Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes in one aspect a source of a pressurized working medium and an expander. The expander has a housing and a piston, movably mounted within and with respect to the housing, to perform one of rotation and reciprocation, each complete rotation or reciprocation defining at least a part of a cycle of the engine. The expander also includes a septum, mounted within the housing and movable with respect to the housing and the piston so as to define in conjunction therewith, over first and second angular ranges of the cycle, a working chamber that is isolated from an intake port and an exhaust port. Combustion occurs at least over the first angular range of the cycle to provide heat to the working medium and so as to increase its pressure.

Abstract: Engines and methods execute a high efficiency hybrid cycle, which is implemented in a volume within an engine. The cycle includes isochoric heat addition and over-expansion of the volume within the engine, wherein the volume is reduced in a compression portion of the cycle from a first quantity to a second quantity, the volume is held substantially constant at the second quantity during a heat addition portion of the cycle, and the volume is increased in an expansion portion of the cycle to a third quantity, the third quantity being larger than the first quantity.

Abstract: The invention is a battery containing at least one electrochemical cell having a sealing plate with a pressure relief vent, the sealing plate being part of an electrical circuit between one of the electrodes and the corresponding terminal under normal conditions but capable of changing shape to break the circuit without the cell venting when the temperature of the sealing plate rises to a predetermined level and then returning to its original shape to reestablish the broken circuit when the sealing plate temperature returns to a normal level.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode for an electrochemical element absorbs monomers for polymerization on a surface having a specific surface area of 100 to 3000 m2g?1 and having an average pore diameter in the range of 0.4 to 100 nm, performing electrolysis polymerization by applying pulse voltage, and forming a conductive polymer layer on the surface of the conductive porous material, forming a thin and uniform electrode film. In a method for producing an electrochemical element, a conductive polymer layer is formed on the conductive porous material by absorbing monomers for polymerization on a surface of a conductive porous material having a specific surface area and pore diameter as above forming a electrochemical cell by using the conductive porous material, the monomers are absorbed in the pores, putting the electrochemical cell and the electrolyte solution in an outer casing, and performing electrolysis polymerization of the monomers in the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: To provide an electrode material excellent in output characteristics and cycle property and an electrochemical device using the electrode material. The electrode material comprising polymer complex compound represented by the following graphical formula: and the electrochemical device using the electrode material. Even if such a large size ion is employed, enhanced output characteristics could be obtained in the present invention. Polymer complex compound is polarized due to an electron attracting substituent, or steric hindrance occurs due to a substituent having a branch structure so that interval of polymer complex compound formed on the electrode is increased and doping reaction. Therefore, even if using large size ions smooth and rapid doping and undoping reaction could take place.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing an electrode material which is improved in energy density and is excellent in output characteristics. The present invention provides a manufacturing method for the electrode material comprising the steps of: 1) immersing a conductive material having a specific surface area of 200 to 3000 m2g?1 in a complex monomer solution of a transition metal having at least two different oxidation numbers, 2) performing electro polymerization by applying pulse voltage using the conductive material as an electrode to stack the complex monomer under the condition that electrolyzation time is 0.

Abstract: An improved internal combustion engine of the four-stroke variable volume type operates by refraining from introducing substantial fuel into the working medium during the compression stroke until substantially maximum pressure of the working medium has been reached and utilizing at least one of the following processes: (a) causing combustion of fuel under substantially constant volume conditions; and (b) causing the power stroke to provide a larger volume to combustion products than the compression stroke provides to the working medium. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes in one aspect a source of a pressurized working medium and an expander. The expander has a housing and a piston, movably mounted within and with respect to the housing, to perform one of rotation and reciprocation, each complete rotation or reciprocation defining at least a part of a cycle of the engine. The expander also includes a septum, mounted within the housing and movable with respect to the housing and the piston so as to define in conjunction therewith, over first and second angular ranges of the cycle, a working chamber that is isolated from an intake port and an exhaust port. Combustion occurs at least over the first angular range of the cycle to provide heat to the working medium and so as to increase its pressure.

Abstract: The invention is a battery containing at least one electrochemical cell having a sealing plate with a pressure relief vent, the sealing plate being part of an electrical circuit between one of the electrodes and the corresponding terminal under normal conditions but capable of changing shape to break the circuit without the cell venting when the temperature of the sealing plate rises to a predetermined level and then returning to its original shape to reestablish the broken circuit when the sealing plate temperature returns to a normal level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing frozen dough which can be directly transferred from freezer to oven without a proofing or thawing step. The process comprises mixing the dough ingredients, forming gas nucleation sites, exercising the dough by subjecting to cycles of pressure differentials and freezing the dough. The frozen product can be transferred directly from the freezer to an oven for baking.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for power generation through liquid piston internal combustion engine. The liquid piston internal combustion engine of the invention utilizes a novel, synergetic combination of internal combustion and steam piston engines within the framework of one and the same system. The engine may comprise a plurality of cylinders, each having a liquid piston.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for power generation through liquid piston internal combustion engine. The liquid piston internal combustion engine of the invention, utilizes a novel, synergetic combination of internal combustion and steam piston engines within the framework of one and the same system. The engine may comprise or a plurality of cylinders, each having a liquid piston. The ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) system comprises six modules viz PGM (Power Generating Module) (100), ERS (Energy Recovery System) (200), PCM (Power Conversion Module) (300), HAS (Hydraulic Shock Absorbers Module) (400), DAC (Data Acquisition & Control Module) (500) and AEM (Auxiliary Equipment Module) (600).

Abstract: An energy storage device, such as a battery or supercapacitor, that includes at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes includes an electrically conducting substrate having a layer of energy accumulating redox polymer complex compound of transition metal having at least two different degrees of oxidation, which polymer complex compound is formed of stacked transition metal complex monomers. The stacked transition metal complex monomers have a planar structure with the deviation from the plane of no greater than 0.1 nm and a branched system of conjugated &pgr;-bonds. The polymer complex compound of transition metal can be formed as a polymer metal complex with substituted tetra-dentate Schiff's base. The layer thickness of redox polymer is within the range 1 nm-20 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An energy storage device, such as a battery or supercapacitor, that includes at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes includes an electrically conducting substrate having a layer of energy accumulating redox polymer complex compound of transition metal having at least two different degrees of oxidation, which polymer complex compound is formed of stacked transition metal complex monomers. The stacked transition metal complex monomers have a planar structure with the deviation from the plane of no greater than 0.1 nm and a branched system of conjugated &pgr;-bonds. The polymer complex compound of transition metal can be formed as a polymer metal complex with substituted tetra-dentate Schiff's base. The layer thickness of redox polymer is within the range 1 nm-20 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A power plant includes a high temperature fuel cell, a volume expansion heat engine producing mechanical energy, and a combustion chamber coupled to receive from said fuel cell at least a portion of unconsumed fuel and apply high pressure combusted gases to the engine. A reformer can feed fuel to said fuel cell. A distributor distributes fuel cell exhaust fuel selectively to the reformer and the combustion chamber and varies the ratio of exhaust fuel fed to the reformer and combustion chamber in accordance with predetermined power desired from said fuel cell and engine.

Abstract: The present invention refers to methods for the manufacture of gas-diffusion electrodes to be used for water electrolysis and ozone production, as well as electrodes for fuel cells and other electrochemical devices. A portion of protons of an ion-exchange polymer is substituted in the channels of a channel-cluster structure of an ion-exchange polymer with cations of metal catalyst. This substitution is performed via the ion exchange process. Then said cations are electrochemically reduced in the form of metal particles of a catalyst on those areas of substrate where the latter is in contact with the channels of the channel-cluster structure of the ion-exchange polymer layer.

Abstract: The invention claimed here refers to electrical engineering and may be used to convert mechanical energy of reciprocating motion to electrical energy and vice versa. The machine has a stator with windings and a moving body installed in such a way that a possibility of reciprocating motion is provided. The stator has at least one magnetic part, each of which has at least one permanent magnet and has at least three unidirectional projections that form magnetic poles of alternating polarity. The cavities are formed between the projections, with stator windings placed in said cavities. The moving body has at least one part made of magnetically soft material. The stator and the moving body are positioned so that the moving body part made of magnetically soft material, in the course of the motion of the moving is (at least partially) within the magnetic fields of the poles of the magnetic part of the stator.

Abstract: A stationary power plant intended for use in houses and industrial or commercial buildings includes a high temperature fuel cell, a reformer for converting hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a combustion chamber, and a volume expansion engine. The fuel mixture from the reformer enters the fuel cell, where it is processed along with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The hot gases exiting the fuel cell, including unprocessed fuel, are passed to the combustion chamber where the fuel remnants are burned resulting in better fuel efficiency. The exhaust from the combustion chamber drives the volume expansion engine. The fuel cell, combustion chamber and volume expansion engine combination provides better dynamic load response than other fuel-cell-based power plants. One example of an entire building fuel cell power plant is disclosed which can operate in various modes to drive or thermally modify building water, air, sewage, and/or electricity.

Abstract: A power plant includes a high temperature fuel cell, a volume expansion heat engine producing mechanical energy, and a combustion chamber coupled to receive from said fuel cell at least a portion of unconsumed fuel and apply high pressure combusted gases to the engine. A reformer can feed fuel to said fuel cell. A distributor distributes fuel cell exhaust fuel selectively to the reformer and the combustion chamber and varies the ratio of exhaust fuel fed to the reformer and combustion chamber in accordance with predetermined power desired from said fuel cell and engine.

Abstract: A pivot assembly for mounting a pivot arm on a housing includes in a first embodiment thereof a pair of spaced mounting walls which extend inwardly in the housing adjacent opposite side extremities of a pivot opening therein and a pivot shaft on the pivot arm. The mounting walls have open notches therein which open outwardly through the pivot opening for receiving the pivot shaft therein, and the mounting walls and the pivot arm have retaining members thereon which cooperate to retain the pivot shaft in the notches. In a second embodiment the pivot assembly includes a concave mounting seat, a pivot arm having a pivot shaft which is received in mating engagement in the mounting seat and a retaining member having a convex retaining face thereon which is received in mating engagement with a corresponding concave pivot face on the pivot member for retaining the pivot shaft in the mounting seat.