Liquid cartridge

Abstract

A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith is provided with a casing, a partition member movably fitted in the casing, which partitions the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber, an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device and a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, which presses the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith, comprising: 
 a casing;    a partition member movably fit in the casing, the partition member partitioning the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber;    an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device; and    a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, the pressure unit pressing the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.    
     
     
         2 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the partition member comprises a partition pressed by the pressure unit and an envelope having flexibility connected with the partition.    
     
     
         3 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the casing further comprises a reservoir at a vicinity of the outlet port and a surface of the casing at a side of the outlet port is slanted so as to be a wedge shape which shrinks along with departing from the reservoir toward a distal end thereof.    
     
     
         4 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a detection unit detecting a residual amount of the liquid.    
     
     
         5 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a regulator regulating a flow rate of the liquid.    
     
     
         6 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an opening introducing outside air and communicating with the second chamber.    
     
     
         7 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the liquid cartridge houses a fuel applied to a fuel cell.    
     
     
         8 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the pressure unit comprises a pre-compressed elastic body.    
     
     
         9 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the pressure unit comprises pre-compressed gas.    
     
     
         10 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the pressure unit inflates gas within the second chamber by means of mixing at least two ingredients.    
     
     
         11 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a mixing unit configured to start mixing the ingredients in a case where the liquid cartridge is installed in the external device.    
     
     
         12 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the pressure unit comprises a pump chamber, a first check valve communicating with an outside so as to conduct air to the pump chamber, a second check valve conducting the air in the pump chamber to the second chamber and a movable film having a weight wherein the weight swung by an outside force operates the film so as to conduct the air via the first check valve into the pump chamber and further conduct the air in the pump chamber via the second check valve into the second chamber in a compressed manner.    
     
     
         13 . The liquid cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a closer unit closing the outlet port, the closer unit being opened when the liquid cartridge is installed in the external device.    
     
     
         14 . A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith, comprising: 
 a casing;    a liquid housing body housed in the casing, the liquid housing body housing the liquid;    an outlet port communicating between the liquid housing body and the external device; and    a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, the pressure unit pressing the liquid housing body so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.    
     
     
         15 . A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a fuel cell having one or more anodes, one or more cathodes and electrolytes respectively put therebetween;    a pump feeding air to the cathodes; and    a liquid cartridge supplying liquid to the anode, the liquid cartridge including: 
 a casing;  
 a partition member movably fit in the casing, the partition member partitioning the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber;  
 an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device; and  
 an inlet port introducing air fed by the pump into the second chamber so as to press the partition member  
   so that the fuel is discharged out of the outlet port.    
     
     
         16 . A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a fuel cell having one or more anodes, one or more cathodes and electrolytes respectively put therebetween;    a pump feeding air to the cathodes; and    a liquid cartridge supplying liquid to the anode, the liquid cartridge including: 
 a casing;  
 a liquid housing body housed in the casing, the liquid housing body housing the liquid;  
 an outlet port communicating between the liquid housing body and the external device; and  
 an inlet port introducing air fed by the pump into the casing so as to press the liquid housing body  
   so that the fuel is discharged out of the outlet port.    
     
     
         17 . A fuel cell system comprising: 
 a fuel cell having one or more anodes, one or more cathodes and electrolytes respectively put therebetween;    a pump feeding air to the cathodes; and    a liquid cartridge supplying liquid to the anode, the liquid cartridge including: 
 a casing;  
 a partition member movably fit in the casing, the partition member partitioning the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber;  
 an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device;  
 a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, the pressure unit pressing the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port; and  
 an inlet port introducing exhaust from the cathode into the second chamber.