Abstract: The pump unit comprises a pump including a piezoelectric element and a discharge mechanism for discharging fluid according to operation of the piezoelectric element, and a valve mechanism attached to the pump. The discharge mechanism and the valve mechanism are separately formed by joining a plurality of metal layer pieces stacked in a predetermined stacking direction by diffusion welding, and are secured to each other by diffusion welding.

Abstract: The pump unit comprises a pump including a piezoelectric element and a discharge mechanism for discharging fluid according to operation of the piezoelectric element, and a valve mechanism attached to the pump. The discharge mechanism and the valve mechanism are separately formed by joining a plurality of metal layer pieces stacked in a predetermined stacking direction by diffusion welding, and are secured to each other by diffusion welding.

Abstract: A microdiaphragm pump having a diaphragm chamber in contact with one side of an intake valve and one side of a discharge valve. The microdiaphragm includes two valve plate sheets 12, in each of which a valve plate 14 of one of an intake valve 26 and a discharge valve 28 and a flow path aperture 16 that provides a passage of the other valve are formed and which are laminated in directions that are opposite from each other; two valve seat sheets 18, which are laminated to the laminate and in which valve seats 20 and valve stoppers 22 are formed; a base plate 32; a frame 34; a diaphragm 36; and a drive element 42. The microdiaphragm pump has extremely small external dimensions and provides high productivity, high flow control accuracy, a smooth operation, large suction and discharge forces, and high reliability.

Abstract: A fuel container includes a container body having a fuel discharge port and an interior spacing. A body of liquid fuel is filled in the interior spacing of the container body. Follower units are provided in the container body, in contact with at least a part of an end of the body of the liquid fuel. Solid follower auxiliary members are interposed between the follower units and the body of liquid fuel to be optically detectable.

Abstract: A fuel container according to the present invention includes a container body (15), a fuel (10) provided in the container body (15), a draining port (9) provided to the container body (15) for supplying the fuel (10) to the outside of the container body (15), a fluid introduction unit (19) which introduces into the container body (15) a fluid corresponding to flow-out of the fuel (10) from the draining port (9), and a swelling member (17) which connects to the fluid introduction unit (19) and swells in the container body (15) by absorbing the fluid.

Abstract: A fuel container 1 comprises: a container main body 2 in which a liquid fuel 4 is housed and fuel exhausting ports 24 and 31 to exhaust the liquid fuel 4 to the outside is formed; a following auxiliary member 71 which is solid, and situated on an end side of the liquid fuel 4 in the container main body 2, the following auxiliary member 71 moving to the sides of the fuel exhausting ports 24 and 31 as the liquid fuel 4 is exhausted; and a following body 5 situated on the end side of the liquid fuel 4, and packed in a space formed by an inner peripheral surface of the container main body 2 and an outer peripheral surface of the following auxiliary member 71, the following body 5 moving to the fuel exhausting ports 24 and 31 as the liquid fuel 4 is exhausted. Then, at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 2 and the outer peripheral surface of the following auxiliary member 71, which are faced to each other, is made to be uneven.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flowrate sensor having a flowrate detection means built into a surface mounted package. The flowrate sensor includes a fluid flow path (70) formed in a package (12) to guide a fluid from an inflow port (30) provided in the lower surface of the package (12) to an outflow port (32) provided in the lower surface of the package (12) through the flowrate detection means; and an external terminal (40) provided in the outer surface of the package (12) to guide an electric output of the flowrate detection means therethrough. The flowrate sensor can be used for any of a liquid and a gas. The flowrate sensor is suitable for miniaturization, can be surface-mounted on an electronic circuit board or the like, and has a high reliability.

