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US 7,001,687 B1Granted
Unitized MEA assemblies and methods for making same
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsMichael G. Gaines, George R. King, Kenneth J. Schmitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a unitized MEA assembly for use in a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack assembly. In the embodiments of the invention, the MEA is made integral to the frame to reduce certain risks and disadvantages associated with nonstabilized MEAs in fuel cell applications. Specifically disclosed are two preferred embodiments of the unitized MEA assembly of the present invention and methods for making same.
Claims28
A unitized MEA assembly comprising:
- (a) a frame, the frame having an interior cavity capable of housing an MEA and an outer perimeter,
- (b) an MEA, the MEA being placed in the interior cavity of the frame thus becoming integral to the frame, and
- (c) an elastomeric spring element securing the MEA to the frame.
A unitized MEA assembly comprising:
- (a) an anterior and a posterior section of a frame, each section having a corresponding interior cavity and an outer perimeter,
- (b) an MEA, the MEA being sandwiched between the anterior and posterior sections of the frame so that a substantial portion of the MEA is accessible through the interior cavities of each section of the frame;
- and
- (c) wherein at least one of the anterior and posterior sections of the frame comprises an elastomeric spring element surrounding the interior cavity.
1 more element
A unitized MEA assembly comprising:
- (a) an anterior section of a frame, the anterior section having a interior cavity and outer perimeter,
- (b) a posterior section of the frame, the posterior section resembling the anterior section and having a substantially identical interior cavity and outer perimeter to that of the anterior section,
- (c) an MEA, wherein the MEA is sandwiched between the interior cavities of the anterior and posterior sections of the frame to form a unitized assembly;
- and
- (d) wherein the anterior section or the posterior section of the frame comprises an elastomeric spring element, the elastomeric spring element being located substantially surrounding the interior cavity of the section.
2 more elements
A unitized MEA assembly comprising:
- (a) a frame, the frame having an interior cavity capable of housing an MEA and an outer perimeter;
- (b) an MEA, the MEA being placed in the interior cavity of the frame thus becoming integral to the frame;
- (c) a sealing clamp securing the MEA to the frame;
- and
- (d) the sealing clamp comprising reactant supply grooves being located so as to facilitate the transfer of reactants to the MEA.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.