Abstract: Acoustic attenuation materials are described that comprise outer layers of a stiff material sandwiching a relatively soft elastic material therebetween, with means such as spheres, discs or wire mesh being provided within the elastic material for generating local mechanical resonances that function to absorb sound energy at tunable wavelengths.

Abstract: The patent application relates to a lubrication device for lubricating traveling lubrication sites (6), such as those on a belt (5) or the like, in particular on a roller or chain belt (5), with a lubricant applicator (2) comprising at least one lubricant outlet (8), and a belt guidance device (3) associated with the lubricant applicator (2), by which the belt (5) or the like is guided during the lubrication process, and is characterized thereby that the lubricant applicator (2) comprising at least one lubricant outlet (8) is developed as a contact lubrication unit and that the lubricant applicator (2) and/or the belt guidance device (3) is comprised of a highly wear-resistant synthetic material or is coated with a highly wear-resistant synthetic material at least on its regions in contact with the belt (5) or the like.

Abstract: An auxiliary lubrication system for an aircraft turbine engine includes a reservoir 32 of lubricant 50 and a venturi 42 to suction lubricant out of the reservoir and direct an lubricant mist at a bearing 24 or other component requiring lubrication. The venturi is directly connected to a source of motive fluid, such as pressurized air extracted from an engine flowpath 10, and is continuously driven by the motive fluid. The auxiliary system accommodates a failure or malfunction of the primary, high pressure lubrication system. The auxiliary system operates during normal conditions, when the primary system is fully functional. If the primary system fails, the auxiliary system continues to operate for a limited time, until the lubricant in the reservoir is depleted, to provide an lubricant mist to the component being lubricated. The limited-duration lubricant supply allows the aircraft crew time to carry out actions required to safeguard the aircraft and its occupants.

Abstract: A system of enhancing air quality for buildings is proposed. The system includes a multi level building having a hoistway vertically extending through at least two levels of the building, for receiving a car vertically moving therein.. The system further includes at least an air circulating device placed on a top level of the building for pumping fresh air into the hoistway, a plurality of current directing devices installed between different levels of the building for directing air in the hoistway flowing from an upper level of the building to a lower level of the building, and a waste discharge device in communication with an available exhaust outlet in a basement for discharging exhaust out of the hoistway. Accordingly, the air flowing in the hoistway is maintained in a single direction. With the system of enhancing air quality for buildings, dirty air discharged below the car is maintained to flow downwardly to prevent backflow of the dirty air, so as to achieve better air quality in the elevator.

Abstract: An operating apparatus 1100 of a brake apparatus 1001 for restricting rotation of a brake drum 1003 including an operating lever 1112 and an operation restricting portion 1120 is provided. The operating lever 1112 is supported to be able to operate in a movable range. The movable range includes: a brake release mode permitting rotation of the brake drum 1003 both in regular rotation and reverse rotation; and an auxiliary brake mode restricting only reverse rotation of the brake drum. The operating lever 1112 is urged in a direction reaching the auxiliary brake mode from the brake release mode in a normal state. The operation restricting portion 1120 restricts a movement of the operating lever 1112 reaching the auxiliary brake mode by being brought into contact with the operating lever 1112 in the brake release mode.

Abstract: A combination brake system for two-wheeled vehicles (1) is described with a manually actuated hub brake (2) that is arranged on the rear wheel and a front-wheel brake (3) that can be actuated with the braking torque of the rear-wheel hub brake (2). In this case, the power transmission from the torque lever (5) of the rear-wheel brake (2) to the front-wheel brake (3) is realized by means of a degressive toggle mechanism (6) that operates near its extended position.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper having an anchor bracket and a bridge section and further including a housing connected to the anchor bracket. The housing may have a pair of brake mounting portions and a disc brake rotor. The brake mounting portions may extend substantially perpendicular to the bridge section. One of the brake mounting portions is located on a side of the disc brake rotor and the other of the brake mounting portions is located on another side of the disc brake rotor. The brake mounting portions are adapted for mounting a first and a second brake pad on opposite sides and against the disc brake rotor. The brake pads may be positioned in a face-to-face relationship with reference to each other. The disc brake caliper further includes a hydraulic service brake actuator and an electric parking brake actuator. Each of the actuators has an actuating member adapted for actuation against a rear of the first brake pad.

Abstract: An axle assembly has a fixed axle housing, a rotating axle body rotatably mounted in said axle housing, and a first chamber which surrounds the axle body. The first chamber is partially bounded by a ring member which rotates with the axle body. An annular disc is mounted on the axle body adjacent to the ring member. The disc extends radially outwardly beyond an outer rim of the ring member and radially overlaps the ring member. The disc is axially slidable towards and away from the ring member. When the disc is spaced apart from the ring member an opening or space is formed therebetween through which may be communicated pressurized air to inflate a tire. The disc is moved axially by a ring mounted on an annular piston member which is mounted on and axially movable with respect to the axle housing.

Abstract: An annular member (20?) intended for a braking device (16?) in the form of a multiple disk brake. The annular member includes a first portion which forms a part of a brake housing of the braking device and a second portion which forms a pressure surface for the disks in the braking device. The invention also relates to an arrangement for driving a wheel of a vehicle including the annular member.

Abstract: A monodirectional braking mechanism for use with a device for extending and retracting a sheet of material on a roller, the braking mechanism comprising one or more than one housing, one or more than one rotor within the housing, a brake controller connected to the rotor, and an eccentric brake operatively coupled with the brake controller, where the braking mechanism reduces the force or rate, or both the force and rate, of rotation of the roller as the roller is rotated in a second rotation direction but has substantially no effect on the force or rate of rotation of the roller when the roller is rotated in a first rotation direction, and where the first rotation direction is the reverse of the second rotation direction.

Abstract: The present invention mainly relates to an improved-safety braking device, intended for reducing the injury risks concerning the driver, owing to the brake pedal if a collision happens, in particular a front impact and, more particularly, the invention deals with an electrohydraulic braking device having a variable hydraulic reaction. A braking device according to the present invention comprises a master cylinder (1) fitted with a pedal-feeling simulation cartridge (3), said master cylinder (1) being actuated by an actuating rod (11) connected to a brake pedal (12), said cartridge (3) comprising a resilient means (29) and compression means (38) for the resilient means (29). These compression means (38) can be actuated by a computer (81) on the detection of an injury risk concerning the driver's legs, so as to reduce the compression rate of the resilient means (29).

Abstract: An electrically powered actuator mechanism for operating a vehicle parking brake including a reversible electrical motor having output gearing driving a sector gear. A wrapped spring clutch drivingly connects the sector gear to an intermediate operator cable wind up wheel. The intermediate cable is connected to the brake cable to set the brakes when the operator cable is wound up by energization of the motor in one direction, with a load sensor turning off the motor when a predetermined tension load is reached. Locking motor gearing holds the brake in the set condition. Reversal of the motor upwinds the cable to release the parking brake. A self adjusting feature is provided by a pretensioned clock spring creating a torsional bias on the wind up wheel tending to maintain a predetermined tension in the brake cable. A spring clutch is released by engagement of a release arm to allow the clock spring to adjust the wind up wheel.

Abstract: An electrically controlled parking brake for motor vehicles, including an operating element for operating the parking brake and a control unit, which controls an actuator of the parking brake when the operating element is operated. The parking brake function is ensured, upon failure of the electrical supply, if the parking brake includes a connecting device for connecting an auxiliary voltage source, with the aid of which the parking brake may be operated in an auxiliary manner.

Abstract: A shoe brake assembly for a rail vehicle including a bogie connected with the rail vehicle. The assembly also includes a wheel having a wheel web and radially inward-facing surfaces on opposite sides of the wheel web. Also included are at least two brake pads adjacent respective radially inward-facing surfaces of the wheel and a pendulum suspension arrangement connecting the at least two brake pads to the bogie. The assembly further includes an operating device configured to move the at least two brake pads via the pendulum suspension essentially radially against respective radially inward-facing surfaces of the wheel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a damper for use in a drum type washing machine, which can support a tub of the washing machine and absorb vibration of the tub. The damper comprises a cylinder, a piston partially inserted inside the cylinder, and a fixed damping member and movement prevention means, which are installed around an inserted portion of the piston inside the cylinder so that they are spaced apart from each other, and adapted to allow the piston to be stably supported inside the cylinder even in case that a tub of the washing machine vibrates in a non-axial direction of the cylinder and piston, thereby restricting a relative angular rotation of the cylinder and piston and preventing rubbing and collision caused between a lower end of the cylinder and the piston.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of motor vehicle safety involving energy absorption systems for damping the displacement of certain parts that are put into motion at the time of a mechanical collision between the motor vehicle and an externals object. The subject of the present invention relates to an energy absorption system (1) for safety devices in a motor vehicle, comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator (5) and a sliding position (7) that can be displaced in a damping chamber (2), the said generator (5) being able to relaease gas into the said chamber (2) in order to damp the piston (7). The main characteristic of this system (1) is that the gas generator (5) delivers a variable quantity of gas and the damping chamber (2) comprises a pressure-regulating device (4) that is triggered above a threshold pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic torsional vibration damper which is characterized in that the secondary mass is guided by a pair of slotted plastic flange sleeves with an L-shaped cross-section. The damper is characterized in that the butt joint is closed by a bridge temporarily formed onto it that will either break or deform in an elastic plastic manner when thermal length changes occur, thereby allowing transport of the sleeves in a pile and an automatic assembly of the damper.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly which includes a rotatable drum having a radially inner drum braking surface and a brake shoe of single piece construction and of generally circular form mounted within the drum and against a backing plate. The brake shoe includes friction lining and at least one flange projecting radially inwardly. The brake shoe has positioning arrangement for positioning the brake shoe within the drum in an inoperative condition against lateral movement into engagement with the drum braking surface, to provide for complete clearance between the friction lining and the drum braking surface in the inoperative condition. The positioning arrangement includes an engagement member for engagement with an abutment arrangement.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for providing a vacuum for the brake power assist unit of a motor vehicle having a vacuum pump which can be connected as required as a function of the operating conditions, and at least one other additional pump being provided for the buildup of a sufficient vacuum in the brake power assist unit. The additional pump is a secondary air pump already present in the vehicle, the controlling of the vacuum pump taking place simultaneously with the switching-on of the secondary air pump.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle in which a slide pipe is slidably provided within a cylinder tube, and a working fluid chamber is provided within the cylinder tube and the slide pipe, a guide bush coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene and an oil seal sealing the fluid chamber are provided in an inner periphery of the cylinder tube so as to be in slide contact with an outer periphery of the slide pipe. An amorphous hard carbon film is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the slide pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for passive stabilization of a wheeled object by employing secondary wheels rotating about secondary axes offset from a common axis of a primary set of wheels, where the secondary wheels are positioned such that tilting of the object during rolling causes one of the secondary wheels to contact the surface and counteract tilting tendencies. The offset of the secondary axes can include angular, vertical, and/or horizontal components.

Abstract: A device is disclosed (16) for sensing the axial position, in relation to the other component, of one of two components mobile relative to each other, in particular a piston (12) in relation to a cylinder housing (14), which device has a magnetic signal element (18) arranged on the one component and a magnetic-flux-sensitive sensor (20, 20?) arranged on the other component, by means of which the axial relative position of the signal element to the sensor can be detected. According to the invention, allocated to the sensor is at least one flux guide element (22, 22?) stationary in relation to the sensor, which extends on the other component at least over the area to be detected of the axial relative positions of the signal element to the sensor and comprises a plate section of a magnetizable material, wherein the sensor is arranged at one longitudinal end of the flux guide element outside the area to be detected of axial relative positions.

Abstract: An outer race member for a roller type one-way clutch, includes a plurality of pawls provided along an outer periphery and engaging with an opposite member, a cam surface formed on an inner periphery, and grooves, formed in the inner periphery, for disposing block bearings. A radial width of a peripheral portion of the groove is formed larger than a radial width of other portion.

Abstract: A multiple clutch unit for a power train. The clutch includes a first clutch, particularly a multiple-disk clutch that is non-rotatably connected to a first shaft. A second clutch, particularly a multiple-disk clutch, is non-rotatably connected to a second shaft and is arranged coaxially with the first clutch. The clutches can be actuated by means of piston/cylinder units, particularly hydraulically. The piston/cylinder unit associated with the first clutch includes a substantially cup-shaped cylinder that is connected to and cooperates with the first shaft in a non-rotatable but axially movable manner.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch for motorcycles having a cam-actuating mechanism to force a series of clutch plates into clutching engagement at a predetermined speed, a pressure limiting spring assembly limits the axial force transmitted to the clutch members at higher speeds so that the torque transmission characteristics of the clutch are similar to a manual clutch, and a manual override is capable of maintaining the clutch plates in the disengaged position at lower speeds as well as shifting the clutch members out of clutching engagement at higher speeds with relatively low exertion of manual or hand pressure.