Abstract: Disclosed a support structure of an electroosmotic member including: a support structure; an opening formed in the support member in which an electroosmotic member is disposed; and at least one of an elastic piece to separate the opening and the space from each other and to support the electroosmotic member, a cushioning filled in a gap between a wall of the opening and an edge of the electroosmotic member to support the electroosmotic member, and a projection provided on a wall of the opening to support the electroosmotic member, wherein the elastic piece, the cushioning and the projection supports the electroosmotic member which absorbs an impact or a vibration, and when the impact is applied to the support member (housing), an impact load applied to the electroosmotic member can be suppressed and thus, even when the impact is applied, it is possible to prevent the electroosmotic member from being damaged.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel; and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed is disposed in the rear end part of the liquid fuel stored. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell device comprising: a fuel cartridge to accumulate a fuel therein; and a fuel cell device main body to generate electric power by using the fuel accumulated in the fuel cartridge, wherein the fuel cell device main body is provided with a cartridge conveying body, the fuel cartridge being attached to and detached from the cartridge conveying body, and the cartridge conveying body is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the fuel cell device main body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connecting structure of a liquid sending apparatus, including: an electroosmotic flow pump having first and second electrodes upstream and downstream of an electroosmosis material; a flow-path structure which defines with flow-paths for liquid upstream and downstream of the electroosmotic flow pump, which is provided upstream of the electroosmotic flow pump with a ventilation hole communicating with inside and outside of the flow-path, and which is provided with a hydrophobic film which covers the hole and is permeable to bubbles; and a liquid-absorbing body absorbs liquid, which is provided in the flow-path upstream of the electroosmotic flow pump, which comes into abutment against a surface of the electroosmosis material on which the first electrode is provided, and which is formed with a bubble removing passage which passes through the liquid-absorbing body from a hydrophobic film side thereof to the abutment surface against the electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vaporizer including a first liquid suction section to suck a first liquid; a second liquid suction section to suck a second liquid; and a heating element to heat the first liquid suction section and the second liquid suction section to vaporize the first liquid and the second liquid.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cartridge in which a follower is prevented from being deformed and from separating even when heavy vibration is exerted onto the fuel cartridge. The fuel cartridge is detachably connected with a fuel cell main body and assumes a construction in which the fuel cartridge is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part, and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed at a rear end part of the liquid fuel. The follower is provided with a follower auxiliary member and a cap member both of which have no fluidity and are insoluble in the liquid fuel.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell which performs a power generation operation with fuel for power generation of a fuel container; a water supply control section which extracts water from the fuel container and supplies the water to the fuel cell before the fuel cell performs the power generation operation. A wet state of an electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell body is adequately maintained during system start-up (upon commencement of a power generation operation) and an electrochemical reaction related to the power generation operation is accelerated. In this manner, the fuel cell system which can adequately extract predetermined electrical energy and a fuel container for power generation applicable to that fuel cell system are provided.

Abstract: A fuel package includes a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and has a flow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to the interior space, a liquid fuel filled in the region at the side of the flow-out opening in the vessel, and a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the side of the flow-in opening.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a vessel body for containing liquid. The vessel body includes a plurality of surfaces. An oxygen outlet is provided on one surface among the plurality of surfaces of the vessel body. And an oxygen input is provided on a surface other than a furthest surface from the surface on which the oxygen outlet is provided among the plurality of surfaces of the vessel body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a connecting structure for connecting to an electro-osmotic flow pump with electrodes formed on both surfaces of electro-osmotic material, including: a first liquid absorber for absorbing liquid; and a second liquid absorber for absorbing the liquid, the second liquid absorber being superposed on the first liquid absorber and being flexible; wherein a surface of the second liquid absorber, which is opposite to a surface which is in contact with the first liquid absorber, is in contact with the electro-osmotic flow pump.

Abstract: A fuel cell is equipped with a fuel cell main body, a liquid fuel-storing tank for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel-supplying member which has a penetrating structure and is connected with the liquid fuel-storing tank and which supplies the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel main body, wherein the liquid fuel-storing tank is provided with a liquid fuel reservoir comprising a cylindrical fuel-storing vessel for storing the liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part provided at a lower part of the fuel-storing vessel and having a fuel discharge valve and a follower which is disposed at a rear end of the liquid fuel stored in the fuel-storing vessel and which moves as the liquid fuel is consumed, a housing box member which encompasses at least a part of the liquid fuel reservoir via a space part in the periphery of the liquid fuel reservoir and whose rear end part is closed and pressurized gas which is filled in the space part.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cartridge detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, wherein the fuel cartridge is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed at the rear end of the liquid fuel; a follower auxiliary member which has no fluidity and is insoluble in the liquid fuel is inserted into the follower; and at least one protruding part is formed at an upper end part of the follower auxiliary member.

Abstract: A fuel package includes a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and has a flow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to the interior space, a liquid fuel filled in the region at the side of the flow-out opening in the vessel, and a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the side of the flow-in opening.