# US 10,122,032 B2 · Fuel cell stack with multilayer type collector plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,032 B2 - Document ID: US10122032B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/201,169 - Filed: 2016-07-01 - Published: 2017-03-30 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-24 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Inventors: Haeng Jin Ko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122032B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04225: during start-up - B60L 58/31: for starting of fuel cells - B60L 58/32: for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load - H01M 8/0202: Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors - H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) - H01M 8/0256: Vias, i.e. connectors passing through the separator material - H01M 8/04007: related to heat exchange - H01M 8/04052: {Storage of heat in the fuel cell system} - H01M 8/04253: {Means for solving freezing problems} - H01M 8/04268: {Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells} - H01M 8/24: Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells - H01M 8/2465: Details of groupings of fuel cells - H01M 8/248: Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A fuel cell stack is provided which manually increases the temperature of cells arranged in the vicinity of an end plate of the stack to improve starting performance of a fuel cell vehicle at temperatures below zero and driving performance thereof at low temperatures. The fuel cell stack realizes rapid thawing and heating functions in response to freezing of end cells when a vehicle is started at temperatures below zero, using a multilayer current collector having at least one thin collector plate which is structurally and sensitively expandable or contractible based on temperature changes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell stack with a multilayer collector plate, comprising: end plates disposed at opposite sides of stack cells stacked in a line to fixedly support the stack cells; and current collectors disposed inside the end plates to collect electricity generated by the stack cells and configured to transmit the electricity to the outside, wherein at least one of the current collectors disposed at the opposite sides of the stack cells includes a first collector plate having a current collection terminal, and a second collector plate stacked on one surface of the first collector plate, wherein the first collector plate is elastically supported by an elastic member to be pressed against an end cell of the stack cells, wherein the first collector moves from the end plate to the end cell by the elastic member to form a gap between the first and second collector plates when the stack cells are thermally contracted, and wherein the second collector plate is not supported by the elastic member such that the gap is formed between the first collector plate and the second collector plate by the thermal contraction of the stack cells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein an elastic member is inserted between a terminal aperture formed in each of the end plates and the current collection terminal of the first collector plate passing through the terminal aperture, to elastically support the current collection terminal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel cell stack of claim 2, wherein stepped portions are respectively formed in the terminal aperture and the current collection terminal, and the elastic member is accommodated between a stepped portion of the current collection terminal and a stepped portion of the terminal aperture, which face each other when the current collection terminal is inserted into the terminal aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first collector plate has a rough structure on one surface thereof facing the second collector plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the first collector plate is a thin collector plate having a thickness less than that of the second collector plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel cell stack of claim 5, wherein the first collector plate is stacked to abut the stack cells, and the current collection terminal of the first collector plate is inserted through an aperture in the second collector plate and a terminal aperture in the associated one of the end plates. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fuel cell stack of claim 5, wherein the first collector plate has a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.2 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the gap is formed between the first and second collector plates at a temperature of about −20 to −30° C., and the first and second collector plates form a minimum contact resistance by fastening pressure of the stack when the temperature is increased to a predetermined temperature above zero. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fuel cell stack of claim 8, wherein the first and second collector plates form a minimum contact resistance by the fastening pressure of the stack at a temperature of about 40 to 70° C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel cell stack of claim 1, wherein the current collection terminal is bonded to the first collector plate to be integrated therewith, is assembled to the first collector plate to be integrated therewith by a fastening mechanism, or is pressed against the first collector plate to be electrically connected thereto.