Liquid containers and apparatus for use with power producing devices

Abstract

A fuel reservoir for dispensing liquid fuel with a dispensing appliance includes a container having an opening, a liquid fuel in the container, a needle-pierceable septum disposed across the opening of the container, and a locking surface disposed on an exterior surface of the container and configured to engage a locking mechanism of a dispensing appliance.

1 . A fuel reservoir for dispensing liquid fuel with a dispensing appliance, comprising:
 a container, having an opening;   a liquid fuel, in the container;   a needle-pierceable septum, disposed across the opening of the container; and   a locking surface, disposed on an exterior surface of the container and configured to engage a locking mechanism of a dispensing appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the container has one opening. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the locking surface is disposed on a side wall of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel comprises an alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel comprises methanol. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel comprises a hydrocarbon fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the container and needle-pierceable septum comprise a material which is unreactive with the liquid fuel 
     
     
         8 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-pierceable septum comprises silicone. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-pierceable septum comprises:
 a first layer, comprising elastomer; and   a second layer, comprising a polymer.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the septum has an exposed length of at most 100 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the septum has an exposed length of at most 50 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the septum has an exposed length of 1 mm to 20 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel reservoir of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap on the septum, covering a portion of the septum. 
     
     
         14 . A fuel dispensing system, comprising:
 a dispensing appliance, for dispensing a liquid fuel from a fuel reservoir, the dispensing appliance comprising:
 an engagement mechanism, having at least two needles; and 
 a protecting plate, having a raised position and a depressed position, wherein the needles are concealed when the protecting plate is in a raised position and the needles are exposed when the protecting plate is in a depressed position; and 
   a power-producing system, fluidly connected to the dispensing appliance.   
     
     
         15 . The fuel dispensing system of  claim 14 , wherein the power-producing system comprises a fuel cell. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel dispensing system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid fuel comprises methanol. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel dispensing system of  claim 14 , wherein the needles comprise:
 a first needle, having a valve; and   a second needle;   wherein the valve blocks liquid fuel from flowing out of the fuel reservoir through the first needle when the first needle is engaging the fuel reservoir,   the valve allows air to pass into the fuel reservoir when the first needle is engaging the fuel reservoir, and   the second needle is fluidly connected to the fuel reservoir when the second needle is engaging the fuel reservoir.   
     
     
         18 . A fuel dispensing system, comprising:
 a fuel reservoir, comprising:
 a container, having an opening; 
 a liquid fuel, in the container; and 
 a needle-pierceable septum, disposed across the opening of the container; 
   a dispensing appliance, comprising:
 an engagement mechanism, having at least two needles; and 
 a protecting plate, having a raised position and a depressed position, wherein the needles are concealed when the protecting plate is in a raised position and the needles are exposed when the protecting plate is in a depressed position; 
 wherein the protecting plate is depressed, and 
 the needles are engaging the fuel reservoir. 
   
     
     
         19 . The fuel dispensing system of  claim 18 , further comprising a power-producing system in fluid connection with the dispensing appliance. 
     
     
         20 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of dispensing fuel to a power-producing system, comprising:
 piercing a needle-pierceable septum of a fuel reservoir with a first needle and a second needle;   flowing air through the first needle and into the fuel reservoir; and   flowing a liquid fuel through the second needle, out of the fuel reservoir, and into a power-producing system.   
     
     
         29 - 33 . (canceled)