1. A hydrogen feed system for a fuel cell arrangement, said feed system being adapted to receive hydrogen at a delivery pressure from a supply, to relax said hydrogen from said delivery pressure to a feed pressure and to feed said hydrogen to a fuel cell arrangement having an anode side, said hydrogen feed system being further adapted to receive hydrogen containing exhaust gases at a return pressure from a said anode side and to feed them together with hydrogen at said feed pressure to a said fuel cell arrangement, said hydrogen feed system comprising a pump driveable by pressure energy derived from said hydrogen at said delivery pressure.
2. A hydrogen feed system for a fuel cell arrangement, said feed system being adapted to receive hydrogen at a delivery pressure from a supply, to relax said hydrogen from said delivery pressure to a feed pressure and to feed said hydrogen to a fuel cell arrangement, said fuel cell arrangement having an anode side with an inlet for hydrogen, an outlet for hydrogen containing exhaust gases and a hydrogen recirculation circuit extending between said outlet and said inlet for receiving hydrogen containing exhaust gases at a return pressure from said outlet and feeding them together with hydrogen from said supply to said fuel cell arrangement, said hydrogen feed system comprising a pump provided in said hydrogen recirculation circuit and adapted to receive said hydrogen containing exhaust gases at said return pressure and increase their pressure for feeding them with hydrogen received directly by said pump from said supply to said fuel cell arrangement, said pump being driveable by pressure energy derived from said hydrogen at said delivery pressure.
3. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said supply comprising a hydrogen storage tank.
4. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said supply comprising a reforming unit.
5. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said supply comprising a pressure regulating valve disposed upstream of said pump for feeding hydrogen to said pump at said delivery pressure.
6. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said pump being a displacement pump.
7. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 6, said displacement pump being a piston pump.
8. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 6, said displacement pump is a double-acting piston pump.
9. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim8, said double-acting piston pump having a cylinder, first and second piston heads and a connecting member for coupling said piston heads together in spaced apart relationship, said piston heads being movable to and fro in said cylinder, said cylinder having first and second ends, there being a first cylinder space formed between said first piston head and said first end and a second cylinder space formed between the second piston head and said second end, each said cylinder space having an inlet in said hydrogen recirculation circuit for receiving hydrogen containing exhaust gases coming from said fuel cell arrangement and an outlet in said hydrogen recirculation circuit leading to said fuel cell arrangement, with respective non-return valves being associated with each inlet and outlet of said cylinder spaces.
10. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 9, and further comprising a valve member adapted to be changed over between first and second positions to bring about said to and fro movement of said piston heads in response to said delivery pressure of said hydrogen supplied to said pump.
11. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 10, said valve member being a valve flap, there being an axle pivotally supporting said valve flap and said valve flap subdividing said cylinder between said first and second piston heads into third and fourth cylinder spaces which, depending on the position of said valve member, are alternately pressurized by said delivery pressure.
12. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 11, said cylinder having a housing wall, a middle portion, an inlet in said housing wall at said middle portion for receiving hydrogen from said supply at said delivery pressure and an outlet in said housing wall at said middle portion for feeding hydrogen to said fuel cell arrangement, said outlet in said housing wall being opposite to said inlet in said housing wall and said valve flap being disposed between said inlet in said housing wall and said outlet in said housing wall.
13. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 12, said valve flap having an aperture, said connecting member extending through said aperture and a seal being provided between said valve flap and said connecting member.
14. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 13, and further comprising a flow path extending between said third and fourth cylinder spaces and a restrictor disposed in said flow path.
15. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 14, said flow path and said restrictor being provided in said valve flap.
16. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 14, said flow path being provided in said cylinder housing.
17. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 13, said connecting member defining a flow path extending between said third and fourth cylinder spaces, said at least one restrictor being disposed in said flow path.
18. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 11, and further comprising first and second abutments provided on said connecting member for moving said valve flap between its said first and second positions in response to said to and fro movement of said piston heads.
19. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 11, and further comprising first and second abutments provided on said piston heads for moving said valve flap between its said first and second positions in response to said to and fro movement of said piston heads.
20. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said displacement pump being a membrane pump.
21. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 14, said membrane pump having a first membrane chamber and a second membrane chamber and a gas passage arranged between said first and second membrane chambers, said gas passage having a first section having an inlet for receiving hydrogen at said delivery pressure from said supply and a second section having an outlet for feeding hydrogen to said fuel cell arrangement.
22. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 22, said first and second membrane chambers having respective first and second gas impermeable membranes, said first membrane dividing said first membrane chamber into first outer and inner chamber spaces and said second membrane dividing said second membrane chamber into second outer and inner chamber spaces.
23. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 23, said outer chamber spaces each having an inlet in said hydrogen recirculation circuit for receiving hydrogen containing exhaust gases from said fuel cell arrangement and an outlet leading to said fuel cell arrangement, there being a respective non-return valve associated with each inlet and outlet of said outer chamber spaces and said inner chamber spaces being connected via corresponding first and second passages to said gas passage.
22 A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 24, said first and second membranes having respective centers and said pump further comprising a coupling element, said first and second membranes being mechanically coupled together by said coupling element which is attached to said membranes at said centers, so that they are synchronously deflectable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the gas passage.
25. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 25, and further comprising a rocker valve having first and second positions and arranged in said gas passage, whereby when said rocker valve is in its first position, said first inner chamber space is closed off relative to said first section of said gas passage and said second inner chamber space is closed off relative to said second section of said gas passage but is connected to said first section and, when said rocker valve is in said second position, said second inner chamber space is closed off relative to said first section of said gas passage and said first inner chamber space is closed off relative to said second section of said gas passage but is connected to said first section.
26. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 26, said rocker valve having first and second sealing limbs and a tilting limb which are arranged in the manner of a Y-shape, said limbs being fixedly connected together at a connection point and being pivotally mounted in the region of said connection point, and said first and second sealing limbs each being associated with a respective one of said first and second passages.
27. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 26, and further comprising a drive element connected to said coupling element, said rocker valve being actuatable by said drive element.
28. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 28, said drive element having a rod section with first and second ends and being substantially rigidly connected to said coupling element at its first end and having a V-shaped fork section formed by two fork limbs at its second free end, in such a way that a force can be exerted by said fork limbs on said tilting limb.
29. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 28, said drive element being formed by one of a spring and lever element interacting with said rocker valve and said coupling element.
30. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 24, and further comprising a collecting line leading to said fuel cell arrangement, said outlets of said outer chamber spaces and said second section of said gas passage being connected to said collecting line.
31. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said hydrogen recirculation circuit having an outlet downstream of said fuel cell arrangement through which excess hydrogen containing exhaust gases can be led away.
32. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 33 and further comprising a pressure regulating valve which is provided at said outlet of said hydrogen recirculation circuit.
33. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 1, said pump having a pump housing having a wall, being hermetically sealed off relative to an environment and having no shaft extending through a wall of said cylinder housing.
34. A hydrogen feed system in accordance with claim 2, said pump having a pump housing having a wall, being hermetically sealed off relative to an environment and having no shaft extending through a wall of said cylinder housing.
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 method for distributing a time- and location-based offer to a consumer, comprising:
storing, in a coupon database, a plurality of coupon data entries, wherein each coupon data entry includes data related to a coupon and includes at least a location identification and a time threshold;
storing, in a location database, a plurality of location data entries, wherein each location data entry includes data related to a location and includes at least a location identifier and at least one geographic position;
receiving, by a receiving device, a location notification from a mobile communication device, wherein the location notification includes at least an entry time and a geographic location;
identifying, in the location database, a specific location data entry, wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is in proximity to the geographic location;
identifying, in the coupon database, at least one coupon data entry, wherein the location identification of each of the at least one coupon data entry corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location data entry;
calculating an elapsed time based on the amount of time passed since the entry time included in the location notification; and
distributing, to a consumer associated with the mobile communication device, each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry when the elapsed time meets or exceeds the included time threshold,
wherein the calculating and distributing steps are performed until the receiving device receives an indication that the mobile communication device is not in proximity of the geographic location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each coupon data entry further includes at least one of: a transaction modifier, a quantity, a start date, an expiration date, a merchant identifier, and a category.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location is represented using longitude and latitude.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein each location data entry of the plurality of location data entries further includes a proximity distance, and wherein identifying the specific location data entry includes identifying a specific location data entry wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is within the included proximity distance to the geographic location.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry includes distributing each coupon to the mobile communication device.
