# US 11,444,308 B2 · Fuel cell stack

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- Number: US 11,444,308 B2
- Document ID: US11444308B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/777,916
- Filed: 2020-01-31
- Published: 2020-08-06
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-06
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuta Ikeda; Naoki Inoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444308B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/2475: Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
- H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258)
- H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
- H01M 8/242: comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence)
- H01M 8/247: Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
- H01M 8/248: Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks
- H01M 8/006: {Flat}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A fuel cell stack includes a first power output unit connected to a first terminal plate, the first power output unit including a first conductor, and a second conductor extending from the first conductor to the outside of an outer peripheral end of a first inner insulator in the state where the second conductor is placed between the first inner insulator and a first end plate. The second conductor is positioned inside of the first end plate in a stacking direction of a cell stack body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell stack comprising a cell stack body comprising a plurality of power generation cells stacked together in a stacking direction, the power generation cells each including a membrane electrode assembly and a separator,
wherein a terminal plate is provided at one end of the cell stack body in the stacking direction, an insulator is provided outside the terminal plate, and an end plate is provided outside the insulator,
a power output unit configured to collect electrical energy generated in the power generation cell to an outside is electrically connected to the terminal plate,
the insulator has a surface facing the cell stack body, and a seal part configured to prevent leakage of fluid is provided on the surface, the seal part being provided around the terminal plate, and
wherein the power output unit comprises:
a first conductor extending to penetrate through the insulator in the stacking direction; and
a second conductor extending from the first conductor to an outside of an outer peripheral end of the insulator in a state where the second conductor is placed on the insulator on an opposite side to the cell stack body, and
the second conductor is positioned inside the end plate in the stacking direction of the cell stack body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein
the second conductor comprises:
a first extension part extending from the first conductor along the insulator to the outside of the outer peripheral end of the insulator; and
a second extension part extending from an extended end of the first extension part toward the cell stack body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 2, wherein
the fuel cell stack comprises an outer case configured to cover the cell stack body, the terminal plate, and the insulator from a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction,
an opening, into which an external connector is inserted, is formed in the outer case, and
the external connector is connected to an extended end of the second conductor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein
the fuel cell stack comprises:
a tightening member configured to join the first conductor and the second conductor together; and
a rotation stopper configured to prevent rotation of the second conductor about the tightening member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the rotation stopper comprises a plurality of projections protruding from the insulator and engaged with the second conductor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein
the fuel cell stack comprises an outer insulator provided between the insulator and the end plate, outside the cell stack body in the stacking direction,
the end plate is configured to apply, to the outer insulator, a tightening load toward an inside in the stacking direction of the cell stack body, and
an outer recess, in which the second conductor is placed, is formed in a surface of the outer insulator, the surface facing the insulator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein a rib is formed on a surface of the insulator, the surface being oriented opposite to the cell stack body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein an inner recess, in which the terminal plate is placed, is formed on a surface of the insulator, the surface being oriented toward the cell stack body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 7, wherein
the rib is provided on the surface of the insulator oriented opposite to the cell stack body, by forming a recess, and
air inside the recess functions as a heat insulating layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The fuel cell stack according to claim 5, wherein the second conductor has a through hole into which each of the projections is inserted.
