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:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1999
Robert C. Ruhl, Cleveland Heights, OH (US);
Christopher E. Milliken, South Euclid, OH (US);
Michael A. Petrik, Highland Heights, OH (US);
Technology Management, Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An electrochemical apparatus including a steam reformer ( ) positioned on top of a vaporizer ( ) and communicating with a mixing orifice ( ), the steam reformer ( ) having a conductive output end plate ( ) defining a fuel orifice ( ); a compact cell stack ( ) defining at least one air passage ( ) and a fuel passage ( ), wherein the fuel passage communicates with the fuel orifice ( ); a stack end plate ( ), defining at least one air orifice ( ) communicating with the air passage ( ); an electrically insulated sealing ring ( ) extending upwardly from the stack end plate ( ) outside the air orifice ( ); an annular cap ( ) defining a hot air inlet ( ), extending inwardly beyond a sealing ring ( ); a can ( ) extending downwardly defining an exhaust passage ( ) and communicating with an exhaust vent ( ) within a base ( ); a porous thermal insulation ( ) defining a hot air plenum ( ), a pin hole sheet ( ) surrounding the can ( ) and spaced inwardly from the enclosure ( ) to define a cold air plenum ( ), wherein the cold air plenum ( ) receives coolant air from a coolant supply via a coolant inlet, and the pin hole sheet ( ) is provided with a pattern of perforations adapted to distribute the coolant uniformly around the circumference and along the height of the stack ( ).