US4542079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel cell
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-12-13
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Granted: 1985-09-17
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Expires: 2004-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell comprising a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte body comprising an electrolyte-retainable material and an electrolyte retained in the electrolyte-retainable material, the electrolyte body being provided between the pair of electrodes, characterized by the electrolyte body being integrated with at least one of the pair of the electrodes. The fuel cell has a good sealing between the electrodes and the electrolyte body.
Inventors
- 👤 Masato Takeuchi
- 👤 Hiroshi Tobita
- 👤 Sigeru Okabe
- 👤 Hideo Okada
- 👤 Munehiko Tonami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/023; H01M8/0232; H01M8/0236; H01M8/0289; H01M8/0295; H01M8/14; H01M8/141; H01M8/142; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A fuel cell comprising at least a pair of electrodes of electron conductive catalytic refractory material and at least an electrolyte body comprising an electrolyte-retainable porous, refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic material and an electrolyte retained in the electrolyte-retainable porous material, the electrolyte body being provided between the pair of the electrodes, an oxidizing agent passage means for supplying an oxidizing agent to one of the electrodes, a fuel passage means for supplying a fuel gas to the other electrode, wherein an improvement comprises the electrolyte body being integrated with at least one of the pair of the electrodes through an intermediary provided between at least one of the pair of the electrodes and the electrolyte body, the intermediary being embedded in both the at least one of the electrodes and the electrolyte body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A fuel cell comprising at least a pair of electrodes of electron conductive catalytic refractory material and at least an electrolyte body comprising an electrolyte-retainable porous, refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic material and an electrolyte retained in the electrolyte-retainable porous material, the electrolyte body being provided between the pair of the electrodes, an oxidizing agent passage means for supplying an oxidizing agent to one of the electrodes, a fuel passage means for supplying a fuel gas to the other electrode, wherein an improvement comprises the electrolyte body being integrated with at least one of the pair of the electrodes through an intermediary provided between at least one of the pair of the electrodes and the electrolyte body, the intermediary being embedded in both the at least one of the electrodes and the electrolyte body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the intermediary is formed by coating the surface of the electrolyte body with a mixture of at least one of constituent materials of the electrode and the electrolyte-retainable material with the electrolyte material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a coating layer of constituent materials of the electrode is provided on the intermediary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the coating layer is a melt injection layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the intermediary is a porous material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein at least one portion of constituent materials of the electrode and the electrolyte body is filled in pores of the porous material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the intermediary and the electrode and the electrolyte body are integrated by pressing with heating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is a molten carbonate electrolyte.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said intermediary is of a material that reinforces the electrolyte body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said intermediary is made of a metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the intermediary has a structure of metallic netting, expanded metal, ceramic honeycomb, metallic honeycomb or porous metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte body is integrated with both of the electrodes through the respective intermediaries provided between the electrodes and the electrolyte body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte body has indents on at least one side thereof, with the electrode on the at least one side being positioned in the indents with an intermediary between the electrolyte body and the electrode in the indents.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell according to claim 12, wherein each of the intermediaries is embedded in both the electrolyte body and the respective electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-16 | 1989-03-18 | 1989-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-16 | 1993-03-18 | 1993-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-16 | 1997-03-18 | 1997-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |