Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel gas supply mechanism (1, 91-97) which supplies a fuel gas, an oxidizing gas supply mechanism (2) which supplies an oxidizing gas, a fuel cell (5) which generates power using the fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply mechanism (1, 91-97) and the oxidizing gas supplied from the oxidizing gas supply mechanism (2), and a water recovery device (41, 42) which separates and recovers water contained in exhaust gas from the fuel cell (5), and mixes the recovered water with a water-compatible liquid in the location where the water is separated and recovered.

Abstract: When a system starts, a fuel-air mixture (rich air-fuel ratio) of fuel and air supplied to a start-up combustor (20) is ignited by a glow plug (40), and high temperature gas containing fuel components for a reforming reaction are generated. The high temperature gas containing fuel components for the reforming reaction is supplied to a reformer (22).

Abstract: In a connector with a component built-in, a base member is formed of three-dimensional formation circuit substrate, and has a fitting portion that is to be fitted to a connector of counterpart. Terminals electrically connected to a wiring pattern on a mother board, contacts electrically connected to contacts of the connector of counterpart, and a conductive pattern electrically connected to the electronic component are formed on a surface of the base member. Thus, the conductive pattern can easily be modified depending on application, and it is possible to provide complicated wirings. Furthermore, since the electronic component is mounted on the base member, it is possible to make the connector embed a lot of electronic components, and degrees of freedom of design are increased. Still furthermore, the electronic component can be connected by reflow soldering, so that mounting workability of the electronic component is increased.

Abstract: In a connector with a component built-in, a base member is formed of three-dimensional formation circuit substrate, and has a fitting portion that is to be fitted to a connector of counterpart. Terminals electrically connected to a wiring pattern on a mother board, contacts electrically connected to contacts of the connector of counterpart, and a conductive pattern electrically connected to the electronic component are formed on a surface of the base member. Thus, the conductive pattern can easily be modified depending on application, and it is possible to provide complicated wirings. Furthermore, since the electronic component is mounted on the base member, it is possible to make the connector embed a lot of electronic components, and degrees of freedom of design are increased. Still furthermore, the electronic component can be connected by reflow soldering, so that mounting workability of the electronic component is increased.

Abstract: To generate hydrogen-rich gas which is supplied to a fuel cell stack (2) of a fuel cell power plant, a reformer (1) generates reformate gas comprising hydrogen from methanol, and a carbon monoxide oxidizer (3) oxidizes carbon monoxide from the reformate gas by an action of a catalyst incorporated therein. A valve (10) which supplies hot gas, and a valve (18) which supplies air are provided. When the catalyst temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, hot gas is supplied from the valve (10) to the oxidizer (3). Due to the heat of oxidation of carbon monoxide by the air supplied by the valve (18) and the high temperature of the hot gas, the temperature of the catalyst rises rapidly after start-up of the power plant.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide in reformate gas is removed by oxidizing reactions in a plurality of catalytic components (4A-4C) disposed in series. Air from air supply valves (6A-6C) is supplied to the catalytic components (4A-4C). The oxidation amount of carbon monoxide in the catalytic components (4A-4C) depends on air supply flow rates of the air supply valves (6A-6C). A controller (7) controls the air supply valves (6A-6C) so that the ratio of the air supply flow rate to an upstream component (4A) with respect to the air supply flow rate to a downstream component (4C) decreases as a flow rate of reformate gas decreases. In this manner, reverse shift reactions generating carbon monoxide as a result of reactions between carbon dioxide and hydrogen contained in the reformate gas can be suppressed in the downstream catalytic component (4C) when the flow rate of reformate gas is low.

Abstract: A fuel cell power plant is provided with a reformer (18) producing a reformate gas and a carbon monoxide removal device (1) removing carbon monoxide from the reformate gas as a result of catalytic reactions. When the carbon monoxide removal device (1) is operating at a low temperature, a heat exchanger (10) supplies gaseous heat transmitting medium to a heat exchange portion (5) of the carbon monoxide removal device (1) and warms the catalyst using heat exchange operations with the catalyst in the carbon monoxide removal device (1). The pressure regulation valve (12) regulates the pressure of the gaseous heat transmitting medium and maintains the temperature of the catalyst between the catalyst activation temperature and the predetermined upper limiting temperature of the catalyst in order to employ latent heat resulting from the heat of condensation of the steam for heating the catalyst.

Abstract: When a system starts, a fuel-air mixture (rich air-fuel ratio) of fuel and air supplied to a start-up combustor (20) is ignited by a glow plug (40), and high temperature gas containing fuel components for a reforming reaction are generated. The high temperature gas containing fuel components for the reforming reaction is supplied to a reformer (22).

Abstract: To generate hydrogen-rich gas which is supplied to a fuel cell stack (2) of a fuel cell power plant, a reformer (1) generates reformate gas comprising hydrogen from methanol, and a carbon monoxide oxidizer (3) oxidizes carbon monoxide from the reformate gas by an action of a catalyst incorporated therein. A valve (10) which supplies hot gas, and a valve (18) which supplies air are provided. When the catalyst temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, hot gas is supplied from the valve (10) to the oxidizer (3). Due to the heat of oxidation of carbon monoxide by the air supplied by the valve (18) and the high temperature of the hot gas, the temperature of the catalyst rises rapidly after start-up of the power plant.

Abstract: A coaxial electro-optical distance meter has optical elements on light transmitting side which are located behind an objective lens such that light from a light transmitting member is reflected from a first reflecting surface disposed adjacent to an optical axis of the objective lens. The reflected light is emitted as transmitted light to a reflecting member disposed ahead of the objective lens. Optical elements on light receiving side are arranged such that received light from the reflecting member is reflected from a second reflecting surface disposed behind the first reflecting surface for guiding it to a light receiving member disposed beside the optical axis. The first reflecting surface is disposed such that the optical axis is positioned inside a luminous flux of the transmitted light.

Abstract: An automated part assembly machine has a work table supported to a base and movable relative thereto and at least two separate robots each having an end effector movable around within an individual work region. The two robots are positioned in such a relation as to give a common work region in which the individual work regions of the two robots overlap. A parts supply is arranged to the work table for storing parts to be picked-up by the robots. A plurality of operator hands are selectively and removably attached to the end effector of the robot for handling the parts by the robot. Disposed within the common region is a jig which positions the parts for assembly by the robot. The robots and the work table are controlled to operate in cooperation for assembly of the parts.

Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper comprises; a driving rod which is reciprocated by crank-coupling with a wiper motor, a double arm lever reciprocally swung around a pivot shaft by the driving rod, a driving-side wiper blade which is swung by fixing in the pivot shaft, a driving-side lever which is fixedly secured in a downward extending portion of the pivot shaft, a coupling rod rotatably coupled with the driving-side lever, and a driven-side lever which is swung by reciprocation of the coupling rod and swings a driven-side wiper blade.