Abstract:
A gas-generating apparatus (10) includes a reaction chamber (18) containing a solid fuel component (24) and a liquid fuel component (22) that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present application is directed to a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) used within a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is separated from the reaction solution by passing through a hydrophobic membrane assembly (28) having a hydrophobic lattice like member (36) disposed within a hydrogen output composite (32) further enhancing the ability of the hydrogen output composite's ability to separate out hydrogen gas and prolonging its useful life.
Abstract:
A fuel supply connectable to a fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel supply comprises an outer casing and a fuel liner and an effective amount of fuel in the space between the outer casing and the fuel liner to control the pressure inside the fuel liner. In one example, the fuel inside the fuel liner is methanol, and the fuel between the outer casing and the fuel liner is methanol or methanol gel.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are connecting valves with an interchangeability feature (18, 20) to ensure that the fuel cell fuel matches the fuel cell. Also disclosed are retainer mechanisms (28, 30, 32, 36) capable of releasably connecting the fuel supply to the fuel cell or to the electronic device equipped with a fuel cell. An improvement to the connecting valves to decrease the amount of residual fuel left in the fuel supply is also provided.
Abstract:
Apparatus for feeding and separating seriatim a sheet of paper from a stack of sheets. The apparatus includes: an adjustable deck having a receiving end and a feeding end for supporting the stack of sheets on edge, the deck being oriented at an angle between about 10 and 20 degrees to a horizontal plane and wherein the feeding end is lower than the receiving end; a main urge roller situated above the feeding end of the deck sheets; a secondary feed roller parallel to and situated above the main urge roller near the top edge of the stack of sheets, wherein a line of tangency joining the peripheries of the main urge roller and the feed roller adjacent the stack of sheets is disposed at an angle between about 40 and 50 degrees to a horizontal plane; a device for urging the stack against the main urge roller as the stack is reduced in the course of the feeding of the sheets seriatim; a device downstream of the secondary feed roller for separating the bottom sheet from the stack of sheets at the top edge of the stack; and a device for adjusting the height of the adjustable deck without changing the angle of orientation of the deck whereby the deck can be set to the optimum height for feeding a given size sheet.
Abstract:
Apparatus for feeding and separating seriatim a sheet of paper from a stack of sheets. The apparatus includes: a deck having a receiving end and a feeding end for supporting the stack of sheets on edge, the deck oriented at an angle between about 10 and 20 degrees to a horizontal plane and wherein the feeding end is lower than the receiving end; a main urge roller situated above the feeding end of the deck at about midway between the top and bottom edges of the stack of sheets, whereby the stack is bent at a point in the sheets about midway between the top and bottom edges of the sheets; a secondary feed roller parallel to and situated above the main urge roller near the top edge of the stack of sheets, wherein a line of tangency joining the peripheries of the main urge roller and the feed roller adjacent the stack of sheets is disposed at an angle between about 40 and 50 degrees to a horizontal plane; a device for urging the stack against the main urge roller as the stack is reduced in the course of the feeding of the sheets seriatim; and a device downstream of the secondary feed roller for separating the bottom sheet from the stack of sheets at the top edge of the stack.
Abstract:
The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus and various pressure regulators or pressure-regulating valves. Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The transportation of a first fuel component to a second fuel component to generate of hydrogen occurs automatically depending on the pressure of a reaction chamber within the gas-generating apparatus. The pressure regulators and flow orifices are provided to regulate the hydrogen pressure and to minimize the fluctuation in pressure of the hydrogen received by the fuel cell. Connecting valves to connect the gas-generating apparatus to the fuel cell are also provided.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of a hydrogen generator (10) that measures, transports or stores a single dose of a viscous fuel component from first fuel chamber (12) in storage area (38) when the internal hydrogen pressure (44, 44′) of the hydrogen generator is high, and transports this single dose to a metal hydride fuel component in second fuel chamber (14) when the internal pressure is low, so that the viscous liquid and metal hydride fuel components react together to generate more hydrogen and to restart the cycle. The viscous fuel component can be water or alcohol, such as methanol, in liquid or gel form, and the metal hydride fuel component can be sodium borohydride or other metal hydride that chemically reacts with the viscous fuel to produce hydrogen. The metal hydride fuel component can be in solid or viscous form, e.g., aqueous form.