Abstract: A valve seat/director unit the combines the functions of an injector valve seat and a separate spray director plate into an integral unit combining both functions. The unit is a generally flat plate having an outer portion with at least one sealing rib. A central portion includes at least one endless rib forming a valve seat and surrounding a spray director including a recessed area communicating with at least one fuel spray opening. Upper surfaces of the sealing rib(s) and valve seat are preferably flat and coplanar with one another for engagement by cooperating surfaces of an injector member and a valve member, respectively.

Abstract: The waste energy recovery assembly for a fuel cell system comprises: a cathode exhaust passage in fluid communication with a mixing zone through a collection chamber; an anode exhaust passage in fluid communication with said mixing zone by way of an anode exhaust gas orifice disposed in a direction capable of forming an anode exhaust gas flow entering said mixing zone at an angle of about 45° to about 135° to a combined gas flow entering said mixing zone from said collection chamber; a thermal exchange structure in fluid communication with said mixing zone; and an exhaust gas passage in fluid communication with said thermal exchange structure.

Abstract: A method for fuel cell system thermal management includes: maintaining a first zone at a first selected temperature range, maintaining a second zone at a second selected temperature range, and maintaining a third zone at a third selected temperature range. The second zone is in thermal communication with a first sensor and comprises a reformer, while the third zone is in thermal communication with a second sensor and comprises a fuel cell stack. The second selected temperature range is greater than the first selected temperature range, while the third selected temperature range is greater than the second selected temperature range.

Abstract: A base manifold for a modular solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprises a plurality of receiving areas for receiving a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; a fuel inlet passageway disposed between a manifold fuel inlet port and a plurality of stack fuel inlet ports; an oxidant inlet passageway disposed between a manifold oxidant inlet port and a plurality of stack oxidant inlet ports; a fuel outlet passageway disposed between a plurality of stack fuel outlet ports and a manifold fuel outlet port; and an oxidant outlet passageway disposed between a plurality of stack oxidant outlet ports and a manifold oxidant outlet port.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector comprises a body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and a base comprising a valve seat sealably connected to the body. A disk-shaped armature disposed at the fuel outlet for controlling the flow of fuel has an upper surface and a lower surface that comprises a sealing interface with the valve seat. A ring-shaped flexural element comprising a plurality of spaced flexural legs is in contact with the injector body and the upper surface of the armature and provides a spring bias between the body and armature upper surface. When the injector is closed, spring bias between the body and armature upper surface maintains the armature in a sealing position with the valve seat, and when the injector is open, increased spring bias between the body and armature upper surface impels the armature to return to a sealing position with the valve seat.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing a method and apparatus for specifying and obtaining services through voice commands, via a voice portal, resulting in a live conversation between a user and a selected service provider. The present invention is a system through which seekers of a wide array of services can select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a simple voice-transmission medium such as the telephone. The invention enables the seeker to locate a service provider by speaking the name of a profession, such as “psychiatrist,” which is recognized by the system's voice-recognition software. In a similar fashion, the seeker can then specify by speaking aloud the price range, quality rating, language, and keyword descriptors of the service provider. Within the desired parameters, the system offers service providers who have made themselves available to render services at the present time.

Abstract: A method for monitoring process gas of a solid oxide fuel cell system is disclosed. The method comprises directing a portion of process gas from a chamber of the solid oxide fuel cell system to a main plenum chamber. A portion of process gas is cooled to a measurable temperature and directed to a sensor for analyzing. A solid oxide fuel cell system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a flexural element connected to a valve armature for restricting radial movement of the armature within a fuel passage. The flexural element is flat and exerts no force on the valve when it is closed but is flexed when the valve is opened and supplements the valve spring force during closing of the valve. The flexural element also is used to set the valve stroke length equal to the element's thickness. A flat tool presses a valve ball into the armature while the ball is seated on a valve seat until the flexural element engages a seat related surface. Engagement of the tool with the flexural element fixed to the armature assures that the flexural element is in an unloaded flat position when the valve is closed and establishes the valve stroke when the valve assembly and seat are installed in the injector body.

Abstract: An engine fuel injector body is assembled using a furnace brazing method to provide structural and hermetic internal joints at interior locations with minimum size and processing. The method of assembling an injector with such an internal hermetic and structural joint may include the steps of providing an annular body member with an annular inner recess having an inner cylindrical surface, forming an annular end recess adjoining the cylindrical surface, fitting a tubular member into the inner recess of the body member with an outer surface of the tubular member engaging the cylindrical surface of the inner recess, placing a brazing ring in the end recess of the body member adjacent the tubular member, and furnace brazing the members together to form the internal hermetic and structural joint. Additional joints may be joined during the same brazing step.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector comprises a body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and a base comprising a valve seat sealably connected to the body. A disk-shaped armature disposed at the fuel outlet for controlling the flow of fuel has an upper surface and a lower surface that comprises a sealing interface with the valve seat. A ring-shaped flexural element comprising a plurality of spaced flexural legs is in contact with the injector body and the upper surface of the armature and provides a spring bias between the body and armature upper surface. When the injector is closed, spring bias between the body and armature upper surface maintains the armature in a sealing position with the valve seat, and when the injector is open, increased spring bias between the body and armature upper surface impels the armature to return to a sealing position with the valve seat.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of using a pressure regulator in a fuel cell system are disclosed herein. The method comprises controlling a purge gas pressure of a purge gas disposed in an enclosure disposed around a fuel cell stack and a waste energy recovery assembly, by seating a pressure plunger in a seating portion of a pressure regulator, wherein the purge gas unseats the pressure plunger when the purge gas pressure exceeds a desired pressure. The method further comprises passing a sufficient amount of the purge gas past the seating portion to reduce the purge gas pressure to at least the desired pressure.

Abstract: A cover for use with a fuel injector. The cover formed of at least two separate pieces that are assemble over the fuel injector. The pieces are held together by a detent member and cooperate to form a cavity that houses the fuel injector. A complaint member is positioned within the cavity to minimize relative movement between the cover and the fuel injector.

Abstract: A base manifold for a modular solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprises a plurality of receiving areas for receiving a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; a fuel inlet passageway disposed between a manifold fuel inlet port and a plurality of stack fuel inlet ports; an oxidant inlet passageway disposed between a manifold oxidant inlet port and a plurality of stack oxidant inlet ports; a fuel outlet passageway disposed between a plurality of stack fuel outlet ports and a manifold fuel outlet port; and an oxidant outlet passageway disposed between a plurality of stack oxidant outlet ports and a manifold oxidant outlet port.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for specifying and obtaining services through audio commands, resulting in a live conversation between a user and a selected service provider using an audio-transmission medium (the telephone). A service seeker locates a service provider by entering a keypad code corresponding to a field of service or by speaking the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system. The seeker can then specify, via voice or keypad entry, a price range, quality rating, language, and keyword descriptors of the service provider, such as a service provider code number. In response, the system offers currently available service providers. Once an available service provider is selected, the system connects the service seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. The system bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider accordingly.

Abstract: A method of assembly of a fuel injector having a valve plunger reciprocable in a guide tube for movement from a closed position engaging a valve seat to an open position engaging a valve stop by energizing of a solenoid coil to move the plunger against a biasing spring, wherein the method includes setting the valve stop at a position effective to establish the desired valve stroke, and fixing the valve stop to the guide tube by first laser spot welding the valve stop in the guide tube to fix the position of the valve stop without changing the set gap, and then laser seam welding the valve stop in the guide tube at an axial location beyond the spot welds, relative to a plunger-engagable end of the valve stop, to provide a hermetic seal around the valve stop.

Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a pole piece into an internal fuel passage of a fuel injector. The assembly method includes the steps of: (a) providing an endoskeletal injector tube, where the injector tube provides the fuel passage for the fuel injector; (b) forming at least one depression into an outer surface of the injector tube; (c) inserting an injector valve into the injector tube; (d) inserting the pole piece into the injector tube, wherein the pole piece is adjustable thereafter; and (e) affixing the pole piece within the injector tube, where an outer surface of the pole piece is in contact with an inner surface of the injector tube corresponding to the depressions, thereby creating a spring fit between the pole piece and the tube.

Abstract: A fuel injector is provided for use in an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes an injector body having an axially extending fuel passage for fuel flow, an injection valve movable in the passage for controlling fuel flow therein, a valve seat adjustably positioned into an outlet end of the fuel passage, and a valve seat retainer for applying an axial load onto the valve seat and securely attaching the valve seat into the fuel passage of the injector body.

Abstract: An injector valve armature/spacer is formed as an integral tri-function multiple thickness member for an engine fuel injector. The member includes an armature having a center portion with an upper side engagable by a biasing spring and an outer portion with spaced radial openings extending outward from the center portion. An outer rim is connected to the inner portion of the armature by flexible legs extending radially through the radial openings. The rim has a thickness greater than that of the armature by a differential dimension establishing a stroke of the armature. The legs have a thickness less than that of the armature to permit flexing of the legs upon movement of the armature. The integral member is designed for manufacture in multiple layers using electroforming, optionally combined with metal etching.

Abstract: A method for locating an injector ball valve guide in alignment with a valve seat mounted in a common recess of an injector valve body. The valve guide is a disk that has a central opening which guides a valve ball of an associated valve member. During assembly, the guide disk is aligned with the valve seat by a locating tool having an oversized ball on a load rod. The oversized ball is fitted closely within the central opening of the guide and is seated on the ball seat to align the seat and opening. The valve seat and guide disk are then locked in the recess by crimping edges of the recess against the valve seat. The locating tool is removed and assembly of the remaining injector components is completed. The method simplifies alignment of the seat and guide components. In a variation of the method, the guide is aligned with and fixed to the valve seat with the oversized ball in place to form an aligned subassembly for subsequent installation into a fuel injector.

Abstract: A valve seat/director unit the combines the functions of an injector valve seat and a separate spray director plate into an integral unit combining both functions. The unit is a generally flat plate having an outer portion with at least one sealing rib. A central portion includes at least one endless rib forming a valve seat and surrounding a spray director including a recessed area communicating with at least one fuel spray opening. Upper surfaces of the sealing rib(s) and valve seat are preferably flat and coplanar with one another for engagement by cooperating surfaces of an injector member and a valve member, respectively.