Compliant electrical contacts for fuel cell use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
- a membrane electrode assembly;
a bipolar separator plate; and
independently-acting compliant electrical contacts attached to said bipolar separator plate, for pressing against but not permanently attaching to a membrane electrode assembly of an adjacent fuel cell assembly.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides arrays of independently acting compliant electrical contacts within a fuel cell. These contacts maintain electrical contact between a plate and the adjacent membrane electrode assembly, and provide substantially uniform internal pressure distribution and substantially uniform electrical contact. In one embodiment, the electrical contacts are springs, which can take a variety of forms.
27 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
-
a membrane electrode assembly;
a bipolar separator plate; and
independently-acting compliant electrical contacts attached to said bipolar separator plate, for pressing against but not permanently attaching to a membrane electrode assembly of an adjacent fuel cell assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for maintaining electrical contact between a bipolar separator plate and a membrane electrode assembly in a fuel cell stack comprising attaching independently-acting compliant electrical contacts to said bipolar separator plate and positioning said independently-acting compliant electrical contacts so as to press against but not permanently attach to said membrane electrode assembly.
-
12. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
-
a membrane electrode assembly;
a bipolar separator plate; and
flexible means attached to said bipolar separator plate and pressed against but not permanently attached to said membrane electrode assembly for making electrical contact between said membrane electrode assembly and said bipolar separator plate.
-
-
13. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
-
a membrane electrode assembly;
a bipolar separator plate; and
flexible electrical contact members attached to said bipolar separator plate and pressed against but not permanently attached to said membrane electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
15. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
-
a bipolar separator plate, said bipolar separator plate having a first side and a second side;
a membrane electrode assembly, attached to and sealed to said first side; and
independently-acting compliant electrical contacts attached to said second side, for pressing against but not permanently attaching to a membrane electrode assembly of an adjacent fuel cell assembly. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
-
a membrane electrode assembly;
a bipolar separator plate; and
an independently-acting compliant electrical contact attached to said bipolar separator plate and pressed against but not permanently attached to said membrane electrode assembly.
-
-
18. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
-
a membrane electrode assembly;
a bipolar separator plate;
first means for maintaining electrical contact attached to said bipolar separator plate and pressed against but not permanently attached to said membrane electrode assembly between said membrane electrode assembly and said bipolar separator plate; and
second means for sealing said membrane electrode assembly with said bipolar separator plate, wherein said second means functions independently from said first means.
-
Specification