IP Library Granted Patent US 11,764,387
Granted Patent B2
US 11,764,387 · App. 17/254,768 · Granted Sep 19, 2023

Fuel cell stack

Inventors: Adel Jilani (Burnaby, CA); Siva Sankar Voosani Krishna (Burnaby, CA)
Assignees: Audi AG; Volkswagen AG
H01M8/248H01M8/1004H01M2008/1095H01M2250/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,764,387
App. No.
17/254,768
Granted
Sep 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a first end plate and a second end plate between which a plurality of fuel cells is arranged. At least one elastic tensioning element is tensioned in a stack direction between the end plates. According to the invention, a section of the at least one tensioning element is arranged between a surface section of the fuel cell stack and a retensioning element, wherein a distance between the retensioning element and the surface section can be variably adjusted and set. In this way, the tensioning element can be stretched in a targeted manner by means of the retensioning element and as such the compressive tensile force acting on the fuel cell stack can be increased. A vehicle is also provided comprising such a fuel cell stack.

Claims (16)

1. A fuel cell stack, comprising:

one first end plate and one second end plate;

a plurality of fuel cells arranged between the first and second end plates;

at least one elastic tensioning element that is tensioned in a stack direction between the first and second end plates and that either has a closed ring shape or is firmly bonded and/or fixed to at least one of the first and second end plates; and

a retensioning element,

wherein the at least one elastic tensioning element is arranged in sections between a surface section of the fuel cell stack and the retensioning element, and

wherein a distance between the retensioning element and the surface section is variably adjustable to retension the at least one elastic tensioning element.

2. A fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the retensioning element has at least one tensioning body connected to the surface portion via at least one adjusting element.

3. A fuel cell stack according to claim 2 , wherein the tensioning body has a carrier plate connected to the at least one adjusting element and at least one elevation projecting from the carrier plate in the direction of the tensioning element.

4. A fuel cell stack according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one adjusting element has an external thread engaging in a threaded hole of the surface portion.

5. A fuel cell stack according to claim 3 , wherein the carrier plate is attached to the surface portion by a plurality of threaded bolts.

6. A fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the surface portion has at least one recess.

7. A fuel cell stack according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one recess is configured to receive the at least one elevation.

8. A cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein a deflection device is arranged in at least one edge area tensioned by the at least one tensioning element.

9. A fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the first end plate and/or the second end plate is formed in segments.

10. A vehicle with a fuel cell stack according to claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2022
From: VOLKSWAGEN AG
To: AUDI AG
Reel/Frame 059336/0674 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2022
From: JILANI, ADEL; SANKAR VOOSANI KRISHNA, SIVA
To: BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 058636/0796 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2022
From: BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
To: VOLKSWAGEN AG
Reel/Frame 058636/0817 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 210 170.1 · Jun 22, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210367258A1 · Nov 25, 2021