Patents by Assignee Ford Motor Company

Abstract: Heat flow and mechanical strength of an engine component are improved by an organic-like casting core. Hardened granules are formed of a core material having a three-dimensional solid shape. A secondary binder is applied to the hardened granules. A multiplicity of the granules are agglomerated in a master mold in a shape of a water jacket of the engine component, and the secondary binder is hardened to form an organic-like core having a continuous web structure. A plurality of other cores are formed in respective master molds to define respective surfaces of the engine component. The organic-like core is assembled with the other cores to form a casting mold. The engine component is cast by flowing molten metal into the casting mold, thereby forming a continuous parent metal bridging the water jacket having a predetermined porosity. The core material is removed from the engine component after casting.

Abstract: Flow field plate constructions for bipolar plates are disclosed for use in fuel cell stacks that are subject to freezing temperatures. In designs having internal coolant flow fields and reactant backfeed ports, relief ducts are provided in the supporting walls surrounding the backfeed ports in order to allow for ice formation and thus prevent cracking of the plates.