With Sealing, Spacing, Or Supporting Feature Patents (Class 429/508)
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Patent number: 7846612Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and first and second separators. A first insulating bushing is attached to a first positioning hole of a first separator, and a second insulating bushing is attached to a second positioning hole of the second separator. An inner wall of the first insulating bushing is fitted to an outer wall of the second insulating bushing for positioning the first and second separators such that the first and second separators are insulated from each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuhei Goto, Katsuhiko Kohyama, Ken Takahashi, So Fujiwara, Ryugo Suzuki, Narutoshi Sugita
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Patent number: 7842433Abstract: A fuel cell separator plate comprising a portion in contact with an electrode, and a sealing portion provided around the contact portion, the contact portion having a larger surface roughness (Rmax) than that of the sealing portion. It is preferably a molded separator plate made of a composite carbon material comprising carbon and a thermosetting resin.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihiro Nakanishi, Yuichiro Kosaka, Kentaro Nagoshi
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Publication number: 20100297533Abstract: A fuel cell including a power generating body including an electrolyte layer and electrode layers, diffusion layers disposed on opposite major surfaces of the power generating body, separators disposed on major surfaces of the diffusion layers opposite to those facing the power generating body, a first seal formed around the periphery of the power generating body and including an effective seal portion that suppresses leakage of the gas to the outside of the fuel cell between the separators, and a second seal formed integrally with at least one of the diffusion layers to extend along an end face of the diffusion layer. The second seal is in intimate contact with a surface of the power generating body on which the diffusion layer is laminated and a surface of a corresponding one of the separators that is laminated on the diffusion layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2007Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naohiro Takeshita, Fumishige Shizuku
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Publication number: 20100297534Abstract: Disclosed are seals and seal structures for use in electrochemical devices such as solid oxide fuel cell devices. Exemplary seal structures are configured such that at least a portion of the interface between the seal and electrolyte sheet deviates from planarity by extending either (i) upwardly and inwardly (ii) or downwardly and inwardly, toward the active portion of the electrolyte sheet surface where one or more device electrodes are deposited. By angling the seal portion of the electrolyte sheet, the sharpness of any resulting bends or deformations that may occur during use can be reduced, thus reducing the likelihood of any cracks forming in the typically high stress regions of the electrolyte sheet. Further, preferably at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet contacting the seal composition, the seal-electrolyte interface may deviate from planarity by at least 0.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: Thomas Dale Ketcham, John Stephen Rosettie, Dell Joseph St. Julien, Sujanto Widjaja
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Patent number: 7833678Abstract: A spring module is mounted to a fuel cell stack. The spring module includes a first member and a second member capable of inclining relative to each other and moving in a direction toward and away from each other, and a plurality of springs independent of each other and disposed in parallel with each other between the first and second members. The spring module is disposed between an end plate and the pile of fuel cells. The first member includes a first casing, and the second member includes a second casing, whereby the sparing module includes a casing assembly housing the springs. The bottom surface of the casings is deformable to be wavy. The spring module may include a shock absorber. The plurality of springs may include a coil spring and a sponge of a low-resilience type.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiyuki Inagaki
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Patent number: 7829238Abstract: In order to prevent an electrolyte membrane from being broken, and make an assembling steps of a cell easy, in a fuel cell provided with a membrane electrode complex in which catalyst layers are respectively arranged on both surfaces of a electrolyte membrane, first and second gas diffusion layers which are arranged on both surfaces of the electrode complex, separators for respectively supplying reaction gas to the first and second gas diffusion layers, and a gasket for sealing the reaction gas, the gasket is formed on a surface of the gas diffusion layer so as to oppose to the separator, at least the gasket forming portion of the gas diffusion layer has a lower void content than the portion in contact with the catalyst layer, and the gasket arranged in the first and second gas diffusion layers is integrally formed at least via a through hole passing through the first and second gas diffusion layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignees: Nok Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yuichi Kuroki, Yoshihiro Kurano, Tomohiro Inoue, Atsushi Oma, Yasuji Ogami, Kazuo Saito
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Publication number: 20100279206Abstract: The present invention provides a sealing structure of a sealing portion for maintaining the airtightness of a coolant passage in two stacked separators of a fuel cell, wherein a groove in which an adhesive is to be filled is formed on a surface of one of two separators, and dam portions are formed on both sides of the groove to prevent the adhesive applied in the groove from overflowing into a connection passage and a coolant passage. Accordingly, the adhesive overflowing from the groove when the two separators are bonded to each other by applying a pressure is collected in the dam portions to form three sealing lines, thus improving the airtightness of the sealing portion. Moreover, it is possible to solve the problem that the performance of the fuel cell stack is deteriorated when an antifreeze/coolant leaks from the coolant passage to an MEA, in which the fuel cell reaction takes place, or the leaking coolant contaminates a catalyst of the MEA.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2007Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Jong Hyun Lee, Jae Jun Ko, Seung Chan Oh, Young Min Kim, Ik Jae Son, Jong Jin Yoon, Young Bum Kum
