Sealing system for fuel cells

Patent 6261711 Issued on July 17, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 14, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Plug Power Inc.

Application

No. 396158 filed on 09/14/1999

US Classes:

429/34, Housing member, seal, spacer or fluid distributing or directing means429/12, FUEL CELL, SUBCOMBINATION THEREOF OR METHODS OF OPERATING429/13, Process of operating429/17, Generating, regenerating or recycling reactant429/30, Solid electrolyte429/33, Electrolyte composition chemically specified429/35, Having sealing feature429/36Having bonded seal, e.g., welded, adhesive, molded in situ, etc.

Examiners

Primary: Brouillette, Gabrielle
Assistant: Yuan, Dah-Wei

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Fish & Richardson P.C.

Foreign Patent References

0041294 EP. 12/13/1981
2000133288 JP. 05/13/2012

International Class

H01M 002/08

Abstract

A fluid seal for a fuel cell includes a compressible member on a first fluid flow plate and a gasket disposed within a groove on a second fluid flow plate. The compressible member conforms to a surface of the gasket to form the fluid seal as the two fluid flow plates are compressed together.