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:
Jan. 27, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 21, 2003
Naohiro Yoshida, Okazaki, JP;
Kenji Kurita, Nagoya, JP;
Tomonori Yachi, Toyota, JP;
Hideki Kashiwagi, Kariya, JP;
Naohiro Yoshida, Okazaki, JP;
Kenji Kurita, Nagoya, JP;
Tomonori Yachi, Toyota, JP;
Hideki Kashiwagi, Kariya, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell system FC replenishes a fuel cell stack with air or hydrogen by temporarily driving a compressor or a low-pressure valve even during an intermittent operation mode. If air is supplied for replenishment, the amount of air remaining in an air supply system is kept substantially constant, so that the voltage fall during a stop of the fuel cell system can be curbed. If hydrogen is supplied for replenishment, the amount of hydrogen moving to the air supply system is offset, so that a delay in supplying hydrogen can be curbed. Furthermore, the fuel cell system FC inputs signals from a sensor, such as, a brake sensor, a shift selector, or other suitable means and anticipates acceleration of a vehicle equipped with the system FC. On the basis of the anticipation of acceleration, the system FC replenishes the fuel cell stack with air or hydrogen in advance.