...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7981556 | Thermal management system for regenerative fuel cells and method thereof A regenerative fuel cell power system has a plurality of fuel cell power modules, a plurality of electrolysis modules, a water management system and a master controller. The master controller manages the temperature within the electrolysis system to prevent freezing... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7879613 | System for maintaining hydrogen purity in electrical generators and method thereof A method and apparatus is provided for a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator. The purity system includes: a generator, a hydrogen generator configured to provide hydrogen gas to the generator, a purity monitor for detecting the le... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7879207 | Electrochemical cell with dynamic endplate An electrochemical cell stack and method are provided with use the generated hydrogen gas to pressurize a chamber. The electrochemical cell stack includes a plurality of cells mounted between a first static endplate and a dynamic endplate. A pressure chamber is form... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7855024 | Compartmentalized storage tank for electrochemical cell system A compartmentalized storage tank is disclosed. The compartmentalized storage tank includes a housing, a first fluid storage section disposed within the housing, a second fluid storage section disposed within the housing, the first and second fluid storage sections b... | 12/21/2010 |
| 7850838 | Cold weather hydrogen generation system and method of operation A system for providing hydrogen gas is provided. The system includes a hydrogen generator that produces gas from water. One or more heat generation devices are arranged to provide heating of the enclosure during different modes of operation to prevent freezing of co... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7767360 | Electrochemical cell apparatus An electrochemical cell apparatus is disclosed. The electrochemical cell apparatus includes a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) having a membrane with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first electrode in contact with the first side, and a sec... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7744733 | Gas venting system A system to vent a moist gas stream is disclosed. The system includes an enclosure and an electrochemical cell disposed within the enclosure, the electrochemical cell productive of the moist gas stream. A first vent is in fluid communication with the electrochemical... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7729812 | Field deployable power distribution system and method thereof A system for providing field deployable electrical power distribution is provided. The system includes a plurality of power sources providing electrical power to meet the electrical needs of a field operations camp. The power sources include at least one regenerativ... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7678251 | System and method for detecting gas A system to detect a presence of a specific gas in a mixture of gaseous byproducts comprising moisture vapor is disclosed. The system includes an electrochemical cell, a transport to deliver the mixture of gaseous byproducts from the electrochemical cell, a gas sens... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7601207 | Gas recovery system A gas recovery system is disclosed. The gas recovery system includes a gas source productive of a gaseous stream comprising moisture, a gas dryer in fluid communication with and downstream of the gas source, and an electrochemical compressor in fluid communication w... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7550113 | System for maintaining hydrogen purity in electrical generators and method thereof A method and apparatus is provided for an a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator. The purity system includes: a generator, a hydrogen generator configured to provide hydrogen gas to the generator, a purity monitor for detecting the... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7491463 | Electrochemical cell bipolar plate with sealing feature A bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell having a first side with a first fluid flow region bordered by a first sealing region, and a second side with a second fluid flow region bordered by a second sealing region is disclosed. The first and second sealing region... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7452623 | Electrochemical cell bipolar plate with sealing feature A bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell having a first side, a second side, and a sealing region is disclosed. The first side has a first fluid flow region bordered by a first sealing region, and the second side has a second fluid flow region bordered by a secon... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7378177 | Electrochemical cell bipolar plate A bipolar plate for an electrochemical cell having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer is disclosed. The first layer has a first plurality of through channels oriented in a first direction. The second layer has a second plurality of through channels ori... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7360563 | System and method for refueling a hydrogen vessel Electrochemical systems and methods of operating the systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for operating an electrochemical system, comprises: forming hydrogen gas in an electrolysis cell, maintaining the hydrogen gas at a temperature sufficient ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7354675 | Apparatus and method for maintaining compression of the active area in an electrochemical cell An electrochemical cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a proton exchange membrane disposed between and in intimate contact with the electrodes, and a pressure pad disposed in electrical communication with the first electrode. The pressure pad is an ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7316242 | Hydrogen storage system and method of operation thereof A regenerative fuel cell system is provided having at least one hydrogen storage container fluidly coupled to at least one hydrogen generator and at least one power generator. Each power generator further includes a fuel cell fluidly coupled to the hydrogen storage ... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7314509 | Gas liquid phase separator with improved pressure control A gas/liquid phase separator includes a fluid inlet, a vapor outlet, a liquid outlet, and first and second valves disposed in fluid communication with the liquid outlet. Both valves are controllable in response to a fluid level in the gas/liquid phase separator. Bot... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7311116 | Gas regulation system and process for operating the gas regulation system A gas regulation system includes a manifold, a plurality of control modules in fluid communication with the manifold, and a power source. Each control module includes an actuatable valve that is in fluid communication with an associated gas storage device and in ele... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7270908 | Proton exchange membrane electrochemical cell system A compression member for an electrochemical cell stack is provided. The compression member includes a first surface including a plurality of raised portions, a second surface including a substantially flat surface, and an edge defined by the first surface and the se... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7244524 | Method and system for balanced control of backup power A power system comprising: a primary power source in electrical communication with a electrolysis cell, wherein the electrolysis cell is in electrical communication with a bus; a secondary power source in electrical communication with the bus, wherein the secondary ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7241522 | Regenerative electrochemical cell system and method for use thereof An exemplary embodiment of a regenerative electrochemical cell system, comprises: a fuel cell module, an electrolysis module, a heat exchange, and an inverted hydrogen storage device. The fuel cell module can comprise a fuel cell hydrogen inlet in fluid communicatio... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7168465 | Electrochemical cell system, hydrogen dispensing apparatus, and method for dispensing hydrogen Disclosed herein are mobile hydrogen gas dispensing apparatus, and methods for dispensing hydrogen gas. In one embodiment, the mobile hydrogen gas dispensing apparatus comprises a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet comprises a first valve, a first hy... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7169493 | Fuel cell system with thermal management and method of operation thereof A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell apparatus and a heat storage device. The heat storage device is in fluid communication with and responsive to the fuel cell apparatus and is adapted to receive and store heat from and deliver heat to the fuel cell apparatus. | 01/30/2007 |
| 7159444 | Combustible gas detection systems and method thereof A system and method are provided for monitoring the levels of combustible gas in a gas stream. The system includes means for controlling the relative humidity of the the gas stream to maintain a humidity level in the performance range of combustible gas sensors. A n... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7153409 | Electrochemical cell system and method of operation In one embodiment, the electrochemical system comprises an electrochemical cell and hydrogen storage in fluid communication with the hydrogen electrode, the hydrogen storage comprising at least one of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers. In one embodiment, the me... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7153802 | Method of making an electrode for a membrane electrode assembly and method of making the membrane electrode assembly A method of making an electrode decal, comprises forming a catalyst ink comprising a catalyst compound, a perfluorinated sulfonyl fluoride polymer, and an ester; disposing the catalyst ink on a decal; and drying the catalyst ink to form an electrode layer on the dec... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7128103 | Hydrogen fueling system Disclosed herein are an electrochemical system, a hydrogen gas fueling system, a cascade system, and methods for using the same. The hydrogen gas fueling system comprises a multiple-stage compressor disposed in fluid communication with a hydrogen gas source, the com... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7111493 | Combustible gas detection system A system is provided for monitoring the levels of combustible gas in a gas stream. The system includes means for controlling the relative humidity of the gas stream and maintain a humidity level in the performance range of combustible gas sensors. A number of method... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7083875 | Method and apparatus for providing modular power A modular power system having separately removable electrolysis and power modules, each with separate sets of connection ports, is disclosed. The connection port set of the electrolysis module is adapted for operable communication with a water supply, a hydrogen sto... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7060379 | Method and system for controlling and recovering short duration bridge power to maximize backup power A power system, comprising: a primary power source in electrical communication with a bus and a bridging power source, wherein the bridging power source comprises at least one of a capacitor, a battery, and an electrolysis cell, and the bridging power source is in e... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7020562 | Method of monitoring the operation of gas sensor and system therefor A method of monitoring the operation of a gas sensor is disclosed. A system signal is provided in response to sensing first or second system conditions, and a gas concentration signal is provided in response to sensing first or second gas concentration levels of a g... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7014932 | Drainage system and process for operating a regenerative electrochemical cell system An electrochemical cell system comprises: a fuel cell module comprising a fuel cell outlet, an electrolysis module comprising an electrolysis water inlet in fluid communication with a water storage device and a hydrogen gas outlet in fluid communication with a hydro... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7006898 | Method and apparatus for operating and controlling a power system A method and apparatus for operating a power system is disclosed. A plurality of sensor signals each representative of an operating characteristic of a power system module are received at a common data bus. The sensor signals are received and analyzed at a controlle... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6994929 | Electrochemical hydrogen compressor for electrochemical cell system and method for controlling In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell system comprises: a fuel cell stack comprising a fuel cell having a fuel cell hydrogen inlet and a fuel cell hydrogen outlet, and a first electrochemical hydrogen compressor in fluid communication with the fuel cell hydroge... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6916443 | High differential pressure electrochemical cell An electrochemical cell capable of operating in pressure differentials exceeding about 2,000 psi, using a porous electrode. The porous electrode comprises a catalyst adsorbed on or in a porous support that is disposed in intimate contact and fluid communication with... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6907735 | Hydrogen fueled electrical generator system and method thereof A system and method are provided for generating electricity for use with liquid hydrogen storage facility. The system includes a liquid hydrogen storage tank with a pressure relief. An energy conversion device is connected to the pressure relief valve an converts th... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6902837 | Method and system for balanced control of backup power A power system comprising: a primary power source in electrical communication with a bridging power source, wherein the bridging power source is in electrical communication with a bus; a secondary power source in electrical communication with the bus, wherein the se... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6869720 | Method and apparatus for maintaining compression of the active area in an electrochemical cell In one embodiment, the electrochemical cell comprises: a first electrode, a second electrode, and a membrane disposed between and in ionic communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. A first flow field is in fluid communication with the first el... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6857397 | Hydrogen generation apparatus for internal combustion engines and method thereof A system and method are provided for generating hydrogen for use with an internal combustion engine. The system includes a venturi device coupled with an exhaust stream from the internal combustion engine. The venturi device creates a gas flow through a condenser to... | 02/22/2005 |