Fuel cell crimp-resistant cooling device with internal coil
AssigneeEngelhard Corporation
InventorCharles F. Wittel, deceased
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooling assembly for fuel cells having a simplified construction whereby coolant is efficiently circulated through a conduit arranged in serpentine fashion in a channel within a member of such assembly. The channel is adapted to cradle a flexible, chemically inert, conformable conduit capable of manipulation into a variety of cooling patterns without crimping or otherwise restricting of coolant flow. The conduit, when assembled with the member, conforms into intimate contact with the member for good thermal conductivity. The conduit is non-corrodible and can be constructed as a single, manifold-free, continuous coolant passage means having only one inlet and one outlet. The conduit has an internal coil means which enables it to be bent in small radii without crimping.
Claims5
A cooling assembly for use in removing heat from a fuel cell having means for circulating coolant through the cooling assembly adjacent the cell, the cooling assembly comprising:
- (a) a bendable length of flexible conformable material having the capability of withstanding the corrosive materials of a fuel cell environment having a coolant passageway along the length thereof said passageway having a plurality of straight parallel sections spaced one from another and also having a plurality of bend sections coupling said parallel sections in serpentine configuration and
- (b) means located within the passageway formed as coils within the bend sections for enhancing the ability of the flexible material to bend into relatively small radii without crimping, said last mentioned means being formed straight within the straight parallel sections with the passageway maintaining its ability to carry coolant along the length of the material, of the coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.