Patent ID: 6777126
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B21D,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
A repeatable segment of a fuel cell bipolar separator plate comprising, in combination:a plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a plurality of ribs on the plate defining flow channels along the first surface and the second surface of the plate; a seal area extending along each of opposed side edges of the plate, the seal areas being formed by folding over edge portions of the plate onto one of the first surface and the second surface of the plate and including mating pairs of apertures configured to line up with one another when the edge portions are folded over, the seal areas and mating apertures forming internal inlet and outlet manifolds in fluid communication with the flow channels of one of the first surface and the second surface; and a seal member secured along each seal area on the other of the first surface and the second surface of the plate to define external inlet and outlet manifolds along side edges of the plate in fluid communication with the flow channels of the other of the first surface and the second surface.