INSULATING DATUM INSERT
A fuel cell plate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a peripheral edge, an alignment hole spaced from the peripheral edge, and an insert received therein. The insert includes an annular portion which bounds a passage for receiving an aligning member and flanges extending radially from axial ends of the annular portion on the first surface and second surface of the fuel cell plate. The insert is electrically insulating and may include an annular cantilever portion of an annular cantilever snap joint permitting insertion of the annular body into the alignment hole and forming a snap fit therein and inhibiting and/or preventing removal therefrom.
1 . A fuel cell plate, comprising:
a body having a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, a peripheral edge, and an alignment hole spaced away from said peripheral edge and extending from said first surface to said second surface, and
an insulating insert comprising:
an annular portion received in said alignment hole and bounding a passage for receiving an alignment member, and
flanges at axial ends of said annular portion, said flanges extending radially from said annular portion,
such that said body is located between said flanges.
2 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a bipolar fuel cell plate.
3 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , said insulating insert further comprising an elastically deformable material.
4 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , wherein said flanges comprise a first flange and a second flange, said first flange extending further in a radial direction than said second flange.
5 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , wherein said first surface comprises a first recessed portion and a first remaining portion, said first recessed portion being recessed relative to said first remaining portion and circumferentially bounding a first opening of said alignment hole.
6 . The fuel cell plate of claim 5 , wherein said flanges comprise a first flange and a second flange, said first flange extending axially in said first recessed portion to be level with said first remaining portion.
7 . The fuel cell plate of claim 5 , wherein said second surface comprises a second recessed portion and a second remaining portion, said second recessed portion being recessed relative to said second remaining portion and circumferentially bounding a second opening of said alignment hole.
8 . The fuel cell plate of claim 7 , wherein said flanges comprise a first flange and a second flange, said first flange extending axially in said first recessed portion to be level with said first remaining portion, and said second flange extending axially in said second recessed portion to be level with said second remaining portion.
9 . The fuel cell plate of claim 5 , wherein said flanges comprise a first flange and a second flange, said first flange extending radially along said recessed first recessed portion and contacting said first remaining portion.
10 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , wherein said flanges comprise a first flange and a second flange, said first flange having a catch which extends radially outwardly from said annular portion, said catch comprising:
a beveled edge and a stopping edge, wherein a cavity is bounded by said stopping edge, said annular portion, and said second flange for receiving said body,
said beveled edge configured to permit insertion of said body into said cavity in response to a force applied thereto, and
said stopping edge configured to inhibit removal of said body from said cavity.
11 . The fuel cell plate of claim 10 , wherein said stopping edge extends radially from said annular portion along a horizontal plane of said annular portion.
12 . The fuel cell plate of claim 10 , wherein said stopping edge contacts said body to inhibit removal of said body from said cavity.
13 . The fuel cell plate of claim 10 , wherein said stopping edge and said second flange contact said body.
14 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , further comprising a membrane electrode assembly located between said flanges.
15 . The fuel cell plate of claim 1 , said insulating insert further comprising of liquid crystal polymer E130i.
16 . An insulating insert, comprising:
an annular body formed of an electrically insulating material and having a radially exterior surface and a radially interior surface, axial ends, and flanges located at said axial ends, said flanges extending radially outwardly from said exterior surface, said radially interior surface bounding a passage for receiving an aligning member, said flanges and said radially exterior surface bounding a cavity for receiving a fuel cell plate,
said flanges comprising a first flange and a second flange,
said first flange comprising a first beveled edge and a stopping edge extending radially from said radially exterior surface to form a catch, said catch and said annular body forming an elastically deformable cantilever portion of an annular cantilever snap joint, said cantilever portion being elastically deformable into an alignment hole of the fuel cell plate to allow for insertion of said annular body into said alignment hole.
17 . The insulating insert of claim 16 , wherein said radially interior surface comprises a flat annular middle portion and a second beveled edge extending axially away from said flat annular middle portion to facilitate insertion of an aligning member into said passage.
18 . The insulating insert of claim 16 , wherein said radially interior surface comprises a flat annular middle portion and a plurality of beveled edges extending axially on opposite sides of said flat annular middle portion to facilitate insertion of an aligning member through said passage.
19 . A method for use in assembling a fuel cell stack comprising:
inserting an insert into an alignment hole of a first fuel cell plate such that flanges of said insert extend radially from a body of said insert along opposite outside surfaces of said fuel cell plate, wherein,
said alignment hole is spaced from a periphery of said first fuel cell plate and extends therethrough, and
said insert is electrically insulating and bounds a first passage for receiving an aligning member therein.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said inserting the insert into said alignment hole comprises:
contacting a first outside surface of the outside surfaces with a beveled edge of said insert,
elastically deforming an insert portion of said insert radially inwardly towards said first passage such that said insert enters a first opening of said alignment hole and exits a second opening of said alignment hole, and such that said insert portion elastically reforms after exiting said second opening.
21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising inhibiting removal of said insert from said alignment hole by a stopping portion of said insert portion, said stopping portion extending radially along a second outside surface of the outside surfaces.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said inhibiting removal of said insert comprises said stopping portion sliding over and contacting a second surface of said fuel cell plate.
23 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising inserting an aligning member into said first passage.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said inserting an aligning member into said first passage further comprises said aligning member passing through a second passage of a second insert in a second alignment hole of a second fuel cell plate, such that said first passage and said second passage are in alignment.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising inserting a second aligning member through a third passage of a third insert in a third alignment hole in the first fuel cell plate and inserting said second aligning member through a fourth passage of a fourth insert in a fourth alignment hole in the second fuel cell plate, such that said third passage and said fourth passage are in alignment and such that said first fuel cell plate and said second fuel cell plate are aligned along said periphery of said first fuel cell plate.