Fuel cell stack assembly—datum design for fuel cell stacking and collision protection
US9627705B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2015 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for aligning and reducing the relative movement between adjacent fuel cells within a fuel cell stack. The inter-cell cooperation between fuel cells along a stacking dimension is enhanced by one or more datum placed along the edge of a bipolar plate that makes up a part of a cell-containing assembly. The datum is shaped along a thickness that substantially coincides with the cell stacking dimension to avoid shifting between adjacently-stacked cells that may otherwise arise out of the occurrence of a significant acceleration along the dimension that defines the major surfaces of the plates, cells and their respective assemblies. By having the datum be integrally formed with numerous stacked cells, the need to affix individual tabs each plate is avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.