Abstract: A plate assembly includes a first plate having a planar portion and a first bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal includes a first end surface spaced away from the planar portion. The first bead seal includes first and second opposing sides extending away from the first end surface and contiguous with the planar portion. The first bead seal includes a first reinforcement structure having a first plurality of walls each intersecting the first opposing side of the first bead seal. The first plate includes a second bead seal formed therein. The first bead seal and the second bead seal may be joined via the first reinforcement structure such that the first plurality of walls of the first reinforcement structure each intersect a third opposing side of the second bead seal.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product that may include a fuel cell stack assembly that may include at least one bipolar plate including at least one first raised bead which may include a first split corner which may include a first connection.

Abstract: Methods for designing one or a pair of half plates of a fuel cell include providing a first half plate defining a first half plate metal bead, wherein the first half plate metal bead protrudes from the first half plate forming a convex side, providing a second half plate defining a second plate metal bead, wherein the second half plate metal bead protrudes from the second half plate forming a convex side, determining a pressure profile between the convex sides of the first half plate metal bead and the second half plate metal bead in a compressed state, and adjusting a height of the first half plate metal bead and/or the second half plate metal bead in one or more locations to increase the uniformity of the pressure profile. Increasing the uniformity of the pressure profile can include reducing a range of the plurality of pressure measurements.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack having a plurality of bipolar plates aligned between a pair of end plates. Each of the bipolar plates further includes a first bead and a second bead. The first bead defines a first bead height, and the second bead defines a second bead height wherein the second bead height is less than the first bead height.

Abstract: Systems and methods including a header flange to evenly distribute contact pressure across seals include, in some aspects, a plate including a bead and a flange edge. The bead includes a bead-side and a bead-corner. The flange edge defines an aperture through the plate. The flange edge also includes a first edge-portion proximate the bead-side and a second edge-portion proximate the bead-corner. The bead-side and the first edge-portion define a first edge-distance therebetween. The bead-corner and the second edge-portion define a second edge-distance therebetween. The second edge-distance is greater than the first edge-distance.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly for a vehicle is provided which includes a first end plate, a second end plate; and a first plurality of fuel cells disposed between the first and second end plates. The first plurality of fuel cells may define a repeating pattern of a thick fuel cell adjacent to a thin fuel cell. Each fuel cell in the first plurality of fuel cells having an active area thickness. The fuel cell stack assembly of the present disclosure may further include a second plurality of nominal fuel cells.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bipolar plate includes forming two half-plates by stamping a metal substrate to form a plurality of flow channels and a plurality of beads projecting from a first surface of the metal substrate, wherein the plurality of beads include a peripheral bead and one or more aperture beads, each aperture bead being proximate to one or more aperture locations, and wherein each bead has a convex surface and a concave surface, and subsequently compressing the plurality of beads in a die such that the cross-sectional perimeter of each bead is reduced. The half-plates can be joined subsequent to compressing such that at least portions of a second side of the first half-plate are contiguous with at least portions of a second side of the second half-plate, and the one or more aperture locations of each plate align. The beads can be trapezoidal.

Abstract: A number of variations may include at least one bipolar plate which may include at least one bead, the bead may include a plurality of crest portions and a plurality of trough portions having at least one tangent portion disposed between adjacent crest portions and trough portions; the bipolar plate further may include at least one tunnel defining at least one through hole within the at least one tangent portion.

Abstract: A method for assembling a fuel cell stack for a vehicle is provided wherein the method includes the steps of: (1) providing a batch of fuel cells having varying active area thicknesses among each fuel cell; (2) measuring an active area thickness for each fuel cell in the batch of fuel cells and sorting each fuel cell in the batch of fuel cells into one of a first group, a second group, and a third group based on the active area thickness for each fuel cell; (3) assembling a target number of fuel cells to a target height from at least one of the first, second and third groups onto a first end plate; and (4) affixing a second end plate to the target number of fuel cells and the first end plate thereby creating a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell includes a first plate having a first bead seal, and a second plate having a second bead seal. The first bead seal and the second bead seal are disposed opposite each other and extend along a centerline. An outer weld connects the first plate and the second plate together, and extends along an outer weld line. The outer weld line is laterally spaced an outer gap distance from an outer lateral edge of the first and second bead seals. The outer gap distance varies with a position along the centerline to control a stiffness of the bead seals. Positioning the weld line nearer the outer lateral edge increases the stiffness of the raised bead seals in low stiffness areas, whereas positioning the weld line farther from the lateral edge decreases the stiffness of the raised bead seals in high stiffness areas.

