Hera USA Inc.

Ergenics Corporation

David H DaCosta

P Mark Golben

David C Tragna

A hydrogen gas storage container has a canister with at least one outlet opening for charging and discharging gas, the canister enclosing a metal hydride capable of absorbing and desorbing hydrogen gas and a gauge for measuring the capacity of hydrogen remaining within the hydride material. To further permit distribution of the hydrogen throughout the hydride material, a porous matrix may be disposed within said metal hydride material for providing efficient distribution of hydrogen gas to said metal hydride material. The fuel gauge may further comprise subassemblies for determining the hydrogen capacity, each of which depends for operation on a different property of the metal hydride material. For example, a pressure gauge sensitive to the plateau pressure indicative of the hydrogen capacity, a piezoelectric sensor that in combination with a rigid chamber in which hydride material is closely packed provides a pressure differential indicative of hydrogen capacity, or a resistivity sensor that in combination with a chamber in which hydride material is packed provides a resistance differential indicative of hydrogen capacity.

Fuel gauge for hydrogen storage media

An apparatus for and method of isolating an enclosed metal hydride container from an apparatus which uses hydrogen gas during periods of dormant or inactive storage of the device, including a constricted opening having a dual one way check valve arrangement to selectively open or close the hydrogen gas communication between the hydrogen storage container and the apparatus using the hydrogen. The dual check valve arrangement provides for constricting hydrogen gas flow between the chambers unless the device is in the process of charging or discharging, either of which process causes a differential pressure to develop across the dual check valve arrangement which is greater than a predetermined threshold pressure, e.g., 1-2 p.s.i. The hydrogen storage material within the hydrogen storage container comprises mixture of metal hydride particles with interspersed water adsorbing particles, such as silica gel desiccant.

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Central Valley, NY, United States of America

David H DaCosta