Patent US4802047A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4849308A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4849308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manifold seal for fuel cell stack assembly
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1988-03-17
•
Granted: 1989-07-18
•
Expires: 2008-03-17
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for sealing a manifold to a stack of fuel cells includes a first resilient member for providing a first sealing barrier between the manifold and the stack. A second resilient member provides a second sealing barrier between the manifold and the stack. The first and second resilient members are retained in such a manner as to define an area therebetween adapted for retaining a sealing composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip F. Schmitten
- 👤 Maynard K. Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/24; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2484; H01M8/2485; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A fuel cell stack having an improved manifold seal capable of withstanding cell stack creep, comprising: a top and a bottom compression plate; a plurality of fuel cells positioned between said compression plates and defining a fuel cell stack; a plurality of manifolds for supplying fuel and a reactant to said plurality of cells, each of said manifolds being rigidly connected to said bottom compression plate; first resilient sealing means for providing a first sealing barrier between each of said manifolds and said stack and said compression plates; second resilient means for providing a second sealing barrier between each of said manifolds and said stack and said compression plates; first retaining means associated with said manifolds for retaining said first and second resilient means in such a manner as to define an area therebetween adapted for retaining a sealing composition; and second retaining means associated with said top compression plate for retaining said first and second resilient means in such a manner as to define an area therebetween adapted for retaining a sealing composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A fuel cell stack having an improved manifold seal capable of withstanding cell stack creep, comprising: a top and a bottom compression plate; a plurality of fuel cells positioned between said compression plates and defining a fuel cell stack; a plurality of manifolds for supplying fuel and a reactant to said plurality of cells, each of said manifolds being rigidly connected to said bottom compression plate; first resilient sealing means for providing a first sealing barrier between each of said manifolds and said stack and said compression plates; second resilient means for providing a second sealing barrier between each of said manifolds and said stack and said compression plates; first retaining means associated with said manifolds for retaining said first and second resilient means in such a manner as to define an area therebetween adapted for retaining a sealing composition; and second retaining means associated with said top compression plate for retaining said first and second resilient means in such a manner as to define an area therebetween adapted for retaining a sealing composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first retaining means includes a seal carrier having grooves for retaining said first and second resilient means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first retaining means includes grooves carried by said plurality of manifolds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising means for physically urging said plurality of manifolds against the stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein the means for urging includes retainer bars and tie rods oriented about said stack to hold said plurality of manifolds in place, and compression springs positioned between said retainer bars and tie rods for urging said plurality of manifolds against the stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fuel cell stack of claim 1 additionally comprising a fluroroelastomer coating applied to the stack in the area of the interface between said first and second resilient sealing means and the stack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said second retaining means includes grooves formed in said top compression plate for retaining said first and second resilient means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4212929A
Cited
US4374185A
Cited
JPS58112265A
Cited
JPS58150277A
Cited
US4444851A
Cited
US4508793A
Cited
US4414294A
Cited
JPS6059669A
Cited
JPS6059670A
Cited
JPS60151973A
Cited
US4604331A
Cited
US4642274A
Cited
US4572876A
Cited
US4728585A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |