Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a mixed gas supply passage, and an agitation mixer. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells each including a power generation portion. The fuel cells are stacked. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to communicate with the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to supply a mixed gas to the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas is a mixture of a fuel gas and a fuel off-gas that has been discharged from the fuel cell stack. The agitation mixer is provided in the mixed gas supply passage. The agitation mixer is configured to apply a swirling force to the mixed gas. The agitation mixer includes a guide rib configured to guide liquid water contained in the mixed gas to a side opposite to the power generation portion-side.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that can prevent impurities from intensively collecting near inlets of fuel cells. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack formed by stacking fuel cells, each fuel cell having a power generation portion, a stack manifold with a fuel gas inlet communication hole disposed at an end of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction of the fuel cells, a mixed gas supply channel communicating with the fuel gas inlet communication hole for supplying a mixed gas of a fuel gas and fuel off-gas to the fuel cell stack, a stirring mixer for swirling the mixed gas provided in the mixed gas supply channel, and a guide rib provided on the inner wall of the fuel gas inlet communication hole of the stack manifold, on the side opposite to the side of the power generation portions of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a plurality of power generation cells stacked on top of each other; a dummy cell provided on at least one of both ends of the plurality of power generation cells, the dummy cell being configured not to generate electric power; and a reaction gas supply manifold extending through the plurality of power generation cells and the dummy cell. The dummy cell includes one or more dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels as a reaction gas introduction channel that introduces reaction gas from the reaction gas supply manifold to a center area of the dummy cell. At least one of the dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels is provided so as to connect to a bottom face at a lower side of the reaction gas supply manifold in a direction of gravitational force.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple power generating units and a dummy unit, and respectively providing openings providing reactant-gas supply manifolds. Each power generating unit includes one or more first supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof. The dummy unit includes one or more second supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof, and a second supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the second supply passage ports where the second supply passages are connected to the opening is located at a lower position in the vertical direction than a first supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the first supply passage ports where the first supply passages are connected to the opening.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a mixed gas supply passage, and an agitation mixer. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells each including a power generation portion. The fuel cells are stacked. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to communicate with the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas supply passage is configured to supply a mixed gas to the fuel cell stack. The mixed gas is a mixture of a fuel gas and a fuel off-gas that has been discharged from the fuel cell stack. The agitation mixer is provided in the mixed gas supply passage. The agitation mixer is configured to apply a swirling force to the mixed gas. The agitation mixer includes a guide rib configured to guide liquid water contained in the mixed gas to a side opposite to the power generation portion-side.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that can prevent impurities from intensively collecting near inlets of fuel cells. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack formed by stacking fuel cells, each fuel cell having a power generation portion, a stack manifold with a fuel gas inlet communication hole disposed at an end of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction of the fuel cells, a mixed gas supply channel communicating with the fuel gas inlet communication hole for supplying a mixed gas of a fuel gas and fuel off-gas to the fuel cell stack, a stirring mixer for swirling the mixed gas provided in the mixed gas supply channel, and a guide rib provided on the inner wall of the fuel gas inlet communication hole of the stack manifold, on the side opposite to the side of the power generation portions of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A sealing device includes an annular seal portion formed of an elastic material. On an inner peripheral surface of the seal portion, a main lip is formed so as to be in slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of a rotary shaft, and a vacuum space side inclined surface is formed so as to gradually enlarge in diameter from the main lip toward a vacuum space side. On the vacuum space side inclined surface, a plurality of annular projections are formed along an axial direction so as to be in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft in a state where the main lip is in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A fuel-cell unit cell comprises: a membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly; a cathode-side separator made of a press-molded plate, the cathode-side separator forming a plurality of cathode gas flow paths and non-flow-path portions therebetween on a cathode-side surface of the membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly; and an anode-side separator made of a press-molded plate, the anode-side separator forming a plurality of anode gas flow paths and non-flow-path portions therebetween on an anode-side surface of the membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly. At least one gas flow path among the plural cathode gas flow paths and the plural anode gas flow paths includes a constricting portion that is configured to reduce a flow-path height in a stacking direction of the fuel-cell unit cells as well as to reduce a flow path cross-sectional area of the gas flow path.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes multiple power generating units and a dummy unit, and respectively providing openings providing reactant-gas supply manifolds. Each power generating unit includes one or more first supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof. The dummy unit includes one or more second supply passages extending from the opening to a central region thereof, and a second supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the second supply passage ports where the second supply passages are connected to the opening is located at a lower position in the vertical direction than a first supply passage port at the highest position in the vertical direction among the first supply passage ports where the first supply passages are connected to the opening.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a plurality of power generation cells stacked on top of each other; a dummy cell provided on at least one of both ends of the plurality of power generation cells, the dummy cell being configured not to generate electric power; and a reaction gas supply manifold extending through the plurality of power generation cells and the dummy cell. The dummy cell includes one or more dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels as a reaction gas introduction channel that introduces reaction gas from the reaction gas supply manifold to a center area of the dummy cell. At least one of the dummy cell reaction gas introduction channels is provided so as to connect to a bottom face at a lower side of the reaction gas supply manifold in a direction of gravitational force.

