such as a diaphragm shape can be used.

  FIG. 25 is a right side view of FIG. The elastic packing 33 has a substantially elliptical shape, and the notch 40 is formed so as to be parallel to the minor axis direction of the substantially elliptical inner diameter at the end, perpendicular to the major axis direction, and penetrating in the liquid feeding direction. . As long as the cut 40 is a straight line in the minor axis direction of the elastic packing 33, a straight line, a Sin curve shape, a saw blade shape, or the like may be used in the cut direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a groove-shaped recess surrounding the outer periphery is formed on the outer periphery of the substantially elliptical portion of one end (on the contact surface 48 side) of the elastic packing 33. ing. The same applies to the elastic packing 31 of the liquid reservoir 30. A pressing member 36 such as a coil spring, a ring, or a C ring is fitted into the recess. When the inner diameter of the pressing member 36 is selected so that the inner diameter of the portion of the elastic packing 33 formed in a substantially elliptical shape is larger than the minor axis and smaller than the major axis, the pressing member 36 always has the substantially elliptical shape of the elastic packing 33. Since the portion is pressed perpendicularly from the major axis direction to the minor axis direction, the cut 40 is always in close contact. Thereby, when not connected, pressure is always applied toward the center of the elastic packing 33 in the major axis direction, and the notch 40 is closed tightly, so that reliability against liquid leakage can be improved.

  In addition, the cross section of the part formed in the thickness by the side of the contact surface 48 of the elastic body packing 33 is not restricted to the substantially elliptical shape disclosed above, but is a regular circle, as shown in FIGS. The same effect can be obtained even when formed into various shapes such as a substantially rectangular shape, a substantially rhombus shape, a substantially octagonal shape, and a cross shape. In other words, the shape of the elastic body is not limited as long as the relationship between the length in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with respect to the cutting direction is satisfied. The shape of the right side view of the elastic packing 33 in the liquid acceptor (the shape of the contact surface) is the same as that of the elastic packing 31 in the liquid reservoir 30.

  On the outer periphery of the elastic packing 33 of the liquid acceptor 32, an insertion portion 34 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape is disposed. The insertion portion 34 is connected to the liquid acceptor 32 and is integrated. The joint portion of the liquid reservoir 30 is formed with a recess 42 into which the insertion portion 34 of the liquid acceptor 32 is inserted. The recess 42 is inserted when the insertion portion 34 is inserted into the recess 42. The part 34 has such a shape that it is crushed horizontally with respect to the notch 40 (J direction in FIG. 10) and vertically toward the center. As a material forming the insertion portion 34 and the recess, metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, or the like can be used, and preferably metal or plastic is desirable.

  Specifically, examples of the metal include stainless steel, aluminum, iron, copper, silver, platinum, and gold. In plastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin, polystyrene, ABS resin, methacrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate, modified polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, liquid crystal polymer, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, poly Arylate, polyether ether ketone, polyphthalamide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyamideimide, polymethylpentene, fluororesin, polyvinylidene fluoride, TEFE, PFA, phenol resin, urea resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester, diallyl phthalate Examples thereof include resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, and silicone resins. Moreover, since it is calculated | required that the insertion part 34 expands and contracts, the material which has elasticity, such as an elastomer other than said material, is also effective. In Example 1, in consideration of use in DMFC, polypropylene having high methanol resistance was used for both.

  In FIG. 14, the tip 54 of the insertion portion 34 of the liquid acceptor 32 is inserted into the recess 42 of the liquid reservoir 30, and the contact surface 48 of the elastic packing 33 of the liquid acceptor 32 and the contact surface of the elastic packing 31 of the liquid reservoir 30. 49 shows a state of contact. The distal end 54 and the stepped portions 52 and 53 of the insertion portion 34 are tapered so as to be tapered, and the stepped portion 55 in the concave portion 42 of the liquid reservoir 30 is also tapered, so that the liquid reservoir 30. When the contact surfaces (48, 49) of the elastic packing of the liquid acceptor 32 come into contact with each other, a load such as pressure is not applied to both of the elastic packings.

  FIG. 15 shows a state in which the insertion portion 34 of the liquid acceptor 32 is further inserted into the recess 42 of the liquid reservoir 30 in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. When the insertion part 34 is inserted into the recess 42, the pressure of the urging device 35 and the elastic force of the elastic packings 31 and 33 increase the surface pressure of the contact surfaces 48 and 49, increasing the sealing effect, The insertion part 34 contracts in the inner diameter center direction (arrow G direction), and the cuts of the elastic packings 31 and 33 are opened. The cuts of the elastic packings 31 and 33 are inserted at positions where the contact surfaces 48 and 49 of the elastic packings 31 and 33 come into contact with each other, and in the state shown in FIG. A flow path is formed inside the liquid acceptor 32 and is connected to each other.

  FIG. 18 shows the contact surface of the elastic packing 33 in the state shown in FIG. From FIG. 18, the insertion portion 34 presses the pressing member 36 and the elastic packing 33 in the direction of the arrow G rather than the force of the pressing member 36 that has pressed the long diameter side of the elastic packing 33 in the direction of the arrow H. The force is superior, and the elastic packing 33 is elastically deformed into a state as shown in FIG. 18, and the notch 40 is opened through. FIG. 16 shows a state where this state is viewed from the inside of the liquid acceptor, that is, a state where the channel 38 is passed through the hole 43.

  In the state of FIG. 15, when the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir 30 is 5 kPa and the interior of the liquid acceptor 32 is opened to the atmosphere, the amount of liquid flowing from the liquid reservoir 30 to the liquid acceptor 32 is examined. hr. Further, when the DMFC was driven in this state, an output of 28 mW was obtained.

  Further, when the liquid reservoir 30 was removed from the liquid acceptor 32 from the state of FIG. 15, no liquid leakage occurred in both the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor. In addition, although the pressure in a liquid reservoir and a liquid acceptor was applied from 1 kPa to 1 MPa and the liquid leak was investigated, no liquid leak occurred within this range.

  A liquid transmission / reception joint device according to Example 2 was manufactured by changing the method of impressing the insertion part 34 of the liquid acceptor 32 and the insertion part 34 of the liquid reservoir 30 in Example 1. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion of the liquid acceptor 32, FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion of the liquid reservoir 30, FIG. 33 is a state where both joints are fitted and the contact surfaces of both joints are in contact, and FIG. Shows the state.

  In this embodiment, when the concave portion 42 of the liquid reservoir is inserted into the insertion portion 34, pressure is applied to the contact surface of the elastic packing, and the pressure member 62 is inserted into the insertion portion when sealed between the contact surfaces. By pressing 34 and deforming the insertion portion 34, the elastic packings are simultaneously deformed, and the cuts 40 and 41 are opened. In the state where the pressure in the liquid reservoir 30 was 5 kPa and the inside of the liquid acceptor 32 was opened to the atmosphere, a liquid feeding amount of 26 ml / hr was obtained as in Example 1. Further, even when the liquid reservoir 32 was removed from the liquid acceptor 30, no liquid leakage occurred. The DMFC was also driven at an output of 25 mW.

  A liquid transmission / reception joint of Example 3 in which a magnetic material was contained in the elastic packing in Example 1 and magnets were disposed in the liquid acceptor and the liquid reservoir was produced. The magnets arranged in the liquid acceptor and the liquid reservoir were arranged so as to exert an attractive force in the horizontal direction with respect to the cut before connection and in the vertical direction when connected. When the operation was confirmed, in the state where the pressure in the liquid reservoir 30 was 5 kPa and the inside of the liquid acceptor 32 was opened to the atmosphere, a liquid feeding amount of 24 ml / hr similar to that in Example 1 was obtained. Further, even when the liquid reservoir 32 was removed from the liquid acceptor 30, no liquid leakage occurred. The DMFC was also driven with an output of 24 mW.

  One or a plurality of cutouts 65 are formed on the surface always in contact with the liquid, that is, the innermost end of the flow paths 37 and 38, in the portion where the elastic packings 31 and 33 are provided in the first embodiment. did. Except for the notch 65 portion, Example 4 was made in exactly the same shape as the liquid transmission / reception joint device of Example 1. As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the notch 65 is long in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the notch and has a wedge-shaped cross section.

  In a state where the internal pressure of the liquid reservoir 30 or the liquid acceptor 32 is high, pressure is applied to the cutout portions 65 of the elastic packings 31 and 33 from the internal liquid. Thereby, the notch 65 is pressed from the liquid so as to widen the wedge-shaped angle, and the notch 41 is brought into close contact with the pressing force of the liquid. The above function as a check valve can further prevent the liquid inside the liquid reservoir 30 or the liquid acceptor 32 from leaking to the outside.

  36 and 37, the embodiment is illustrated with the elastic packing 31 on the liquid reservoir side. However, not only on the liquid reservoir side but also on the inner side of the elastic packing 33 of the liquid acceptor and the innermost end of the flow path. Of course, the notch 65 can be formed to prevent the backflow of the liquid inside the liquid acceptor.

  When the operation of the liquid transmission / reception joint device of Example 4 was confirmed, the same liquid supply amount and DMFC output as in Example 1 were obtained. Regarding the liquid leakage, the internal pressures of the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor were further increased as compared with the test using Example 1, and evaluation was performed up to 10 MPa. However, the liquid leakage from the cuts 40 and 41 did not occur.

As mentioned above, the joint device for liquid transmission / reception of Examples 1, 2, 3, and 4 has the performance which can liquid-feed without causing liquid leakage in any. In any of the embodiments, the volume of the elastic packing is 60 mm ³ , and can be reduced in size as compared with the conventional liquid transmission / reception joint device. Therefore, the present invention can be applied in the future as a joint device for sending and receiving liquids to portable electric devices and the like using DMFC as an energy source.

