Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first flat tube in which a low temperature fluid flows and a second flat tube in which a high temperature fluid flows and that is laminated on the first flat tube and arranged so that the flow direction of the high temperature fluid is parallel to the flow direction of the low temperature fluid. One of the first and second flat tubes is arranged in the direction of lamination. Ends of the flat tubes are bent in a direction intersecting at right angles both flow directions of the fluids and the direction of lamination.

Abstract: A fuel cell is obtained, in which oxidation degradation of a catalyst in the cathode can be prevented even if a large volume of air instantaneously penetrates into the cell, and the fuel-cell characteristics also do not deteriorate even though starting-up, shutting-down and pausing operations are repeatedly performed. As a method of controlling a fuel cell system, hydrogen-containing fuel gas is supplied to the anode and oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode, an external load is connected between the anode and the cathode so that the fuel cell generates electric power, the external load is disconnected after the power generation, a resistor is connected between the anode and the cathode, supply of the oxidant gas is stopped, and then supply of the fuel gas is stopped after the potential at the cathode has dropped to equal to or lower than the potential at which hydrogen evolution starts, so as to pause the fuel cell.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first flat tube in which a low temperature fluid flows and a second flat tube in which a high temperature fluid flows and that is laminated on the first flat tube and arranged so that the flow direction of the high temperature fluid is parallel to the flow direction of the low temperature fluid. One of the first and second flat tubes is arranged in the direction of lamination. Ends of the flat tubes are bent in a direction intersecting at right angles both flow directions of the fluids and the direction of lamination.

Abstract: A humidifier and a method for producing it can reduce gas leakage through inside the surfaces of humidifying membranes or through interfaces between the humidifying membranes and separators. The humidifier includes water permeable humidifying membranes and gas separators each having one or two channels opened at least one side in a direction of lamination, through which at least one of a dry gas and a wet gas is caused to flow. A humidifying membrane, a gas separator, a humidifying membrane and a gas separator are repeatedly laminated one over another in this order, or a gas separator, a humidifying membrane and a gas separator are repeatedly laminated one over another in this order. Each gas separator has a frame-shaped portion surrounding the one or two channels, and that portion of each humidifying membrane which, when laminated, faces the frame-shaped portion of a corresponding gas separator is filled with a resin.

Abstract: A humidifier and a method for producing it can reduce gas leakage A humidifier and a method for producing it can reduce gas leakage through inside the surfaces of humidifying membranes or through interfaces between the humidifying membranes and separators. The humidifier includes water permeable humidifying membranes and gas separators each having one or two channels opened at least one side in a direction of lamination, through which at least one of a dry gas and a wet gas is caused to flow. A humidifying membrane, a gas separator, a humidifying membrane and a gas separator are repeatedly laminated one over another in this order, or a gas separator, a humidifying membrane and a gas separator are repeatedly laminated one over another in this order. Each gas separator has a frame-shaped portion surrounding the one or two channels, and that portion of each humidifying membrane which, when laminated, faces the frame-shaped portion of a corresponding gas separator is filled with a resin.

Abstract: A fuel cell is obtained, in which oxidation degradation of a catalyst in the cathode can be prevented even if a large volume of air instantaneously penetrates into the cell, and the fuel-cell characteristics also do not deteriorate even though starting-up, shutting-down and pausing operations are repeatedly performed. As a method of controlling a fuel cell system, hydrogen-containing fuel gas is supplied to the anode and oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode, an external load is connected between the anode and the cathode so that the fuel cell generates electric power, the external load is disconnected after the power generation, a resistor is connected between the anode and the cathode, supply of the oxidant gas is stopped, and then supply of the fuel gas is stopped after the potential at the cathode has dropped to equal to or lower than the potential at which hydrogen evolution starts, so as to pause the fuel cell.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter comprising a stationary conductor carrying a stationary contact, a movable contact arm carrying thereon a movable contact which, when in the open position, defines an arcing region together with the stationary contact, an operating mechanism for moving the movable contact arm between contact closed and open positions, an arc extinguisher facing toward the arcing region for cooling and extinguishing the electric arc, an arc horn for transferring thereon one leg of the electric arc, and an arc runner mounted on the stationary conductor for transferring thereon the other leg of the electric arc from the stationary contact. The arc runner has formed therein an arc runner slot which opens to substantially surround the arcing region, and the arc runner and the stationary contact are positioned such that at least one of the movable contact and the arc horn of the movable contact arm is located within the arc runner slot of the arc runner when the contacts are in the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit breaker comprising at least a pair of electrical contactors formed of conductors and contacts secured to the conductors for opening or closing an electric circuit in a container, light absorbers having opposed surfaces disposed oppositely to each other from both sides of an arc produced between the contacts at the isolating time, a thermal absorber disposed oppositely to the openings of the opposed surfaces of the light absorbers except the moving trace portion of the electrical contactors, the light absorbers being formed of a composite material having one or more of fiber, net and porous material having more than 35% of apparent porosity selected from composite materials having inorganic series, organic series and composites of the inorganic series and the organic series, and the thermal absorber being formed of a composite material having one or more of an assembly of fine metal wires, porous metals, and a metal plate having a number of pores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit breaker with an arc light absorber comprising: a pair of electric contactors contained in an insulating container for opening or closing an electric circuit, electric conductors forming said electric contactors and contacts provided at said conductors, an arc extinguishing plate for extinguishing an arc produced between said contacts when said electric contactors are opened, and a pair of side walls confronting the portion except the locuses drawn by said contacts when said contactors are opened and closed at the position of the arc extinguishing plate side of said locuses to form an arc light absorber, said side walls formed of a composite material having one or more of fiber, net or porous material having more than 35% of porosity and the arc produced between said contacts being discharged through between said pair of confronting side walls.

