Fuel cell metallic separator
View Patent ↗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.
1. A fuel cell separator, comprising:
a metallic plate;
a first resin member integrally formed on, and extending laterally outward about, the entire periphery of said metallic plate, said first resin member overlapping and forming a seal with peripheral edges of the metallic plate; and
at least one fluid communication port formed in said first resin member; wherein
said first resin member, in an area surrounding the at least one fluid communication port, is formed with a surface configuration that is engageable with a corresponding surface configuration of a second resin member that is part of a fuel cell stack component adjacently located in a fuel cell stack; and
said surface configuration comprises at least a projecting rib portion that is made of the same material as the first resin member, and is formed integrally therewith.
2. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 1 , wherein:
said surface configuration comprises said at least a projecting rib portion on one side of the metallic separator, and at least a mating recess on the opposite side of the metallic separator; and
the at least a projecting rib and the at least a mating recess provide an interlocking connection between fuel cell stack components adjacently located in a fuel cell stack.
3. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 1 , wherein the first resin member is adapted for thermal bonding with a fuel cell stack component adjacently located in a fuel cell stack.
4. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 2 , wherein the first resin member is adapted for thermal bonding with a fuel cell stack component adjacently located in a fuel cell stack.
5. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 1 , wherein the first resin member is adapted for press fitting with a fuel cell stack component adjacently located in a fuel cell stack.
6. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 2 , wherein the first resin member is adapted for press fitting with a fuel cell stack component adjacently located in a fuel cell stack.
7. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 1 , wherein the resin member is made of materials that are substantially free of silicon.
8. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 2 , wherein the first resin member is made of materials that are substantially free of silicon.
9. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 3 , wherein the first resin member is made of material selected from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastic resin and thermosetting epoxies.
10. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 4 , wherein the first resin member is made of material selected from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastic resin and thermosetting epoxies.
11. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 5 , wherein the first resin member is made of solid rubber.
12. The fuel cell metallic separator of claim 6 , wherein the first resin member is made of solid rubber.
13. A fuel cell separator, comprising:
a metallic plate;
a resin member integrally formed on, and extending lateral outward about, the entire periphery of said metallic plate, said resin member overlapping and forming a seal with peripheral edges of the metallic plate;
at least one fluid communication port formed in said resin member;
a sealing component disposed on a surface of said resin member, said sealing component surrounding said communication port, and having a configuration that is engageable with a complementarily configured sealing feature of an adjacent fuel cell stack component in a fuel cell stack;
wherein, said sealing component is molded as a surface feature and an integral part of the resin which forms the resin member.
14. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluid communication port is formed in a portion of said first resin member that extends laterally outward from the periphery of said metallic plate.
15. The fuel cell separator according to claim 13 , wherein said at least one fluid communication port is formed in a portion of said resin member that extends laterally outward from the periphery of said metallic plate.