US3779811A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Matrix-type fuel cell
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1971-03-16
•
Granted: 1973-12-18
•
Expires: 1991-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A compact electrochemical cell is described comprising an anode, a cathode, a matrix containing an ion-conductive electrolyte between the anode and cathode, and porous metal plates containing porous pins positioned adjacent each of said anode and cathode in order that the pins of the plates are in contact with said anode and cathode over the limited surface area of the pins. The electrolyte volume of the cell is controlled by electrolyte movement through the pins of the porous plate, thereby stabilizing the electrochemical performance of the cell.
Inventors
- 👤 C Bushnell
- 👤 J Stedman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/08; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
The fuel cell of claim 1 including a back-up plate behind said porous plate, said back-up plate and porous plate forming a gas coolant chamber therebetween, and reactant-fed means for feeding reactant to both sides of said porous plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel cell of claim 1 having a porous plate behind each of said pair of electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell of claim 3 wherein said porous plate is porous nickel having a porosity of from about 35 to 80 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fuel cell of claim 4 wherein said projections of said porous plate are pins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel cell of claim 5 wherein said pair of electrodes are lightweight screen electrodes comprising a support screen in contact with a catalyst mix of electrocatalyst and hydrophobic polymer binder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fuel cell of claim 6 wherein said binder is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fuel cell of claim 7 wherein the electrolyte is an aqueous alkali hydroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
A fuel cell having a pair of opposed electrodes, an electrolyte matrix positioned between said pair of electrodes, a self-sustaining porous plate having a plurality of porous projections positioned behind at least one of said pair of electrodes and in contact with said one electrode over the entire surface area of said projections; said matrix and said porous plate containing an aqueous electrolyte and being in electrolyte communication with each other through the electrode surface area at which said plurality of projections contact said electrode, said electrolyte completely filling said matrix and filling less than the entire volume of said porous plate whereby the electrolyte volume of said matrix is maintained constant, a back-up plate positioned behind said porous plate which together with said porous plate forms a passage between said porous plate and back-up plate, and means for feeding a gaseous reactant simultaneously between said porous plate and said one electrode and between said back-up plate and said porous plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fuel cell of claim 9 wherein porous plates are positioned behind each of said pair of electrodes and said plates are electrically connected to an external circuit for withdrawing electrical energy from said cell electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |