Patent US2248047A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5759712A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5759712A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Surface replica fuel cell for micro fuel cell electrical power pack
Assignee: Digital Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-06
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Granted: 1998-06-02
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Expires: 2017-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A miniature fuel cell system uses porous plastic membranes as substrates of fuel cells. A cost effective pore-free electrode or inter electrolyte foil that is permeable only to hydrogen as an ion. The new electrode makes direct alcohol fuel cells efficient. It blocks the poisoning alcohol diffusion through the electrolyte. Compound electrodes are formed by vacuum deposition methods and slurries. That leads to printed circuit designs of small fuel cells systems integrated with rechargeable batteries and electrical power electronics to power applications that are currently powered by batteries. By directly utilizing alcohol fuels the new fuel cells have higher energy per unit mass and higher energy per unit volume. They are more convenient for the energy user, environmentally less harmful and less expensive than conventional batteries.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Hockaday
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04201; H01M8/04208; H01M16/00; H01M16/003; H01M16/006; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0267; H01M8/04089; H01M8/04119; H01M8/04126; H01M8/04141; H01M8/04149; H01M8/04186; H01M8/10; H01M8/1004; H01M8/1007; H01M8/1009; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/242; H01M8/2457; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2483; H01M8/0204; H01M8/0206; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/04156; H01M8/04291; H01M8/04298; H01M8/04694; H01M8/04858; H01M8/04865; H01M8/0488; H01M8/1016; H01M8/1018; H01M8/102; H01M8/1023; H01M8/1039; H01M8/1069; H01M8/1081; H01M8/22; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A fuel cell apparatus comprising a central membrane having an oxygen side and a fuel side, electrodes positioned on the fuel side and on the oxygen side of the membrane, each electrode further comprising a first fuel catalyst film layer deposited on the central membrane, metal film layers deposited over the catalyst film layer, and hydrophobic film layers positioned on the metal film layers, an electrolyte disposed in voids between the catalyst film layer and the central membrane, a hydrogen permeable pore-free metal membrane interposed between the electrodes, the central membrane having a first water circulating, a fuel circulating and regulating membrane positioned above the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel channel flow manifold positioned above the first water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel inlet connected to the fuel manifold for delivering fuel to a region between the fuel manifold and the first water circulating and regulating membrane, a second water circulating and regulating membrane positioned below the electrode on the oxygen side, an oxidizer gas manifold positioned below the second water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the oxygen side, and an oxidizer gas inlet connected to the oxidizer gas manifold for delivering oxidizer gas to a region between the oxidizer gas manifold and the second water circulating and regulating membrane, a first electrical contact connected to the hydrogen electrode and a second electrical contact connected to the oxygen electrode, and a sealing rim extending around and connected to outer edges of the cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
A fuel cell apparatus comprising a central membrane having an oxygen side and a fuel side, electrodes positioned on the fuel side and on the oxygen side of the membrane, each electrode further comprising a first fuel catalyst film layer deposited on the central membrane, metal film layers deposited over the catalyst film layer, and hydrophobic film layers positioned on the metal film layers, an electrolyte disposed in voids between the catalyst film layer and the central membrane, a hydrogen permeable pore-free metal membrane interposed between the electrodes, the central membrane having a first water circulating, a fuel circulating and regulating membrane positioned above the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel channel flow manifold positioned above the first water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the fuel side, a fuel inlet connected to the fuel manifold for delivering fuel to a region between the fuel manifold and the first water circulating and regulating membrane, a second water circulating and regulating membrane positioned below the electrode on the oxygen side, an oxidizer gas manifold positioned below the second water circulating and regulating membrane and sealed to the electrode on the oxygen side, and an oxidizer gas inlet connected to the oxidizer gas manifold for delivering oxidizer gas to a region between the oxidizer gas manifold and the second water circulating and regulating membrane, a first electrical contact connected to the hydrogen electrode and a second electrical contact connected to the oxygen electrode, and a sealing rim extending around and connected to outer edges of the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central membrane is a porous dielectric membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fuel bottle attached to the fuel cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing for enclosing the cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy source attached to the electrodes for delivering electrical energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the energy source is voltage regulating electronics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the energy source is a battery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central membrane is reinforced with fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central membrane comprises at least two membranes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fuel bottle comprises a needle insert for effecting a fuel connection with the fuel cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an evaporative manifold for wicking out fuel from the fuel bottle to the evaporative manifold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising the electrodes being on one side of the membrane, and a fold of the membrane is for forming the fuel side and the oxygen side and for positioning the electrodes opposite each other to form the fuel cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an electrolyte and membranes interposed into the fold of the membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an electrolyte interposed into the fold of the membrane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising membranes interposed into the fold of the membrane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising microscopic geometry on the porous dielectric substrate membrane for enhancing electrolyte properties.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising additional members interposed in the electrolyte for selectively blocking different molecular species over ion transport based on geometrical designs or chemical properties of the species.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel is a hydrogen bearing compound.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel is a hydrogen bearing compound used electrocatalytically by the fuel cell electrodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the fuel is reformed before reaching the fuel cell electrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen permeable pore-free metal membrane interposed between the fuel and oxygen electrodes is electrically connected to the fuel electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen permeable pore-free metal membrane interposed between the fuel and oxygen electrodes is electrically connected to the oxidizer electrodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the electrodes having multiple electrode and electrolyte layers on a porous substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising deposits on surfaces of the films for cell electrical separations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the deposits comprise ink jet printing deposits.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the deposits comprise paints.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the deposits comprise vapors deposited by a method selected from a group comprising chemical vapor deposition, photolithography, vacuum deposition or electrochemical deposition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising voltage regulation electronics electrically connected to the fuel cell for pulse cleaning of the electrodes, for maintaining performance of the fuel cell, and for changing voltages in the same or opposite polarity of the fuel cell.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the fuel cell having a profile to fit into batteries and electrical profiles for matching existing uses of batteries.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is a thin bag having fuel on an inside and air on an outside.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a backing membrane on the bag for allowing exhaust gases diffuse out and retaining the fuel gases.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell comprises at least two back to back fuel cell assemblies.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fuel bottle is a replaceable sealed ampoule of fuel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising electronics connected to the fuel cell for regulating a voltage and a current output of the fuel cell to produce desired voltage and current characteristics, including alternating current, arbitrary wave functions, and steady voltage.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least two different electrolytes separated by the pore-free metal membrane.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pore-free metal membrane comprises at least one film of a material deposited on a porous substrate for plugging the pores of the substrate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one film contains at least one transition element from the periodic table of elements.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least two electrodes forming the fuel electrode, each comprising a base electrode and a surface replica electrode, with the electrode being formed by deposition techniques of sputtering, vacuum evaporation, powder ink spraying, xerography, low pressure gas vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electroplating, photolithography, or co-deposited materials.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is adapted to drive electronics goods.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the electronics goods is selected from a group consisting of cellular phones, portable radios, portable computers, pagers, portable audio equipment, hearing aids, medical equipment, or portable electronics.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the porous substrate material has a porosity collimated perpendicular to a plane of the material by use of drawing inks and solvents vertically, into the material rather than lateral blotting.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the material having ink are powders in a solvent.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the material comprises substances that change to electrode films after being delivered to the substrate.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is collimated for preventing lateral conduction through the electrolyte and preventing electrical shorting.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel cells comprise side by side non-bipolar fuel cell series cells on a single membrane having different potentials.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the electrolyte is collimated for confining the pore-free membrane pinhole defect leaks from laterally affecting fuel cell electrode performance.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water and heat counter flow heat exchanger for humidifying and heating air entering the fuel cell.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrodes have tapered thickness for optimizing use of a bulk conductor metal.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wick for wicking liquid fuel out of the fuel tank, vaporizing fuel from the wick and condensing fuel on the fuel cell.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises a stoichiometric mixture of water and hydrocarbon for direct hydrocarbon electrocatalyst oxidation and for liberation of hydrogen to the fuel cell.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the fuel comprises a 1:1 molar mixture of methanol and water, and wherein exhaust carbon dioxide product exits as a gas through a membrane permeable to carbon dioxide and impermeable to methanol and water.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a selectively permeable membrane proximal to the fuel cell electrode for excluding selected molecular species and allowing others to pass through.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a selectively permeable membrane formed as part of the gas manifold for excluding selected molecular species and allowing others to pass through.
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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) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |