Abstract: A fuel cell end plate configured to transmit substantially constant compressive forces along a surface of a fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell end plate is configured such that the compressive force is substantially constant along the surface of the fuel cell even when the surface of the fuel cell is non-parallel. The fuel cell end plate is also configured such that the surfaces of the end plate remain substantially parallel when the fuel cell end plate is in contact with a non-parallel surface of a fuel cell or fuel cell stack. The fuel cell end plate is also configured to act as a distribution manifold for the distribution of reactants and coolants to the fuel cell stack. Fuel cell assemblies including the fuel cell end plate and methods of assembling the fuel cell end plate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell end plate configured to transmit substantially constant compressive forces along a surface of a fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell end plate is configured such that the compressive force is substantially constant along the surface of the fuel cell even when the surface of the fuel cell is non-parallel. The fuel cell end plate is also configured such that the surfaces of the end plate remain substantially parallel when the fuel cell end plate is in contact with a non-parallel surface of a fuel cell or fuel cell stack. The fuel cell end plate is also configured to act as a distribution manifold for the distribution of reactants and coolants to the fuel cell stack. Fuel cell assemblies including the fuel cell end plate and methods of assembling the fuel cell end plate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand drier has an air outlet at which an object for drying is presented about which are mounted a plurality of transmitters of electromagnetic radiation located in the vicinity of the outlet, the transmitters being spaced apart one from another and from at least one receiver sensitive to the radiation. The receiver is masked to prevent direct emissions from any and all of the transmitters reaching the receiver; the transmitters and the, or each, receiver are located relative to a working volume at the air outlet operate so that on an object being located in the working volume a drying cycle is initiated by the passage of emission from the transmitters being scattered by the object so as to cause at least indirect emission from the object to fall on the, or at least one, receiver. Preferably the transmitters and the or each receiver are operable with electromagnetic radiation which is at or near the infra red portion of the spectrum.

Abstract: There is provided a hand drier comprising: a rigid housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; a flow passage through the housing having the inlet as its upstream end and the outlet as its downstream end; a fan incorporated in the flow passage the fan being in the form of a backward curved multi-bladed radial flow device; a heat transfer volume incorporated in the flow passage, the volume housing a heating element; a motor mounted in the housing for driving the fan, the motor being a brushless direct current device; and control means for operating the motor and heating element. The term `backward curved` applied to a blade refers to a blade which, when viewed along the axis of rotation of the fan, has a root from which the blade extends both outwardly and backwardly relative to a radius from the axis of rotation extending through the root. Thus relative to the direction of travel the root is the leading part of the blade and the outer end the trailing part.