Alignment apparatus and methods of alignment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021119241-A1
Application number	US-202017076597-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2020
Priority date	Oct 22, 2019
Publication date	Apr 22, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An alignment dowel comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a plurality of resilient vanes that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator portion. The stack has openings of a predetermined diameter. The vanes are arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the axis and project radially outwards to define an outer diameter of the body. The actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration. A stack assembly jig, comprises a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned. The tool base has guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings in the stack. A base plate carries an array of alignment dowels arranged to correspond to the positions of the guide holes. The base plate is moveable relative to the tool base such that the alignment dowels can project through the guide holes and into the component openings. The actuators are operable to align the components in the stack. A method for aligning components of a cell stack using an alignment dowel, comprises arranging cells adjacent one another in a stack, wherein the cells have internal alignment features, wherein each alignment feature includes an engaging surface with which the alignment dowel is configured to engage and disengage when located within said alignment feature; and locating the alignment dowel in the alignment features in the collapsed configuration and operating the actuator to move the alignment dowel to the expanded configuration to align the cells.

First claim

1 . An alignment dowel for aligning a stack of components defining openings of a predetermined diameter, the alignment dowel comprising:
(i) an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising resilient elongate vanes arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the longitudinal axis and project radially outwards from the longitudinal axis to define an outer diameter of the body, and (ii) an actuator portion; wherein the actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration.

2 . The alignment dowel according to claim 1 , comprising at least three resilient vanes.

3 . The alignment dowel according to claim 2 , wherein each resilient vane is curved, and all vanes are curved in the same direction.

4 . The alignment dowel according to claim 2 , wherein each resilient vane is bent, and all bent in the same direction.

5 . The alignment dowel according to claim 1 , comprising a central rod and an array of elongate tubes arranged around the rod, wherein each tube is substantially parallel to the rod and carries a resilient vane that projects outward from the array.

6 . The alignment dowel according to claim 5 , wherein each tube can be rotated so as to adjust the outward projection of its vane and so adjust the outer diameter of the body.

7 . The alignment dowel according to claim 6 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable collar positioned around a first end of the array, wherein each tube includes a formation at a first end that engages in a corresponding formation in the collar such that rotation of the collar relative to the array acts to rotate each tube to adjust the outer diameter of the body.

8 . The alignment dowel according to claim 7 , further comprising a bracket positioned at a second, opposite end of the array, wherein the bracket includes formations that engage with the tubes to maintain the tubes parallel to the central rod.

9 . The alignment dowel according to claim 5 , wherein each vane projects tangentially from its tube.

10 . The alignment dowel according to claim 3 , wherein the body comprises a central rod which carries the resilient vanes that extend outward from the rod.

11 . The alignment dowel according to claim 10 , wherein the resilient vanes are attached to the rod along their length.

12 . The alignment dowel according to claim 10 , wherein the resilient vanes form a spiral around the rod.

13 . A stack assembly jig, comprising:
a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned, wherein the components define openings of a predetermined diameter and the tool base defines guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings of the components in the stack; and a base plate carrying an array of alignment dowels according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment dowels are arranged to correspond to the positions of the guide holes; wherein the base plate is moveable relative to the tool base such that the alignment dowels can project through the guide holes and into the component openings, and wherein the actuators are operable to align the components in the stack.

14 . The stack assembly jig according to claim 13 , wherein the base plate is located below the tool base and can be raised so that the alignment dowels project into the component openings.

15 . The stack assembly jig according to claim 14 , wherein the actuators are located on the base plate.

16 . A method of assembling a stack of components using the assembly jig of claim 13 , comprising:
positioning a stack of components on the tool base such that the openings overlap with the guide holes; moving the base plate with the vanes on the dowels in the collapsed configuration so that the dowels project through the guide holes and the openings; and operating the actuators so that the vanes move to the expanded configuration so as to align the components.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising, after alignment of the components:
operating the actuator to return the vanes to the collapsed configuration; adding further components to the stack so that the dowels project through the openings of the further components; and operating the actuators so that the vanes move to the expanded configuration so as to align the further components.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising moving the base plate closer to the tool base so that the dowels project further from the tool base as the height of the stack increases.

19 . A cell stack, comprising a plurality of cells arranged adjacent one another in a stacked configuration, the cells having internal alignment features provided within components of each cell that allow them to be aligned relative to one another, and additionally comprising an alignment dowels according to claim 1 located in the alignment features, wherein each alignment feature includes an engaging surface with which an alignment dowel is configured to selectively engage and disengage when located within the alignment feature.

20 . The cell stack according to claim 19 , comprising cells defining respective internal ports aligned in a stacking direction to form internal manifolds, and gaskets interposed between adjacent cells to seal the manifolds.

21 . The cell stack according to claim 20 , comprising a plurality of stack components, the stack components including a plurality of cells each defining a common datum opening, and a corresponding gasket interposed between adjacent cells, each gasket defining a gasket opening, the plurality of cells and gaskets being arranged adjacent one another in a stacked configuration such that the common datum openings and the gasket openings define a passageway, and additionally comprising an alignment dowel according to claim 1 located in the passageway.

22 . A method for aligning a plurality components of a cell stack using an alignment dowel according to claim 1 , comprising:
arranging a plurality of cells adjacent one another in a stacked configuration, wherein the cells have internal alignment features provided within components of each cell that allow them to be aligned relative to one another, wherein each alignment feature includes an engaging surface with which the alignment dowel is configured to selectively engage and disengage when located within said alignment feature; and locating the alignment dowel in the alignment features in the collapsed configuration and operating the actuator to move the alignment dowel to the expanded configuration to align the cells.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , further comprising:
arranging a plurality of gaskets interposed between adjacent cells, each gasket defining a gasket opening; and locating the alignment dowel in the alignment features and the gasket openings in the collapsed configuration and operating the actuator to move the alignment dowel to the expanded configuration to align the cells and gaskets.

24 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the internal alignment features of the cells define a common datum opening, of the method comprising:
arranging the cells and gaskets adjacent one another in a stacked configuration such that the common

Assignees

• Ceres Ip Co Ltd

Inventors

• Domanski Tomasz

Classifications

• B65G57/00 Primary

  Stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence; feeding, piling or stacking sheets B65H) · CPC title

• H01M8/2485

  Arrangements for sealing external manifolds; Arrangements for mounting external manifolds around a stack · CPC title

• F16B21/086

  the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion · CPC title

• H01M8/2465 Primary

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/2404 Primary

  Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells · CPC title