1. A binder mechanism, comprising:
a base;
a ring comprising a free end and a secured end, with the secured end being movably secured to the base; and
a base connector for fastening the free end of the ring in a closed position, wherein the base connector comprises an aperture generally shaped to engage the free end of the ring to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector and a portion of the base connector with the aperture is sloped with respect to the base; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a first pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot between an upright open position and an upright closed position relative to the base connector, with the upright closed position permitting sheets to be held by the ring and with the upright open position permitting sheets to be added to the ring; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a second pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot from a collapsed position into an upright position.
2. The binder mechanism of claim 1,
wherein the base connector releasably fastens the free end of the ring, permitting the free end of the ring to be repeatedly connected to the base to put the binder mechanism in a closed configuration and repeatedly disconnected from the base to put the binder mechanism in an open configuration; and
wherein the first pivotal connection permits the ring to pivot permitting the free end of the ring to be moved away from the base connector when unfastened.
3. The binder mechanism of claim 2 wherein the second pivotal connection permits the ring to rotate about an axis of the secured end of the ring and pivot into a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base.
4. The binder mechanism of claim 3,
wherein the first pivotal connection comprises a transverse member;
wherein the base further comprises a central portion, and at least first and second other portions on either side of the central portion; and
wherein the transverse member is positioned between the central portion and the first and second other portions of the base to permit pivotal movement of the free end of the ring away from the base connector.
5. The binder mechanism of claim 4, wherein the transverse member cooperates with at least the central portion and the first and second other portions to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
6. The binder mechanism of claim 4, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a fastener coupling the transverse member to the secured end of the ring permitting the ring to pivot into a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base.
7. The binder mechanism of claim 6, wherein the fastener extends through an opening in a flange of the transverse member.
8. The binder mechanism of claim 3,
wherein the first pivotal connection comprises a transverse member;
wherein the base further comprises a central portion, a flange portion, a pair of arcuate portions on either side of the central portion, and a tab connected to the central portion of the base; and
wherein the transverse member is positioned between the central portion and the arcuate portions of the base to permit pivotal movement of the free end of the ring away from the base connector.
9. The binder mechanism of claim 8, wherein the transverse member cooperates with the central portion, the flange portion, the pair of arcuate portions, and the tab of the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
10. The binder mechanism of claim 8, wherein the arcuate portions of the base further comprise a notch that assists with pivoting the transverse member.
11. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the secured end of the ring cooperates with the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
12. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a flange coupled to the secured end of the ring with a fastener.
13. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the flange comprises a shoulder of a transverse member.
14. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the flange comprises a shoulder of a transverse member, and wherein the transverse member cooperates with the base to form the first pivotal connection.
15. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the secured end of the ring further comprises an opening into which the fastener is inserted.
16. The binder mechanism of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener.
17. The binder mechanism of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a rivet.
18. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the secured end of the ring further comprises a threaded opening into which the fastener is inserted and the fastener is a threaded fastener.
19. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a flange coupled to the secured end of the ring with a fastener.
20. The binder mechanism of claim 19, wherein the secured end of the ring further comprises an opening into which the fastener is inserted and the portion of the base connector sloped with respect to the base permits the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the aperture and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
21. The binder mechanism of claim 20, wherein a transverse member cooperates with a central portion, a flange portion, a pair of arcuate portions, and a tab of the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
22. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the base connector and free end of the ring are characterized by permitting the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the base connector and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion of the base connector so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
23. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the secured end of the ring cooperates with the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
24. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the aperture has an upper channel portion and a lower wider portion to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector.
25. The binder mechanism of claim 24, wherein the free end of the ring comprises a circumferentially reduced portion that seats in the upper channel portion of the aperture to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector.
26. The binder mechanism of claim 25, wherein the base connector further comprises a release ring for unseating the circumferentially reduced portion of the ring from the upper channel portion of the aperture.
27. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portion of the base connector sloped with respect to the base permits the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the aperture and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
28. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base connector and free end of the ring are characterized by permitting the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the base connector and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion of the base connector so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
29. A binder, comprising:
a binder casing; and
a plurality of binder mechanisms affixed to the binder casing, wherein each binder mechanism comprises:
a base;
a ring comprising a free end and a secured end, with the secured end being movably secured to the base; and
a base connector for fastening the free end of the ring, wherein the base connector comprises an aperture generally shaped to engage the free end of the ring to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector and a portion of the base connector with the aperture is sloped with respect to the base; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a first pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot between an upright open position and an upright closed position relative to the base connector, with the upright closed position permitting sheets to be held by the ring and with the upright open position permitting sheets to be added to the ring; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a second pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot from a collapsed position into an upright position.
30. The binder of claim 29,
wherein the base connector releasably fastens the free end of the ring, permitting the free end of the ring to be repeatedly connected to the base to put the binder mechanism in a closed configuration and repeatedly disconnected from the base to put the binder mechanism in an open configuration; and
wherein the first pivotal connection permits the ring to pivot permitting the free end of the ring to be moved away from the base connector when unfastened.
31. The binder of claim 30,
wherein the second pivotal connection permits the ring to rotate about an axis of the secured end of the ring and pivot into a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base.
32. A binder mechanism, comprising:
a base;
a ring comprising a free end and a secured end, with the secured end being movably secured to the base; and
a base connector for fastening the free end of the ring in a closed position, wherein the base connector releasably fastens the free end of the ring, permitting the free end of the ring to be repeatedly connected to the base to put the binder mechanism in a closed configuration and repeatedly disconnected from the base to put the binder mechanism in an open configuration; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a first pivotal connection permitting the free end of the ring to be moved away from the base connector when unfastened and the ring to pivot between an upright open position and an upright closed position relative to the base connector, with the upright closed position permitting sheets to be held by the ring and with the upright open position permitting sheets to be added to the ring; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a second pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot from a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base into an upright position, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a flange coupled to the secured end of the ring with a fastener and the secured end of the ring further comprising an opening into which the fastener is inserted.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A reformer comprising:
a burner adapted to generate thermal energy; and
a reforming reaction unit adapted to be supplied with the thermal energy from the burner to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel,
wherein the burner comprises:
a burner main body having first and second portions formed by bending the burner main body to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit; and
a first catalyst filled in an inner portion of the burner main body.
2. The reformer of claim 1, wherein the reforming reaction unit comprises:
a reformer main body; and
a second catalyst filled in an inner potion of the reformer main body.
3. The reformer of claim 2,
wherein the reformer main body has a cylindrical shape, a first end, and a second end, the first end and the second end being substantially closed,
wherein a reformer inlet is provided at the first end of the reformer main body, and
wherein a reformer outlet is provided at the second end of the reformer main body.
4. The reformer of claim 1,
wherein a burner inlet is provided to the first portion of the burner main body, and
wherein a burner outlet is provided to the second portion of the burner main body.
5. The reformer of claim 1, wherein the burner main body has a coil shape wound in a helical configuration.
6. The reformer of claim 1, wherein the first catalyst has a pellet shape.
7. A fuel cell system comprising:
an electricity generator adapted to generate electrical energy through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen;
a reformer adapted to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel through a catalytic reaction using thermal energy and to supply the hydrogen-rich gas to the electricity generator;
a fuel supplying unit adapted to supply the fuel to the reformer; and
an oxygen supply unit adapted to supply the oxygen to the reformer and the electricity generator,
wherein the reformer comprises:
a reforming reaction portion having a reformer main body filled with a second catalyst; and
a burner main body having first and second portions formed by bending the burner main body to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, the burner main body being filled with a first catalyst, wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit.
8. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the burner main body has a coil shape wound in a helical configuration.
9. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the fuel supply unit comprises:
a fuel tank adapted to store the fuel; and
at least one fuel pump connected to the fuel tank and adapted to discharge the fuel.
10. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the oxygen supply unit has at least one air pump adapted to pump and supply the air to the reformer and the electricity generator.
11. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of electricity generators are stacked adjacent to one another to constitute a stack of the fuel cell system.
12. A burner for a fuel cell reformer having an reforming reaction unit, the burner comprising:
a burner main body having first and second portions; and
an oxidation catalyst filled in the first and second portions of the burner main body,
wherein the first and second portions of the burner main body are formed by bending a straight pipe at a mid-portion thereof to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, and
wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit.
13. The burner of claim 12,
wherein an inlet is provided to the first portion of the burner main body, and
wherein an outlet is provided to the second portion of the burner main body.
14. The burner of claim 12, wherein the burner main body has a coil shape wound in a helical configuration.
15. The reformer of claim 12, wherein the oxidation catalyst has a pellet shape.