Abstract: A brush tube structure 10 is provided for holding a brush 14 of a motor. The brush tube structure includes a base 15 and a plurality of fingers 12 extending from the base in a cantilevered manner and in direction of travel of the brush. The fingers are constructed and arranged to define a brush receiving space, such that when a brush is in the space, the fingers engage the brush.

Abstract: A brush tube structure 10 is provided for holding a brush 14 of a motor. The brush tube structure includes a base 15 and a plurality of fingers 12 extending from the base in a cantilevered manner and in direction of travel of the brush. The fingers are constructed and arranged to define a brush receiving space, such that when a brush is in the space, the fingers engage the brush.

Abstract: An electric motor 10 has an armature assembly 12 coupled with a rotatable shaft 16; a clamshell frame assembly 18 including first and second halves joined together, each of the first and second halves includes locking structure 32; and a pair of bearing assemblies 22 carried by the frame assembly. Each bearing assembly includes a sleeve bearing 24 and an elastomer structure 26. The elastomer structure has a main body 30 substantially surrounding the sleeve bearing, and a pair of tabs 28 extending from the main body in opposing directions. Each bearing assembly 22 is operatively associated with an end of the shaft to permit rotation of the shaft. The locking structure 32 engages the tabs 28 of an associated elastomer structure to retain the bearing assembly with respect to the frame assembly, with the elastomer structures reducing transmission of noise from the sleeve bearings to frame assembly.

Abstract: An electric motor includes an armature structure 12 having a shaft 14, a lamination stack 11 coupled with the shaft, a commutator 16 coupled with the shaft, and windings 13 carried by the lamination stack and connected to the commutator. Brushes 17 engage the commutator to deliver electric current to the windings. The motor includes a frame structure 18 and permanent magnets 19 carried by the frame structure. At least one assembly is provided including a sleeve bearing 22, an elastomer structure 24 coupled with the sleeve bearing, and a retainer 26. The sleeve bearing is operatively associated with an end of the shaft to support the shaft for rotation. The elastomer structure is clamped between the frame structure and the retainer, with the retainer being engaged with a portion of the frame structure to maintain clamping on the elastomer structure.

Abstract: An electric motor (10) has an armature structure (12) including a shaft (14), a lamination stack (11) coupled with the shaft, a commutator (16) coupled with the shaft, and windings (13) carried by the lamination stack and connected to the commutator. Brushes (17) engage the commutator to deliver electric current to the windings. The motor includes a frame structure (18) carrying permanent magnets (19), at least one sleeve bearing (20) operatively associated with an end of the shaft to support the shaft for rotation, and a unitary bearing retainer structure (22) coupled with the frame structure and holding the at least one sleeve bearing.

Abstract: A subassembly for a stack of electrochemical cells that includes a porous metal sheet having a first face and a second face with a hydrophobic, carbonaceous gas diffusion layer disposed within the pores along the first face of the porous metal sheet. The second face of the porous metal sheet defines a flow field while that portion of the porous metal sheet filled with the gas diffusion layer forms a current collector. The subassembly may further include a metal gas barrier metallurgically bonded to the second face of the porous metal sheet to act as a gas barrier between the porous metal sheet and a second porous metal sheet having a second gas diffusion layer disposed within the pores along a face of the second porous metal sheet. Preferably, the gas diffusion layers are applied as a paste to the porous metal sheet and then dried.

Abstract: An electric motor has a unitary frame. The frame includes locating structure extending from an end portion thereof. The motor includes a shaft and an armature disposed within at least a portion of the frame and constructed and arranged to rotate the shaft. A commulator is associated with the shaft. Windings are carried by the armature and connected to the commulator. Permanent magnet structure is carried by the frame and is disposed generally adjacent to the armature. At least one brush arm is coupled to an associated locating structure. A brush is coupled with an associated brush arm so that the brush engages the commutator to deliver electric current to the windings. A structure, containing iron, is disposed about at least a portion of the permanent magnet structure to define a flux path for the motor.

Abstract: An electric motor has a unitary frame. The frame includes locating structure extending from an end portion thereof. The motor includes a shaft and an armature disposed within at least a portion of the frame and constructed and arranged to rotate the shaft. A commutator is associated with the shaft. Windings are carried by the armature and connected to the commutator. Permanent magnet structure is carried by the frame and is disposed generally adjacent to the armature. At least one brush arm is coupled to an associated locating structure. A brush is coupled with an associated brush arm so that the brush engages the commutator to deliver electric current to the windings. A structure, containing iron, is disposed about at least a portion of the permanent magnet structure to define a flux path for the motor.

Abstract: An electric motor 10 has an armature structure 12 including a shaft 14, a lamination stack 11 coupled with the shaft, a commutator 16 coupled with the shaft, and windings 13 carried by the lamination stack and connected to the commutator. Brushes 17 engage the commutator to deliver electric current to the windings. The motor includes a frame structure 18 carrying permanent magnets 19, at least one sleeve bearing 20 operatively associated with an end of the shaft to support the shaft for rotation, and a unitary bearing retainer structure 22 coupled with the frame structure and holding the at least one sleeve bearing.

