Abstract: A microwavable food packaging system includes a tray formed from a base and a sidewall extending from the base which sidewall terminates in a free edge. The base and sidewall define an interior cavity. The free edge defines a tray opening. The base has a raised button extending into the cavity. A sleeve surrounds the tray. The sleeve includes a front panel having a display surface and is disposed adjacent to the tray opening and a rear panel disposed adjacent to the base. The sleeve adjacent to the base extends outwardly to form a leg upon which the sleeve and tray can be upstandingly placed. The tray is adapted to receive food pouches within the cavity. The raised button stabilizes the center of gravity of the food packaging system when the food packaging system is placed in an upstanding position on the leg. Advantageously, at least one food pouch disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A separator plate for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack constructed of at least two coextensive sheet metal elements shaped to promote the distribution of reactant gases to the electrodes of the fuel cell units of the fuel cell stack. The coextensive sheet metal elements are nestled together and form a coolant flow space therebetween.

Abstract: A fluid seal for a fuel cell includes a compressible member on a first fluid flow plate and a gasket disposed within a groove on a second fluid flow plate. The compressible member conforms to a surface of the gasket to form the fluid seal as the two fluid flow plates are compressed together.

Abstract: A battery-connecting plate for connecting batteries in series. The batteries, each with a positive and a negative electrodes at opposite ends, are assembled in a row with the positive and negative electrodes reversed in an alternating manner. The battery-connecting plate includes a base plate of synthetic resin; connection portions each having a busbar provided on the base plate, the busbar having a predetermined number of holes for passing therethrough of a corresponding number of the electrodes for connection therewith; and a pitch adjusting means provided on the base plate at every predetermined number of the connection portions for adjusting a deviation in position between the electrodes and the holes of the busbars.

Abstract: A spill and leak containment system for a liquid electrolyte battery such as a zinc-bromine battery. The system includes one-piece, electrolyte reservoirs with pump mountings and other openings positioned at or near the tops of each reservoir. Positioning the openings at the tops of the reservoirs reduces the amount of electrolyte that might spill out of them, in the event of a leak or breach in the seal between the opening and the component mounted therein. The pump openings are surrounded by sumps, which will catch and contain liquid if there is a leak. To help contain vapor leaks, the invention also includes a vapor recovery system coupled to reservoir when it is filled with or emptied of electrolyte. The vapor recovery system allows for an exchange of vapors to occur between an electrolyte container and the battery reservoir while electrolyte fluid is being transferred.

Abstract: An explosion-proof non-aqueous electrolyte battery is provided which has a current cutoff device for cutting off electrical connection within the battery with safety and certainty in the event of overcharge while remaining inoperable in normal use or in storage at an elevated temperature. A pair of an upper vent plate 1 and a lower vent plate 2 mechanically and electrically coupled with each other is provided on the sealing part of-the battery where the mechanical coupling of the pair of the upper vent plate 1 and the lower vent plate 2 is so configured as to rupture and cut off an electric current in the event the internal pressure of the battery case increases beyond a predetermined value, and the rupture pressure at which the mechanical coupling between the pair of upper vent plate 1 and the lower vent plate 2 is broken has been set to decrease as the spatial volume occupancy ratio of the battery increases.

Abstract: A battery is delineated comprising, in combination, a battery cover having a Cast on Strap (COS) post extending into an aperture located in a top surface of the battery cover; and a battery terminal bushing, integrally coupled to the battery cover, having a first portion fitting about and coupled to the COS post, and having a second portion extending away from the first portion approximately orthogonally. The second portion of the battery terminal bushing extends through the battery cover and is accessible via an aperture located on a side surface of the battery cover, thereby providing frontal access to battery termination.

Abstract: A battery accommodates elements for electromotive-force within a metal case. This metal case is a metal case having a bottom wherein the bottom thickness/side thickness ratio has a value of 1.2-4.0 and has a cylindrical, prismatic or similar shape. The metal case is constructed of a metal material whose chief constituent is aluminum. Furthermore, it is desirable that a multiplicity of shallow grooves perpendicular to a bottom face are formed in at least a battery inside face of the metal case and moreover that a nickel layer is provided on the battery inside face. The metal case is made by DI processing involving drawing and ironing, to have a value of bottom thickness/side thickness ratio which was hitherto unavailable,i.e., 1.2-4.0 can be obtained.

Abstract: Solid polymer membrane fuel cell water which collects on the oxidant side of the membrane is removed from the active area of the cells in a fuel cell power plant by being absorbed into porous carbon bodies, one of which contacts the membrane. Some of the treated carbon bodies can also be used to supply water to the anode side of the membrane in order to minimize anode side membrane drying. The pores in the carbon body are partially filled, or coated, with precursors of metal oxyhydroxide compounds, which, when converted, will impart increased wettability and water absorption capacity to the carbon body. Hydroxides of the filler compounds are applied to the carbon body and are heated to convert them into oxyhydroxides. As used in this document, the term “oxyhydroxide” includes oxyhydroxides, oxyhydroxide hydrates, and oxide hydrates. Processing temperatures are low enough so as to not subject the bodies being impregnated to destabilization.

Abstract: A multiple cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a plastic or metal case and each of the cells includes an enclosure providing for gas to exit while preventing electrolyte to exit the enclosure. A novel integral system of flow channels allows liquid coolant to flow between adjacent cells. Other special features, such as cell interconnections are described.

Abstract: A pressurized fuel cell system (10), operates within a common pressure vessel (12) where the system contains fuel cells (22), a turbine (26) and a generator (98) where preferably, associated oxidant inlet valve (52), fuel inlet valve (56) and fuel cell exhaust valve (42) are outside the pressure vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing the acidity of a petroleum oil containing organic acids comprising treating said petroleum oil containing organic acids with an effective amount of an alcohol at a temperature and under conditions sufficient to form the corresponding ester of said alcohol.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a microwavable package for a food product. The package comprises a base with an active microwave energy heating element to support the food product. The active microwave heating element comprises energy collecting resonant loops, tuned structures, and transmission lines to collect incident microwave energy and redirect it to other parts of the food product. The microwave package also includes a cover comprising a microwave energy interactive layer including one or more apertures within the cover. The apertures promote localized fields to promote browning of the food product in the local areas around the apertures. The cover may also comprise a susceptor layer that is heated in localized areas around the apertures due to the fields promoted by the apertures and impingement by incident microwaves energy through the apertures, thereby providing localized browning of the food product.

Abstract: A nickel hydroxide positive active material for an alkaline battery contains nickel hydroxide powder having a nickel valence of greater than 2; and a cobalt compound having a cobalt valence of greater than 2, which is formed on the surface of said nickel hydroxide powder. For example, the surface of nickel oxyhydroxide powder is covered by cobalt oxyhydroxide layer. This positive active material is used as a starting material to produce an electrode by retaining it in a three-dimensional porous material.

Abstract: Food packaging with a removable prize therein. Prizes are located between a first surface of a first sheet of plastic and a first surface of a second sheet of plastic via adhesive. Food is placed on a second, opposite surface of the first plastic sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The food is covered either by using a second sheet that is wide enough that it is folded over the food and sealed, or a separate third sheet is placed over the food and sealed to the second and first sheets. In this way, the prize is prevented from commingling with the food, and the prize can be attached to the food packaging per se.

Abstract: A secondary battery having an improved sealing structure between electrode tabs acting as terminals of the battery, and a dielectric package, which is capable of preventing leakage of an organic electrolyte. The secondary battery includes a battery body having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator which are stacked, and electrode tabs for inducing current generated therein to the outside; a dielectric package having upper and lower dielectric packages, for enclosing the battery body by sealing edge portions of the upper and lower dielectric packages while the electrode tabs are partially exposed to the outside; and sealing materials including sidearms, coated on predetermined portions of the electrode tabs by a predetermined width, for preventing leakage of an organic liquid electrolyte while being interposed and fused between the edge portions of the upper and lower dielectric packages.

Abstract: An improved low shear extrusion and dehydrating apparatus (10) is provided for the continuous extrusion of various starting materials (e.g., starch-bearing grains or starch fractions thereof, proteinaceous materials and/or nutraceuticals) to yield improved products, especially cold water swelling or soluble starch products. The invention is also useful for forming pre-gelled starch products and for processing starch-bearing materials using little or no surfactant. The apparatus (10) preferably includes an elongated extruder (18) together with a tubular die assembly (20) coupled to the outlet of the extruder barrel (32), wherein the volumetric ratio of the die assembly (20) to the free volume of the extruder (18) is from about 3-20, and the ratio of die assembly retention time to the extruder retention time is at least about 5.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for activating and sealing a storage battery in an uncontrolled atmosphere. A tubular structure is coupled to a fill port of the battery, the battery is evacuated by connecting the tubular structure to a source of vacuum, and the battery is thereafter filled by connecting the tubular structure to a source of pressurized electrolytic fluid. After the battery has been evacuated and filled, a check valve, slideably positioned in the passage through which the battery has been evacuated and thereafter filled is driven along the passage into a press fit with a valve seat defined proximate the fill port of the battery to seal the battery from contaminants while allowing escape of gas from the interior of the battery housing.

Abstract: A bussing structure for bussing current within an electrochemical cell. The bussing structure includes a first plate and a second plate, each having a central aperture therein. Current collection tabs, extending from an electrode stack in the electrochemical cell, extend through the central aperture in the first plate, and are then sandwiched between the first plate and second plate. The second plate is then connected to a terminal on the outside of the case of the electrochemical cell. Each of the first and second plates includes a second aperture which is positioned beneath a safety vent in the case of the electrochemical cell to promote turbulent flow of gasses through the vent upon its opening. The second plate also includes protrusions for spacing the bussing structure from the case, as well as plateaus for connecting the bussing structure to the terminal on the case of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A novel food service package for containing a frozen concentrate for use in quick blending a drink of individual proportion is disclosed. The food service package of the present invention has a number of equally sized compartments with formed channels separating the compartments. Channels are formed under the dividers in the bottom of the package to provide a large surface are for rapid heat exchange so as to quickly temper the frozen concentrate in the package. A raised dome region is formed in the center of the package for rapidly dispersing the product dispensed from a single nozzle into each of the compartments. A gutter formed in each divider causes the dispensed concentrate to overflow from the compartments so as to rapidly self-level in the package.