Abstract: A circuit breaker with an arc light absorber comprising: a pair of electric contactors contained in an insulating container for opening or closing an electric circuit, and having electric conductors and contacts provided on said conductors, and a pair of side walls on both sides of said contactors at positions for covering all the locuses of said contacts when said contactors are opened or closed, said side walls being formed of a composite material having one or more of fiber, net or porous material having more than 35% apparent porosity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit breaker with an arc light absorber comprising: a pair of contactors contained in an insulating container for opening or closing an electric circuit, electric conductors forming said electric contactors and contacts and arc runners provided at said conductors, and arc light absorbing side walls provided at both sides of said arc runners for absorbing the arc light energy irradiated directly to the arc produced between said contactors, said side walls being formed of a composite material having one or more of fiber, net or porous material having more than 35% of apparent porosity.

Abstract: The present invention consists in a circuit breaker wherein a pair of rigid conductors which are disposed therein and at least one of which has a movable portion that separates a pair of contacts on the basis of the electromagnetic force of an excess current flowing through the contacts adapted to come into and out of contact with and from each other, are provided with arc shields in a manner to surround the contacts, thereby to bring forth the effects of increasing the arc voltage of an electric arc struck across the contacts and raising the separating speed of the contacts.

Abstract: A circuit breaker in which arc shielding members are provided for predetermined contacts among a plurality of contact pairs arrayed in parallel, so that the arc will take place between predetermined contacts when the contacts are opened. The arc shielding members are made of a material having resistivity greater than that of the conductors to which the contacts are attached. The arc shielding members work to effectively inject metallic particles of contact material into the arc, so that the arcing voltage is rapidly raised and so that feet of the arc will not spread to the conductors in the vicinities of the contacts.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having means for quickly opening a pair of contacts, a U-shaped flux board which surrounds the conductors that have contacts attached to the end portions thereof, so that the electromagnetic repulsive force produced by the electric current that flows through the opposing conductors in opposite directions relative to each other, will be added to the operation of the contact-opening means. The circuit breaker of the invention is further equipped with arc shielding members surrounding the contacts, so that the arc established across the contacts will not stretch to the conductors in the vicinities of the contacts, and so that the arcing voltage is greatly increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit breaker comprising a pair of contactors each comprising a rigid conductor with a contact secured thereon, wherein at least one of the contactors is also provided with an electrically conductive projection secured on the rigid conductor in proximity to the contact, the contact and the projection having their peripheries surrounded by a high resistivity arc shield of a resistivity higher than the rigid conductors. An arc extinguishing plate assembly is also provided to cool and extinguish an arc drawn across the gap between the contacts. With this arrangement, the arc is confined and has its voltage raised by the effects of the arc shield, and the size of the foot of the arc is limited such that it does not spread to the surface of the conductor in the vicinity of the contact.

Abstract: The present invention combines the provision of arc shields surrounding the contacts of a circuit breaker with a magnetic driving means to raise the arc voltage of an arc drawn across the contacts and to effectively drive the arc, whereby the performance of the circuit breaker is improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker of improved performance by providing arc shields and arc runways together with the contacts on the rigid conductors of the contactors of a circuit breaker, and disposing said arc runways on the stationary contactor side is a predetermined relationship to the arc extinguishing plates such that a portion of the cut-out in at least one of said arc extinguishing plates substantially overlaps said arc runway.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel circuit breaker which is good in terms of both its current-limiting performance and its interrupting performance. The contactors of the circuit breaker for opening and closing an electric circuit are provided with arc shields of a high resistivity material, disposed in a manner to surround the contacts thereof, and arc runways of higher conductivity than the arc shields, and of predetermined dimensions and directions are further provided adjacent to the contacts.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel circuit breaker which is good in terms of both its current-limiting performance and its interrupting performance. The contactors of the circuit breaker for opening and closing an electric circuit are equipped with are shields of a high resistivity material, disposed in a manner to surround the contacts thereof, and arc runways of higher conductivity than the arc shields, and of predetermined heights and directions, are further provided in a manner so as to adjoin to the contacts.

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical member includes a compression chamber and a reservoir partitioned by a circumferential step disposed on its inner wall surface and filled with an arc-extinguishing fluid. A piston loaded with a spring forms stationary contact and is slidably fitted into the compression chamber while the reservoir is connected to the exterior of the cylindrical member through a flared hole in an electrically insulating nozzle. A movable contact loosely extends through the nozzle to engage separably the piston. The stationary contact may be disposed in the reservoir while the piston serves as an arc contact. The spring may be replaced by a tulip-shaped member on the piston forced into a recess on the free end of the movable contact and leaving it upon the piston engaging the step.