Fuel cell plate features to resolve differences in component tolerances

摘要

A bipolar plate for a fuel cell has a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side. The bipolar plate also has an active region, a feed region, a perimeter region, a sealing region, and a hinge region. The sealing region is disposed between the perimeter region and each of the active region and the feed region. A plurality of outwardly extending tabs are disposed adjacent the perimeter region at each of the first end and the second end of the bipolar plate. The hinge region is disposed between the perimeter region and the outwardly extending tabs. The hinge region extends from the first side of the plate to the second side of the bipolar plate. The hinge region permits a flexing of the outwardly extending tabs to connect with peripheral electrical device without undesirably flexing the sealing region.

主权项

1. A bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprising:
a plate having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the plate further having an active region, a feed region, a perimeter region, a sealing region, and a hinge region, the perimeter region circumscribing the active region and the feed region, the sealing region disposed between the perimeter region and each of the active region and the feed region, the plate further having a plurality of outwardly extending tabs disposed adjacent the perimeter region at each of the first end and the second end of the plate, the tabs each being an integral extension of the hinge region of the plate, the plate further having a plurality of outwardly extending projections disposed adjacent the perimeter region at each of the first end and the second end of the plate, the projections each being an integral extension of the hinge region of the plate, the projections narrower than the tabs, the hinge region disposed between and integrally fixing the perimeter region to the outwardly extending tabs at each of the first end and the second end of the plate, wherein the active region, the feed region, the perimeter region, the hinge region, and the outwardly extending tabs are arranged in order from a longitudinal center of the plate to each of the first end and the second end of the plate, the hinge region having an average thickness less than an average thickness of the tabs and an average thickness of the perimeter region disposed adjacent the hinge region and extending from the first side of the plate to the second side of the plate, and permitting individual flexing of each of the outwardly extending tabs to connect with at least one peripheral electrical device without undesirably flexing the sealing region of the plate.