Author: claimsbot

1. A direct electric current generation system comprising at least one polymer membrane fuel cell stack, means for feeding a fuel, optionally hydrogen, in parallel to the anodic compartments of said cells, means for feeding air in parallel to the cathodic compartments of said cells and means for adjusting the temperature of said cells comprising circulating a coolant inside said cells at constant flow-rate, wherein the water and thermal management of the system is regulated by acting only on the flow-rate of said air feed and on the cell inlet temperature of said coolant.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure of said air inside the cells is adjusted by acting on its flow-rate across a component imposing a calibrated pressure drop.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said component imposing a calibrated pressure drop is a reticulated current collector.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said reticulated current collector comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of metal foam, metal mesh, expanded or perforated sheet and sintered material.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein said calibrated pressure drop is comprised between 1.2 and 2.5 times the stoichiometric flow-rate.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said feeding of a fuel in parallel to the anodic compartments of said cells and said coolant circulation inside said cells are oriented in countercurrent.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said air feed to the cathodic compartments of said cells is oriented in concurrent with respect to said coolant circulation and in countercurrent with respect to said fuel feed to the anodic compartments.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for feeding a fuel in parallel to the anodic compartments of said cells consist of a hydrogen recirculator comprising at least one pump or ejector, a humid hydrogen purge and a pure dry hydrogen replenishment.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said coolant constant flow-rate is between 10 and 50 lmin per square meter of active area.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for feeding air in parallel to the cathodic compartments of said cells comprise at least one compressor or one fan.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the water balance is maintained so as to withdraw the sole water produced by the combination of said fuel and said air inside said fuel cell stack through the anodic purge and the cathodic exhaust, without any additional external supply of water.

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 tool (2) for the manufacture of a can body carried by a transformation machine (1) comprising:
a lower tool part (3) operably affixed to and supported by the transformation machine (1), an upper tool part (4) operably supported to be linearly movable toward, and away from the lower tool part (3), the upper tool part (4) including a servo drive arrangement (5), the upper tool part (4) comprising a first extrusion punch (7) in operable arrangement with the servo drive arrangement (5), the upper tool part (4) operably arranged concentric to a center axis (6), a first downholder (9) in operable arrangement with the first extrusion punch (7), the upper tool part (4) comprising a second extrusion punch (8) operably arranged in the interior of the first extrusion punch (7) so as to be movable along the center axis (6), the lower tool part (3) having a planar surface (17) for supporting a planar metal sheet (18) to be formed finally into the can body, the lower tool part (3) having a stepped through-passage (19) therein concentric with the center axis (6), the stepped through-passage (19) including an annular step (20), the first extrusion punch (7) for operatively passing within the stepped through-passage (19) above the annular step (20), the second extrusion punch (8) for operatively passing within the stepped through-passage (19) below the annular step (20),
the first downholder (9) in operative arrangement with the first extrusion punch (7) for initially applying a controlled force to the planar sheet (18) for forming a pre-can body cup from the planar metal sheet (18), the servo drive arrangement (5) which is operable selectively electronically switchable between a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode of the servo drive arrangement (5) is a position controlled operation for detecting the position of the extrusion punch (7) and moving the extrusion punch (7) based on feedback of the detected position of the extrusion punch (7) in accordance with a predetermined travel distance-time curve for moving the first extrusion punch (7) in a coordinated manner with the second extrusion punch (8) above the annular step (20) until the first extrusion punch (7) reaches the annular step (20) and the second operating mode is a force controlled operation for controlling electronically the force applied by the first extrusion punch (7) to the pre-can body cup between the first extrusion punch (7) and the annular step (20) in a downhold function by detecting the force applied by the first extrusion punch (7) to the pre-can body cup for ensuring correspondence to a predetermined force or a predetermined force graph, the switching of the servo drive arrangement (5) from the first operating mode to the second operating mode is executed when the first extrusion punch (7) changes its function from a draw function to the downhold function at the annular step (20),
the second extrusion punch (8) arranged coaxially with the first extrusion punch (7) for further drawing and stretching the pre-can body cup below the annular step (20) for forming the can body, and,
the first extrusion punch (7) and the second extrusion punch (8) are driven to run in the same direction.
2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the second extrusion punch (8) is arranged longitudinally movably in a passage formed centrally in the first extrusion punch (7).
3. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the first extrusion punch (7) is tubular.
4. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the first downholder (9) and a first downholder counter surface (21) are in operable arrangement with the first extrusion punch (7) during the first operating mode.
5. A tool according to claim 4, wherein a second downholder and a stationary second downholder counter surface are in operable arrangement with the first extrusion punch (7) during the second operating mode.
6. A tool according to claim 5, wherein the second downholder comprises a pressure ring (10) in operable arrangement with the first extrusion punch (7).
7. The tool according to claim 5, wherein the stationary second downholder counter surface is formed by an annular step (20) which is arranged at a fixed distance from the first downholder counter surface (21).
8. The tool according to claim 4, wherein the first downholder counter surface (21) is formed by the planar surface (17).
9. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the servo drive arrangement (5) is also for controlling the second extrusion punch (8) operable selectively electronically in a position or force-controlled manner.
10. A method for the manufacture of a can body with a tool (2) carried by a transformation machine (1), the tool (2) including a lower tool part (3) operably affixed to and supported by the transformation machine (1), an upper tool part (4) operably supported to be linearly movable toward, and away from the lower tool part (3), the upper tool part (4) including a servo drive arrangement (5), the upper tool part (4) comprising a first extrusion punch (7) in operable arrangement with the servo drive arrangement (5) and operably arranged concentric to a center axis (6), a first downholder (9) in operable arrangement with the first extrusion punch (7), the upper tool part (4) comprises a second extrusion punch (8) operably arranged in the interior of the first extrusion punch (7) so as to be movable along the center axis (6), the lower tool part (3) having a planar surface (17) for supporting a planar metal sheet (18) to be finally formed into the can body, the lower tool part (3) having a stepped through-passage (19) therein concentric with the center axis (6), the stepped through-passage (19) including an annular step (20), the first extrusion punch (7) for operatively passing within the stepped through-passage (19) above the annular step (20), the second extrusion punch (8) for operatively passing within the stepped through-passage (19) below the annular step (20), a second extrusion punch (8) arranged coaxially with the first extrusion punch (7), the servo drive arrangement (5) for operable selective electronic switching between a first operating mode which is a position controlled operation and a second operating mode which is a force controlled operation said method comprising the steps of:
forming a pre-can body cup by deep drawing in a predetermined draw direction from a pre-cut planar metal sheet (17) by deep-drawing with the servo drive arrangement (5) by detecting the position of the extrusion punch (7) and moving the extrusion punch (7) based on feedback of the detected position of the extrusion punch (7) in the first operating mode in accordance with a predetermined travel distance-time curve causing the first extrusion punch (7) to move in a coordinated manner with the second extrusion punch (8) until the first extrusion punch (7) reaches the annular step (20) and,
in a second step, deep drawing and stretching the pre-can body cup in the same predetermined draw direction for forming the can body by the servo drive arrangement (5) electronically switching to the second operating mode for causing the first extrusion punch (7) of the first deep-draw step serving as a downholder in operable relationship with the annular step (20) for the second deep-draw step and for controlling electronically the force applied by the first extrusion punch (7) to the pre-can body cup during downholding and for detecting the force applied by the first extrusion punch (7) to the pre-can body cup for ensuring correspondence to a predetermined force or a predetermined force graph to produce the can body.

1. A process of filtering packet data in a network device, said process comprising:
accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor;
extracting a first field from a packet based on the first descriptor, wherein the first field is used to identify the descriptor to be used to extract a second field of the packet;
accessing an action table based on a value of the first field of the packet;
executing an action from said action table when a valid bit from said action table for said action is set; and
executing a miss action from a miss action table when a valid bit from said action table for said action is not set.
2. A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor comprises accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor and an offset and said step of extracting a first field from a packet based on the first descriptor comprises extracting a first field from a packet by accessing a section of the packet set by the first descriptor and offset by the offset.
3. A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said process is performed for each row of the descriptor table.
4. A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of extracting a first field from a packet based on the first descriptor comprises extracting a first field from a packet header of the packet based on the first descriptor.
5. A process as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
checking a mode associated with said first descriptor; and
determining at least one next step based on said mode.
6. A process as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one next step comprising:
indexing into the action table based on said value of said first field of the packet.
7. A process as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one next step comprising:
hashing into a value table using said value of said first field of the packet; and
obtaining an action table index from said value table for use with the action table.