Abstract: Backing plate (11) of a disk assembly (L) of a force transmitting aggregate, in particular a multi-disk wet clutch (1) or a multi-disk wet brake, wherein the backing plate (11) is essentially ring shaped and in accordance with the invention comprises an essentially ring-shaped core plate (10) and an essentially ring-shaped backing shell (9), wherein the core plate (10) and the backing shell (9) are provided with adjacent surfaces and the backing shell (9) exhibits a profiling (P) about the circumference (UI, UA)

Abstract: A car wash includes a controller having an input element and an output element. The input element is configured to receive an input representing a payment. The output element is in operative communication with the input element, and is configured to assign an output comprising a bonus value of a product or service to be dispensed if the payment is of a preferred form.

Abstract: A passenger conveyor (2) contains an endless passenger conveyor belt (6) that is composed of several interconnected footboard elements (4), wherein the footboard elements (4) are respectively connected to transport chains (8) that are arranged laterally of the footboard elements and driven around a first and a second reversing point by means of a drive. This passenger conveyor is characterized by the fact that the footboard elements (4) are detachably connected to the transport chains (8) by means of one respective lateral holding device (34).

Abstract: A sortation conveyor has a divert guide path which is configured to guide pushers to engage articles disposed on an endless conveying surface at an initial impact which does not result in an out of control situation even at high speeds. The divert guide path is disposed at a plurality of divert angles, and guides pushers to engage articles at a low initial contact divert angle and first lateral speed and to accelerate the articles to a final divert angle and second, higher, lateral speed. The pushers may be undergoing lateral acceleration at the time initial contact is made with the articles.

Abstract: In connection with making cast paving bricks of concrete with rectangular basic shape, sometimes there is performed a finishing treatment of the bricks by “rumbling” where the bricks otherwise organized on pallets or a casting board are transferred to a cylindric drum where these are tumbled with the purpose of achieving a surface with particular appearance. It has appeared that rumbled bricks, for price reasons, are preferred to be delivered in bulk, as a subsequent manually performed pelletizing is a relatively expensive element. Thus there is indicated a sorting unit including a conveyor with a conveyor belt over the surface of which, between a receiving area for the bricks and a delivery area, there are mutually spaced guide bars disposed obliquely in relation to the direction of movement (F) of the conveyor, by which the bricks are guided in a row with the same orientation for subsequent pelletizing by machine.

Abstract: A suspension-conveyor diverter for a conveyor for transporting hanging objects, including items of clothing hanging on hangers disposed on the conveyor, and having a conveying guide for a driveable conveying member, and also having a first carrying-element guide for at lease one transporting roller, on which the object can be hung by a carrying element such that the carrying element engages with the conveying member, and further having a second carrying-element guide, which is spaced apart from the first carrying-element guide. It is noted that a pivoting guide is provided with one end being articulated on one carrying-element guide, and which is preset such that the other free end of the pivoting guide strikes against the other carrying-element guide, so that the pivoting guide connects the first carrying-element guide and the second carrying-element guide to one another. The pivoting guide is set up for actuation, such as for deflection, by the carrying-element.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a plurality of idler pulleys over which a belt rolls. The idler pulleys are journaled in bearings in side walls of the conveyor assembly. The pulley includes a generally cylindrical center portion or shaft and a stub shaft that is removably mounted to end walls at each end of the pulley shaft. Each stub shaft has a radially disposed flange that is used to removably secure to the stub shaft to the pulley shaft. Additionally, at least one of the bearings for each idler pulley is mounted in an access panel. The access panel is removably mounted to the conveyor side wall and is sized and shaped, such that when they are removed from the conveyor side wall, the pulley stub shaft can be easily reached in order to be removed from the pulley, and the pulley itself can be easily removed from the conveyor, for repair or replacement.

Abstract: When a control lever is slid to move a driver housed in a quadrangular case in a given direction, the movement of the driver allows the driver to push one of resilient legs of movable contacts corresponding to the direction of movement. This movement resiliently slides the corresponding movable contact along an inner surface of the sidewall of the case and brings the movable contact into contact with a corresponding fixed contact. This structure can provide a multi-directional slide switch of low profile that has a small number of members and is easily assembled.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a switch is assembled by depositing a liquid switching element on a substrate. A channel plate is then positioned adjacent the substrate. The channel plate has a main channel and a waste chamber, and the main channel is positioned over the liquid switching element. The channel plate is then moved toward the substrate to cause a portion of the liquid switching element that overfills the main channel to be isolated from the main channel in the waste chamber. A method of switch production is also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-voltage circuit breaker, comprising: at least one first fixed contact, which is electrically connected to a terminal for connection to an electric circuit; a rotating moving contact, which comprises a central body from which at least one first arm protrudes, an active surface being provided at the end of the first arm, the active surface being associable/separable with respect to the fixed contact by means of a rotation of the moving contact; a rotating contact supporting shaft, which is functionally connected to an actuation mechanism of the circuit breaker and is provided with a seat that accommodates the central body of the moving contact so that the first arm protrudes externally from the seat, at least one first spring being furthermore arranged in the contact supporting shaft and being functionally coupled to the moving contact and suitable to ensure, when the circuit breaker is closed, an adequate contact pressure between the active surface and the first fixed contact; its particularity consists

Abstract: A transparent window for a multiple socket includes a housing and a transparent plate. Wherein, the socket is provided with receptacles and an embedding region. The embedding region is for forming a transparent window by covering the transparent plate thereon, and the transparent plate is further formed with indicative or decorative texts and symbols, thereby indicating uses of individual receptacles of the multiple socket and decorating the multiple socket.

Abstract: An independently positionable key switch including a key base having a key cap receiving opening and at least one gripping feature operative to facilitate gripping of the key base. An actuatable key cap is arranged in the key receiving opening of the key base. The key cap is actuatable between an unactuated position and an actuated position.

Abstract: A key sheet is equipped with a keytop exposed through an operational opening with no partition frame formed in the casing of an apparatus, the keytop being adapted to be depressed into the casing, and a base sheet to which the keytop is firmly attached, in which it is possible to achieve a further reduction in the thickness of the base sheet. In this key sheet, the base sheet is equipped with a pedestal portion to which the keytop is firmly attached and a frame-like support portion supporting the pedestal portion so as to allow its displacement, wherein a clearance portion allowing the keytop to avoid press contact with the frame-like support portion at the time of depressing operation is formed in the outer edge side portion of the bottom portion of the keytop opposed to the frame-like support portion, whereby even if the pedestal portion is thin, it is possible to perform depressing operation on the keytop without any fear of the keytop being caught by the frame-like support portion.

Abstract: A keyboard switch with an internal air escape network, such as a series of channels or through holes, for containing air or fluid escaping from the switching cavities when a key is depressed.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of amines from aqueous solutions by continuous distillation of aqueous solutions of the amines by a two-pressure method of rectifying aqueous solutions of amines which form with water an azeotrop, the composition of which is pressure-dependent, in two columns at different pressures provided that: a) the pressure in the second column is set to a value at least 0.5 bar higher than in the first column, b) the aqueous amine solution is fed, as a side stream, to the first column, and water and portions which boil at a higher temperature than the amine or which are non-volatile are removed at the base of the column, c) a mixture of amine and water is withdrawn at the head of the first column and fed, as a side stream, to the second column, d) an azeotrope of water and amine is withdrawn at the head of the second column and recycled to the first column, and (e) the purified amine is discharged at the base of the second column.

Abstract: A process for fractionating an amine-containing mixture which comprises one or more amines, water, low-boilers and high-boilers, having the steps (i) to (iv): (i) separating off by distillation low-boilers from the amine-containing mixture, (ii) separating off by distillation high-boilers from the amine-containing mixture, (iii) extracting the amine-containing mixture with sodium hydroxide solution, producing an aqueous, sodium-hydroxide-containing first phase and an aqueous-organic, amine-containing second phase, (iv) distilling the aqueous-organic second phase, producing an amine/water azeotrope and an essentially anhydrous amine, and recycling the amine/water azeotrope to the extraction step (iii).

Abstract: The present invention provides a water photolysis system comprising: a casing 1 into which incident sunlight L can enter from the outside and a photolytic layer 5 which is disposed inside the casing 1; wherein the photolytic layer 5 has a light-transmissive porous material 51 and photocatalyst particles 52 supported thereon; a water layer 4 containing water in its liquid state is disposed below the photolytic layer 5 with a first space 6 disposed between the water layer and the photolytic layer; a sealed second space 7 is formed above the photolytic layer 5 in the casing 1; vapor generated from the water layer 4 is introduced into the photolytic layer 5 via the first space 6; and the vapor is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by the photocatalyst particles 52, which are excited by the sunlight L.

Abstract: An electro-kinetic air conditioner for removing particulates from the air creates an airflow using no moving parts. The conditioner includes an ion generator that has an electrode assembly including a first array of emitter electrodes, a second array of collector electrodes, and a high voltage generator. Preferably, a third or leading or focus electrode is located upstream of the first array of emitter electrodes, and/or a trailing electrode is located downstream of the second array of collector electrodes. The device can also include an interstitial electrode located between collector electrodes, an enhanced collector electrode with an integrally formed trailing end, and an enhanced emitter electrode with an enhanced length in order to increase emissitivity.

