# US 12,603,304 B2 · Fuel cell and mobile unit

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- Number: US 12,603,304 B2
- Document ID: US12603304B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/233,042
- Filed: 2023-08-11
- Published: 2024-03-07
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-05
- Assignees: Subara Corporation
- Applicants: Subaru Corporation
- Inventors: Takumi Nunokawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603304B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/0267: having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
- H01M 8/0206: Metals or alloys
- H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
- H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
- H01M 8/0276: Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- 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 includes metallic separators and has an anode-gas channel, a cathode-gas channel, and a coolant channel. The metallic separators include a flat separator and a channel-equipped separator. A peripheral edge of a manifold of the channel-equipped separator whose first surface has a channel serving as the coolant channel is provided with a step. The step surrounds the peripheral edge of the manifold to increase a height of a gas inlet disposed at a second surface of the channel-equipped separator. A shortened seal member having a thickness smaller than a thickness of a peripheral seal member provided in a region other than the peripheral edge of the manifold is disposed on the step to surround the peripheral edge of the manifold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell comprising metallic separators comprising a flat separator and a channel-equipped separator, the fuel cell having an anode-gas channel, a cathode-gas channel, and a coolant channel,
wherein a peripheral edge of a manifold of the channel-equipped separator whose first surface has a channel serving as the coolant channel is provided with a step, the step surrounding the peripheral edge of the manifold to increase a height of a gas inlet disposed at a second surface of the channel-equipped separator, and
wherein a shortened seal member having a thickness smaller than a thickness of a peripheral seal member provided in a region other than the peripheral edge of the manifold is disposed on the step to surround the peripheral edge of the manifold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the coolant channel, the cathode-gas channel, and the anode-gas channel are layered sequentially from the first surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the cathode-gas channel, the coolant channel, and the anode-gas channel are layered sequentially from the second surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a value of the thickness of the shortened seal member is set to be a value obtained by subtracting a thickness of the step from a thickness of a seal member disposed around the shortened seal member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A mobile unit comprising the fuel cell according to claim 1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

A mobile unit comprising the fuel cell according to claim 2.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

A mobile unit comprising the fuel cell according to claim 3.