IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,333,157
Granted Patent B2
US 10,333,157 · App. 15/529,679 · Granted Jun 25, 2019

Membrane-seal assembly

Inventors: Robert Jeffrey Coleman (Wiltshire, GB); Julie O'Sullivan (Oxfordshire, GB); Angus Dickinson (Wiltshire, GB)
Assignee: Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Limited
H01M8/0271H01M8/1004H01M8/1062H01M8/1065H01M8/00H01M2008/1095
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,333,157
App. No.
15/529,679
Granted
Jun 25, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention includes a reinforced membrane-seal assembly that comprises a reinforcing component, ion-conducting material, and seal material. The reinforcing component comprises a central region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from a first surface to a second surface of the reinforcing component, the central region having a first aperture area density; an inner peripheral border region surrounding the central region, where the inner peripheral border region is devoid of apertures; and an outer peripheral border region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the outer peripheral border region having a second aperture area density. The outer peripheral border region surrounds the inner peripheral border region. The ion-conducting material at least partially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component and seal material fills each aperture in the outer peripheral border region of the reinforcing component.

Claims (31)

1. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly comprising:

(i) a reinforcing component, wherein the reinforcing component is planar and comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the reinforcing component comprises

(a) a central region, the central region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the central region having a first aperture area density;

(b) an inner peripheral border region, wherein the inner peripheral border region surrounds the central region, and wherein the inner peripheral border region is devoid of apertures; and

(c) an outer peripheral border region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface of the reinforcing component to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the outer peripheral border region having a second aperture area density, wherein the outer peripheral border region surrounds the inner peripheral border region;

(ii) ion-conducting material; and

(iii) seal material;

wherein, ion-conducting material at least partially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component and wherein seal material fills each aperture in the outer peripheral border region of the reinforcing component.

2. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second aperture area density is less than the first aperture area density.

3. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the ion-conducting material is flush with at least one of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component.

4. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

5. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

6. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the ion-conducting material essentially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component.

7. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

8. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

9. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein a seal component is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the outer peripheral border region.

10. A catalysed reinforced membrane seal assembly comprising a catalyst component and a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 2 .

11. A reinforced membrane seal electrode assembly comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 2 .

12. A fuel cell comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 2 .

13. A fuel cell according to claim 12 , wherein the fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

14. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ion-conducting material is flush with at least one of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component.

15. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 14 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

16. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

17. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ion-conducting material essentially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component.

18. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

19. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

20. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a seal component is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the outer peripheral border region.

21. A catalysed reinforced membrane seal assembly comprising a catalyst component and a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 1 .

22. A reinforced membrane seal electrode assembly comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 1 .

23. A fuel cell comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 1 .

24. A fuel cell according to claim 23 , wherein the fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 14, 2026
From: JOHNSON MATTHEY HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: JOHNSON MATTHEY HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074818/0894 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 28, 2022
From: JOHNSON MATTHEY FUEL CELLS LIMITED
To: JOHNSON MATTHEY HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060991/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2017
From: COLEMAN, ROBERT JEFFREY; O'SULLIVAN, JULIE; DICKINSON, ANGUS
To: JOHNSON MATTHEY FUEL CELLS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 043953/0563 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1420934.0 · Nov 25, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170331122A1 · Nov 16, 2017