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. 17, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2007
Norimasa Ishikawa, Toyota, JP;
Norimasa Ishikawa, Toyota, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota-shi, JP;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a fuel cell system having fuel cells, a supply flow path for supplying a fuel gas from a fuel supply source to the fuel cells; a variable gas supply device for regulating a gas condition of the supply flow path; a first control device for driving and controlling the variable gas supply device; an off-gas flow path configured to release a fuel off-gas from the fuel cells to the outside through a discharge valve; a second control device for driving and controlling the discharge valve; and a defect detection device for detecting a defect of the discharge valve. By using a gas supply command amount for the variable gas supply device, the defect detection device detects a valve opening defect that the discharge valve does not return from an open state to a closed state.