Abstract: An electric motor includes an armature structure 12 having a shaft 14, a lamination stack 11 coupled with the shaft, a commutator 16 coupled with the shaft, and windings 13 carried by the lamination stack and connected to the commutator. Brushes 17 engage the commutator to deliver electric current to the windings. The motor includes a frame structure 18 and permanent magnets 19 carried by the frame structure. At least one assembly is provided including a sleeve bearing 22, an elastomer structure 24 coupled with the sleeve bearing, and a retainer 26. The sleeve bearing is operatively associated with an end of the shaft to support the shaft for rotation. The elastomer structure is clamped between the frame structure and the retainer, with the retainer being engaged with a portion of the frame structure to maintain clamping on the elastomer structure.

Abstract: An electric motor 10 has an armature 12 including windings 14. The armature is constructed and arranged to rotate a shaft 16. The motor includes a commutator 18 and a brush card assembly 20 having brushes to engage the commutator and conduct electrical current to the windings. A permanent magnet structure 21 is disposed about the armature. A frame assembly 22 carries the permanent magnet structure. A coil spring structure 36, containing iron, is disposed about and contacts the permanent magnet structure to define a flux path of the motor.

Abstract: A brush holder 10 is provided for holding a hammer brush 12 of an electric motor. The brush holder includes a single piece of wire bent to define a brush-engaging portion 14 define an opening 15, and a torsion spring structure 16 connected to and spaced from the brush-engaging portion. The brush-engaging portion is constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of the hammer brush when coupled therewith.

Abstract: The invention provides for reducing the number of parts and the number of interfaces found in certain types of chemical reactors, particularly in electrochemical reactors, and especially in the type or reactor known as a fuel cell or fuel cell stack. This reduction comes from the use of a unified structure that combines the functions normally carried out by several components in the unit, particularly by combining the functions of the gas distribution structure and the gas diffusion structure, the gas distribution structure and the gas barrier structure, or all three structures into a single, unitary, metallic part. This offers the advantages of simplified design, better performance, and lighter weight.

Abstract: The invention provides for reducing the number of parts and the number of interfaces found in certain types of chemical reactors, particularly in electrochemical reactors, and especially in the type or reactor known as a fuel cell or fuel cell stack This reduction comes from the use of a unified structure that combines the functions normally carried out by several components in the unit, particularly by combining the functions of the gas distribution structure and the gas diffusion structure, the gas distribution structure and the gas barrier structure, or all three structures into a single, unitary, metallic part. This offers the advantages of simplified design, better performance, and lighter weight.

Abstract: A motor is provided which is configured to have at least a portion thereof received in an interior of a cover to reduce noise of the motor. The interior is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the cover. The motor includes a generally cylindrical housing having a closed end and an opened end disposed opposite the closed end. A brush card assembly is provided and includes a brush card and a cover support structure coupled with the brush card. The brush card and cover support structure close the opened end of the housing. The cover support structure has a plurality of resilient members extending from the opened end towards the closed end of the housing, with each resilient member being generally adjacent to an outer surface of the housing and being biased away from the outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: Thin, light weight bipolar plates for use in electrochemical cells are rapidly, and inexpensively manufactured in mass production by die casting, stamping or other well known methods for fabricating magnesium or aluminum parts. The use of a light metal, such as magnesium or aluminum minimizes weight and simultaneously improves both electrical and thermal conductivity compared to conventional carbon parts. For service in electrochemical cells these components must be protected from corrosion. This is accomplished by plating the surface of the light weight metal parts with a layer of denser, but more noble metal. The protective metal layer is deposited in one of several ways. One of these is deposition from an aqueous solution by either electroless means, electrolytic means, or a combination of the two. Another is deposition by electrolytic means from a non-aqueous solution, such as a molten salt.

Abstract: The invention provides for reducing the number of parts and the number of interfaces found in certain types of chemical reactors, particularly in electrochemical reactors, and especially in the type or reactor known as a fuel cell or fuel cell stack. This reduction comes from the use of a unified structure that combines the functions normally carried out by several components in the unit, particularly by combining the functions of the gas distribution structure and the gas diffusion structure, the gas distribution structure and the gas barrier structure, or all three structures into a single, unitary, metallic part. This offers the advantages of simplified design, better performance, and lighter weight.

Abstract: Thin, light weight bipolar plates for use in electrochemical cells are rapidly, and inexpensively manufactured in mass production by die casting, stamping or other well known methods for fabricating magnesium or aluminum parts. The use of a light metal, such as magnesium or aluminum minimizes weight and simultaneously improves both electrical and thermal conductivity compared to conventional carbon parts. For service in electrochemical cells these components must be protected from corrosion. This is accomplished by plating the surface of the light weight metal parts with a layer of denser, but more noble metal. The protective metal layer is deposited in one of several ways. One of these is deposition from an aqueous solution by either electroless means, electrolytic means, or a combination of the two. Another is deposition by electrolytic means from a non-aqueous solution, such as a molten salt.