Abstract: A cylindrical storage battery comprises a spirally coiled electrode plate assembly which includes positive and negative electrode plates spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween. Upper and lower current collectors are welded to the upper and lower ends of the electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly and the current collectors are housed in a metal casing, and an upper end of the casing is closed by a sealing plate. The upper current collector and the sealing plate are electrically connected through a lead terminal which is securely and reliably connected to the sealing plate. The lead terminal has one end portion formed with a hole, and this hole is fitted on a projected portion formed on a lower surface of the sealing plate. Around the portion of the lead terminal surrounding the hole is formed a projection or projections which is/are welded to the lower surface of the sealing plate.

Abstract: A fuel battery cell is provided which includes: an internal electrode and an external electrode respectively with predetermined lengths which are coaxially disposed while leaving a predetermined space between the internal electrode and the external electrode; and a composite layer with a predetermined length, having an electrolyte layer and internal and external catalyst layers provided respectively on both sides of the electrolyte layer. In this case, the composite layer is disposed in a predetermined space between the internal electrode and the external electrode while providing a gas passage between the composite layer and the internal electrode and providing a gas passage between the composite layer and the external electrode. In the composite layer, the surface of the internal catalyst layer on its gas passage side and the surface of the external catalyst layer on its gas passage side are covered respectively with waterproof layers.

Abstract: This invention is related to a fuel cell, comprising: a fuel cell stack; two end plates provided at the longitudinal, opposing ends of the cell stack; a plurality of tie rods, passing through a peripheral region of each end plate for positioning the cell stack between the two end plates; and at least one uniform compression device, positioned between the cell stack and one of the end plates, wherein the uniform compression device includes at least one pressure bellows that constantly applies a consistent and distributed operative contact pressure towards the cell stack for enhancing the conductivity and operative efficiency of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A release valve is disclosed which in one embodiment includes a housing having a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet, and a membrane extending across the passageway between the inlet and the outlet. The membrane is operable to permit passage through the passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through the passageway of liquid at the first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The release valve may also include a check valve for inhibiting passage of gas from the outlet to the inlet. The release valve is suitably employed in fuel cell systems such as in a cooling system thereof.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for making lead-acid storage battery plates comprising an alignment puncher for creating a plurality of alignment holes in a lead strip as the lead strip is progressively expanded and cut into a grid like pattern on an expander die system. The alignment of the lead strip is accomplished by inserting at least one alignment pin into at least one of the plurality of alignment holes that have been punched into the lead strip as the lead strip is progressively expanded and cut into a plurality of wire-like segments along opposing edges of the lead strip. After each cut, the alignment pin retracts while the lead strip is indexed.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte is made up of a polymer compound having a hydrocarbon aromatic group in the backbone thereof and including a side chain expressed by FORMULA 1: &Parenopenst;CH2&Parenclosest;hSO3H  FORMULA 1 wherein “n” is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The solid polymer electrolyte may be incorporated into a membrane and may be used in a solution for covering an electrode catalyst.

Abstract: Catalyst materials having a surface comprising a composition Mx/Pty/Sub; wherein M is selected from the group of elements Fe, Co, Rh and Ir; or wherein M represents two different elements selected from the group comprising Fe, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Cu, Ag, Au and Sn; and wherein Sub represents a substrate material selected from Ru and Os; the respective components being present within specific ranges, display improved properties for use in anodes for low-temperature fuel cell anodes for PEMFC fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells.

Abstract: Sheet batteries are connected in series, layered and sandwiched between an upper substrate and a lower substrate, and the sheet batteries, the upper substrate and the lower substrate form a layered substrate with the batteries. Holes for wires of ICs are formed in the layered substrate. Applied voltages are determined according to batteries to which the holes are formed. The voltages of the sheet batteries may be uniform, or different.

Abstract: A compression mechanism comprises a planar spring sheet having a plurality of openings rendering the spring sheet resilient. An electrochemical fuel cell assembly with resilient compression mechanism includes a plurality of fuel cell assemblies interposed between first and second endplates. The mechanism for securing the fuel cell assemblies in their assembled, compressed state includes at least one resilient compression spring sheet extending between first and second endplates.

