Manifold and sealing assembly for fuel cell stack
AssigneeFuelCell Energy, Inc.
InventorsDana A. Kelley, Richard P. Hayes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A manifold and manifold sealing assembly for use with a fuel cell stack having a plurality of faces in which the assembly includes a plurality of frame assemblies and a plurality of manifolds, and at least one frame assembly adjacent a given face of the fuel cell stack provides support for a part of the frame assembly abutting the face of the stack adjacent the one face. Additionally, the manifold abutting the one frame assembly and the manifold abutting the supported frame assembly are adapted to sealingly engage in the area of support.
Claims26
A manifold and manifold sealing assembly for use with a fuel cell stack having a plurality of faces, comprising:
- a plurality of frame assemblies each situated adjacent a face of said fuel cell stack;
- a plurality of manifolds each situated adjacent a frame assembly;
- one or more of said frame assemblies being a supporting frame assembly and one or more of said frame assemblies being a supported frame assembly, each supporting frame assembly supporting a part of a supported frame assembly facing a face of said stack adjacent to the face of said stack faced by that supporting frame assembly.
A manifold for use in abutting relationship to a supporting frame assembly facing a face of a fuel cell stack and which supports one or more supported frame assemblies each facing an adjacent face of the fuel cell stack, the manifold comprising:
- a central area;
- and a flange area extending from the central area and having an extension which extends beyond a vertical side of the associated face of the fuel cell stack for engaging with a manifold facing a supported frame assembly.
A manifold for use in abutting relationship to a supported frame assembly facing a face of a fuel cell stack and which is supported by one or more supporting frame assemblies each facing an adjacent face of the stack, the manifold comprising:
- a central area;
- a flange area extending from the flange area;
- and
- said central area extending beyond a vertical side of the associated face of said stack so as to bring said flange area into engagement with an extension of a manifold facing a supporting frame assembly.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack having a plurality of faces;
- a manifold and sealing assembly for said fuel cell stack comprising:
- a plurality of frame assemblies each situated adjacent a face of said fuel cell stack;
- a plurality of manifolds each situated adjacent a frame assembly;
- one or more of said frame assemblies being a supporting frame assembly and one or more of said frame assemblies being a supported frame assembly, each supporting frame assembly supporting a part of a supported frame assembly facing a face of said stack adjacent to the face of said stack faced by that supporting frame assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.