{
  "patent_number": "US 5346778",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Boosting Fuel Cell Power for Vehicles Using Oxygen Injection",
  "original_title": "Electrochemical load management system for transportation applications",
  "summary": "A system that boosts a vehicle's fuel cell power by injecting pure oxygen into the air supply when the engine needs extra energy.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a way to make hydrogen fuel cells more powerful for vehicles by dynamically changing the air they breathe. Under normal driving, the fuel cell uses regular air as an oxidant. When the vehicle demands high power, such as during acceleration, the system detects the increased amperage and automatically opens a valve to inject pure oxygen into the air intake. This enriches the oxygen content to between 30% and 60%, allowing the fuel cell to generate more power without needing a massive, heavy fuel cell stack.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover fuel cell systems that operate at temperatures above the boiling point of water.",
    "Does not cover systems that enrich oxygen to levels higher than 60% by volume.",
    "Does not cover fuel cells that operate at pressures significantly higher than 30 psig above atmospheric pressure.",
    "Does not cover systems that lack a mechanism to sense amperage output to trigger oxygen injection."
  ],
  "filed": "1992-08-13",
  "granted": "1994-09-13",
  "expires": "2012-08-13",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Energy Partners Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/energy-partners-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "James M. Ewan",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/james-m-ewan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Steven M. Misiasxek",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/steven-m-misiasxek"
    },
    {
      "name": "Donald P. Alessi, Jr.",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/donald-p-alessi-jr"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 90,
  "tags": [
    "automotive",
    "energy",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "A load management system for hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells is provided, for powering vehicles. The load management system operates such that under normal load conditions air is provided as the oxidizing agent for the hydrogen fuel. At high output conditions the air supply is enriched with additional oxygen. The system comprises means responsive to the amperage output from the fuel cell stack to activate valve means for the addition of pure oxygen into the air inlet line. There is also provided means for electrolyzing water to produce pure hydrogen and pure oxygen gas, which may be recyclable to the fuel cell.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5346778/electrochemical-load-management-system-for-transportation-applications",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5346778/electrochemical-load-management-system-for-transportation-applications/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US5346778",
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}