ln t J Hydrogen EnergL Vol. 16. No. 3, pp. 233 234, 1991. Pergamon Press plc. Printed in Great Britain. International Association for Hydrogen Energy.

NEW PATENTS

This Section contains abstracts and, where appropriate, illustrations of recently issued United States patents and published patent applications filed from over 30 countries under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This information was obtained from recent additions to the Pergamon PATSEARCH ~ online database in accordance with interest profiles developed by the Editors. Further information about Pergamon PATSEARCH ~ can be obtained from Pergamon Orbit InfoLine Inc., 8000 Westpark Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102, U.S.A.

Copies of complete patents announced in this Section are available from Pergamon Orbit InfoLine Inc. for $8 per copy. Payment with order is required. Orders outside North America add $2 for air postage. Order by patent number for Pergamon Orbit InfoLine only.

4957610 med of a polymeric material. A plurality of containers are stacked in side-by-side relation.

G E N E R A T I O N O F H Y D R O G E N The curved peripheral edges of the stacked con- A N D O X Y G E N tainers are disposed adjacent the inner surface of

the vessel, while the straight open ends of the James T Hawkins containers are sealed and disposed in opposed

relation to the sealed open ends of a second stack Hydrogen and oxygen are generated by directing of module-containing containers. A plurality of the output of a solar-pumped laser through a metal tabs are connected to the straight edges of beam expander and a frequency multiplier to in- the positive and negative electrodes of each crease the frequency of the laser beam to the ul- module and the tabs are connected by bus bars in traviolet level. The frequency-multiplied laser a manner to obtain the desired voltage output beam is directed onto an anode and a cathode for the battery. Electrical leads are connected to disposed in a reactor vessel. The anode is elec- terminals on the battery and extend in sealed trically connected to the cathode. An electrolytic relation through a fitting in a head of the vessel solution surrounds the anode and the cathode, to the exterior. Hydrogen is evolved at the cathode, and oxygen is evolved at the anode.

4 9 5 9 5 6 9 4957830

S T A T O R C O I L W A T E R S Y S T E M R E C H A R G E A B L E M E T A L O X I D E - E A R L Y A L E R T H Y D R O G E N

H Y D R O G E N B A T T E R Y L E A K A G E M O N I T O R

Kenneth R Jones assigned to Globe-Union Inc Owen R Snuttjer, Michael Rasinski assigned to Westinghouse Electric Corp

A rechargeable metal oxide-hydrogen battery including an outer pressure vessel and a plurality An apparatus for monitoring hydrogen leakage of cell modules are disposed within the vessel, from a generator frame into the stator coil water Each module is formed of a pair of back-to-back cooling system. The monitor is designed to alert positive electrodes spaced apart by a separating the operator should leakage exceed a rate of layer, and a negative electrode having a hydro- twenty cubic feet per day (20 cfd). A pressure philic surface is disposed adjacent each positive relief valve set at four (4) psig and orifice are pro- electrode and separated therefrom by a vided, along with a second relief valve having a separator layer. An electrolyte, such as potas- higher setpoint than the first, such that pressure sium hydroxide, is impregnated in the separator will increase in the holding tank if leakage ex- layers and is in contact with the positive and cecds 20 cfd setpoint of the orifice. A high pre- negative electrodes. Each module is semi- ssure alarm, set at a level higher than the first circular in planar configuration and is contained relief valve but less than that of the second, will in an open-ended semi-cylindrical container for- then sound to alert the operator to protect the

233

234 New Patents

system from an overly large or gross failure of can be corrected at a scheduled maintenance out- the system. By continusouly monitoring a rela- age, before a gross failure of the system, re- tively small steady state leakage rate, the quiring a costly shutdown of the turbine- operator can be aware of a minor problem which generator, would otherwise occur.

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