JP2007066756A - Fuel cartridge, fuel cell, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cartridge, a fuel cell, and electronic equipment wherein although the fuel is injected when a pressure release valve is opened, it is prevented that the fuel is injected from the electronic equipment by making an injection direction of the fuel a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the fuel cell. <P>SOLUTION: This is the fuel cartridge 22 attached to the fuel cell 20 to be used by insertion into the electronic equipment 1, in which the pressure release valve 25 is installed at a position having the direction perpendicular to the direction A toward which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic equipment. This is the fuel cell and the electronic equipment to which the fuel cartridge is attached. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cartridge, a fuel cell, and an electronic device that use hydrogen gas, methanol, an aqueous methanol solution, or the like as fuel, and particularly relates to a position of a pressure release valve of the fuel cartridge.

  In recent years, there has been a demand for clean energy free from harmful waste due to environmental destruction. In addition, depletion of fossil fuels has become a problem, and new energy sources are being sought. On the other hand, in the electronics field, the amount of information increases, and along with this, the information processing capability dramatically increases and the power consumption of electronic devices tends to increase.

  Therefore, hydrogen, which is contained in inexhaustible water on the earth and does not emit harmful substances with large chemical energy, has attracted attention as an energy source. In particular, fuel cells that can extract electrical energy directly from hydrogen have high hydrogen utilization efficiency and can extract large amounts of power, so they can be used in automobiles and portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, mobile phones, and video cameras. It is being advanced.

  A so-called fuel cell that extracts electric energy from hydrogen has a hydrogen electrode to which hydrogen is supplied and an oxidation electrode to which oxygen is supplied. The hydrogen electrode separates hydrogen into electrons and protons by a catalytic reaction. Protons pass through the electrolyte membrane and reach the oxidation electrode, and react with oxygen by a catalytic reaction to generate water, and in this process, an electron flow, that is, electric power is generated.

In the fuel cell using methanol aqueous solution as the fuel, electric power is generated by a known similar reaction.
Unlike conventional secondary batteries, fuel cells do not need to be recharged, and can be used to generate power immediately after replenishing the fuel.

  As described above, the fuel cell can take out electric energy by replenishing the fuel anytime and anywhere. However, unlike a conventional battery, the fuel cell handles a combustible material such as hydrogen or methanol. In particular, there is a risk that the fuel cartridge may be accidentally thrown into the fire when it is mishandled or touched by a child in order to be carried and operated by the user. In addition, the temperature may rise abnormally due to leaving the vehicle in the vehicle.

As a countermeasure, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the temperature of the fuel cartridge rises to a predetermined value or more, a pressure release valve is provided on the cartridge in order to prevent the fuel cartridge from bursting. .
JP 11-297292 A

  As the pressure release valve, those using a shape memory alloy that deforms at a high temperature, those using a low-temperature molten metal that melts at a high temperature, and those using a metal thin film are usually used. However, when the pressure release valve is operated, hydrogen gas, aqueous methanol solution, methanol gas, or the like is ejected, which is dangerous because combustible gas or toxic combustible liquid is ejected. Further, when the pressure release valve is activated, there is a risk that the cover of the fuel cell insertion port of the electronic device is broken or forcibly opened, and the fuel is ejected to the outside of the electronic device.

  The present invention has been made in view of such background art. The present invention relates to a fuel cartridge capable of preventing fuel from being ejected from an electronic device by making the direction of fuel ejected when a pressure release valve is operated perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. The present invention provides a fuel cell and an electronic device.

  That is, the present invention relates to a fuel cartridge to be attached to a fuel cell used by being inserted into an electronic device, wherein the fuel cartridge has a pressure release valve at a position perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. A fuel cartridge is provided.

  The present invention also relates to a fuel cell that is used by being inserted into an electronic device, wherein the fuel cell is provided with a pressure release valve at a position perpendicular to a direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. Is a fuel cell.

  Furthermore, the present invention is an electronic device in which a fuel cell is inserted, wherein the fuel cell is provided with a pressure release valve at a position perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. Is an electronic device characterized by being mounted.

  The present invention relates to a fuel cartridge capable of preventing fuel from being ejected from an electronic device by making the direction of fuel ejected when a pressure release valve is operated perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. A fuel cell and an electronic device can be provided.

