Relief valves for fuel cell systems

摘要

A compact, reliable, and easily manufacture relief valve capable of resolving pressure issues within a fuel cell system and its components or devices. The relief valve comprises a valve body having a first cap, a valve housing and a center post; and an elastomeric member or sealing member contained within the valve body and being secured to the valve body at one end and forming a seal with the valve body at the other end. The seal opens in response to a threshold pressure being exceeded. In one embodiment, the elastomeric member is secured to the interior of the first cap and/or valve housing and forms a seal with the outer diameter of the center post. The elastomeric member may be supported by a reinforcing member.

主权项

1. A fuel supply for a fuel cell device, wherein the fuel supply comprises a vent valve having a valve housing disposed in an outer casing of the fuel supply, wherein the vent valve comprises:
a valve body; and a sealing member with a peripheral portion and an internal part, wherein one of the peripheral portion and internal part of the sealing member is secured to a first portion of the interior of the valve body, and the other part forms a seal with a second portion of the interior of the valve body; wherein the valve housing disposed in the outer casing is flush with the outer casing of the fuel supply so an outer surface of the valve body and an outer surface of the outer casing form a substantially continuous plane; wherein the seal opens and generates a flow path when a threshold pressure inside the fuel supply is exceeded.