Regenerative fuel cell learning kit

• US 20020025467A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert V. Staats III
• Original Assignee: Robert V. Staats III
• Inventors: Staats, Robert V. III
• Granted Patent: US 6,589,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/24 for chemistry
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/26 for molecular structures; for crystallography
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/325 comprising deformable valve members, e.g. elastic or flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/247 Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Educational kit which combines a unitized regnerative fuel cell with a demonstration platform to illustrate the principals of fuel cell use and application. A fuel cell education kit provides valuable exposure to the principals of fuel cell generated electricity to children. The fuel cell is a regenerative fuel cell converting water into hydrogen and oxygen during a charging cycle and reversing the process during discharge. A proton exchange membrane drives the process.

Claims

1. A regenerative fuel cell learning kit comprising

(a) a fuel cell, formed of;

(1) a pressure rated casing;

(2) a catalyzed Proton Exchange Membrane “

PEM”

;

(3) a conductive anode and cathode conductively attached to said catalyzed PEM;

(4) a cathode and an anode lead extending through said casing;

(b) a means for charging said fuel cell; and

,

(c) a means for discharging said fuel cell.

2. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, further comprising a LED in line with the charging circuit whereby during charging of said fuel cell, said LED lights up.

3. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, further comprising a momentary switch which must be depressed during the charging of said fuel cell.

4. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, further comprising a locking “

on/off”

switch for the discharging circuit of said fuel cell.

5. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, further comprising a physical pressure relief means incorporated in said pressure rated casing.

6. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 5, wherein said casing is comprised of two mirror halves and said pressure relief means is a deformable “

O”

-ring placed between each of said two halves which is rated to leak at a pressure less than the burst [pressure of said casing.

7. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 5, wherein said casing is comprised of two mirror halves and said pressure relief means is a selectively thinned area of said casing, over the hydrogen storing half of the fuel cell, which is rated to leak at a pressure less than the burst pressure of said casing

8. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 7, further comprising a hydrogen catalyzing substrate affixed above said selectively thinned area.

9. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical pressure switch which interrupts charging should the internal pressure of said fuel cell pass a pre-determined limit.

10. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, further comprising a electronic pressure switch which interrupts charging should the internal pressure of said fuel cell pass a pre-determined limit.

11. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, wherein said charging means is selected from the group consisting of photo-voltaic arrays, wind turbines, batteries, mechanical wind-up coil generators, or A/C.

12. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 1, wherein said discharging means is selected from the group consisting of electric motors, voltmeters, light-bulbs, or LEDs,

14. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 13, wherein said base is in the shape of a toy truck and said discharging means is an electric motor affixed to a set of wheels on said toy truck, whereby discharging of said fuel cell causes said wheels to rotate.

15. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 13, further comprising one or more current-out jacks whereby properly electrical measuring and utilizing devices may be attached to and powered by said fuel cell.

16. The regenerative fuel cell learning kit according to claim 13, wherein said base is in the shape of a toy boat and said discharging means is an electric motor affixed to a propeller whereby discharging of said fuel cell causes said toy boat to move.

13. A regenerative fuel cell learning kit comprising

(a) a fuel cell, formed of;

(1) a pressure rated casing;

(2) a catalyzed Proton Exchange Membrane “

PEM”

;

(3) a conductive anode and cathode conductively attached to said catalyzed PEM;

(4) a cathode and an anode lead extending through said casing;

(b) a base into which said fuel cell may be mounted;

(c) anode and cathode latches formed as part of said base, whereby inserting said fuel cell, into said base, conductively mates said anode and said cathode with said latches;

(d) a means for charging said fuel cell; and

,

(e) a means for discharging said fuel cell.