Patent US4235693A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4235693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Submersible energy storage apparatus
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1979-11-09
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Granted: 1980-11-25
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Expires: 1999-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A submersible energy storage apparatus for an electrical power source is vided which includes an electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly and a fuel cell. The electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly includes a hydrogen container and an oxygen container wherein each container has a gas outlet and is capable of containing feed water as well as hydrogen and oxygen gases respectively. An electrolysis cell is provided which has a hydrogen outlet, an oxygen outlet and a feed water inlet. The hydrogen outlet is located in the hydrogen container, the oxygen outlet is located in the oxygen container, and the feed water inlet is located in one of the containers. Each of the containers has an opening to the submersible environment so as to be pressure responsive thereto. A barrier device is provided in association with the opening in each container for isolating the feed water in the container from water in the submersible environment. The fuel cell is operatively connected to the hydrogen and oxygen containers, and the electrical power source is operatively connected to the electrolysis cell. With this arrangement the electrolysis cell is capable of utilizing power from the power source during low electrical energy demand, and the fuel cell is capable of utilizing the hydrogen and oxygen gases for generating electricity during high demand periods.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond A. Rowe
- 👤 Joseph F. McCartney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0656; C; C25; C25B; C25B15/00; C25B15/08; C25B9/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly for a water submersible energy storage apparatus wherein the energy storage apparatus includes the collection assembly as well as a fuel cell, comprising: a hydrogen container and an oxygen container, each container having a gas outlet and being capable of containing feed water as well as hydrogen and oxygen gases respectively; an electrolysis unit having a hydrogen outlet, an oxygen outlet, and a feed water inlet, the hydrogen outlet being located in the hydrogen container, the oxygen outlet being located in the oxygen container, and the feed water inlet being located in one of the containers; each of said containers having an opening to the submersible ambient environment so as to be pressure responsive thereto; and barrier means operatively associated with the opening in each container for isolating the feed water in the containers from water in the submersible environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly for a water submersible energy storage apparatus wherein the energy storage apparatus includes the collection assembly as well as a fuel cell, comprising: a hydrogen container and an oxygen container, each container having a gas outlet and being capable of containing feed water as well as hydrogen and oxygen gases respectively; an electrolysis unit having a hydrogen outlet, an oxygen outlet, and a feed water inlet, the hydrogen outlet being located in the hydrogen container, the oxygen outlet being located in the oxygen container, and the feed water inlet being located in one of the containers; each of said containers having an opening to the submersible ambient environment so as to be pressure responsive thereto; and barrier means operatively associated with the opening in each container for isolating the feed water in the containers from water in the submersible environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 1 including: switch means mounted within at least one of the containers for switching a power source on when feed water has risen to a predetermined level in the container and switching the power source off when the feed water level has dropped a predetermined amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 1 including: said container being upstanding with the hydrogen container being higher than the oxygen container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 3 including: a feed water check valve interconnecting the oxygen container to the hydrogen container with the direction of flow toward the hydrogen container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the barrier means includes: upstanding tanks; the hydrogen and oxygen containers extending into the tanks with the bottom portions of both containers being in communication with the bottom portions of the tanks; and the tanks each having an opening to the submersible environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein: the fluid barrier means includes a liquid which is heavier than water, the liquid being located with the bottom portions of the containers and the tanks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein: the barrier means includes a bladder which is mounted across the tank opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 7 including: switch means mounted within at least one of the containers for switching a power source on when feed water has risen to a predetermined level in the container and switching the power source off when the feed water level as dropped a predetermined amount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 8 including: said container being upstanding with the hydrogen container being higher than the oxygen container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly as claimed in claim 9 including: a feed water check valve interconnecting the oxygen container to the hydrogen container with the direction of flow toward the hydrogen container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
A submersible energy storage apparatus for storing energy from an electrical power source comprising: an electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly which includes: a hydrogen container and an oxygen container, each container having a gas outlet and being capable of containing feed water as well as hydrogen and oxygen gases respectively; an electrolysis unit having a hydrogen outlet, an oxygen outlet, and a feed water inlet, the hydrogen outlet being located in the hydrogen container, the oxygen outlet being located in the oxygen container, and the feed water inlet being located in one of the containers; each of said containers having an opening to the submersible ambient environment so as to be pressure responsive thereto; barrier means operatively associated with the opening in each container for isolating the feed water in the containers from water in the submersible environment; and a fuel cell operatively connected to the hydrogen and oxygen containers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
152 words
A submersible energy storage apparatus for storing energy from an electrical power source comprising: an electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly which includes: a hydrogen container and an oxygen container, each container having a gas outlet and being capable of containing feed water as well as hydrogen and oxygen gases respectively; an electrolysis unit having a hydrogen outlet, an oxygen outlet, and a feed water inlet, the hydrogen outlet being located in the hydrogen container, the oxygen outlet being located in the oxygen container, and the feed water inlet being located in one of the containers; each of said containers having an opening to the submersible ambient environment so as to be pressure responsive thereto; barrier means operatively associated with the opening in each container for isolating the feed water in the containers from water in the submersible environment; and a fuel cell operatively connected to the hydrogen and oxygen containers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A submersible energy storage apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including: the gas outlet of each container being in the top of the respective container and the top of the oxygen container having a water inlet; a plurality of conduits connecting the gas outlets and the water inlet of the containers to the fuel cell; and a conduit connected to each respective hydrogen and oxygen outlet of the electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly and extending upwardly to a top portion of each respective container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A submersible energy storage apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including: switch means located within each container above the feed water inlet of the electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly for switching the power source on when the feed water in the respective container has risen to a predetermined level in the respective container and for switching the power source off when the feed water level has dropped a predetermined amount.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
A submersible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 13 including: said containers being upstanding with the hydrogen container being higher than the oxygen container; and a feed water check valve interconnecting the oxygen container to the hydrogen container at a location below the feed water inlet of the electrolysis unit feed water gas collection assembly with the direction of flow toward the hydrogen container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A submersible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including: an upstanding tank; the hydrogen and oxygen containers extending into the tanks with the bottom portions of both containers being in communication with the bottom portion of the tanks; and the tanks each having an opening to the submersible environment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A submersible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including: the barrier means includes a liquid which is heavier than water, the liquid being located with the bottom portions of the containers and the tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A submersible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including: the barrier means includes a bladder which is mounted across the tank opening.
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) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |