US4493878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel element for liquid fuel cell and a liquid fuel cell
Assignee: Toyota Industries Corp
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Filing: 1983-04-07
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Granted: 1985-01-15
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Expires: 2003-04-07
Abstract
Abstract This invention is a fuel element for liquid fuel cell characterized in that a liquid fuel is rendered to assume a non-fluidized state by either physical means or chemical means, and is returned back to the initial liquid fuel at any time by physical means or chemical means.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuo Horiba
- 👤 Kazuo Iwamoto
- 👤 Hidejiro Kawana
- 👤 Kazunori Fujita
- 👤 Kohki Tamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/08; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04186; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A fuel element for supplying liquid fuel to a fuel cell comprising: a non-fluid material binding a fuel in a non-fluidized state within an outer wrapping or cartridge, whereby the fuel element may be removably positioned within a fuel cell to provide liquid fuel to the fuel cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fuel element for supplying liquid fuel to a fuel cell comprising: a non-fluid material binding a fuel in a non-fluidized state within an outer wrapping or cartridge, whereby the fuel element may be removably positioned within a fuel cell to provide liquid fuel to the fuel cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel element is wrapped in a fibrous substrate material is contained in said cartridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel element according to claim 1, wherein said non-fluid material is a material that releases the fuel, to provide the liquid fuel, when coming into contact with water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fuel element according to claim 1, wherein said non-fluid material is an adsorbing agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel element according to claim 1, wherein said non-fluid material is an agent which chemically reacts with the fuel to form salts thereof or polymers thereof that are in a solid form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A liquid fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte positioned between the electrodes, said cell including an anolyte or fuel chamber connected with a means for holding a fuel supply element, the fuel element of claim 1 being removably positioned within said holding means, whereby the fuel may be converted to its liquid state and form the anolyte within the fuel cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein said means for holding a fuel supply element includes means for preventing flow of electrolyte to the means for holding a fuel supply element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein said non-fluid material is an adsorbing agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein said non-fluid material is an agent which chemically reacts with the fuel to form salts thereof or polymers thereof that are in a solid form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein said non-fluid material is an adsorbing agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the adsorbing agent is selected from dextrin, dextran, silica gel, silica, alumina, molecular Sieves, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, carbon black or activated carbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 11, wherein the adsorbing agent is carbon black or activated carbon, and whereby the liquid fuel is released therefrom when the non-fluid material binding a fuel in a non-fluidized state comes in contact with water under a heated condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein said non-fluid material is an agent which chemically reacts with the fuel to form salts thereof or polymers thereof that are in a solid form.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 13, wherein the salts consist of solidified fuels selected from sodium formate, potassium formate, hydrazinium sulfate, lithium methylate, sodium methylate, potassium methylate, metaformaldehyde and paraformaldehyde.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 14, wherein the solidified fuels are selected from the group consisting of metaformaldehyde and paraformaldehyde, and whereby the liquid fuel is released therefrom when the non-fluid material binding a fuel in a non-fluidized state comes in contact with water under a heated condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein the non-fluid material binding a fuel in a non-fluidized state is a non-fluid material binding a liquid fuel in the non-fluidized state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 16, wherein the liquid fuel is selected from the group consisting of methanol, formic acid, formalin and hydrazine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein said anolyte or fuel chamber is filled with a fibrous substrate material.
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) | 1988-01-15 | 1988-07-16 | 1989-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-15 | 1992-07-16 | 1993-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-15 | 1996-07-16 | 1997-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |