Cell voltage detector for fuel cell

• US 20030048091A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sato, Masahiko, Kikuchi, Hideaki, Fujii, Yosuke, Ariyoshi, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,674,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0084 measuring voltage only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04552 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A cell voltage detector for fuel cell comprising terminals adapted to be brought into abutment with output terminals of separators for a stack, a voltage detecting unit for detecting the cell voltage of the stack through the terminals, a terminal holder for holding one end of the respective terminals and permitting the abutment of the terminals with the output terminals of the separators via a terminal opening opened in a fuel cell cover for encompassing the stack, the terminal holder having a leg portion adapted to be brought into abutment with the periphery of the terminal opening and a terminal cover retained onto the fuel cell cover, so that the terminal cover is brought into abutment with a head portion of the terminal holder on an inner surface thereof and covers the periphery of the terminal opening.

Claims

1. A cell voltage detector for a fuel cell comprising:

terminals adapted to be brought into abutment with separators for said fuel cell;

a voltage detecting means for detecting the cell voltage of said fuel cell through said terminals;

a fuel cell cover at least partially encompassing said fuel cell;

a terminal holder holding one ends of said respective terminals and permitting the abutment of said terminals with said separators via a terminal opening opened in said fuel cell cover, said terminal holder having a leg portion adapted to be brought into abutment with the periphery of said terminal opening; and

a terminal cover retained onto said fuel cell cover, so that said terminal cover is brought into abutment with a head portion of said terminal holder on an inner surface thereof and covers the periphery of said terminal opening.

2. The cell voltage detector for fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said fuel cell cover has a plurality of said terminal openings;

wherein said terminal cover covers said plurality of terminal openings; and

wherein said voltage detecting means is disposed between said plurality of terminal openings which are covered with said terminal cover.

3. The cell voltage detector for fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said terminal holder has at least one elastic body disposed on at least one of a distal end of said leg portion and a distal end of said head portion.

4. The cell voltage detector for fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said terminal holder has a pair of said leg portions disposed in such a manner as to straddle said terminal opening, and

wherein said terminal holder holds the one end of said terminals between said pair of leg portions.

5. A cell voltage detector for a fuel cell comprising:

terminals adapted to be brought into abutment with separators for said fuel cell;

a voltage detecting unit electrically connected to said terminals for detecting the cell voltage of said fuel cell;

a fuel cell cover at least partially encompassing said fuel cell;

a terminal holder holding one ends of said respective terminals and permitting the abutment of said terminals with said separators via a terminal opening opened in said fuel cell cover; and

a terminal cover retained onto said fuel cell cover,

wherein said terminal holder is interposed between said fuel cell cover and said terminal cover while being brought into abutment with said fuel cell cover and said terminal cover.

6. The cell voltage detector for fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein said fuel cell cover has a plurality of said terminal openings;

wherein said terminal cover covers said plurality of terminal openings; and

wherein said voltage detecting unit is disposed between said plurality of terminal openings which are covered with said terminal cover.

7. The cell voltage detector for fuel cell according to claim 5, further comprising:

at least one elastic body disposed at least either between said terminal holder and said fuel cell cover or between said terminal holder and said terminal cover.

8. The cell voltage detector for fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein said terminal holder has a pair of leg portions disposed in such a manner as to straddle said terminal opening, and

wherein said terminal holder holds the one end of said terminals between said pair of leg portions.