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:
Apr. 19, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2007
Daniel P. Miller, Victor, NY (US);
Jeffrey A. Rock, Fairport, NY (US);
Carl M. Marsiglio, Spencerport, NY (US);
Daniel P. Miller, Victor, NY (US);
Jeffrey A. Rock, Fairport, NY (US);
Carl M. Marsiglio, Spencerport, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
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.