Abstract: A fuel-cell unit cell comprises: a membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly; a cathode-side separator made of a press-molded plate, the cathode-side separator forming a plurality of cathode gas flow paths and non-flow-path portions therebetween on a cathode-side surface of the membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly; and an anode-side separator made of a press-molded plate, the anode-side separator forming a plurality of anode gas flow paths and non-flow-path portions therebetween on an anode-side surface of the membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly. At least one gas flow path among the plural cathode gas flow paths and the plural anode gas flow paths includes a constricting portion that is configured to reduce a flow-path height in a stacking direction of the fuel-cell unit cells as well as to reduce a flow path cross-sectional area of the gas flow path.

Abstract: A sealing device includes an elastic annular seal portion. On an inner peripheral surface of the seal portion, a main lip is in slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of a rotary shaft, and a vacuum space side inclined surface gradually enlarges in diameter from the main lip toward a vacuum space side. On the vacuum space side inclined surface, a first annular projection is in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, and a second annular projection that projects toward a radially inward side is disposed between the main lip and the first annular projection. In an initial use state of the sealing device, the second annular projection is not in slidable contact with the rotary shaft; when the main lip wears to a degree that required sealing performance cannot be maintained, the second annular projection starts slidable contact with the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A sealing device includes an elastic annular seal portion. On an inner peripheral surface of the seal portion, a main lip is in slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of a rotary shaft, and a vacuum space side inclined surface gradually enlarges in diameter from the main lip toward a vacuum space side. On the vacuum space side inclined surface, a first annular projection is in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, and a second annular projection that projects toward a radially inward side is disposed between the main lip and the first annular projection. In an initial use state of the sealing device, the second annular projection is not in slidable contact with the rotary shaft; when the main lip wears to a degree that required sealing performance cannot be maintained, the second annular projection starts slidable contact with the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A sealing device includes an annular seal portion formed of an elastic material. On an inner peripheral surface of the seal portion, a main lip is formed so as to be in slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of a rotary shaft, and a vacuum space side inclined surface is formed so as to gradually enlarge in diameter from the main lip toward a vacuum space side. On the vacuum space side inclined surface, a plurality of annular projections are formed along an axial direction so as to be in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft in a state where the main lip is in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has a blower unit and an air conditioning unit having a case and a heater core disposed in a substantially horizontal direction in the case. The case has a foot opening at an upper side of the heater core. A foot passage and a foot duct are disposed at a vehicle front side of the case to extend downwardly from an upper portion of the case to a bottom portion of the case. The foot duct has foot outlets at a lower portion thereof. In a foot mode in which the foot opening is opened, air flowing at an upper side of the heater core flows into the foot passage through the foot opening, flows through the foot duct, and is directly blown toward a foot portion of a passenger in a passenger compartment through the foot outlets. As a result, heating feeling is improved, and a size of the air conditioner in a vehicle width direction is reduced.

Abstract: A process for producing a flat coil of high reliability and free from the problem of short-circuiting, and capable of high productivity. The process includes steps of forming an insulator layer on a metal foil ribbon, winding the metal foil around a center shaft or mandrel while pressing the insulator layer toward the center shaft to form a rolled up metal foil body. A strip electrode of conductive metal may be integrally attached to the inner or outer periphery of the coil or both to provide electrical connection to the turns. An insulating resin layer may be formed at an outer end of the metal foil, and a metal reinforcing layer can be formed on the outer periphery of the rolled up body other than at the insulating resin layer by electroplating to form a coil block. The rolled up body or coil block is then cut by electric discharge machining in a direction transverse to the center shaft to form flat coils at a predetermined thickness.