Laminate assembly sealing method and arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9318767-B2
Application number	US-201313957818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2013
Priority date	Aug 25, 2009
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

An example laminate assembly pressurization arrangement includes a plurality of laminations arranged in a laminate stack. The plurality of laminations are movable between sealed positions and unsealed positions relative to each other. An end plate is adjacent the laminate stack. A housing is configured to establish a first volume together with the end plate. A first group of tie rods is directly secured to the end plate and is configured to move the end plate to a first position that holds the plurality of laminations in sealed positions. A second group of tie rods is directly secured to the housing. Pressurizing the first volume limits movement of the end plate away from the first position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A laminate assembly pressurization arrangement comprising:
a plurality of laminations arranged in a laminate stack, the plurality of laminations moveable between sealed positions and unsealed positions relative to each other;
an endplate adjacent the laminate stack;
a housing configured to establish a first volume together with the endplate;
a first group of tie rods secured relative to the endplate and configured to move the endplate to a first position that holds the plurality of laminations in sealed positions, wherein the first group of tie rods extend through a channel in the housing and are mechanically separated from the housing; and
a second group of tie rods secured relative to the housing, wherein pressurizing the first volume limits movement of the endplate away from the first position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first group of tie rods is configured to be moveable relative to the housing.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a dome.

4. The assembly of claim 3 comprising a dynamic seal disposed between the dome and the endplate.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first group of tie rods extend through a first group of apertures established in the plurality of laminations and the second group of tie rods extend through a second group of apertures established in the plurality of laminations.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the laminations have a circular cross-sectional profile, the first group of apertures and the second group of apertures positioned near a radially outer edge of the laminations.

7. The assembly of claim 1 including a controller configured to control fluid flow to the first volume to control pressure within the first volume.

8. The assembly of claim 1 including a channel in the housing for permitting movement of the first group of tie rods relative to the housing.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the surface area of the first volume side of the endplate is the same or greater than the surface area of a laminate side of the endplate.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the laminate stack is configured to be pressurized with a first fluid and the first volume is configured to be pressurized with a different second fluid.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first group of tie rods extends a first length and the second group of tie rod extends a second length, the second length greater than the first length.

12. A laminate assembly pressurization arrangement comprising:
a laminate assembly including a plurality of laminations;
a first endplate adjacent the plurality of laminations establishing a portion of a first enclosed volume;
a second endplate adjacent the laminations, the second endplate establishing a portion of a second enclosed volume, wherein the second endplate is configured to urge the laminations toward sealed positions relative to each other when the second enclosed volume is pressurized; and
a first tie rod arrangement extending through openings in the first end plate and configured to hold the plurality of laminations in a sealed position; and
a first housing configured to establish the first enclosed volume together with the first endplate, wherein the first housing is secured relative to the laminate assembly separately from the first endplate.

13. The assembly of claim 12 including a second tie rod arrangement configured to hold the first enclosed volume relative to the laminate assembly, wherein the first tie rod arrangement only holds the second enclosed volume relative to the laminate assembly.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first enclosed volume is in fluid communication with the second enclosed volume such that pressurizing one of the first enclosed volume and the second enclosed volume also pressurizes the other of the first enclosed volume and the second enclosed volume.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first housing includes a channel and the first tie rod arrangement extends through the channel and is mechanically separated from the first housing.

16. A laminate assembly pressurization arrangement comprising:
a plurality of laminations arranged in a laminate stack;
a first endplate adjacent the laminate stack;
a first housing configured to establish a first enclosed volume together with the first endplate; and
a first group of tie rods secured relative to the first endplate and configured to move the endplate to a first position that holds the plurality of laminations in sealed positions, wherein the first group of tie rods extend through a channel in the first housing and are mechanically separated from the first housing.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , comprising a second enclosed volume at least partially defined by a second endplate and a second housing, a second group of tie rods secured relative to the first housing and the second housing.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Space Sys

Inventors

• Barnett Robert G
• Hidalgo Jorge E

Classifications

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• F16J13/14

  attached exclusively by spring action or elastic action · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/247

  Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks · CPC title

• H01M8/248 Primary

  Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks · CPC title