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Patent number: 7824821Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell metallic separator, wherein the metallic plate's edges include a resin portion comprising the communication ports. The resin portion around the communication ports is shaped so as to be capable of interlocking with a fuel cell stack component adjacently located in a fuel cell system. The invention also provides a resin portion capable of press fitting or thermal bonding with adjacent a fuel cell stack components.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Sean M. MacKinnon, Lynn C. Erickson, Ayesha Rashid, Christopher T. Kirby
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Patent number: 7824816Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell unit; a fuel cartridge; and a fuel actuator that is disposed between the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell unit, to control the fuel supply from the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell unit comprises: a stack including unit cells oriented in parallel to one another; a phase change layer disposed adjacent to the stack and having a length perpendicular to the parallel orientation of the unit cells; a fuel diffusion layer disposed on the phase change layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-yong Lee, Kyoung-hwan Choi
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Patent number: 7820337Abstract: An electrochemical device has an armor; a structure housed in the armor and having a separator disposed between first and second electrodes; and external terminals with respective leads connected to the first and second electrodes of the structure, respectively, and extending from the interior of the armor across a sealed portion of the armor to the outside; at least a surface of an intersection in each of the leads crossing the sealed portion is provided with at least one of depressed portion and projected portion. This electrochemical device is realized in compact size and with high reliability.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Katsuo Naoi, Kenji Nishizawa, Keita Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20100266931Abstract: A device including a metal substrate and a ceramic substrate including a back-tapered groove separated from each other by a sealed flexible link. The link includes: a metal element including an end connected to the metal substrate and at another end housed in the groove of the ceramic substrate, the metal element being elastically deformable both in the groove along a direction radial to the groove and, in the separation space between the metal substrate and the ceramic substrate along the separation direction, and a joint-forming mass with a greater thermal expansion coefficient than that of the ceramic substrate and adhesively bonded to the end of the metal element housed in the back-tapered groove, the joint fitting with direct contact a portion of the height of convergent sidewalls of the groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2008Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: COMMISS. A L'ENERGIE ATOM. ET AUX ENERG. ALTERNA.Inventors: Magali Reytier, Philippe Bucci
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Patent number: 7816055Abstract: A novel electrochemical cell which may be a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is disclosed where the cathodes (144, 140) may be exposed to the air and open to the ambient atmosphere without further housing. Current collector (145) extends through a first cathode on one side of a unit and over the unit through the cathode on the other side of the unit and is in electrical contact via lead (146) with housing unit (122 and 124). Electrical insulator (170) prevents electrical contact between two units. Fuel inlet manifold (134) allows fuel to communicate with internal space (138) between the anodes (154 and 156). Electrically insulating members (164 and 166) prevent the current collector from being in electrical contact with the anode.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2005Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Craig Jacobson, Lutgard C. DeJonghe, Chun Lu
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Patent number: 7816054Abstract: In order to provide small electronic equipment which can be used for a long time, electronic equipment includes a casing, a hold portion provided as part of the casing, for holding the equipment, and a fuel cell, in which a recessed portion provided in the hold portion has a vent hole formed therein for supplying air to the fuel cell. A fuel cell mounting chamber for containing the fuel cell is provided inside the hold portion. At least a part of the fuel cell mounting chamber and the vent hole provided in the recessed portion adjoin each other such that air is supplied from the vent hole to the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuyuki Ueda
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Patent number: 7799484Abstract: In order to provide a gasket which has a good handling property as a gasket used for a fuel battery or a gasket for an HDD, can be easily integrated with the other end mounting member even in the case that the other end mounting member such as a separator or the like is a material having low strength or a thin plate, and has good mounting workability, a gasket is having a sheet-shaped gasket mounting member provided with a sticking function on one face, and a gasket main body made of a rubber-type elastic member integrated with the sheet-shaped gasket mounting member, and the gasket is mounted to the other end mounting member on the basis of the sticking function of the sheet-shaped gasket mounting member.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: NOK CorporationInventors: Yuichi Kuroki, Kazuhisa Senda, Yoshihiro Kurano, Tomohiro Inoue
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Patent number: 7781120Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell device assembly comprising: (i) at least one solid oxide fuel cell device including one electrolyte sheet sandwiched between at least one pair of electrodes; and (ii) a non-steel frame fixedly attached to said at least one fuel cell device without a seal located therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2007Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael Edward Badding, Jacqueline Leslie Brown, Cameron Wayne Tanner
