Self-aligning components for electrochemical cells

• US 20040168910A1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lynntech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lynntech Incorporated
• Inventors: Evans, James, Chepin, Jim, Fiebig, Brad, Andrews, Craig, Boyer, Chris, Layton, James
• Application Number:
  US10/727,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/242
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0228 in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/025 semicylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0297 Arrangements for joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange units or bipolar separators to each other H01M8/0271 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2404 Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/242 comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2465 Details of groupings of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembling electrochemical cell components into cells, sub-stacks of cells and stacks of cells. The components provide self-alignment of two or more components without introducing additional parts or complexity to the assembly process. Rather, at least one component has an integral projection and at least one other component has an integral cavity for receiving the projection. The dimensions of the projection and cavity must not interfer with the face-to-face contact between the generally planar components, and the projection must not be taller than the cavity is deep. In order to provide alignment across the entire face of the components, it is preferred to have at least one component with a plurality of projections and at least one component having a plurality of cavities. Preferably, the projections and cavities will be positioned at the generally opposite sides, end comers, and the like.

Claims

1. An assembly for an electrochemical cell, comprising:

a plurality of self-aligning plates, each plate having at least one projection extending outward from the plane of the plate and at least one recess adapted to receive the ends of the projections of another plate.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is adapted to frictionally engage the ends of the projections of another plate.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the projection and recess interlock to maintain the relative position of the plates.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the depth of the recess is sufficient to receive the projection without limiting compression of the plates.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plates includes at least one plate having a projection made from a polymer.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection is a plurality of projections positioned on the plates in a manner that will only interlock with the recesses of another of the plates if the relative orientation of the plates provides proper alignment of a plurality of manifolds in the plates.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of projections are not evenly spaced about the plates.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive disposed between two of the self-aligning plates.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein two or more of the interlocking plates are coupled within a subassembly.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a self-aligning plate of a first subassembly is coupled to a self-aligning plate of a second subassembly.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an intermediate plate disposed between the self-aligning plates and having at least one passageway through the plate for alignment with the at least one projection of an adjacent self-aligning plate.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-aligning plates comprise interlocking frames.

16. The bipolar plate assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and third plates form reactant flowfields and the second plate forms a cooling fluid flowfield.

13. A bipolar plate assembly for an electrochemical cell, comprising:

a first interlocking plate having at least one projection extending outward from the plane of the first plate;

a second interlocking plate having at least one recess adapted to receive the ends of the projections of the first plate; and

a gas barrier disposed between the first and second interlocking plates and having at least one passageway through the barrier for alignment with the at least one projection of the first plate.

14. The bipolar plate assembly of claim 13, wherein the second plate has at least one projection extending outward from the plane of the second plate, the assembly further comprising:

a third interlocking plate having at least one recess adapted to receive each of the at least one projection from the second plate; and

a second gas barrier disposed between the second and third interlocking plates and having at least one passageway through the second gas barrier for alignment with the at least one projection of the second plate.

15. The bipolar plate assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second plates form flowfields.