Non-puncturing fuel cell gas diffusion layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016006038-A1
Application number	US-201414768747-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sheet of fiber carbon paper ( 9 ) is advanced from a first roll on a spindle ( 11 ) around a roller ( 14 ) to a second roll around a spindle ( 15 ). Bending of the sheet of fiber carbon paper around the roller ( 14 ) causes fibers that are prone to disentangle to protrude outwardly from the surface and are shaved off by a razor-sharp edge ( 17 ) affixed to a stationary point ( 18 ). Alternatively, carbon fiber elements, such as a fuel cell gas diffusion layer ( 20 ) may be fixed in an arcuate jig ( 22 ) and a razor-sharp edge ( 31 ) may revolve along the surface of the element to cut off any protruding fibers.

First claim

1 . A method characterized by:
bending a sheet of fiber carbon paper so that a first surface thereof is convex to thereby disentangle some of the fibers that are prone to disentanglement and cause portions of the prone fibers to protrude from the first surface; and shaving the portions of the prone fibers off the first surface of the sheet of fiber carbon paper.

2 . A method according to claim 1 characterized in that:
the sheet of fiber carbon paper is advanced from a source roll to a secondary roll along a path having a roller that bonds the sheet as it alters the direction of the sheet.

3 . Apparatus characterized by:
means for bending a sheet of fiber carbon paper so that a first surface thereof is convex to thereby disentangle some of the fibers that are prone to disentanglement and cause portions of the prone fibers to protrude from the first surface; and means for shaving the portions of the prone fibers off the first surface of the sheet of fiber carbon paper.

4 . Apparatus according to claim 3 further characterized in that:
the means for shaving comprises a razor-sharp edge.

5 . Apparatus according to claim 3 further characterized in that:
the means for bending comprises a roller that alters the path of the sheet of fiber carbon paper as it advances from a first roll to a second roll.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Motupally Sathya

Classifications

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• B26D7/14

  by tensioning the work · CPC title

• D21H25/005

  Mechanical treatment (D21H25/08, D21H25/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/8817 Primary

  Treatment of supports before application of the catalytic active composition (coated porous composites H01M8/0245) · CPC title

• B26D2007/082

  Guiding or pushing a web into a favorable position by deflector means · CPC title