Deformation absorption member and fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10320009-B2
Application number	US-201414901367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A deformation absorption member for a fuel-cell-stack disposed between an anode side separator and a cathode side separator. The deformation absorption member includes a thin-board-like base material, and a plurality of raised pieces in which extension portions extended from proximal ends are arranged in a grid pattern. Each raised piece of the plurality of raised pieces is formed in a non-rectangular shape in which the width of the extension portion is shorter than the width of the proximal end, and plurality of raised pieces are configured so that the directions of the extension portions of mutually adjacent raised pieces are alternately arranged, and positions of the proximal ends of the mutually adjacent raised pieces are arranged in at least overlapping positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A deformation absorption member for a fuel-cell-stack disposed between an anode side separator and a cathode side separator, the deformation absorption member comprising:
a substantially planar base material; and
a plurality of first and second raised pieces in which extension portions extended from proximal ends are arranged in a grid pattern in which two adjacent first raised pieces and a second raised piece are alternatingly arranged in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the extension pieces extend, the proximal end of the second raised piece being substantially as wide as a total width of the proximal ends of two adjacent first raised pieces, and
each raised piece of the plurality of first and second raised pieces is formed in a non-rectangular shape in which the width of the extension portion is shorter than the width of the proximal end, and the plurality of first and second raised pieces are configured so that the directions of the extension portions of each of the first raised pieces are alternately arranged to the directions of each of the extension portions of the second raised pieces in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension pieces extend along the base material, positions of the proximal ends of each of the first raised pieces adjacent a second raised piece in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension pieces extend are arranged in at least overlapping positions in the direction in which the extension portions extend.

2. The deformation absorption member according to claim 1 , wherein
the grid pattern has equal intervals on each of two dimensions of a first direction and a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, and directions of the extension portions are alternately arranged along the second direction, and
a diameter of a first circumscribing circle that circumscribes a first raised piece of the plurality of raised pieces and a second raised piece of the plurality of raised pieces which is adjacent to the first raised piece along the first direction and the second direction will be equal to or greater than a diameter of a second circumscribing circle when the second raised piece is disposed at an equal distance from the first raised piece along the first direction and the second direction.

3. The deformation absorption member according to claim 1 , wherein each raised piece of the plurality of raised pieces adjacent along a first direction is formed with an interval with which the proximal end of each raised piece is not displaced and in contact with at least one of the anode side separator and the cathode side separator, when the extension portion is pressed by at least one of the anode side separator and the cathode side separator and is bent or curved.

4. The deformation absorption member according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised pieces are formed from at least one of triangles, semicircles, polygons, or a non-rectangular shape that is a combination thereof.

5. The deformation absorption member according to claim 2 , wherein each raised piece of the plurality of raised pieces adjacent along the first direction is formed with an interval with which the proximal end of each raised piece is not displaced and in contact with at least one of the anode side separator and the cathode side separator, when the extension portion is pressed by at least one of the anode side separator and the cathode side separator and is bent or curved.

6. The deformation absorption member according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of raised pieces are formed from at least one of triangles, semicircles, polygons, or a non-rectangular shape that is a combination thereof.

7. The deformation absorption member according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of raised pieces are formed from at least one of triangles, semicircles, polygons, or a non-rectangular shape that is a combination thereof.

8. A fuel-cell-stack, comprising:
a separator unit comprising an anode side separator and a cathode side separator; and
a deformation absorption member disposed between the anode side separator and the cathode side separator, the deformation absorption member being formed from a substantially planar base material, and including a plurality of first and second raised pieces in which extension portions extended from proximal ends thereof are arranged in a grid pattern in which two adjacent first raised pieces and a second raised piece are alternatingly arranged in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the extension pieces extend, the proximal end of the second raised piece being substantially as wide as a total width of the proximal ends of two adjacent first raised pieces,
each raised piece of the plurality of first and second raised pieces being formed in a non-rectangular shape in which the width of the extension portion is shorter than the width of the proximal end, and the plurality of first and second raised pieces being configured so that the directions of the extension portions of each of the first raised pieces are alternately arranged to the directions of each of the extension portions of the second raised pieces in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension portions extend along the base material, positions of the proximal ends of each of the first raised pieces adjacent a second raised piece in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension pieces extend are arranged in at least overlapping positions in the direction in which the extension portions extend.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor
• Nhk Spring Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukuyama Yosuke
• Shiomi Takeshi
• Terada Yusuke
• Tajima Norihiro

Classifications

• H01M8/0247

  characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/247

  Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks · CPC title

• H01M8/2404

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/0206

  Metals or alloys · CPC title