The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 19, 1997
Timothy C Simmons, Jr, Flint, MI (US);
Other;
Abstract
A multi-source electrical drive system which includes an electrolysis cell for separating water into hydrogen and oxygen. The system further includes an oxygen storage device and a hydrogen storage device. The hydrogen, the oxygen storage device and the electrolysis cell are maintained at substantially the same elevated pressure. The system further includes a fuel cell system that includes a membrane electrode assembly, a base plate that includes a surface that is contactable with an electrode. The base plate includes a plurality of ribs that protrude from the surface that is contactable with an electrode. A bipolar plate with a surface that is contactable with an electrode and a plurality of ribs that project from the first surface and are spaced apart in a manner that allows the ribs on the first surface of the bipolar plate to nest between the ribs on the surface of the base plate is used, so that the ribs on the first surface of the bipolar plate rest between the ribs on the base plate in a spaced apart relationship to the ribs of the base plate, so that the membrane electrode assembly may be held between the base plate and the bipolar plate to define a first reactant chamber and a second reactant chamber between the base plate and the bipolar plate, the first reactant chamber being in fluid communication with the oxygen storage device, and the second reactant chamber being in fluid communication with the hydrogen storage device.