Fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018123158-A1
Application number	US-201715789168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	May 3, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell stack includes a stack; a case that accommodates the stack; and end plates arranged in the outside of a stacking direction and formed with fluid flow path holes penetrating in the stacking direction an accommodating groove for accommodating a seal member for sealing a part between the accommodating groove and the case. The end plates have a metal member formed with the fluid flow path holes, a first recess and a second recess that continues to the first recess, and a resin layer that continuously covers an inner peripheral wall surface of the fluid flow path holes, a surface that faces the stack, a part that includes at least an outer peripheral side end in the first recess, and the second recess, in the metal member. The resin layer is formed with the accommodating groove in a surface corresponding to the end surface of the case in a part covering the part that includes at least the outer peripheral side end in the first recess. The second recess accommodates a part of the resin layer to restrict the resin layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel cell stack comprising:
a stack that includes a plurality of stacked unit cells; a case that accommodates the stack; and an end plate that is arranged in the outside of a stacking direction of the plurality of unit cells with respect to the stack and is formed with fluid flow path holes penetrating in the stacking direction and an accommodating groove accommodating a seal member for sealing a part between the accommodating groove and the case, wherein the end plates covering an end surface in the stacking direction of the stack and an end surface in the stacking direction of the case and fastened to the end surface of the case, the end plates having
a metal member formed with the fluid flow path holes, a first recess and a second recess that continues to the first recess, and
a resin layer that continuously covers an inner peripheral wall surface of the fluid flow path holes, a surface that faces the stack, a part that includes at least an outer peripheral side end in the first recess, and the second recess, in the metal member, the resin layer being formed with the accommodating groove in a surface corresponding to the end surface of the case in a part covering the part that includes at least the outer peripheral side end in the first recess, and
the second recess accommodating a part of the resin layer to restrict the resin layer.

2 . The fuel cell stack in according to claim 1 , wherein
the second recess has a third recess that is arranged along the stacking direction and continues to a part in an opposite side from the accommodating groove, along the stacking direction in the outer peripheral side end of the first recess, and at least a part of the third recess along the stacking direction is formed to be a tapered shape of which cross-sectional area that is orthogonal to the stacking direction gradually increases from the stack along the stacking direction toward the end plates.

3 . The fuel cell stack in according to claim 2 , wherein
the overall along the stacking direction of the third recess is formed to be the tapered shape.

4 . The fuel cell stack in according to claim 1 , wherein
the second recess has a fourth recess that is arranged along the stacking direction and continues to a part in an opposite side from the accommodating groove, along the stacking direction in the inner peripheral side end of the first recess, and at least a part of the fourth recess along the stacking direction is formed to be a tapered shape of which cross-sectional area that is orthogonal to the stacking direction gradually increases from the stack along the stacking direction toward the end plates.

5 . The fuel cell stack in according to claim 4 , wherein
the overall along the stacking direction of the fourth recess is formed to be the tapered shape.

6 . The fuel cell stack in according to claim 1 , wherein
the second recess has a third recess and a fourth recess, the third recess is arranged along the stacking direction and continues to a part in an opposite side from the accommodating groove, along the stacking direction in the outer peripheral side end of the first recess, the overall along the stacking direction of the third recess is formed to be a tapered shape of which cross-sectional area that is orthogonal to the stacking direction gradually increases from the stack along the stacking direction toward the end plates, the fourth recess is arranged along the stacking direction and continues to a part in the opposite side from the accommodating groove, along the stacking direction in the inner peripheral side end of the first recess, and the overall along the stacking direction of the fourth recess is formed to be the tapered shape.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd
• Toyoda Gosei Kk

Inventors

• Shimizu Tatsuhiko
• Hamada Hitoshi
• Ota Tadanobu
• Nakamura Yoshiki

Classifications

• H01M8/249 Primary

  comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies · CPC title

• H01M8/0276

  Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/2475 Primary

  Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/241

  with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes · CPC title