Abstract: A hybrid, porous transport electrode with increased efficiency, durability and catalyst utilization includes a first support porous layer and a second intermediate porous layer including fibers and non-defined shaped particles of a conductive material, a mean particle size decreasing from layer to layer from a bipolar plate towards a membrane. Said first porous layer is made from sintered fibers of the conductive material and the second layer is made from non-defined shaped particles of a conductive material, said first porous layer having a contact surface oriented towards the bipolar plate having a bigger pore size than the second porous layer having a contact surface oriented towards the membrane. An electrochemically active top layer includes an electrochemically active material or mixtures thereof on the second porous layer, the top layer having a contact surface oriented towards the membrane and smaller pore size than the second and first layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration table (1) comprising a table plate (2) and a drive (3), wherein the drive (3) comprises four scissor mechanisms (41, 42, 43, 44), each having a first (41.1, 42.1, 43.1, 44.1) and a second limb (41.2, 42.2, 43.2 and 44.2) and a hub (41.3, 42.3, 43.3, 44.3), wherein the hubs (41.3, 42.3, 43.3, 44.3) are fastened to the table plate (2) and the first limb (41.1, 42.1, 43.1, 44.1) can be moved independently of the second limb (41.2, 42.2, 43.2, 44.2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration table (1) comprising a table plate (2) and a drive (3), wherein the drive (3) comprises four scissor mechanisms (41, 42, 43, 44), each having a first (41.1, 42.1, 43.1, 44.1) and a second limb (41.2, 42.2, 43.2 and 44.2) and a hub (41.3, 42.3, 43.3, 44.3), wherein the hubs (41.3, 42.3, 43.3, 44.3) are fastened to the table plate (2) and the first limb (41.1, 42.1, 43.1, 44.1) can be moved independently of the second limb (41.2, 42.2, 43.2, 44.2).

Abstract: Fluid distribution plate (1) for a fuel cell assembly, comprising a first plate (11) made of an electrically conductive material impermeable to all the fluids used in a fuel cell assembly, said distribution plate having a useful section (S) which is the surface over which the gases used by the electrochemical reaction are distributed, said useful section (S) being bordered all around by a peripheral section (P), said first plate having a given thickness e1 in the peripheral section and a smaller thickness e2 in the useful section so as to form a recess from the side facing the outer face and so as to have a flat inner surface, a flexible graphite foil (11C) being applied against said first plate (11) over the entire surface of the recess, the visible face of the flexible graphite foil having a distribution channel (111) for one of the fluids, said network being formed completely in the graphite foil.

Abstract: A method for shutting down an electricity supply system comprising a fuel cell, the cell being supplied with pure oxygen as the combustive gas and delivering an electric voltage to an electric power line, the system comprising a fuel gas feed circuit on the anode side and an oxygen feed circuit on the cathode side, the oxygen feed circuit comprising means that enable the said oxygen feed circuit to be opened to the atmosphere and means for delivering a stop signal to a control unit of the fuel cell. The shutting down procedure is activated on reception of a stop signal and comprises an initial stage during which the supply of oxygen is interrupted, a consumption stage during which a sustained current is drawn from the fuel cell, a neutralisation phase during which the oxygen feed circuit is opened to the atmosphere, and a final stage during which the supply of hydrogen is interrupted.

Abstract: Fluid distribution plate (1) for a fuel cell assembly, comprising a first plate (11) made of an electrically conductive material impermeable to all the fluids used in a fuel cell assembly, said distribution plate having a useful section (S) which is the surface over which the gases used by the electrochemical reaction are distributed, said useful section (S) being bordered all around by a peripheral section (P), said first plate having a given thickness e1 in the peripheral section and a smaller thickness e2 in the useful section so as to form a recess from the side facing the outer face and so as to have a flat inner surface, a flexible graphite foil (11C) being applied against said first plate (11) over the entire surface of the recess, the visible face of the flexible graphite foil having a distribution channel (111) for one of the fluids, said network being formed completely in the graphite foil.

Abstract: A method for shutting down an electricity supply system comprising a fuel cell, the cell being supplied with pure oxygen as the combustive gas and delivering an electric voltage to an electric power line, the system comprising a fuel gas feed circuit on the anode side and an oxygen feed circuit on the cathode side, the oxygen feed circuit comprising means that enable the said oxygen feed circuit to be opened to the atmosphere and means for delivering a stop signal to a control unit of the fuel cell. The shutting down procedure is activated on reception of a stop signal and comprises an initial stage during which the supply of oxygen is interrupted, a consumption stage during which a sustained current is drawn from the fuel cell, a neutralisation phase during which the oxygen feed circuit is opened to the atmosphere, and a final stage during which the supply of hydrogen is interrupted.

Abstract: A device (10) for feeding bulk material items (12) from a mass multiply arranged one above the other in a store (14) into a randomly re-alignable, individually distributed and disentangled position within the reach of a robot (18) comprises a substantially horizontally arranged oscillating conveyor surface (16) with first apparatus (58, 60) for the forward feed or reverse transport of the bulk material items (12) in the x-direction or in the x- and y-direction of the space coordinates and a second apparatus (62) for exciting an oscillation of the oscillating conveyor surface (16) in the z-direction of the space coordinates.

Abstract: A device (10) for feeding bulk material items (12) from a large mass into a randomly re-alignable, individually portioned disentangled position within the reach of a robot (18). A vision system comprising a camera (26) or a sensor records the number, position and alignment of the separated bulk material items (12). A processor (56) processes the sensor signals and generates control commands in actuators. The entire surface area of a one-piece oscillating conveyer surface (16) is supported by an oscillating conveyor arm (44). The surface lies on top of the arm and is horizontally displaceable in the x- or the x- and y-direction, extending together with the oscillating conveyor arm (44) and projecting in a freely supported manner from a storage zone (40) across a distribution zone (42) up to one front end of a selection zone (28) for the bulk material items (12). An oscillating motion (S) is generated in the z-direction with a continuously increasing amplitude (A) in the x-direction.

Abstract: A flexible parts feeder includes a flexible membrane for supporting parts and defining a selection zone where the positional state of parts is analyzed by a machine vision system. The output of the sensor is used to control a transformer that selectively applies impulse energy to the flexible membrane so as to change the positional states of at least some parts in the selection zone to a desired positional state. Those parts having the desired positional state are selected and removed from the membrane by a robot.