Abstract: In a method for improving cold starting of a catalytically active component in gas generation systems for a mobile fuel cell system, a temporary store is arranged directly in the starting-material gas stream. During cold starting, the temporary store stores gaseous constituents from the gaseous starting material, which constituents cause problems when starting, and releases such constituents (which have been stored during the cold-start phase) again as a result of the heating which takes place as operation of the system continues.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an improved separator plate. The fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; and a cathode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode, wherein each of the anode-side and cathode-side conductive separator plates is composed of a metal and a conductive coat which has resistance to oxidation and covers a surface of the metal. Alternatively, the above-mentioned separator plates are formed of a metal and a coat having resistance to oxidation and have roughened surfaces with recessions and protrusions, and portions of a top surface of the protruding portions, which lack the coat, are electrically connected to an electrode.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to improve the system efficiency of the fuel cell generator that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water and generates electricity using the generated hydrogen. For this purpose, a fuel cell generator, which includes a fuel cell for generating electricity using hydrogen, a electrolytic device for electrolyzing water using electricity from an external electricity system, and a hydrogen storage device for storing the hydrogen that has been generated by the electrolytic device and supplying the stored hydrogen to the fuel cell, is equipped with an heat supplying device for supplying the heat that has been generated in the fuel cell during the electricity generation to the electrolytic device.

Abstract: A system for storing fuel in a handheld device that has a housing (11) made up of a set of pieces that define a receptacle inside which are housed a plurality of electronic circuits (23) and a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack transforms the chemical energy stored by a fuel into electrical energy so that fuel is contained in a container suitable for occupying a free space (22) between the electronic circuits (23) and the housing (11).

Abstract: In a fuel cell system having a fuel cell and a catalytic burner connected downstream thereof, an additional hydrogen-containing medium is fed to the catalytic burner.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a power-generating cell and a cooling cell which are stacked, an insulating means for electrically insulating the cooling medium supplied into the cooling cell from the power-generating cell, and a conducting means for electrically connecting the power-generating cells arranged with the cooling cell interposed therebetween to one another. Accordingly, the earth fault and the liquid junction, which would be otherwise caused by cooling medium, is reliably avoided with a simple structure, making it possible to maintain desired power generation performance.

Abstract: The capacity of an electro-chemical power source having an initial amount of an oxidizable material and an initial amount of a reducible material, is adjusted to a target capacity by altering the initial amount of one or both of the oxidizable material and the reducible material available to participate in the source by a technique selected from the group consisting of adding, removing and isolating a known fraction of the initial amount from the power source.

Abstract: Fuel Cell Powering system and method minimizing the number of motive drive sources and controlling fuel/air ratios by employing differentials including variable speed mechanisms between compressors and between compressors and expanders; by utilizing flow control devices for separate fluid streams including separate exhaust streams; by utilizing independent compressor/expander chambers; and by injection of water into exhaust streams prior to expansion.

Abstract: A temperature sensing device for use in a secondary battery pack includes an NTC element and a current limiter element. The NTC element is disposed at a predetermined position to sense the temperature of a secondary battery incorporated in the secondary battery pack, and one end thereof is electrically connected to a temperature sensing terminal. The current limiter element is connected between the other end of the NTC element and a reference potential terminal.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a reformer unit (1) for generating a reformate which is provided as a fuel for a fuel cell unit (4). The fuel cell system includes a sensor (5, 6, 7) for monitoring the quality of the reformate and a valve (9, 10) which can be controlled in dependence upon the sensor. Compared to conventional systems, the valve can react very rapidly to disturbances in the preparation of the reformate and can especially prevent that disturbances lead to damage of the fuel cell unit (4) and the electrical output power of the fuel cell unit continues to be controllable. This is achieved in that at least one storage unit (11) is provided for feeding fuel to the fuel cell unit (4) in dependence upon the quality of the reformate.

Abstract: In this invention, a fuel cell assembly and an air channel for supplying air to the fuel cell assembly are arranged in a display unit of an electronic apparatus. A drain hole for draining water produced by the fuel cell assembly is formed in a side surface of the display unit. When a drain tool is connected to the drain hole and the electronic apparatus is in the OFF state, the operation mode switches to a fuel cell assembly mode for using the fuel cell assembly.