US4431714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell design and assembly
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1982-07-01
•
Granted: 1984-02-14
•
Expires: 2002-07-01
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a novel bipolar cooling plate, fuel cell design and method of assembly of fuel cells. The bipolar cooling plate used in the fuel cell design and method of assembly has discrete opposite edge and means carried by the plate defining a plurality of channels extending along the surface of the plate toward the opposite edges. At least one edge of the channels terminates short of the edge of the plate defining a recess for receiving a fastener.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Myerhoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0258; H01M8/0267; H01M8/24; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2484; H01M8/2485; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A bipolar cooling plate having discrete opposite edges, and means carried by the plate defining a plurality of channels extending along the surface of said plate toward said opposite edges, at least one end of said channels terminating short of the corresponding edge of said plate to define a recess for receiving a fastener.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A bipolar cooling plate having discrete opposite edges, and means carried by the plate defining a plurality of channels extending along the surface of said plate toward said opposite edges, at least one end of said channels terminating short of the corresponding edge of said plate to define a recess for receiving a fastener.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bipolar cooling plate of claim 1 wherein both ends of said channels terminate short of the corresponding edges of said plate to define recesses for receiving fasteners.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of single fuel cells arranged in a stack, said stack having a top face and a bottom face and juxtapositioned with said top and bottom face are corresponding upper and lower bipolar cooling plates wherein said upper and lower cooling plates have discrete opposite edges, and means carried by said plates defining a plurality of channels extending along the surface of said plate toward said opposite edges, at least one end of said channels terminating short of the corresponding edge of said plate to define a recess for receiving a fastener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of single fuel cells arranged in a stack, said stack having a top face and a bottom face and juxtapositioned with said top and bottom face are corresponding upper and lower bipolar cooling plates wherein said upper and lower cooling plates have discrete opposite edges, and means carried by said plates defining a plurality of channels extending along the surface of said plate toward said opposite edges, at least one end of said channels terminating short of the corresponding edge of said plate to define a recess for receiving a fastener.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 3 wherein both ends of said channels terminate short of the corresponding edges of said plate to define recesses for receiving fasteners.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cooling plate of claim 1 wherein said recesses form a stair-step configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cooling plate of claim 2 wherein said recesses form stair-step configurations along the edges of said plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cooling plate of claim 1 wherein the surface of said plate opposite to said channel bearing surface is planar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cooling plate of claim 2 wherein the surface of said plate opposite to said channel bearing surface is planar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling plate of claim 1 wherein said channel comprises U-shaped grooves extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling plate of claim 2 wherein said channel comprises U-shaped grooves extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling plate of claim 1 wherein said recess is arranged perpendicular to said channels extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling plate of claim 2 wherein said recess is arranged perpendicular to said channels extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 3 wherein said recess forms a stair-step configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 4 wherein said recesses form stair-step configurations along the edges of said plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 3 wherein the surface of said plate opposite to said channel bearing surface is planar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 4 wherein the surface of said plate opposite to said channel bearing surface is planar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 3 wherein said channel comprises U-shaped grooves extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 4 wherein said channel comprises U-shaped grooves extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 3 wherein said recess is arranged perpendicular to said channels extending along the surface of said plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell assembly of claim 4 wherein said recess is arranged perpendicular to said channels extending along the surface of said plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3321334A
Cited
US2419270A
Cited
US2682694A
Cited
US2949947A
Cited
US4114260A
Cited
US4186165A
Cited
US4171564A
Cited
US4203202A
Cited
US4186246A
Cited
US4233371A
Cited
US4233369A
Cited
US4324344A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-13 | 1987-08-15 | 1988-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-13 | 1991-08-15 | 1992-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-13 | 1995-08-15 | 1996-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |