Molded fuel cell plates with seals

• US 6,599,653 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbH (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alsip, David C., Darke, Joe B., Kummerow, Jack A. C., Cummins, Dale T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin, Angela J
• Application Number:
  US09/858,165
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 429/35, 429/36, 429/34, 429/38, 429/39, 296/232, 296/231
• US Class Current: 429/434
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0284 Organic resins; Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0286 Processes for forming seals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A fuel cell unit incorporates a pair of plates; one plate an anode, the other a cathode. Respective anode and cathode plates are physically bonded together to form such pairs; wherein pluralities of the pairs are secured together to form commercially available fuel cells utilized to generate electric power. Seals employed between respective pairs of plates are in the nature of resilient beads arranged about selected areas of the plates to confine paths for fluids adapted to flow within said selected areas. A combination sealing and bonding method for manufacturing such fuel cell units involves the injection of a rapidly curable liquid silicone into aligned mold gating apertures of the respective pairs of the plates, whereby liquid silicone flows through and between the plates to a) seal between respective anode and cathode plates pairs and to b) form an insulation layer on the backside of the anode.

Claims

1. An electrolytic fuel cell unit comprising two plates aligned in spaced, parallel facing proximity with one another, each of said plates including at least one aperture adapted for mating alignment with the other, wherein each said aperture of one plate is in alignment with said at least said one aperture of the other plate;

a first resilient sealing media disposed over portions of each of the surfaces of said plates, said media extending through and from said apertures, said media adapted to comprise areas of separation of coolant fluid flows between said plates, and wherein each of said areas of separation comprises a sealed channel between said plates;

a second resilient media disposed about a non-facing side of one of said plates, said second resilient media having a thickness greater than the thickness of said first sealing media, wherein all of said media collectively comprises a unitary, contiguous mass of material passing through said apertures and extending between said plates.

2. The electrolytic fuel cell unit of claim 1 wherein one of said plates comprises a cathode, and the other comprises an anode.

3. The electrolytic fuel cell unit of claim 2 wherein both of said resilient sealing media is formed of a liquid silicone material.

4. The electrolytic fuel cell unit of claim 3 wherein said apertures comprise gating apertures for accommodating flow of liquid sealing media into and between said plates during the manufacture of said unit.

5. The electrolytic fuel cell unit of claim 4 wherein said liquid silicone material is forced under pressure into said gating apertures to form both said first and second sealing media, and wherein said second sealing media comprises an insulation layer.

6. A method of making an electrolytic fuel cell unit comprising the steps of:

a) providing a pair of fuel cell plates aligned in spaced, parallel facing proximity with one another, each having gating apertures adapted for mating alignment with the other;

b) placing said plates together in said alignment onto the floor of a mold with a space between bottom plate and said floor;

c) forcing liquid sealing media into said gating apertures under pressure, wherein said media flows through and between said plates, and including said space between the bottom plate and the floor of the mold;

d) permitting said media to cure; and

e) removing said fuel cell plates with said cured media from the mold.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein one of said plates comprises a cathode, and the other comprises an anode.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sealing media comprises silicone material which becomes resilient upon said cure.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said mold pressure is in a range of 300-700 pounds per square inch at a temperature range of 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each of said plates further comprise a second set of aligned apertures spaced from said gating apertures, said second set of apertures adapted for conveyance of electrolytic fluids and a coolant.