  The fuel cartridge of the present invention is a fuel cartridge that is mounted on a fuel cell that is used by being inserted into an electronic device, and a pressure release valve is provided at a position perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. It is provided.

The present invention also relates to a fuel cell in which the fuel cartridge is mounted and an electronic device in which the fuel cell in which the fuel cartridge is mounted is inserted.
The fuel cell has an output electrode connected to the electronic device, and the pressure release valve of the fuel cartridge is provided on a surface perpendicular to the surface having the output electrode connected to the electronic device of the fuel cell. It is preferable.

  According to the present invention, when the temperature rises, the entire fuel cartridge can be prevented from being damaged by the pressure release valve. Further, the fuel is released from the pressure release valve at a predetermined position of the fuel cartridge, but is released in a direction perpendicular to the insertion port for inserting the fuel cell into the electronic device. Therefore, the lid of the fuel cell insertion port of the electronic device is not broken or forcibly opened, and fuel can be prevented from being ejected outside the electronic device.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Example 1
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic apparatus of the present invention. The electronic device is a digital camera, and shows a state where a fuel cell is inserted. In the figure, 1 is a digital camera, 2 is a main switch, 3 is a release button, and 4 is a taking lens. Reference numeral 20 denotes a fuel cell.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fuel cell of the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a power generation unit, 22 denotes a fuel cartridge, and 23 and 24 denote output electrodes. Reference numeral 25 denotes a pressure release valve. For the pressure release valve 25, a shape memory alloy that deforms at a high temperature, a low-temperature molten metal that melts at a high temperature, a metal thin film, or the like is used.
As the fuel for the fuel cartridge 22, hydrogen gas, methanol, or an aqueous methanol solution is used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the digital camera 1 of the electronic device as viewed from below, and 5 is a lid of the fuel cell insertion slot.
As an example, when the digital camera is left in the vehicle and the temperature rises, the pressure release valve 25 operates to prevent the fuel cartridge from bursting, and fuel is ejected. As shown in FIG. 1, by providing the pressure release valve 25 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction A of the fuel cell into the electronic device, the fuel ejection direction does not face the direction of the lid 5, so that the fuel covers the lid. It can be prevented from being opened and ejected outside the electronic device.

Example 2
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the electronic apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 26 is a power generation part of the fuel cell, and 27 is a detachable fuel cartridge. In this embodiment, the power generation unit 26 of the fuel cell is integrally incorporated in the digital camera body, and only the fuel cartridge can be attached and detached.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing only the fuel cartridge in the second embodiment. In the figure, 28 is a connector for supplying fuel to the power generation unit. In FIG. 5 as well, since the pressure release valve 25 is positioned perpendicular to the insertion direction, the fuel ejection direction does not face the direction of the lid of the electronic device, so the fuel is ejected outside the electronic device by opening the lid. Can be prevented.

  If the pressure relief valve is disposed on the surface 28a, when the fuel is ejected, the fuel cartridge may be pushed downward in the drawing and fall out of the digital camera.

  The fuel cartridge of the present invention ejects fuel when the pressure release valve is opened, but prevents the fuel from being ejected from the electronic device by making the fuel ejection direction perpendicular to the fuel cell insertion direction. It can be used for fuel cells and electronic devices.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the electronic device of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the fuel cell of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the electronic device of FIG. 1 from the bottom. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the electronic device of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the fuel cartridge in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Main switch 3 Release button 4 Shooting lens 5 Fuel cell insertion port lid 20 Fuel cell 21 Power generation unit 22 Fuel cartridge 23, 24 Output electrode 25 Pressure release valve 26 Power generation unit 27 Fuel cartridge 28 Connector A Insertion of fuel cell direction

Claims (3)

  A fuel cartridge mounted on a fuel cell to be inserted into an electronic device, wherein the fuel cartridge is provided with a pressure release valve at a position perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. Features fuel cartridge.   A fuel cell used by being inserted into an electronic device, wherein the fuel cell is equipped with a fuel cartridge provided with a pressure release valve at a position perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. A fuel cell.   An electronic device in which a fuel cell is inserted, wherein the fuel cell is equipped with a fuel cartridge provided with a pressure release valve at a position perpendicular to the direction in which the fuel cell is inserted into the electronic device. Electronic equipment characterized by

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