Magnetic fluid coupling assemblies and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9263752-B2
Application number	US-201113008580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2011
Priority date	Nov 7, 2006
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

Fluid coupling assemblies and methods are discussed. The fluid coupling assemblies include a first coupling member, a second coupling member magnetically engageable with the first coupling member, and a seal member disposed between a portion of the first coupling member and a portion of the second coupling member. A magnetic engagement of the first coupling member and the second coupling member unseals a fluid flow path therebetween. In certain examples, the first coupling member is sealed by a valve member and the second coupling member includes an activation member. When engaged, the valve member is moved from a closed position to an open position by the activation member, thereby unsealing the fluid flow path. A magnetic force between the first coupling member and the second coupling member can be chosen such that the members disengage when a predetermined fluid flow path pressure is reached.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid coupling assembly comprising:
a first coupling member having a first magnetic member and a first engagement portion, the first engagement portion comprising a single valve member, wherein the single valve member abuts a ball member that abuts a resilient member; and
a second coupling member magnetically engageable with the first coupling member, the second coupling member comprising a second magnetic member and a second engagement portion comprising a single outwardly projecting activation member configured to physically contact and move the single valve member from a sealed position to an unsealed position, wherein the single outwardly projecting activation member is the only activation member of the fluid coupling assembly and the single outwardly projecting activation member projects outwardly from and is an integral part of a surface of a recess portion of the second coupling member, wherein the single outwardly projecting activation member terminates within the recess portion of the second coupling member, wherein the recess portion of the second coupling member is an integral part of the second coupling member;
wherein aligned magnetic engagement of the first coupling member and the second coupling member is in response to the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member mating only along a single plane and the magnetic engagement unseals a fluid flow path traversing a portion of each coupling member; and
wherein the magnetic engagement comprises a magnetic force configured such that the first coupling member and the second coupling member disengage when a predetermined internal pressure of the fuel reservoir is reached.

2. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein an overlap between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is about 1 mm or less when magnetically engaged.

3. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling member is integrated into a housing of a cellular phone, a satellite phone, a laptop computer, a computer accessory, a display, an audio or video player, a medical device, a television, a transmitter, a receiver, a lighting device, a power tool, or an electronic toy.

4. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the single outwardly projecting activation member is stationary.

5. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling member comprises a first magnetic member having a first polarity and the second coupling member comprises a second magnetic member having a second polarity, the first polarity attracted to the second polarity.

6. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first magnetic member comprises a magnet having a toroidal shape.

7. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic engagement comprises a magnetic force between the first coupling member and the second coupling member, the magnetic force configured such that the first coupling member and the second coupling member disengage when the magnetic force is overcome.

8. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sealed position of the single valve member is a resiliently biased position and the disengagement of the first coupling member and the second coupling member moves the single valve member from the unsealed position to the resiliently biased sealed position, thereby sealing the fluid flow path.

9. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a seal member disposed between a portion of the first coupling member and a portion of the second coupling member, the seal member configured to prevent fluid leakage when the coupling members are magnetically engaged.

10. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seal member is disposed around the first engagement portion and comprises a ring-shaped elastic member.

11. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seal member is disposed around the single outwardly projecting activation member and comprises a ring-shaped elastic member.

12. A fluid coupling assembly disposed between a fuel supply source and a fuel reservoir in a fuel cell powered device, the fluid coupling assembly comprising:
a first coupling member having a first magnetic member and a first engagement portion;
a second coupling member magnetically engageable with the first coupling member, the second coupling member having a second magnetic member and a second engagement portion;
a single valve member disposed within the first coupling member, wherein the single valve member is the only valve member of the fluid coupling assembly and is movable between a sealed position in contact with a valve seat and an unsealed position spaced from the valve seat, wherein the single valve member abuts a ball member that abuts a resilient member;
a single outwardly projecting activation member disposed within the second coupling member and configured to physically contact and move the single valve member when the first and second engagement portions are magnetically engaged, wherein the single outwardly projecting activation member projects outwardly from and is an integral part of a surface of a recess portion of the second coupling member, wherein the single outwardly projecting activation member terminates within the recess portion of the second coupling member, wherein the recess portion of the second coupling member is an integral part of the second coupling member;
wherein a magnetic engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is in response to the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member mating only along a single plane and the magnetic engagement unseals a fluid flow path traversing a portion of each coupling member and places the fuel cell powered device into fluid communication with the fuel supply source;
wherein disengagement of the first coupling member and the second coupling member seals the fluid flow path and disrupts fluid communication between the fuel cell powered device and the fuel supply source; and
wherein the magnetic engagement comprises a magnetic force configured such that the first coupling member and the second coupling member disengage when a predetermined internal pressure of the fuel reservoir is reached.

13. The fluid coupling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined internal pressure is between about 300 psig and 725 psig.

14. The coupling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the fuel cell powered device comprises one of a cellular phone, a satellite phone, a laptop computer, a computer accessory, a display, an audio or video player, a medical device, a television, a transmitter, a receiver, a lighting device, a power tool, or an electronic toy.

15. A method of coupling a fuel supply source and a fuel reservoir in a fuel cell powered device, the method comprising:
magnetically engaging a first coupling member in fluid communication with the fuel supply source and a second coupling member in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir, the first coupling member having a first magnetic member, the second coupling member having a second magnetic member, the magnetic engagement being in response to the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member mating only along a single plane and the magnetic engagement comprising aligning a first engagement portion of the first coupling member and a second engagement portion of the second coupling member, the first engagement portion comprising a single valve member and the second engagement portion comprising a single outwardly projecting activation member, wherein the single outwardly projecting activation member is the only a

Assignees

• Zimmermann Joerg
• Schrooten Jeremy
• Intelligent Energy Ltd

Inventors

• Zimmermann Joerg
• Schrooten Jeremy

Classifications

• F16L37/44

  with one lift valve being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• H01M8/04201 Primary

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• F16L37/28

  with fluid cut-off means · CPC title

• F16L37/004 Primary

  using magnets · CPC title