It is a perspective view showing the conventional joint device for liquid transmission / reception. It is principal part sectional drawing of the liquid receiving side joint part arrange | positioned at the liquid acceptor 7 of the conventional joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception. It is principal part sectional drawing of the liquid feeding side joint part arrange | positioned at the liquid reservoir 8 of the conventional liquid sending / receiving joint apparatus. It is the enlarged view which displayed only the elastic body packing 1 in the left view of FIG. 2, and the right view of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of the state which fitted each joint part of the liquid feeding side and the liquid receiving side showing the use condition of the conventional joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception. It is the figure which displayed only the elastic body packing 1 (or 13) in the left-right side view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the joint part 57 for liquid feeding arrange | positioned in the liquid reservoir 30 of 1st Example which concerns on the joint apparatus for liquid sending / receiving of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the joint part 56 for liquid reception arrange | positioned at the liquid acceptor 32 of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on an Example of this invention. It is a perspective view showing the state which mounted | wore the liquid acceptor 32 with the liquid reservoir of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on an Example of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view showing the liquid receiving side joint part 56 of the liquid acceptor 32 of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on an Example of this invention. It is a left view of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a liquid feeding side joint portion 57 of the liquid reservoir 30 of the liquid sending / receiving joint device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a right view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a liquid acceptor insertion portion 34 is inserted into a liquid reservoir 30 recess 42. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the insertion part 34 of the liquid acceptor is inserted into the liquid reservoir 30 recess 42 and the insertion part 34 presses the elastic packings 31 and 33. FIG. 16 is a left side view of FIG. 15. FIG. 16 is a right side view of FIG. 15. It is LL arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a figure showing the shape of the other Example of the elastic body packings 31 and 33. FIG. It is a figure showing the shape of the other Example of the elastic body packings 31 and 33. FIG. It is a figure showing the shape of the other Example of the elastic packing 31,33. It is a top view of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on an Example of this invention. FIG. 23 is a front view of FIG. 22. It is a left side view of Drawing 12, and is a figure showing only elastic packing 31. FIG. 11 is a right side view of FIG. 10 and shows only an elastic packing 33. It is sectional drawing showing 2nd Example of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on this invention Example, and is principal part sectional drawing of the liquid acceptor 32. FIG. It is a left view of FIG. FIG. 27 is a right side view of FIG. 26, showing only the elastic packing 33. FIG. 31 is a left side view of FIG. 30 showing only the elastic packing 31 of the liquid reservoir according to the second embodiment of the joint device for liquid transmission and reception of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the liquid reservoir based on 2nd Example of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception of this invention. It is a right view of FIG. It is a left view of FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the state which fitted the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor of 2nd Example of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which fitted the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor of 2nd Example of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on this invention, and opened the notches 40 and 41. FIG. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the contact surface of the elastic body packing of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on this invention Example. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the state which formed the notch 65 in the innermost end of the flow path of the elastic packing of the joint apparatus for liquid transmission / reception which concerns on an Example of this invention. FIG. 37 is a right side view of FIG. 36.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elastic body packing 2 Joint tube 3 Energizing device 4 Flange 5 Case 6 Protective film 7 Liquid acceptor 8 Liquid reservoir 9 Stopper 11 Notch 12 Edge 13 Elastic body packing 14 Notch 15 Space 16 Space 17 Channel 18 Liquid supply side joint part 19 liquid receiving side joint portion 20 hole 21 hole 22 edge 23 flange 24 flange 25 inclined portion 26 inclined portion 30 liquid reservoir 31 elastic packing 32 liquid acceptor 33 elastic packing 34 insertion portion 35 biasing device 36 pressing member 37 flow Path 38 Channel 39 Holding member 40 Notch 41 Notch 42 Recess 43 Hole 44 Hole 45 Recess 46 Engagement portion 47 Recess 48 Contact surface 49 Contact surface 50 Press member 51 Recess 52 Step portion 53 Step portion 54 Tip portion 55 Step portion 56 Liquid-receiving side joint part 57 Liquid-feeding side joint part 62 Member 65 notch

Claims (13)

  In a liquid transmission / reception joint device that connects a liquid reservoir that contains liquid and a liquid acceptor that receives liquid from the liquid reservoir, either or both of the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are connected inwardly from the outside of the liquid reservoir. A liquid transmission / reception joint device comprising at least an elastic body having a cut therethrough.   2. The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 1, further comprising means for applying a load to the elastic body from the outside of the elastic body when the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are connected.   The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 1, wherein pressure or attractive force is applied from the outside of the elastic body as means for applying a load to the elastic body.   The liquid transmission / reception joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic body has a check valve shape in which a notched portion is formed in a portion that is always in contact with the liquid inside the elastic body. apparatus. In the elastic body, the shape of the cross-section to which the cut is made satisfies the relationship of the following expression between the horizontal length A with respect to the cut and the cut and vertical length B: The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 1.
A / B <1   6. The liquid feeding device according to claim 1, wherein in the elastic body, a member that presses the cut of the elastic body is disposed in the elastic body when the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are not connected. Receiving joint device.   The elastic body has an annular protrusion centered on a notch on a surface where the elastic body comes into contact with a counterpart when the liquid reservoir and the liquid acceptor are connected. 6. The joint device for liquid transmission and reception according to any one of the above.   The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body contains a magnetic body in the elastic body.   The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 1, wherein an electromagnetic force is applied as means for applying a load to the elastic body in the liquid transmission / reception joint device. The size of the elastic body, the liquid transceiver joint device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that 10 ³ mm ³ or less.     The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid acceptor is a fuel cell that generates power using liquid as fuel, and the liquid reservoir is a liquid fuel cartridge.     The liquid transmission / reception joint device according to claim 11, wherein a liquid containing at least methanol is used as a fuel used in the fuel cell. The liquid sending / receiving joint device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a liquid feeding flow rate of the joint is 100 ml / hr or less.

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