Assembly device for stacking a fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11024864-B2
Application number	US-201716339762-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

An assembly device may be employed to vertically stack a fuel cell stack having alternating membrane-electrode units and bipolar plates. The assembly device may include a base plate, a cover plate, and connecting pieces positioned at each of two end faces of the base plate and cover plate. A substantially cuboidal assembly chamber may be defined inside the assembly device by a plurality of vertically oriented locating strips, in order, via the locating strips, to position the membrane-electrode units and bipolar plates relative to one another during stacking. The assembly device may further include a drive for synchronous displacement of the locating strips.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly device for vertically stacking a fuel cell stack having alternating membrane-electrode units and bipolar plates, the assembly device comprising:
a base plate with a first end face and a second end face;
a cover plate with a first end face and a second end face;
a first connecting piece connecting the first end face of the base plate with the first end face of the cover plate;
a second connecting piece connecting the second end face of the base plate with the second end face of the cover plate; and
locating strips that are oriented vertically between the base plate and the cover plate, wherein the locating strips are horizontally adjustable and define a substantially-cuboidal assembly chamber for positioning the membrane-electrode units and the bipolar plates relative to one another during stacking.

2. The assembly device of claim 1 comprising a drive for synchronous displacement of the locating strips.

3. The assembly device of claim 2 wherein the drive comprises transmission mechanisms disposed in the first and second connecting pieces, the base plate, and the cover plate for transmission to the locating strips.

4. The assembly device of claim 2 wherein the drive includes an interface via which mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive energy may be introduced.

5. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein each of the locating strips comprises a vertically stationary first strip portion and a vertically mobile second strip portion.

6. The assembly device of claim 5 wherein the vertically mobile second strip portions are disposed in upper regions of the locating strips.

7. The assembly device of claim 5 wherein the vertically mobile second strip portions are positioned in vertically upper home positions relative to the vertically stationary first strip portions via spring means.

8. The assembly device of claim 1 wherein the locating strips are disposed on the first and second connecting pieces so as to extend between the base plate and the cover plate.

9. The assembly device of claim 8 wherein a first of the locating strips is disposed on the first connecting piece, wherein a second of the locating strips is disposed on the second connecting piece, wherein a third and a fourth of the locating strips are disposed between the base plate and the cover plate on flanks of the assembly device connecting the first and second connecting pieces.

10. The assembly device of claim 1 comprising a vertically adjustable component receptacle for receiving the fuel cell stack, wherein the vertically adjustable component receptacle is disposed on the base plate.

11. The assembly device of claim 1 comprising a contact plate that is configured to be connected to a manipulator for transporting the assembly device.

12. The assembly device of claim 1 comprising a contact plate that is configured to be connected to a robot for transporting the base plate, the cover plate, the first and second connecting pieces, and the locating strips.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp System Eng Gmbh
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Walter Andreas

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/1004 Primary

  characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/2404 Primary

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2465

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title