Patent ID: 6653003
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell battery structure comprisingat least two fuel cells and an electrical connector block, with said fuel cells being electrically interconnected into a battery structure via said connector block, wherein each cell comprises an anode and cathode element and, wherein said block is elongated along a longitudinal axis and said cells are axially engaged with said block; wherein said block comprises at least two rows of apertures extending along said axis; wherein each of the anode and cathode elements of each cells are provided with a terminal conductor element positioned on one side of the respective fuel cells: means for electrically connecting the anodes and cathodes of the stacked cells into an electrical interconnection selected from the group consisting of series electrical interconnection parallel electrical interconnection and mixed series and parallel electrical interconnection and with each of the fuel cells on said one side of the respective fuel cells; wherein said terminal conductor elements of said anodes and cathodes extend away from the respective cells and are adapted to be respectively inserted and engaged with said apertures, wherein the terminal conductor elements of said anodes, when said cells are aligned, are offset from the terminal conductor elements of the cathodes, wherein the terminal conductor elements of the anodes are engaged with apertures in one of said rows and the terminal conductor elements of the cathodes are engaged with apertures of the other of said rows: wherein the connector block further comprises circuit connection means for electrically connecting the terminal conductor elements of anodes and cathodes of the stacked cells into an electrical interconnection selected from the group consisting of series electrical interconnection, parallel electrical interconnection and mixed series and parallel electrical interconnection and wherein said block mechanically holds the respective fuel cells on the block, in a fixed position as a result of said mechanical engagement, and wherein another side of each of the fuel cells remains exposed to permit disengagement and removal of the fuel cells from the block.