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Patent number: 7771886Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit which comprises an anode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and an anode-forming material carried by this mesh, a cathode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and a cathode-forming material carried by this mesh, and a solid electrolytic layer in the form of a thin film arranged between and supported by the anode layer and the cathode layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Horiuchi, Shigeaki Suganuma, Misa Watanabe, Yasue Tokutake
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Patent number: 7771887Abstract: An apparatus having a first substrate having (1) a cavity, (2) one or more resistive heaters, and (3) one or more coatings forming a diffusion barrier to hydrogen; a second substrate having (1) an outlet valve comprising a pressure relief structure and (2) one or more coatings forming a diffusion barrier to hydrogen, wherein said second substrate is coupled to said first substrate forming a sealed volume in said cavity; a metal hydride material contained within said cavity; and a gas distribution system formed by coupling a microfluidic interconnect to said pressure relief structure. Additional apparatuses and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Jeffrey D. Morse, Alan F. Jankowski, Conrad Yu
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Patent number: 7767360Abstract: An electrochemical cell apparatus is disclosed. The electrochemical cell apparatus includes a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) having a membrane with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first electrode in contact with the first side, and a second electrode in contact with the second side. The apparatus further includes a flow field member and a protector member having a boundary partially defined by a first surface facing toward a center of the MEA. The second electrode has a boundary partially defined by a second surface facing away from the center of the MEA. A first distance from the center of the MEA to the first surface is greater than a correspondingly oriented second distance from the center of the MEA to the second surface, thereby defining a gap between the first surface and the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jacob Friedman
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Publication number: 20100190089Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a fuel cell being capable of preventing the methanol crossover in a simple and easy manner and being excellent in fuel utilization rate and the like. A fuel cell 30 of the present invention includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 11, an anode 23 and a cathode 25 sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane 11, an anode-side separator 17 having a fuel flow channel, a cathode-side separator 21 having an oxidant flow channel, and gaskets 26 and 27 interposed between the anode-side and cathode-side separators 17 and 21 and the periphery of the polymer electrolyte membrane 11. In the fuel cell 30, the orthographic projection area of the anode catalyst layer 31 included in the anode 23 seen from the direction normal to an MEA is set to be larger than the orthographic projection area of the anode porous substrate 15 included in the anode 23 seen from the direction normal to the MEA.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventor: Takashi AKIYAMA
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Publication number: 20100183949Abstract: A fuel cell case (10) has a fuel cell installation structure (30) to be fixed to a fuel cell (20) and also has a case body (32) to which the fuel cell installation structure (30) is mounted and which receives the fuel cell (20). The fuel cell installation structure (30) includes a seat base (34) fixed to end plates (24, 26) of the fuel cell (20) by a first bolt (82), a seat plate fixed to the case body (32), and an insulation base body (38) for integrating the seat base (34) and the seat plate (36) together in an insulated manner. The insulation base body (38) has a bolt hole (42) into which the first bolt (82) is inserted and also has a neck portion (44) protruding to the outside of the case body (32). The case body (32) has an opening (60) for preventing interference between the case body (32) and the neck portion (44) of the fuel cell installation structure (30) and also has a cover (90) for covering the neck portion (44).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2008Publication date: July 22, 2010Inventor: Haruhisa Niimi
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Publication number: 20100173226Abstract: A fuel cell in which stress that is caused in an electrolyte membrane is relaxed or absorbed is provided. The fuel cell includes A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane; a holding member that is used to hold the electrolyte membrane; and an elastic member that is arranged between the electrolyte membrane and the holding member so that the holding member holds the electrolyte membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideyo Oomori, Masanori Yoshida, Tatsuo Kawabata, Osamu Hamanoi
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Publication number: 20100167173Abstract: The object of the invention is to improve the sealing properties of a seal arrangement in a fuel cell device for sealing against leaks a mechanical joint between two components of the fuel cell device. The invention proposes a seal arrangement in a fuel cell device for sealing against leakage a mechanical joint between two components I1, 1? of the fuel cell device, which components convey a liquid and/or a gaseous process medium 3 in a media chamber 2, the seal arrangement having a scaling member 9, 12 which is constructed to extend around the media chamber 2 and which is in active connection with the components 1?, 1?. The object is achieved in that a second, surrounding sealing member 10, 13 is provided, which is arranged facing away from the media relative to the first sealing member 9, 12 and is of a different material from the first sealing member 9, 12 and/or has a different geometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicants: Daimler AG, Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Baur, Matthias Jesse
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Publication number: 20100167171Abstract: A porous body (28, 29) for a fuel cell (1000), a fuel cell component including the porous body and a method of manufacturing the fuel cell component is provided. The porosity in at least a portion (15) in the vicinity of the periphery of the porous body (28, 29) is lower than the porosity in an interior portion of the porous body. When a seal member (30) is arranged on the periphery of the porous body (28, 29) to be integrated with the porous body, the interior portion of the porous body (28, 29), is prevented from being impregnated with the seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2007Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventor: Tomoharu Sasaoka
