Control flap assembly for a gas flow in a fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12469863-B2
Application number	US-202318459106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2023
Priority date	Sep 1, 2022
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A control flap assembly for a gas flow in a fuel cell system, in particular in a vehicle, includes a control flap housing providing a gas flow channel, and a control flap with a disk-like control flap body which can be adjusted in the control flap housing between a closed position preventing a gas flow through the gas flow channel and at least one open position opening up the gas flow channel for a throughflow. A control flap seat is provided on the control flap housing, and a sealing region bearing against the control flap seat in the closed position of the control flap is provided on the control flap. The sealing region includes resilient sealing material on an external peripheral region of the control flap body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A control flap assembly for a gas flow in a fuel cell system, the control flap assembly comprising:
a control flap housing defining a gas flow channel; a control flap having a disk-like control flap body and being adjustable in said control flap housing between a closed position preventing a gas flow through said gas flow channel and at least one open position opening up said gas flow channel for accommodating a gas flow therethrough; a control flap seat provided on said control flap housing; a sealing region arranged on said control flap to bear against said control flap seat in said closed position of said control flap; said control flap body having a first front face and a second front face facing away from said first front face and having an external peripheral region, said first front face being positioned obliquely from radially inwardly to radially outwardly in the direction of said second front face, such that a thickness of the control flap body between said first front face and said second front face reduces from radially inwardly to radially outwardly in said external peripheral region; said sealing region including resilient sealing material on said external peripheral region of said control flap body; at least one sealing material body made with said sealing material arranged on said external peripheral region of said control flap body such as to extend in an annular manner along at least one part of said external peripheral region of said control flap body; said at least one sealing material body including a first sealing material body portion arranged on said first front face and a second sealing material body portion arranged on said second front face, at least one sealing material connecting portion connecting said first sealing material body portion to said second sealing material body portion; and, said at least one sealing material body including at least one sealing lip extending along said external peripheral region of said control flap body at said first front face on said first sealing material body portion, said at least one sealing lip bearing against said control flap seat when said control flap is in said closed position.

2 . The control flap assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one applies:
i) said at least one sealing material body includes a plurality of sealing material connecting portions arranged successively in a peripheral direction about a central region of said control flap along said external peripheral region of said control flap body; and, ii) said at least one sealing material body includes a plurality of sealing material connecting portions arranged in a radially staggered manner relative to said central region of said control flap.

3 . The control flap assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one sealing material body is configured in one piece with said first sealing material body portion, said second sealing material body portion and said at least one sealing material connecting portion.

4 . The control flap assembly of claim 3 , wherein said at least one sealing material body is configured to be integrally formed on said control flap body.

5 . The control flap assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one applies:
i) at least one sealing material connecting portion passes through an opening in said control flap body; and, il) at least one sealing material connecting portion encompasses an external peripheral side of said control flap body.

6 . The control flap assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sealing material body extends substantially along the entire external peripheral region of said control flap body and, in said closed position of said control flap, only the first sealing material body portion arranged on said first front face of the control flap body bears against said control flap seat.

7 . The control flap assembly of claim 6 , wherein said control flap body is configured in one piece and/or in the form of a circular disk.

8 . The control flap assembly of claim 1 , wherein said control flap body is borne on a pivoting shaft and said control flap is adjustable between said closed position and said at least one open position by rotating said pivoting shaft about a pivoting shaft axis (A).

9 . The control flap assembly of claim 1 , wherein said control flap assembly is for the gas flow in the fuel cell system in a vehicle.

10 . A fuel cell system comprising:
at least one control flap assembly including: a control flap housing defining a gas flow channel; a control flap having a disk-like control flap body and being adjustable in said control flap housing between a closed position preventing a gas flow through said gas flow channel and at least one open position opening up said gas flow channel for accommodating a gas flow therethrough; a control flap seat provided on said control flap housing; a sealing region arranged on said control flap to bear against said control flap seat in said closed position of said control flap; said control flap body having a first front face and a second front face facing away from said first front face and having an external peripheral region, said first front face being positioned obliquely from radially inwardly to radially outwardly in the direction of said second front face, such that a thickness of the control flap body between said first front face and said second front face reduces from radially inwardly to radially outwardly in said external peripheral region; said sealing region including resilient sealing material on said external peripheral region of said control flap body; at least one sealing material body made with said sealing material arranged on said external peripheral region of said control flap body such as to extend in an annular manner along at least one part of said external peripheral region of said control flap body; said at least one sealing material body including a first sealing material body portion arranged on said first front face and a second sealing material body portion arranged on said second front face, at least one sealing material connecting portion connecting said first sealing material body portion to said second sealing material body portion; and, said at least one sealing material body including at least one sealing lip extending along said external peripheral region of said control flap body at said first front face on said first sealing material body portion, said at least one sealing lip bearing against said control flap seat when said control flap is in said closed position.

11 . The fuel cell system of claim 10 , wherein said control flap assembly is for the gas flow in the fuel cell system in a vehicle.

Assignees

• Purem GmbH

Inventors

• Lory Markus
• Grün Matthias
• Wacker Andreas
• Hammer Jochen
• Birgler Markus
• Zeumer Annika

Classifications

• F16K1/2261 Primary

  the sealing being arranged on the valve member · CPC title

• F02D9/1015

  Details of the edge of the flap, e.g. for lowering flow noise or improving flow sealing in closed flap position · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/0438

  Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title