FUEL CELL SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY/DISASSEMBLY THEREOF

• US 20110200908A1
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rock, Thomas, Fink, Garrett W., Blondin, Sean M., Love, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,765,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/455
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/02 Details electrodes H01M4/86 - H01M4/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2465 Details of groupings of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/247 Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell installation includes a support structure and a cell stack assembly that is removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure. The cell stack assembly includes a fitting. An interfacing structure is mounted on one of the support structure in the cell stack assembly. The interfacing structure carries a connector that is configured to receive the fitting in interconnected relationship. At least one of the fitting and the connector floats in a plane relative to the support structure during the installation procedure. In operation, the fitting engages the connector when the cell stack assembly is inserted into the support structure. The fitting is repositioned relative to the connector to ensure that the fitting and connector are aligned with one another and connected upon installation.

Claims

1. A fuel cell installation comprising:

a support structure;

a cell stack assembly removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure, the cell stack assembly including a fitting; and

an interfacing structure mounted on one the support structure and the cell stack assembly, the interfacing structure carrying a connector configured to receive the fitting in an interconnected relationship, at least one of the fitting and the connector movable in a plane relative to the support structure and aligning with the other of the fitting and the connector in response to insertion of cell stack assembly into the support structure during the installation procedure.

13. The fuel cell installation according to claim 1, wherein the fitting is an electrical fitting.

14. The fuel cell installation according to claim 1, wherein the cell stack assembly is slidable along an installation direction relative to the support structure during the installation procedure, the installation direction generally perpendicular to a plane provided by the interfacing structure.

2. A fuel cell installation comprising:

a support structure;

a cell stack assembly removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure, the cell stack assembly including a fitting; and

an interfacing structure mounted on one the support structure and the cell stack assembly, the interfacing structure carrying a connector configured to receive the fitting in an interconnected relationship, at least one of the fitting and the connector movable in a plane relative to the support structure and aligning with the other of the fitting and the connector in response to insertion of cell stack assembly into the support structure during the installation procedure, wherein the interfacing structure is mounted on the support structure with a bearing arranged between the support structure and interfacing structure in the installed position.

3. The fuel cell installation according to claim 2, wherein the bearing is a spherical bearing permitting rotation of the interfacing structure relative to the support structure.

4. The fuel cell installation according to claim 2, wherein the interfacing structure includes interlocking features between the support structure and interfacing structure limiting rotation therebetween.

5. The fuel cell installation according to claim 2, wherein the interfacing structure includes a dielectric bushing arranged between the bearing and the cell stack assembly electrically insulating the cell stack assembly relative to the support structure.

6. The fuel cell installation according to claim 5, wherein the interfacing structure includes a tapered pin extending from the cell stack assembly and received by the bushing in the installed position.

7. The fuel cell installation according to claim 2, wherein the connector is captured within an aperture of the plate and movable in a plane relative thereto.

8. The fuel cell installation according to claim 7, wherein the connector includes a lip and a retainer axially locating the fluid connector within the aperture and permitting movement of the connector in the plane.

9. A fuel cell installation comprising:

a support structure;

a cell stack assembly removably insertable into the support structure from an uninstalled position to an installed position during an installation procedure, the cell stack assembly including a fitting; and

an interfacing structure mounted on one the support structure and the cell stack assembly, the interfacing structure carrying a connector configured to receive the fitting in an interconnected relationship, at least one of the fitting and the connector movable in a plane relative to the support structure and aligning with the other of the fitting and the connector in response to insertion of cell stack assembly into the support structure during the installation procedure, wherein the fitting is a fluid fitting, and the fuel cell comprises a seal arranged between the fitting and the connector.

10. The fuel cell installation according to claim 9, wherein the fluid fitting is arranged on a rear end of the cell stack assembly and other fluid fittings are arranged on a front end opposite the rear end, the rear end inaccessible during the installation procedure.

11. The fuel cell installation according to claim 10, wherein the fluid fitting is a coolant fitting.

12. The fuel cell installation according to claim 10, wherein the other fittings include electrical, fuel and reactant fittings.

15. A method of installing a cell stack assembly into a support structure comprising the steps of:

inserting a cell stack assembly into a support structure in an installation direction;

engaging a fluid fitting on the cell stack assembly with a fluid connector mounted on the support structure; and

repositioning the fluid fitting and fluid connector relative to one another in a direction transverse to the installation direction in response to the inserting step.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the inserting step includes sliding the cell stack assembly on the support structure in the installation direction.

17. A method of installing a cell stack assembly into a support structure comprising the steps of:

inserting a cell stack assembly into a support structure in an installation direction;

engaging a fluid fitting on the cell stack assembly with a fluid connector mounted on the support structure; and

repositioning the fluid fitting and fluid connector relative to one another in a direction transverse to the installation direction in response to the inserting step, wherein the cell stack assembly includes a pin, and the support structure includes a plate supported by the support structure in a plane transverse to the installation direction, the engaging step including engaging the plate with the pin, and the repositioning step includes moving the plate in a plane.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the plate carries the fluid connector, and the repositioning step includes moving the fluid connector relative to the plate in the plane.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the engaging step includes electrically isolating the pin from the support structure.

20. A method of installing a cell stack assembly into a support structure comprising the steps of:

inserting a cell stack assembly into a support structure in an installation direction;

engaging a fluid fitting on the cell stack assembly with a fluid connector mounted on the support structure; and

repositioning the fluid fitting and fluid connector relative to one another in a direction transverse to the installation direction in response to the inserting step, wherein the engaging step includes sealing the fluid fitting relative to the fluid connector.

21. A fuel cell arrangement comprising:

an interfacing structure configured to be mounted on one of a support structure and a cell stack assembly, the interfacing structure carrying a connector configured to receive a cell stack assembly fitting in an interconnector relationship, the interfacing structure configured to provide at least one of the fitting and the connector moveably in a plane relative to the support structure and aligning with the other of the fitting and the connector in response to insertion of cell stack assembly into the support structure during an installation procedure.