Patents by Inventor Thomas Kunick

Thomas Kunick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8354203
    Abstract: The invention relates to bipolar plates for fuel cell systems. According to the invention, the component sheets of a bipolar plate (1) are formed for a welded joint (4, 5), such that between the profile regions (6) of the channel ducts (2), only small local surfaces remain as welding zones (10). The above is achieved by means of a corresponding shape of the profile molding (8, 9) of the component sheets. As a result of said reduction of the welding zones to small regions of the total surface, a larger proportion of the area is available for the channels (2), in other words, the channel cross-section and hence the coolant flow can be increased. At the same time the structure for the use of gas diffusion layers made from non-wovens, textiles or paper can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Florian Finsterwalder, Joerg Kleemann, Thomas Kunick, Markus Schudy
  • Patent number: 8158299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack, which comprises at least a an anode-side sub-plate. An interior of the bipolar plate is enclosed by the sub-plates, with a fluid port area arranged having at least one fluid port, over which a fluid can be conveyed to the fluid channels. The fluid channels are arranged on at least one of the flat sides, as well as a manifold zone, over which the fluid can be distributed to its assigned fluid channels and an accumulation zone, over which the fluid can be carried away from the fluid channels to another fluid port area. At least one of the sub-plates has a uniform arrangement of raised support points in the manifold zone and/or accumulation zone. Apart from the peripherally situated support points, a negative support point of the same type is designed adjacent to each raised support point inside the manifold zone and/or the accumulation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Felix Blank, Thomas Kunick, Markus Schudy
  • Patent number: 7811719
    Abstract: Proposed is a PEM fuel cell that comprises a separator plate assembly with a charging chamber, which is partitioned off by a partition wall and via charging spots has a fluid connection to an adjoining cathode chamber. The partition wall is designed so that the depths of the charging channels in the charging chamber and the depths of the distribution channels in the adjoining cathode chambers change in such a way that the quantity of oxidant that is charged at a charging spot from the charging chamber into the cathode chamber can be fixed in advance. As a result, the charging of oxidant, which has not been humidified or only slightly, into the cathode chamber can be improved with regard to the curve of the relative humidity along the cathode. Also proposed is a method for manufacturing a separator plate assembly suitable for a PEM fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Felix Blank, Thomas Kunick
  • Publication number: 20100167105
    Abstract: The invention relates to bipolar plates for fuel cell systems. According to the invention, the component sheets of a bipolar plate (1) are formed for a welded joint (4, 5), such that between the profile regions (6) of the channel ducts (2), only small local surfaces remain as welding zones (10). The above is achieved by means of a corresponding shape of the profile molding (8, 9) of the component sheets. As a result of said reduction of the welding zones to small regions of the total surface, a larger proportion of the area is available for the channels (2), in other words, the channel cross-section and hence the coolant flow can be increased. At the same time the structure for the use of gas diffusion layers made from non-wovens, textiles or paper can be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Florian Finsterwalder, Joerg Kleemann, Thomas Kunick, Markus Schudy
  • Publication number: 20090325036
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell stack, which comprises at least a an anode-side sub-plate. An interior of the bipolar plate is enclosed by the sub-plates, with a fluid port area arranged having at least one fluid port, over which a fluid can be conveyed to the fluid channels. The fluid channels are arranged on at least one of the flat sides, as well as a manifold zone, over which the fluid can be distributed to its assigned fluid channels and an accumulation zone, over which the fluid can be carried away from the fluid channels to another fluid port area. At least one of the sub-plates has a uniform arrangement of raised support points in the manifold zone and/or accumulation zone. Apart from the peripherally situated support points, a negative support point of the same type is designed adjacent to each raised support point inside the manifold zone and/or the accumulation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Felix Blank, Thomas Kunick, Markus Schudy
  • Publication number: 20080220311
    Abstract: Proposed is a PEM fuel cell that comprises a separator plate assembly with a charging chamber, which is partitioned off by a partition wall and via charging spots has a fluid connection to an adjoining cathode chamber. The partition wall is designed so that the depths of the charging channels in the charging chamber and the depths of the distribution channels in the adjoining cathode chambers change in such a way that the quantity of oxidant that is charged at a charging spot from the charging chamber into the cathode chamber can be fixed in advance. As a result, the charging of oxidant, which has not been humidified or only slightly, into the cathode chamber can be improved with regard to the curve of the relative humidity along the cathode. Also proposed is a method for manufacturing a separator plate assembly suitable for a PEM fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Felix Blank, Thomas Kunick