US5229222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell system
Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-11-12
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Granted: 1993-07-20
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Expires: 2011-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell system for directly converting chemical energy of a fuel into electric energy electrochemically. A fuel cell has a cathode and an anode. A main hydrogen absorbing alloy supplies a hydrogen gas to the anode of the fuel cell during steady-state operation of the system. An auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy originally having a higher hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure than the main hydrogen absorbing alloy at an equal temperature supplies a hydrogen gas to the anode until the equilibrium pressure of the main hydrogen absorbing alloy, which is supplied an exhaust gas from the fuel cell is equal to a hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy, the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy receiving the hydrogen gas from the main hydrogen absorbing alloy during steady-state operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaru Tsutsumi
- 👤 Nobuyoshi Nishizawa
- 👤 Tsukasa Itoh
- 👤 Takaaki Matsubayashi
- 👤 Takahiro Yonesaki
- 👤 Koichi Satoh
- 👤 Akio Furukawa
- 👤 Ikuo Yonezu
- 👤 Shin Fujitani
- 👤 Kenji Nasako
- 👤 Toshihiko Saito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/065; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A fuel cell system for directly converting a chemical energy of a fuel into an electric energy electrochemically, the system comprising: a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode; a main hydrogen absorbing alloy for supplying a hydrogen gas to the anode of said fuel cell during steady-state operation of the system; and an auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy originally having a higher hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure than said main hydrogen absorbing alloy at an equal temperature, whereby, when supplying a hydrogen gas to the anode until the equilibrium pressure of said main hydrogen absorbing alloy becomes equal to a hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy, said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy receives the hydrogen gas from said main hydrogen absorbing alloy during steady-state operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A fuel cell system for directly converting a chemical energy of a fuel into an electric energy electrochemically, the system comprising: a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode; a main hydrogen absorbing alloy for supplying a hydrogen gas to the anode of said fuel cell during steady-state operation of the system; and an auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy originally having a higher hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure than said main hydrogen absorbing alloy at an equal temperature, whereby, when supplying a hydrogen gas to the anode until the equilibrium pressure of said main hydrogen absorbing alloy becomes equal to a hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy, said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy receives the hydrogen gas from said main hydrogen absorbing alloy during steady-state operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein said fuel cell and said main hydrogen absorbing alloy are connected to each other through a hydrogen gas supply path, which is equipped with said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein said fuel cell and said main hydrogen absorbing alloy are connected to each other through a hydrogen gas supply path, which has a branch path equipped with said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy and said main hydrogen absorbing alloy are connected to each other through a hydrogen gas circulating path equipped with a back pressure valve; means for operating said back pressure valve at no lower than a predetermined pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fuel cell system of claim 3, wherein said auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy and said main hydrogen absorbing alloy are connected to each other through a hydrogen gas circulating path equipped with a back pressure valve; means for operating said back pressure valve at no lower than a predetermined pressure.
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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) | 1996-07-19 | 1997-01-18 | 1997-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-19 | 2001-01-18 | 2001-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-19 | 2005-01-18 | 2005-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |