Patents Examined by Shermanda L. Williams
  • Patent number: 7258945
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Ned E. Cipollini, Timothy W. Patterson, Marianne Pemberton, Jonathan Puhalski, Carl A. Reiser, Richard D. Sawyer, Margaret M. Steinbugler, Jung S. Yi
  • Patent number: 7097938
    Abstract: A negative electrode material and a battery which have an excellent cycle characteristic as well as a high capacity are provided. A positive electrode housed in an exterior can and a negative electrode housed in an exterior cup are laminated with a separator therebetween. An electrolytic solution of lithium salt dissolved in a solvent is poured into the inside of both the exterior can and the exterior cup. The negative electrode contains Mg2?xMIIxMI. MI expresses a first element such as Si, Sn, Ge, Pb, or the like. MII expresses a second element which is a metallic element, preferably Mn, Cu, Zn, or the like except both Mg and the first element. X is preferably in the range of 0.1?x?1.9. Substituting part of Mg by the second element MII can produce the distortion of the crystal structure, ease distortion accompanying the occluding/releasing lithium, and improve the charge and discharge efficiency and the cycle characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Yamada, Hiroshi Inoue, Takuya Endo