Patent ID: 8722274
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: B23K,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A subassembly for a fuel cell stack, comprising: a conductive fuel cell plate including a datum hole formed in the fuel cell plate for alignment of the fuel cell plate during an assembly of the fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel cell plate includes a first unipolar plate bonded to a second unipolar plate, the datum hole defined by edges of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate; and a non-conductive datum insert disposed within the datum hole of the fuel cell plate and configured to militate against a bending of the fuel cell plate around the datum hole during the assembly of the fuel cell stack, wherein the datum insert includes an opening configured to receive a datum pin for alignment of the fuel cell plate during an assembly of the fuel cell stack, wherein a first portion of the datum insert is disposed between the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate at the datum hole, a second portion of the datum insert extends inwardly toward the datum hole and away from the edges of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate, and the opening is defined by at least one edge of the second portion of the datum insert that is spaced apart from the edges of the first unipolar plate and the second unipolar plate.