Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Eastman-kodak Company

Carl M Marsiglio

Jeffrey Allan Rock

Robert L Fuss

Steven J Spencer

Daniel P Miller

John P Swapceinski

Pierce B Day

James A Reilich

An electrical shorting device for a fuel cell is provided, wherein the shorting device includes an electrically conductive body and an actuator coupled to the conductive body and adapted to selectively position the body between an electrically conductive and a non-electrically conductive position to selectively provide electrical communication between an anode plate and a cathode plate of the fuel cell. The shorting device facilitates electrical shorting of individual cells during the startup and shutdown of the fuel cell to eliminate the electrical potential across a proton exchange membrane that causes a degradation of a catalyst layer disposed on an a surface of an electrode of the fuel cells.

Individual cell shorting during startup and shutdown using an integrated switch

A separator plate for a fuel cell is provided including a first support element and a series of second support elements extending from a first surface of the plate. A series of apertures are disposed between the first support element and the series of second support elements for communicating a reactant gas therethrough for delivery to a flow field of the separator plate.

Stamped PEM fuel cell plate manufacturing

Recesses are located along an elongated elastomeric member. Electrical contacts are associated with the elastomeric member in registration with the recesses. The elastomeric member expands or compresses along its length to receive one of the closely spaced plates in each of the plurality of recesses and to thereby register the electrical contacts with a corresponding contact point on the plates. The elastomeric strip is confined under compression between two adjacent members which may be parts of two plates or of a single plate. The adjacent members define a recess, including locking protrusions, adapted to resist removal of the connector from within the retention recess unless the elongated elastomeric strip is compressed. An associated method optionally includes allowing the compressed elastomeric strip to push against adjacent members to generate a force which pushes the contact points against the one of the closely spaced plates.

Elongated elastomeric connector and method

A video transfer stand generates a video signal from a front-illuminated image on a semi-transparent or translucent original, especially a photographic print. The video system, including the transfer stand and a video display connected to the stand, produces output video contrast as a function of the transfer characteristic (gamma) of the video system as it interacts with the contrast exhibited by the reflection density of the print. This interaction produces high contrast that blocks out details especially in shadow areas of the video display. Such undesirably high contrast is moderated--releasing shadow detail--by variably backlighting the print in the transfer stand. The rear illumination, which is adjusted in view of the display, produces inherently lower contrast than the reflected illumination and, in combination therewith, optimizes the video display contrast.

Video apparatus for generating an adjustable contrast video signal from

Web-tracking method and apparatus periodically reduces tension on endless web, laterally adjusts the position of the web, and then restores web tension.

Periodically aligning an endless web

A simplified optical arrangement for an electrophotographic copier for making multicolor reproductions of a multicolor original document. The copier includes at least one charged photoconductive member which is exposed by primary color separation images of an original document to form corresponding latent image charge patterns. The primary color separation images are projected onto the photoconductive member by the simplified optical arrangement which includes a catadioptric lens assembly optically located between the original document and the photoconductive member. The lens assembly includes relatively tilted dichroic mirrors spectrally sensitive respectively to the primary colors to separate an image of an original document into primary color separation images, and project such images respectively in straight line optical paths toward distinct spacial locations on the photoconductive member.

Growing community of inventors

Spencerport, NY, United States of America

Carl M Marsiglio