6. A method for distributing a time- and location-based offer to a consumer, comprising:
storing, in a coupon database, a plurality of coupon data entries, wherein each coupon data entry includes data related to a coupon and includes at least a location identification and a time threshold;
storing, in a location database, a plurality of location data entries, wherein each location data entry includes data related to a location and includes at least a location identifier and at least one geographic position;
receiving, by a receiving device, a location notification from a mobile communication device, wherein the location notification includes at least an entry time and a geographic location;
receiving, by the receiving device, an exit notification from the mobile communication device, the exit notification including at least an exit time;
calculating, by a processing device, an elapsed time based on the received entry time and exit time;
identifying, in the location database, a specific location data entry, wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is in proximity to the geographic location;
identifying, in the coupon database, at least one coupon data entry, wherein the location identification of each of the at least one coupon data entry corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location and the calculated elapsed time meets or exceeds the time threshold; and
distributing, to a consumer associated with the mobile communication device, each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location notification further includes a consumer identification, and the method further comprises:
storing, in a consumer database, a plurality of consumer data entries, each consumer data entry including data related to a consumer and including a consumer identifier, a location identification, and an aggregated time;
identifying, in the consumer database, a specific consumer data entry, wherein the included consumer identifier corresponds to the consumer identification and the included location identification corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location data entry; and
updating the aggregated time included in the specific consumer data entry based on the received entry time and exit time,
wherein the elapsed time is based on the updated aggregated time.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein each consumer data entry includes at least one group identification, and the method further comprises:
identifying, in the consumer database, a plurality of grouped consumer data entries wherein each consumer data entry in the plurality of grouped consumer data entries includes a group identification corresponding to a group identifier included in the specific consumer data entry;
calculating an group time based on the aggregated time included in each of the grouped consumer data entries;
identifying, in the coupon database, at least one group coupon data entry, wherein the location identification of each of the at least one group coupon data entry corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location data entry and the calculated group time meets or exceeds the time threshold; and
distributing, to each consumer associated with any of the plurality of grouped consumer data entries, each coupon related to each of the identified at least one group coupon data entry.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the aggregated time is reset after a predetermined period of time.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein each coupon data entry further includes at least one of: a transaction modifier, a quantity, a start date, an expiration date, a merchant identifier, and a category.
11. The method of claim 6, wherein the geographic location is represented using longitude and latitude.
12. The method of claim 6, wherein each location data entry of the plurality of location data entries further includes a proximity distance, and wherein identifying the specific location data entry includes identifying a specific location wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is within the included proximity distance to the geographic location.
13. The method of claim 6, wherein distributing each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry includes distributing each coupon to the mobile communication device.
14. A method for distributing time- and location-based activity, comprising:
storing, in an entity database, a plurality of entity data entries, wherein each entity data entry includes data related to an entity and includes at least a time threshold and an activity identification;
storing, in an activity database, a plurality of activity data entries, wherein each activity data entry includes data related to an activity and includes an activity identifier and at least one geographic position;
storing, in a consumer database, a plurality of consumer data entries, wherein each consumer data entry includes data related to a consumer and includes at least a consumer identifier, an activity indicator, and an aggregated time;
receiving, by a receiving device, an activity notification, wherein the activity notification includes at least a consumer identification, an elapsed time, and a geographic location;
identifying, in the activity database, a specific activity data entry, wherein the geographic location corresponds to one of the at least one geographic positions included in the specific activity data entry;
identifying, in the consumer database, a specific consumer data entry, wherein the consumer identification corresponds to the consumer identifier included in the specific consumer data entry and wherein the activity identifier of the specific activity data entry corresponds to the activity indicator included in the specific consumer data entry;
updating the aggregated time in the specific consumer data entry based on the elapsed time included in the activity notification;
identifying, in the entity database, a specific entity data entry, wherein the activity identifier of the specific activity data entry corresponds to the activity identification included in the specific entity data entry and the updated aggregated time meets or exceeds the time threshold included in the specific entity data entry; and
transmitting, to the entity related to the specific entity data entry, at least the consumer identifier included in the specific consumer data entry.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic location is represented using longitude and latitude.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein each activity data entry of the plurality of activity data entries further includes a proximity distance, and wherein identifying the specific activity data entry includes identifying a specific activity data entry wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific activity data entry is within the included proximity distance to the geographic location.
17. A system for distributing a time- and location-based offer to a consumer, comprising:
a coupon database configured to store a plurality of coupon data entries, wherein each coupon data entry includes data related to a coupon and includes at least a location identification and a time threshold;
a location database configured to store a plurality of location data entries, wherein each location data entry includes data related to a location and includes at least a location identifier and at least one geographic position;
a receiving device configured to receive a location notification from a mobile communication device, wherein the location notification includes at least an entry time and a geographic location;
a processing device configured to
identify, in the location database, a specific location data entry, wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is in proximity to the geographic location,
identify, in the coupon database, at least one coupon data entry, wherein the location identification of each of the at least one coupon data entry corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location data entry, and
calculate an elapsed time based on the amount of time passed since the entry time included in the location notification; and
a transmitting device configured to transmit, to a consumer associated with the mobile communication device, each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry when the elapsed time meets or exceeds the included time threshold,
wherein the processing device is configured to perform the calculating and distributing until the receiving device receives an indication that the mobile communication device is not in proximity of the geographic location.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein each coupon data entry further includes at least one of: a transaction modifier, a quantity, a start date, an expiration date, a merchant identifier, and a category.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographic location is represented using longitude and latitude.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein each location data entry of the plurality of location data entries further includes a proximity distance, and wherein identifying the specific location data entry includes identifying a specific location data entry wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is within the included proximity distance to the geographic location.
21. The system of claim 17, wherein transmitting each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry includes transmitting each coupon to the mobile communication device.
22. A system for distributing a time- and location-based offer to a consumer, comprising:
a coupon database configured to store a plurality of coupon data entries, wherein each coupon data entry includes data related to a coupon and includes at least a location identification and a time threshold;
a location database configured to store a plurality of location data entries, wherein each location data entry includes data related to a location and includes at least a location identifier and at least one geographic position;
a receiving device configured to
receive a location notification from a mobile communication device, wherein the location notification includes at least an entry time and a geographic location, and
receive an exit notification from the mobile communication device, the exit notification including at least an exit time;
a processing device configured to
calculate an elapsed time based on the received entry time and exit time,
identify, in the location database, a specific location data entry, wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is in proximity to the geographic location, and
identify, in the coupon database, at least one coupon data entry, wherein the location identification of each of the at least one coupon data entry corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location data entry and the calculated elapsed time meets or exceeds the time threshold; and
a transmitting device configured to transmit, to a consumer associated with the mobile communication device, each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry.
23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:
a consumer database configured to store a plurality of consumer data entries, each consumer data entry including data related to a consumer and including a consumer identifier, a location identification, and an aggregated time, wherein
the location notification further includes a consumer identification,
the processing device is further configured to update the aggregated time included in the specific consumer data entry based on the received entry time and exit time, and
the elapsed time is based on the updated aggregated time.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein
each consumer data entry includes at least one group identifier;
the processing device is further configured to
identify, in the consumer database, a plurality of grouped consumer data entries wherein each consumer data entry in the plurality of grouped consumer data entries includes a group identifier corresponding to a group identifier included in the specific consumer data entry,
calculate an group time based on the aggregated time included in each of the grouped consumer data entries, and
identify, in the coupon database, at least one group coupon data entry, wherein the location identification of each of the at least one group coupon data entry corresponds to the location identifier of the specific location and the calculated group time meets or exceeds the time threshold; and
the transmitting device is further configured to transmit, to each consumer related to each consumer data entry associated with any of the plurality of grouped consumer data entries, each coupon related to each of the identified at least one group coupon data entry.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the aggregated time is reset after a predetermined period of time.
26. The system of claim 22, wherein each coupon data entry further includes at least one of: a transaction modifier, a quantity, a start date, an expiration date, a merchant identifier, and a category.
27. The system of claim 22, wherein the geographic location is represented using longitude and latitude.
28. The system of claim 22, wherein each location data entry of the plurality of location data entries further includes a proximity distance, and wherein identifying the specific location data entry includes identifying a specific location data entry wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific location data entry is within the included proximity distance to the geographic location.
29. The system of claim 22, wherein distributing each coupon related to each of the at least one coupon data entry includes distributing each coupon to the mobile communication device.
30. A system for distributing time- and location-based activity, comprising:
an entity database configured to store a plurality of entity data entries, wherein each entity data entry includes data related to an entity and includes at least a time threshold and an activity identification;
an activity database configured to store a plurality of activity data entries, wherein each activity data entry includes data related to an activity and includes an activity identifier and at least one geographic position;
a consumer database configured to store a plurality of consumer data entries, wherein each consumer data entry includes data related to a consumer and includes at least a consumer identifier, an activity indicator, and an aggregated time;
a receiving device configured to receive an activity notification, wherein the activity notification includes at least a consumer identification, an elapsed time, and a geographic location;
a processing device configured to
identify, in the activity database, a specific activity data entry, wherein the geographic location corresponds to one of the at least one geographic positions included in the specific activity data entry,
identify, in the consumer database, a specific consumer data entry, wherein the consumer identification corresponds to the consumer identifier included in the specific consumer data entry and wherein the activity identifier of the specific activity data entry corresponds to the activity indicator included in the specific consumer data entry,
update the aggregated time in the specific consumer data entry based on the elapsed time included in the activity notification, and
identify, in the entity database, a specific entity data entry, wherein the activity identifier of the specific activity data entry corresponds to the activity identification included in the specific entity data entry and the updated aggregated time meets or exceeds the time threshold included in the specific entity data entry; and
a transmitting device configured to transmit, to the entity related to the specific entity data entry, at least the consumer identifier included in the specific consumer data entry.
31. The system of claim 30, wherein the geographic location is represented using longitude and latitude.
32. The system of claim 30, wherein each activity data entry of the plurality of activity data entries further includes a proximity distance, and wherein identifying the specific activity data entry includes identifying a specific activity data entry wherein one of the at least one geographic position included in the specific activity data entry is within the included proximity distance to the geographic location.