# US 11,444,289 B2 · Contact element, plug with a contact element and contact arrangement for contacting a bipolar stack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,289 B2 - Document ID: US11444289B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/539,407 - Filed: 2019-08-13 - Published: 2020-02-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-14 - Assignees: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH - Applicants: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH - Inventors: Maik Schaefer; Zoran Stjepanovic; Helge Schmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444289B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0202: Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors - H01M 8/0206: Metals or alloys - H01M 8/0297: Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other (H01M8/0271 takes precedence) - H01M 8/2404: Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells - H01M 8/2465: Details of groupings of fuel cells - H01R 13/17: with spring member on the pin - H01R 13/22: Contacts for co-operating by abutting - H01R 13/6271: {Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 33/76: Holders with sockets, clips, or analogous contacts adapted for axially-sliding engagement with parallely-arranged pins, blades, or analogous contacts on counterpart, e.g. electronic tube socket - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A contact element for contacting a bipolar plate of a fuel cell stack includes a contact body extending along a longitudinal axis. The contact body has a channel extending along the longitudinal axis and delimited by a pair of channel walls disposed opposite one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The channel is adapted to receive a portion of the bipolar plate. The contact body has a contact spring on a first channel wall of the pair of channel walls. The contact spring protrudes into the channel and has a cutting edge directed toward a second channel wall of the pair of channels walls and adapted to contact the bipolar plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A contact element for contacting a bipolar plate of a fuel cell stack, comprising: a contact body extending along a longitudinal axis, the contact body has a channel extending along the longitudinal axis and delimited by a pair of channel walls disposed opposite one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the channel is adapted to receive a portion of the bipolar plate, the contact body has a contact spring on a first channel wall of the pair of channel walls, the contact spring extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and into the channel, and having a cutting edge directed toward a second channel wall of the pair of channels walls and adapted to contact the bipolar plate, the contact spring is elastically deflectable about a pivot axis extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the contact spring comprises a pair of contact springs disposed on the first channel wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is disposed on a free end of the contact spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The contact element of claim 4, wherein the free end of the contact spring is bent in a direction of the second channel wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the contact body and the contact spring are formed in a single piece as a monolithic component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the contact spring extends away from a base that connects the first channel wall and the second channel wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The contact element of claim 7, wherein the base delimits the channel in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The contact element of claim 8, wherein the contact spring defines a width in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the width of the contact spring tapering in a direction extending away from the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the contact body has an insertion chamfer at an end along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of the contact spring is defined on a base that connects the first channel wall and the second channel wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the first channel wall defines a window formed therethrough, the contact spring arranged within the window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein a height of the first channel wall relative to the base is greater than a height of the contact spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The contact element of claim 1, wherein the first channel wall extends from the base in a first direction, and the contact spring extends from the base in a second direction oblique to the first direction. ### Claim 15 A plug for contacting a plurality of bipolar plates of a fuel cell stack, comprising: a housing having a plurality of contact chambers aligned in parallel, arranged next to one another, and open along a longitudinal axis; and a contact element arranged in at least one of the contact chambers, the contact element including a contact body extending along the longitudinal axis, the contact body has a channel extending along the longitudinal axis and delimited by a pair of channel walls disposed opposite one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the channel is adapted to receive a portion of the bipolar plate, the contact body has a contact spring on a first channel wall of the pair of channel walls, the contact spring protruding into the channel and having a cutting edge directed toward a second channel wall of the pair of channels walls and adapted to contact the bipolar plate, the contact element further including a plug-in portion protruding out of the at least one contact chamber in which it is arranged and connected to an electrical conductor, the first channel wall defining a window formed therethrough, the contact spring arranged within the window. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The plug of claim 15, wherein the plurality of contact chambers are arranged in a pair of rows offset in relation to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The plug of claim 15, wherein the plug-in portion protrudes out of the contact chamber in a direction of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The plug of claim 15, wherein the contact spring extends transversely to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The plug of claim 15, wherein the contact spring is elastically deflectable about a pivot axis extending in the longitudinal a direction of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 20 A contact arrangement, comprising: a bipolar plate of a fuel cell stack; and a contact element having a contact body extending along a longitudinal axis, the contact body has a channel extending along the longitudinal axis and delimited by a pair of channel walls disposed opposite one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the channel is adapted to receive a portion of the bipolar plate, the contact body has a pair of contact springs on a first channel wall of the pair of channel walls, each contact spring protruding into the channel and having a cutting edge directed toward a second channel wall of the pair of channels walls and adapted to cut into a surface of the bipolar plate, each contact spring is elastically deflectable about a pivot axis extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis.