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:
Jul. 24, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2008
Masahiro Takeshita, Toyota, JP;
Hiroyuki Yumiya, Nagoya, JP;
Katsuki Ishigaki, Handa, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota-shi, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell system has shutoff valves installed between an air flow channel in a fuel cell and the atmosphere. The shutoff valves have valve seats and also have valve discs for sealing in air by coming into contact with the valve seats. The valve discs are adapted to be sucked toward the valve seats by negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell. The fuel cell system further has an atmosphere release valve installed between the air flow channel in the fuel cell and the shutoff valve and releasing negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell to the atmosphere. When the fuel cell is started, the shutoff valves are opened after the negative pressure in the air flow channel of the fuel cell is released. Consequently, sealing ability of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is stopped is improved, and easiness of opening of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is started is also improved.