Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02534420 2006-01-27
Systems to Reduce Vibration Damage in Hydrogen Generating Apparatus
B ack rg ound
Hydrogen Generating Systems may be used on a vehicle to generate hydrogen gas
for
supplementing the vehicle's fuel supply for fuel economy, to reduce emissions
and/or to
increase engine performance.
A reality of the use of such hydrogen generating systems is that they undergo
significant
vibration when on the vehicle. It has been determined that such vibration may
cause
premature component failure in a hydrogen generation system.
Summary
A hydrogen generating system according to one aspect of the present invention
includes a
container for accommodating electrolyte; electrodes including at least one
anode and at
least one cathode configured to be capable of generate hydrogen gas by
operation in the
electrolyte; a component connector connecting a first member of the apparatus
to a
second member of the apparatus; a shock absorber positioned adjacent the
component
connector to damp vibration between the first member and the second member
along the
component connector.
It is to be understood that other aspects of the present invention will become
readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description,
wherein
various embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of
illustration. As
will be realized, the invention is capable for other and different embodiments
and its
several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly the drawings
and detailed
description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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Referring to the drawings, several aspects of the present invention are
illustrated by way
of example, and not by way of limitation, in detail in the figures, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a component connector according to one aspect
of the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pair of electrolysis electrode assemblies
including
electrode terminal connections according to one aspect of the present
invention. The
electrode assemblies are shown with their side cell container removed, but
mounted on
the housing base.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the left hand electrode assembly of Figure 2.
Description of the Invention
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended
drawings is
intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and
is not
intended to represent the only embodiments contemplated by the inventor. The
detailed
description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a
comprehensive
understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those
skilled in
the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific
details.
Referring to Figure 1, a hydrogen generating system according to one aspect of
the
present invention includes a container for accommodating electrolyte;
electrodes
including at least one anode and at least one cathode configured to be capable
of generate
hydrogen gas by operation in the electrolyte; a component connector connecting
a first
member of the apparatus to a second member of the apparatus; a shock absorber
positioned adjacent the component connector to damp vibration between the
first member
and the second member along the component connector.
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The component connector, the first member and the second member may be any of
various parts of the hydrogen generating apparatus. In one embodiment, the
component
connector may for example be an electrode terminal, the first member may for
example
be a portion of the housing and the second member may for example be a portion
of an
electrode. In such an embodiment, the terminal may extend from the housing to
the
electrode to thereby conduct electricity from a source to the electrode. As
such, in such
an embodiment, the terminal at one end may extend through and have a mounting
connection to the housing and at its opposite end may be connected to the
electrode.
Vibration in such an arrangement may either jeopardize the terminal's mount in
the
housing which may cause the terminal to become loosened from the housing, may
cause
leakage between the terminal and the housing, etc. Alternately or in addition,
vibration
may cause the terminal to become disconnected from the electrode or may cause
either or
both of the terminal and the electrode to wear and fail adjacent the
connection
therebetween.
In such an embodiment, for example as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a shock
absorber may
be positioned to damp vibration along the terminal. In the illustrated
embodiment, a
spring is positioned about the terminal to apply force axially outwardly from
the spring at
the two ends of the terminal. The spring tends to hold the terminal in tension
between its
mount in the housing and its connection to the electrode and damps vibration
of the
terminal. Of course, while a spring is shown, that spring could be replaced by
an
elastomeric sleeve about or adjacent the terminal.
Although the present invention is illustrated through the specific example of
a terminal
connection, it is to be understood that the invention can be applied to other
connections in
a hydrogen generating apparatus that are susceptible to damage as a result of
vibration.
Such connections may include, for example, the connection between filter
components,
installation legs, etc.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable
any person
skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications
to those
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embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the
generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without
departing from
the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not
intended to be
limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope
consistent
with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by
use of the
article "a" or "an" is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless
specifically so
stated, but rather "one or more". All structural and functional equivalents to
the elements
of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are know
or later
come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be
encompassed by
the elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to
be
dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly
recited in the
claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 USC
112, sixth
paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means
for" or "step
for".
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