Sealing joint and fuel cell plate, cells obtained and resulting fuel cells comprising a stack of such cells
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsPierre Charlat, Thierry Novet, Guillaurne Roberge
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Abstract
The invention concerns an elastomer seal (3) arranged in a generally rectangular groove of a bipolar plate (1), comprising in at least two opposite corners one first loop (6) urged to be attached on a corner pin (7) of the plate (1) and at least a second loop (8) designed to be urged to be attached, when the two plates are assembled enclosing between them an exchanging membrane, to a corner pin of the other polar plate. The seal further comprises studs (10) received in recesses of the plate and forms projecting lugs (11) for crimping the terminals of electronic components. The invention is applicable to the production of fuel cells.
Claims12
1-11. (canceled)
12:
- A gasket for a pole plate of a cell element of a fuel cell assembly, comprising a main part in the form of a rectangular frame and, in at least two diagonally opposed corners, a projecting part forming at least a first loop for catching on the edge of a plate.
13:
- The gasket of claim 12, wherein the projecting part of at least one corner of the gasket includes a second loop for catching on the edge of another plate.
14:
- The gasket of claim 12, wherein the main part of the gasket includes at least one protuberance intended to be housed in a recess of a plate.
15:
- The gasket of claim 12, wherein it is made of an elastomer.
16:
- A plate of a cell element of a fuel cell assembly, comprising, on one face, an array of fluid circulation channels and, on its periphery, a slot of rectangular general configuration, intended to house a gasket of claim 12, with, in at least two diagonally opposed corners, at least one lug for catching a loop of the gasket.
17:
- The plate of claim 16, wherein the slot has a trapezoidal cross section.
18:
- The plate of claim 16, wherein it is made of molded graphite.
19:
- A cell element of a fuel cell assembly, consisting of the pair of adjoined plates of claim 16 and each provided with a gasket for a pole plate of a cell element of a fuel cell assembly, comprising a main part in the form of a rectangular frame and, in at least two diagonally opposed corners, a projecting part forming at least a first loop for catching on the edge of a plate.
20:
- The cell element as claimed in claim 19, wherein the projecting part of at least one corner of the gasket includes a second loop for catching on the edge of another plate.
21:
- The cell element of claim 19, which includes at least one electric component having a terminal clamped by a protuberance of the gasket.
22:
- A fuel cell assembly, comprising a stack of cell elements of claim 19.