8. A process as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one next step comprising:
hashing into a value table using said value of said first field of the packet;
obtaining a second descriptor field index from said value table;
indexing into a second descriptor table using the second descriptor field index to obtain a second descriptor;
extracting a second field from the packet based on the second descriptor; and
accessing said action table using a value of said second field as an index into said action table.
9. A process as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one next step comprising:
indexing into a second descriptor table based on said value of said first field to obtain a second descriptor;
extracting a second field from the packet based on the second descriptor
hashing into a value table using said value of said second field of the packet; and
obtaining an action table index from said value table for use with the action table.
10. A method of handling data packets in a network device, said method comprising:
receiving a packet at a port interface;
reading at least one portion of said packet;
filtering said at least one portion according to the filtering process recited in claim 1; and
discarding, forwarding, or modifying the packet based upon the filtering process.
11. A packet filter for a network device, said filter comprising:
first accessing means for accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor;
first extracting means for extracting a first field from a packet based on the first descriptor and for identifying the descriptor to be used to extract a second field of the packet;
second accessing means for accessing an action table based on a value of the first field of the packet;
first executing means for executing an action from said action table when a valid bit from said action table for said action is set; and
second executing means for executing a miss action from a miss action table when a valid bit from said action table for said action is not set.
12. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 11, wherein said first accessing means comprises third accessing means for accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor and an offset and said first extracting means comprises third extracting means for extracting a first field from a packet by accessing a section of the packet set by the first descriptor and offset by the offset.
13. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 11, wherein said first accessing means is configured to access each row of the descriptor table.
14. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 11, wherein said first extracting means comprises third extracting means for extracting a first field from a packet header of the packet based on the first descriptor.
15. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 11, further comprising:
checking means for checking a mode associated with said first descriptor; and
determining means for determining what additional elements of the packet filter are utilized based on said mode.
16. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 15, wherein said filter further comprises:
indexing means for indexing into the action table based on said value of said first field of the packet.
17. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 15, wherein said filter further comprises:
hashing means for hashing into a value table using said value of said first field of the packet; and
obtaining means for obtaining an action table index from said value table for use with the action table.
18. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 15, wherein said filter further comprises:
hashing means for hashing into a value table using said value of said first field of the packet;
obtaining means for obtaining a second descriptor field index from said value table;
indexing means for indexing into a second descriptor table using the second descriptor field index to obtain a second descriptor;
extracting means for extracting a second field from the packet based on the second descriptor; and
third accessing means for accessing said action table using a value of said second field as an index into said action table.
19. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 15, wherein said filter further comprises:
indexing means for indexing into a second descriptor table based on said value of said first field to obtain a second descriptor;
extracting means for extracting a second field from the packet based on the second descriptor
hashing means for hashing into a value table using said value of said second field of the packet; and
obtaining means for obtaining an action table index from said value table for use with the action table.
20. A network device, said device comprising:
receiving means for receiving a packet at a port interface;
reading means for reading at least one portion of said packet;
a packet filter as recited in claim 11; and
means for discarding, forwarding, or modifying the packet based upon a result from the packet filter.
21. A packet filter for a network device, said filter comprising:
a first retriever for accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor;
a first extractor for extracting a first field from a packet based on the first descriptor and for identifying the descriptor to be used to extract a second field of the packet;
a second retriever means for accessing an action table based on a value of the first field of the packet;
a first executor for executing an action from said action table when a valid bit from said action table for said action is set; and
a second executor for executing a miss action from a miss action table when a valid bit from said action table for said action is not set.
22. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 21, wherein said first retriever comprises a third retriever for accessing a descriptor table to obtain a first descriptor and an offset and said first extractor comprises a third extractor for extracting a first field from a packet by accessing a section of the packet set by the first descriptor and offset by the offset.
23. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 21, wherein said first retriever is configured to access each row of the descriptor table.
24. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 21, wherein said first extractor comprises a third extractor for extracting a first field from a packet header of the packet based on the first descriptor.
25. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 21, further comprising:
a checker for checking a mode associated with said first descriptor; and
a chooser for determining what additional elements of the packet filter are utilized based on said mode.
26. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 25, wherein said filter further comprises:
an indexer for indexing into the action table based on said value of said first field of the packet.
27. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 25, wherein said filter further comprises:
a hashing retriever for hashing into a value table using said value of said first field of the packet; and
a selector for obtaining an action table index from said value table for use with the action table.
28. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 25, wherein said filter further comprises:
a hashing retriever for hashing into a value table using said value of said first field of the packet;
a selector for obtaining a second descriptor field index from said value table;
an indexer for indexing into a second descriptor table using the second descriptor field index to obtain a second descriptor;
an extractor for extracting a second field from the packet based on the second descriptor; and
a third retriever for accessing said action table using a value of said second field as an index into said action table.
29. A packet filter for a network device as recited in claim 25, wherein said filter further comprises:
an indexer for indexing into a second descriptor table based on said value of said first field to obtain a second descriptor;
an extractor for extracting a second field from the packet based on the second descriptor
a hashing retriever for hashing into a value table using said value of said second field of the packet; and
a selector for obtaining an action table index from said value table for use with the action table.
30. A network device, said device comprising:
a receiver for receiving a packet at a port interface;
a reader for reading at least one portion of said packet;
a packet filter as recited in claim 21; and
a decider for discarding, forwarding, or modifying the packet based upon a result from the packet filter.

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 reusable facemask, comprising:
a filter layer of material sized to filter out and trap particles having a size range of known contaminant particles; and
a porous layer of material located adjacent to the filter layer and adapted to continually sanitize contaminant particles trapped by the filter layer and contaminant particles passing through the porous layer by releasing free ions of elements selected from the group consisting of silver and copper.
2. The facemask of claim 1, further comprising a second porous layer adapted to release free ions of elements selected from the group consisting of silver and copper and located on an opposite side of the filter layer from the first said porous layer to form an inside surface of the mask shaped to contact the face of a wearer of the mask.
3. The facemask of claim 2, further comprising a second filter layer located adjacent and in contact with the first said filter layer, wherein the first said filter layer and the second filter layer trap and filter out different sizes of particles.
4. The face mask of claim 2, wherein the first said porous layer, the filter layer, and the second porous layer are sandwiched together and molded to shape the facemask respirator.
5. The facemask of claim 4, wherein the shape of the mask is heat molded.
6. The facemask of claim 1, wherein the porous layer includes zeolite carriers embedded at the surface of fibers and adapted to release free ions of elements selected from the group consisting of silver and copper to sanitize contaminant particles trapped in the inner filter layer and particles located within the vicinity of the porous layer.
7. The facemask of claim 6, wherein the zeolite carriers hold silver and copper.
8. The facemask of claim 1, wherein the porous layer is adapted to sanitize contaminant particles including bacteria and viruses.
9. The facemask of claim 1, wherein the first said porous layer and the filter layer are sealed together around a periphery to form the facemask respirator.
10. The facemask of claim 1, wherein the filter layer is located inside of the porous layer when the mask is worn to protect the wearer from airborne contaminants.
11. The facemask of claim 1, wherein the filter layer is located outside of the porous layer when the mask is worn to retain airborne contaminants exhaled by the wearer.
12. A method for protecting a person from airborne contaminant exposure, comprising the steps of
filtering breathing air for a person with a filter sized to filter out and trap particles having a size range of known contaminant particles; and
continually sanitizing particles trapped in the filter by continually releasing ions of elements selected from the group consisting of silver and copper, in the vicinity of particles trapped in the filter and particles located in the vicinity of the filter.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps of filtering and sanitizing are performed by a face mask.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sanitizing is performed by a first layer of material located on the face mask.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of filtering is performed by a second layer of material located adjacent the first layer in the face mask in a position to filter either incoming air or outgoing air which has already passed through the first layer.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of rendering the mask reusable by continually releasing free ions to sanitize the mask over time.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the continually releasing of ions is performed by zeolite carriers holding silver and copper.
18. A method of manufacturing a reusable facemask respirator, comprising the steps of:
combining a filter layer of material adapted to filter out and trap particles having a size range of known contaminant particles and a porous layer of material adapted to continually sanitize contaminant particles by releasing free ions of silver and copper; and
sealing the filter layer and the porous layer together around a periphery shaped to form a face mask.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of combining includes adding a second porous layer adapted to release ions of silver and copper and located on an opposite side of the filter layer from the first said porous layer.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of combining includes adding a second filter layer located adjacent and in contact with the first said filter layer, and further wherein the first said filter layer and the second filter layer tray and filter out different sizes of particles.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of sandwiching together the first said porous layer, the filter layer, the second filter layer and the second porous layer and molding the sandwiched layers to shape the facemask respirator.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of molding includes heat molding.
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)