Abstract: A method of deposition of a transparent conductive film from a metallic target is presented. A method of forming a transparent conductive oxide film according to embodiments of the present invention include depositing the transparent conductive oxide film in a pulsed DC reactive ion process with substrate bias, and controlling at least one process parameter to affect at least one characteristic of the conductive oxide film. The resulting transparent oxide film, which in some embodiments can be an indium-tin oxide film, can exhibit a wide range of material properties depending on variations in process parameters. For example, varying the process parameters can result in a film with a wide range of resistive properties and surface smoothness of the film.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium exhibits a high coercive force and suppresses noises caused therefrom at a low level. The magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic substrate, a nonmagnetic undercoating layer on the substrate where the undercoating layer has a hexagonal close packing structure or a combination of the hexagonal close packing structure and a body center cubic structure. The magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic intermediate layer on the undercoating layer, where the intermediate layer has a hexagonal close packing structure or a combination of the hexagonal close packing structure and a body center cubic structure, and a magnetic layer on the intermediate layer. The magnetic layer has a granular structure formed of ferromagnetic crystal grains and oxide grain boundaries or nitride grain boundaries surrounding the ferromagnetic crystal grains.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of an article having first and second surface regions of different coefficients of friction in a treatment chamber with a rotary support for the articles and capable of simultaneously carrying out at least two PVD coating processes. The first PVD coating process is carried out with a comparatively directed vapor flux from one or more targets which can compose one or more of the elements B, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W, carbides of these elements and carbon. A second PVD coating process is carried out with a comparatively less directed or non-directed vapor flux of carbon.

Abstract: A mobile zinc stripping device for stripping zinc from cathodes comprising a moveable base frame, a cathode support frame to support the cathodes during stripping, a stripping assembly for stripping the zinc sheets from the cathodes and at least one power source for powering the stripping assembly. The stripping assembly includes a lateral stripper for separating an upper edge of a zinc sheet from each of the cathodes, the lateral stripper being adapted to bias away from the cathode immediately upon entering between the zinc sheet and the cathode, and a scraping device for completing removal of the sheet from each said cathode. The device also includes a cathode cleaner and a bottom up stacker assembly for stacking zinc sheets.

Abstract: A membrane electrolysis cell comprising an anodic compartment and a cathodic compartment is described, wherein at least one of the two compartments contains an electrode fed with gas and a porous planar element is interposed between the membrane and the gas-fed electrode. A flow of chemically aggressive electrolyte crosses the porous planar element downwards under the effect of the gravity force. The planar element consists in a plastic element withstanding the aggressive operative conditions: The use of perfluorinated plastics such as ECTFE, PTEFE, FEP, PFA is preferred, even though they are strongly hydrophobic. When the gas-fed electrode is a cathode and the gas contains oxygen, the gas crosses the cathodic compartment upwardly so as to minimise the risk of hydrogen build up. The cell equipped with the oxygen cathode is particularly advantageous for the sodium chloride electrolysis.

Abstract: Protecting a membrane and electrode assembly in an electrochemical cell having one or more electrocatalysts in intimate contact with the membrane during storage or shipment of the cell. The membrane may be provided in either the non-proton form of a dry or hydrated cation exchange membrane, such as an alkali metal cation form or an ammonium cation form; the wet or dry precursor form of a cation exchange membrane, such as the non-ionically conducting sulfonyl-fluoride polymer membrane; or the dry proton form of a cation exchange membrane. These membrane surfaces are not acidic under open circuit conditions experienced during storage or shipment of the cell. Since some electrocatalysts are degraded during contact with the acidic surface of a hydrated membrane, the non-acidic surface of the membrane protects these electrocatalysts. The method may be used on newly assembled electrochemical cells, on cells being taken out of service, and on membrane and electrode assemblies.

Abstract: A gas/liquid phase separator includes a fluid inlet, a vapor outlet, a liquid outlet, and first and second valves disposed in fluid communication with the liquid outlet. Both valves are controllable in response to a system pressure and a fluid level in the gas/liquid phase separator. Both valves are further disposed in parallel fluid communication with each other. A method of controlling a liquid level in the phase separator includes sensing an amount of liquid in the phase separator, sensing a system pressure, and selectively opening a valve disposed in fluid communication with the phase separator to drain the liquid.