Abstract: A microseal for a metal bead seal joint includes a substantially horizontal surface, first and second substantially vertical surfaces disposed on opposite ends of the substantially horizontal surface, and a contoured surface operatively configured to adhere to a portion of a metal bead. The contoured surface may be disposed opposite the substantially horizontal surface and may be integral to the first and second substantially vertical surfaces. The substantially horizontal surface may be operatively configured to substantially maintain its horizontal surface orientation in both a compression state and a non-compression state.

Abstract: A plate structure includes a plate having a planar portion defining a datum plane. The plate includes a raised bead seal and a tunnel protruding away from the datum plane. The raised bead seal extends along a centerline laying on the datum plane. The tunnel extends along a path laying on the datum plane. The tunnel intersects the raised bead seal. The path and the centerline intersect to form a first intersection angle and an adjacent second intersection angle on the datum plane. The first intersection angle and the second intersection angle are supplementary angles. The first intersection angle is an acute angle, and the second intersection angle is an obtuse angle. The path and the centerline are arranged to form a specific value of the first intersection angle and the second intersection angle to control a stiffness of the raised bead seal.

Abstract: Systems and methods including a header flange to evenly distribute contact pressure across seals include, in some aspects, a plate including a bead and a flange edge. The bead includes a bead-side and a bead-corner. The flange edge defines an aperture through the plate. The flange edge also includes a first edge-portion proximate the bead-side and a second edge-portion proximate the bead-corner. The bead-side and the first edge-portion define a first edge-distance therebetween. The bead-corner and the second edge-portion define a second edge-distance therebetween. The second edge-distance is greater than the first edge-distance.

Abstract: A plate assembly includes a first plate and a second plate positioned adjacent to one another. The first plate includes a first sealing member formed thereon. The second plate includes a second sealing member formed thereon. The first sealing member includes a first end surface and first opposing sides extending from the first end surface. The second sealing member includes a second end surface and second opposing sides extending from the second end surface. The first and second sealing members are offset relative to one another by a first offset distance (D1) in a first longitudinal direction. By varying the sealing member's base width periodically, a greater sealing force is achieved. By offsetting alignment of pairs of sealing members along the seal path, uniform pressure along the seal path is achieved.

Abstract: A system and method includes one or more processors one or more processors coupled to a memory. The one or more processors may execute instructions from the memory to perform the steps including receiving an audio communications request from a first user device of a user, identifying a second user device of the user in response to receiving the audio communications request, providing a suggestion that the user use the second user device with the system, receiving a response from the user responding to the suggestion, establishing a communication channel with the second user device, and providing content associated with the audio communications request to the second user device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack having a plurality of bipolar plates aligned in a stack between a pair of bipolar plates wherein each of the bipolar plates includes an outer bead having an interior cavity; and an inner bead having a trough wherein the inner bead extends into the interior cavity of the outer bead. The trough of the inner bead may be at least about 50% filled with an elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stamped member includes the steps of: (1) stamping sheet metal within a stamping press system; (2) assembling the stamped sheet metal with other stamped members to form a plurality of bipolar plates; (3) pre-compressing the first bipolar plate between a pair of flat fixture plates; (4) obtaining first contact pressure variation data; (5) providing a customized patterned fixture which corresponds to the first contact pressure measurement data; (6) pre-compressing the second bipolar plate with the customized patterned fixture; and (7) obtaining second contact pressure variation data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack having a plurality of bipolar plates aligned between a pair of end plates. Each of the bipolar plates further includes a first bead and a second bead. The first bead defines a first bead height, and the second bead defines a second bead height wherein the second bead height is less than the first bead height.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel cell stack having a plurality of bipolar plates aligned in a stack between a pair of bipolar plates wherein each of the bipolar plates includes an outer bead having an interior cavity; and an inner bead having a trough wherein the inner bead extends into the interior cavity of the outer bead. The trough of the inner bead may be at least about 50% filled with an elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A fuel cell flow field plate providing a uniform gas flow pressure includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate. The first metal plate defines a first opening for providing a first reactant gas to a fuel cell with a first metal bead that surrounds the first opening. The first metal bead is an embossment in the second metal plate that defines a first channel. The first metal plate also defines a first pressure distributing structure that decreases pressure variation is a seal formed with the first metal bead. A second metal plate aligns with the first metal plate.