US 7,582,372 B2
Pressure regulator for fuel cell
Kenji Ichikawa, Kakuda (Japan); Masamitsu Shinbo, Kakuda (Japan); Kouji Sengoku, Shioya-gun (Japan); Narihiro Takagi, Haga-gun (Japan); and Katsumi Saito, Shioya-gun (Japan)
Assigned to Keihin Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Dec. 01, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/725,862.
Claims priority of application No. 2002-349168 (JP), filed on Nov. 29, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0224200 A1, Nov. 11, 2004
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 429—25  [429/39; 137/154] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pressure regulator for fuel cells, which is disposed in a discharge line for discharging an oxidizing agent supplied to a cathode of fuel cells, for controlling a discharged amount of the oxidizing agent to regulate the pressure of the oxidizing agent in the cathode, comprising:
an opening for passing said oxidizing agent therethrough;
a valve body for opening or closing said opening;
a resilient member for urging a rotational shaft to which said valve body is connected, to turn in a direction to open said opening, wherein said rotational shaft is supported by a bearing;
a sealing member disposed between said bearing and said opening, wherein the sealing member comprises a first lip inclined away from the opening and a second lip inclined toward the opening;
a limiting member for limiting an angular position of the valve body which is turned by said resilient member, to keep said opening fully open;
a non-contact type motor energizable for turning said valve body in a direction to close said opening against resilient forces of said resilient member, wherein when the non-contact type motor is de-energized, the opening is fully open for discharging water from the fuel cells without consuming electric power; and
an opening sensor for detecting a magnetic field from a magnet embedded in said rotational shaft thereby to detect an angular position of said rotational shaft.