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Publication number: 20100167172Abstract: This invention provides an elastic member for a methanol fuel cell cartridge, comprising an elastomer having a compression set of 1 to 80 and a hardness (type A) of 40 to 70 and having an operating limit time of 10,000 hours or more determined by a DMFC performance test for the fuel cell. The elastic member can prevent leakage of methanol from a methanol fuel cell cartridge, or a connection part between the cartridge and a fuel cell body and, at the same time, can realize long-term operation of the fuel cell without causing deterioration of power generation performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2007Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicants: TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Daisuke Imoda, Kouki Kinouchi, Kenichi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20100159357Abstract: In order to attain excellent electrical conductivity and molding processability, a fuel cell separator to be produced by performing press molding on a preform in which expanded graphite is used as the main raw material is improved so that the preform is produced by a papermaking method, whereby the characteristics of the mechanical strength, the flexibility, and the gas impermeability are improved, and a light and compact configuration that is preferred in the automobile use or the like can be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2007Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Otawa, Akira Hashimoto, Nobuhiko Ikeda, Kenichi Horiki
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Patent number: 7740989Abstract: A micro fuel cell comprises at least a substrate provided with front and rear faces. The front face of the substrate supports a successive stacking of a first electrode, a substantially flat electrolytic membrane and a second electrode. The electrolytic membrane comprises at least one anchoring element salient substantially perpendicularly to a main plane of said membrane. The anchoring element is arranged in a complementary part of an anchoring recess formed in the substrate. The substrate can also comprise a plurality of microchannels, substantially perpendicular to the main plane of the membrane. The anchoring recess can then be formed by one of the microchannels whereas the other microchannels enable supply of the first electrode with reactive fluid. Such a micro fuel cell is able to operate when a pressure difference exists between the two sides of the stacking.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Jean-Yves Laurent, Frederic Gaillard, Karine Lambert, Marc Plissonnier
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Patent number: 7740988Abstract: An assembly having fuel cell plate structure adapted for use in a fuel cell in which gas flow channels are arranged to carry process gas adjacent the active and wet seal areas of the fuel cell, the plate structure having one or more baffles arranged such that when the plate structure is in the fuel cell the baffles of the plate structure cause the process gas flowing adjacent the wet seal areas to be directed away from the wet seal areas and toward the active areas of the cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Zhiwen Ma, Chao-Yi Yuh, Dana A. Kelley, Mohammad Farooque, William Beesley
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Patent number: 7736817Abstract: A method of forming an interface between components having different rates of volumetric expansion includes forming an interface surface of the interface with respect to a center of growth such that slippage occurs at the interface between the components during volumetric expansion.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Alan R. Arthur, Gary Tarver
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Patent number: 7736816Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells in a horizontal direction. The stack body is held in a casing including end plates. Further, the casing includes a plurality of side plates provided on sides of the stack body. The end plates and the side plates are coupled by coupling pins. Each of the side plates has a plurality of separate second coupling portions, and the coupling pins are inserted into the coupling portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryoichi Yoshitomi, Ayumu Ishizuka, Makoto Tsuji
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Publication number: 20100136460Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell including a reaction gas supply path which makes it difficult to cause water condensation in a region near an end plate. A fuel cell of the present invention comprises a cell stack 2 having a reaction gas passage 13a inside thereof and having on one end surface thereof a reaction gas supply inlet 17 from which a reaction gas is supplied to the reaction gas passage 13a, a joint 5 connecting the reaction gas supply inlet 17 to an external pipe P for supplying the reaction gas, plate-shaped end members 3, 4 which are disposed on one end surface of the cell stack 2 and have through-holes 21, 23 into which the joint 5 is inserted so as not to contact inner wall surfaces thereof, and a closing member 9 for substantially closing a space formed between the joint 5 and the inner wall surfaces of the through-holes 21, 23.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Inventors: Soichi Shibata, Susumu Hatano, Hiroki Kusakabe, Eiichi Yasumoto, Toshihiro Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20100136456Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a reaction gas can be utilized efficiently for an electrode reaction even when a gap is formed between an anode-side sealing member and the end face of an anode and between a cathode-side sealing member and the end face of a cathode, and sufficient power generation performance can be ensured with a simple constitution. At least one of the anode-side sealing member and the cathode-side sealing member of the fuel cell includes an annular body, and at least one deformable protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the annular body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2006Publication date: June 3, 2010Inventors: Yasushi Sugawara, Takayuki Urata, Junji Morita, Soichi Shibata, Takahiro Umeda