Fuel cell stack and mount structure therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016344058-A1
Application number	US-201515114746-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A second end plate constituting a fuel cell stack is provided with a cooling medium supply manifold member and a cooling medium discharge manifold member. The second end plate is also provided with a mount member that affixes the fuel cell stack to an automobile body frame and covers the cooling medium discharge manifold member.

First claim

1 . A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells for generating electrically energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, the fuel cells being stacked together in a stacking direction, end plates being provided at both ends of the fuel cells in the stacking direction, at least one of the end plates having a fluid manifold member configured to allow a coolant, a fuel gas, or an oxygen-containing gas as fluid to flow through the fuel cells,
wherein the fluid manifold member is connected to a pair of fluid passages configured to allow the fluid through the fuel cells in the stacking direction; the fuel cell stack further comprises a mount member attached to the one of the end plates; and the mount member is configured to cover the fluid manifold member, and fix the fuel cell stack to an installation position.

2 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid manifold member is a coolant manifold member configured to allow the coolant as the fluid to flow through the fuel cells.

3 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 2 , wherein the coolant manifold member includes a coolant supply manifold member configured to supply the coolant and a coolant discharge manifold member configured to discharge the coolant;
wherein the mount member is configured to cover both of the coolant supply manifold member and the coolant discharge manifold member together.

4 . A mount structure for fixing a fuel cell stack to a first installation member and a second installation member that are provided as separate members, the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, the fuel cells being stacked together,
the mount structure comprising: a first bracket member configured to support the fuel cell stack and fix the fuel cell stack to the first installation member; and a second bracket member configured to support the fuel cell stack and fix the fuel cell stack to the second installation member; wherein the second bracket member includes a constricted portion having low strength in comparison with other portions of the second bracket member.

5 . The mount structure according to claim 4 , wherein the second bracket member includes a flat portion connected to a bottom portion of the fuel cell stack and a support portion extending downward from the flat portion; and
the support portion is provided with the constricted portion, a thickness of the constricted portion in a horizontal direction being reduced.

6 . The mount structure according to claim 4 , wherein the fuel cell stack is mounted in a fuel cell vehicle;
the first installation member is a first frame member of a vehicle frame; the second installation member is a second frame member of the vehicle frame, and the second frame member being separate from the first frame member; and a traction motor configured to be driven by electrical energy of the fuel cell stack is fixed to the second frame member.

7 . The mount structure according to claim 6 , wherein the second bracket member is coupled to the traction motor.

8 . The mount structure according to claim 6 , wherein the traction motor is fixed to the second frame member through a motor mount; and
the second bracket member is fixed to the motor mount.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Naito Hideharu
• Nara Yusuke
• Kojima Hidetada
• Ishikawa Choichi
• Yoshitomi Ryoichi

Classifications

• H01M8/04074

  Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M8/04007

  related to heat exchange · CPC title

• B60K2001/005

  the electric storage means · CPC title

• B60K2001/0483

  from the front · CPC title

• B60L58/33

  by cooling · CPC title