IP Library Granted Patent US 11,817,611
Granted Patent B2
US 11,817,611 · App. 17/254,802 · Granted Nov 14, 2023

Fuel cell stack

Inventors: Adel Jilani (Burnaby, CA); Siva Sankar Voosani Krishna (Burnaby, CA)
Assignees: Volkswagen AG; Audi AG
H01M8/248H01M8/2475H01M2250/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,817,611
App. No.
17/254,802
Granted
Nov 14, 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 tensioning or tensile element is tensioned in the stack direction between the end plates. Inlet and outlet ports for operating resources are arranged in first end areas of the first end plates and in second end areas of the second end plates. At least one additional elastic tensioning element is tensioned between first end areas and/or second end areas of the end plates.

Claims (15)

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; and

at least one first elastic tensile or tensioning element tensioned in the stack direction between the end plates,

wherein in first end areas of the first end plate and/or in second end areas of the second end plate inlet and outlet ports for operating resources are arranged, and

wherein at least one second elastic tensile or tensioning element is tensioned between one of the first end areas and one of the second end areas.

2. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein the end areas have first edge areas and second edge areas which are perpendicular to the first end areas, wherein the at least one second elastic tensile or tensioning element is tensioned between first edge areas and/or second edge areas.

3. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , wherein a first tensile stress applied by the first elastic tensile or tensioning element differs from a second tensile stress applied by the second elastic tensile or tensioning element.

4. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one rotatable mounting shaft arranged along an edge area of a first and/or second end area, wherein an end area of the at least one second elastic tensioning element is fixed to the mounting shaft.

5. The fuel cell stack according to claim 4 , wherein a tensile stress of the second elastic tensioning element can be adjusted by rotation of the mounting shaft.

6. The fuel cell stack according to claim 4 , wherein the rotatable mounting shaft is connected to the fuel cell stack via at least one tensioned torsion spring.

7. The fuel cell stack according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one torsion spring is designed as a coil spring, torsion rod spring, or hollow machined spring.

8. The fuel cell stack according to claim 4 , further comprising at least one electric motor designed for electromotive drive of the at least one mounting shaft.

9. The fuel cell stack according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one mounting shaft comprises at least one ratchet wheel and at least one pawl engaging with the ratchet wheel.

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 Nov 10, 2021
From: JILANI, ADEL; SANKAR VOOSANI KRISHNA, SIVA
To: BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 058072/0424 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2021
From: BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
To: VOLKSWAGEN AG
Reel/Frame 058072/0712 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 210 181.7 · Jun 22, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210265649A1 · Aug 26, 2021