Patents Examined by R Alejandro
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Patent number: 6670060Abstract: A fuel cell system has a single-stage or multistage gas generation unit for producing a hydrogen-rich gas from an untreated fuel, a single-stage or multistage gas cleaning unit, at least one fuel cell and a single-stage or multistage exhaust-gas treatment unit for converting the fuel cell exhaust gases as completely as possible. At least two sub-units of the fuel cell system are connected to one another mechanically and in terms of flow by means of a connecting plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventors: Uwe Griesmeier, Dietmar Mirsch, Wolfgang Schmid, Alfred Haug, Klaus Dobler
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Patent number: 6663990Abstract: In a fuel cell system and a method of controlling the same, a fuel cell stack 1 is connected at its downstream side with a hydrogen control valve 11 and a hydrogen draw pump 12. A control unit 5 controls the hydrogen draw pump 12 such that hydrogen drawing power is increased to a level larger than that required for normal operation and controls the hydrogen control valve 11 such that opening degree is decreased. After that, the control unit 5 controls the hydrogen control valve 11 such that the opening degree is increased to purge moisture in the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masatoshi Iio, Takanori Hiyoshi
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Patent number: 6663991Abstract: A thermally energized fuel-cell pressurization system and humidity control system utilizing a compressor-expander, an ejector, and a steam generator is disclosed. The system can be more compact and energy efficient than comparable electrically-based pressurization systems when incorporated into the fuel cell reformation and water management systems as a whole.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: The George Washington UniversityInventor: Charles Alexander Garris
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Patent number: 6656233Abstract: A method of independently producing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary cell having thin films of lithium and a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte begins with a negative electrode base material and an inorganic solid electrolyte source material being removed from closed containers in a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium and insulated from air. The materials are transferred into an adjacent thin film deposition system without being exposed to the air. In the system, the source material is used to form a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte on the base material, to make the electrode. The electrode is transferred, without being exposed to the air, into a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium, where the electrode is placed into a closed container. Thus, a negative electrode can be produced without being degraded by air.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
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Patent number: 6653002Abstract: A quick charge battery with thermal management is described which includes a cooler preferably disposed at least partially within the battery to transfer thermal energy. The cooler may comprise a thermoelectric generator, a microcooler, a heat pipe or combinations of the above. The cooler is capable of cooling the battery and in some embodiments selectively heating the battery to a minimum temperature level. The cooler functions to cool the battery and thereby minimizes thermal build-up produced by rapid charging of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2000Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Inventor: Ronald J. Parise
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Patent number: 6652605Abstract: This invention relates to a process for manufacturing a lithiated or overlithiated transition metal oxide comprising the following three steps, carried out successively or in a simultaneous manner: preparation of a solution of lithium alkoxide by dissolving lithium metal in an alcohol, the said alcohol being chosen among the alcohols originating from linear or ramified alkanes comprising at least three carbon atoms, the alcohols originating from unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbides, and mixtures of them; addition of a transition metal oxide powder to the said lithium alkoxide solution to obtain a dispersion; controlled reduction of the said transition metal oxide by the said alkoxide to obtain a lithiated or overlithiated transition metal oxide with a defined Li:Metal stoichiometry; the said process also comprising the following steps: evaporation of the residual alcohol, rinsing of the powder thus obtained, drying of the powder.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1999Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Carole Bourbon, Frédéric Le Cras, Franck Rouppert, Didier Bloch
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Patent number: 6649306Abstract: A lead acid battery grid made from a lead based alloy containing calcium, tin, and silver having the following composition: calcium above 0.06 and below 0.082%, tin above 1.0% and below 1.2%, silver between 0.005 and 0.020%, and optionally containing up to 0.025% aluminum. To enhance corrosion resistance and reduce grid growth, the grid optimally may contain 0.005 to 0.05% copper as an alloying element complementary to and as a replacement for part of the silver, provided the silver content does not fall below 0.005% and no more than a trace of aluminum is present.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: RSR Technologies, Inc.Inventor: R. David Prengaman
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Patent number: 6645650Abstract: A procedure for purging a fuel cell system at start-up or shutdown comprises directing the organic fuel, along with air, into a burner to produce a gas that is essentially inert to the fuel cell, such as a gas of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. That inert gas is passed through either or both the fuel cell and fuel processing system components, such as a reformer and shift converter, to purge those components of undesirable gases. In the case of shutdown, after the cell has been disconnected from the primary load, the inert gas produced in the burner is passed either in series or in parallel through the fuel cell and fuel processing system.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLCInventors: Alfred P. Meyer, Vincent M. Callaghan
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Patent number: 6638658Abstract: A separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack has a fuel gas flow field adjacent one surface and an oxidant gas flow field adjacent the other surface. The fuel cells in the stack are proton exchange membrane fuel cells having undulate membrane electrode assemblies. The flowpaths of the flow fields comprise parallel flow channels that extend longitudinally and interconnected at their ends to the separator plates. The couplings for the oxidant gas flow channels are offset from those for the fuel flow channels. The interconnecting couplings may be formed by stamping, machining or molding the separator plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.Inventor: Gerard Francis McLean
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Patent number: 6632566Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employing a positive electrode active material containing a compound represented by the general formula LixMyPO4, where 0<x≦2 and 0.8≦y≦1.2, with M containing a 3d transition metal, where LixMyPO4 encompasses that with the grain size not larger than 10 &mgr;m. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has superior cyclic characteristics and a high capacity.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Atsuo Yamada, Guohua Li, Hideto Azuma
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Patent number: 6632551Abstract: A fuel cell arrangement has at least one fuel cell with an anode and a cathode. A compressor arranged in the admission flow path of the cathode supplies air to the cathode, and a reforming unit with a reformer and a thermally coupled heating chamber is arranged in the admission flow path of the anode supplies the anode with a hydrogen-rich medium. A catalytic burner arranged in the cathode off-gas flow path between cathode and an expansion machine is coupled to drive the compressor. The heating chamber of the reforming unit or of an evaporator unit arranged in the admission flow path of the anode is arranged in the cathode off-gas flow path; and the expansion machine is arranged in the cathode off-gas flow path between catalytic burner and the heating chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AGInventor: Lars Kaufmann
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Patent number: 6630269Abstract: A fuel cell, comprising a housing, at least one first proton-conducting layer covered by catalyst layers on both sides, gas-permeable electrodes on the catalyst layers and second layers arranged on both sides of the first layers, whereby said second layers take the form of electro-conductive plates that are located in closely adjacent electro-conductive contact with the electrodes, define gas conducting channels in conjunction with the electrodes and one layer touches the other layer by means of a substantially planar surface. The electrodes are made of at least one layer of electro-conductive polymer fibers that is intersected by flow channels running parallel to the surface thereof in at least one direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2000Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Firma Carl FreudenbergInventors: Thomas Barth, Klaus Kaspar, Birgit Severich
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Patent number: 6627342Abstract: A fuel evaporator 1 is provided in a fuel cell system FCS having an evaporating chamber that evaporates liquid fuel into fuel gas by heat medium gas. The fuel evaporator is provided with a liquid fuel injection apparatus 40 that injects liquid fuel into the evaporating chamber and an injection volume adjusting apparatus 42 that adjusts the injection volume of the liquid fuel injection apparatus. The injection volume adjusting apparatus 42 includes an injection volume adjusting portion that sets the fuel injection volume according to an injection volume target setting signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahito Nakamura, Takahiro Tachihara, Kouji Miyano
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Patent number: 6616714Abstract: A stacking of battery laminate is prepared, each battery consisting of anode, polymer electrolyte, cathode films and possibly an insulating film, under conditions suitable to constitute a rigid monoblock assembly, in which the films are unitary with one another. The assembly obtained is thereafter cut in predetermined shape by using a mechanical device without macroscopic deformation of the films constituting the assembly and without inducing permanent short circuits. The battery which is obtained after cutting includes at least one end which appears as a uniform cut, the various films constituting the assembly having undergone no macroscopic deformation, the edges of the films of the anode including an electronically insulating passivation film.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1999Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Michel Gauthier, Ginette Lessard, Gaston Dussault, Roger Rouillard, Martin Simoneau, Alan Paul Miller
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Patent number: 6610440Abstract: Microscopic batteries, integratable or integrated with microelectromechanical systems or other microscopic circuits, including a MEMS microcircuit, and methods of microfabrication of such microscopic batteries are disclosed, among which comprise closed system microscopic batteries for internal storage of electricity using interval reactants only, which comprise microscopic electrodes, electrolyte and reservoir for the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2000Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Bipolar Technologies, IncInventors: Rodney M. LaFollette, Linton G. Salmon, John N. Harb
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Patent number: 6602636Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of cells accommodating an electrode plate group and an electrolyte, and a single integrated battery case for accommodating the plurality of cells. The ratio of the component resistance including the connecting resistance between the cells to the reactive resistance of the electrode plate group and the electrolyte in each cell, is set in the range of 1:99-40:60 at a temperature of 25° C. Thereby, the internal resistance per cell is reduced, and higher power output and improved service life characteristics are achieved.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Taniguchi, Shinji Hamada, Noriyuki Fujioka, Toyohiko Eto, Munehisa Ikoma, Toshiyuki Sekimori, Kazuo Tojima, Masayoshi Iwase, Tomokazu Yamauchi
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Patent number: 6602631Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing subassemblies for an electrochemical cell or a stack of electrochemical cells, particularly a stack of fuel cells for the direct generation of electricity. The method includes bonding together two or more electrochemical cell components, such as plates, frames, flow fields, shims, gaskets, membranes and the like, to form subassemblies used to make an electrochemical cell stack. The bonding can be accomplished using either polymeric bonds (i.e., adhesives) where polymer and/or metal components are involved or metallurgical bonds (i.e., solder) where metal components are involved. The bonding provides tightly sealed cells and lower electronic contact resistances between components.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1999Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Lynntech Power Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Alan J. Cisar, Oliver J. Murphy, Eric T. Clarke
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Patent number: 6596428Abstract: There is provided herein a graphite plate assembly including an injection molded plastic frame which carries the border detail for the graphite plate. The planar graphite plate is provided with a frame engaging protrusion around its periphery and with beveled edges bordering the broad top and bottom surfaces of the graphite plate. These beveled edges seal against respective beveled surfaces of the mold to prevent plastic from entering onto the graphite plate surfaces during injection molding of the frame. The graphite plate is held in position within the mold by a vacuum grid and locating pins while plastic is injected into the cavity space around the graphite plate from a plurality of spaced plastic injection gates.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Inventor: George J. Gemberling
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Patent number: 6593020Abstract: A single cell and stack structure for SOFC stacks is disclosed. The single cell consists of a fuel electrode, an electrolyte and an air electrode, with opposite two or four sides of said single cell is shaped while being bent downwardly, thus forming an electrode support type structure or a self-support (electrolyte support) type structure each having a reversed U-shaped cross-section. In the SOFC stack structure, electrode support type or self-support type single cells are gastightly stacked on a separating plate while being held on a plurality of sealing grooves sealed with sealant.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Sung Yoo, Young Hee Han, Thae Kapp Kang
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Patent number: 6593021Abstract: Fuel cell separators having on one side or both sides thereof channels for gas supply and discharge, which channels are formed from compositions composed mainly of thermosetting resin and graphite particles. The compositions are designed to have a flexural modulus of at most 20 GPa and a flexural strength of at least 50 MPa (both measured according to JIS K6911). Also disclosed is a solid polymer type fuel cell system in which part or all of its separators are fuel cell separators as defined above. Due to its high strength and low flexural modulus, the fuel cell separators of the invention do not break as a result of deformation at the time of fuel cell assembly. Moreover, the fuel cell separators of the invention absorb shocks and vibration imparted to the fuel cell system. Therefore, they is useful for automobile fuel cells which are normally subject to vibrations and shocks during operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Atsushi Hagiwara, Ayumi Horiuchi