Patent ID: 6017649
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A subassembly for a fuel cell unit comprising:an anode, a cathode, and a separator plate disposed between said anode and said cathode;said separator plate having a primary flattened peripheral wet seal structure extending from each face completely around their periphery;said anode, said cathode, and said separator plate each having a plurality of aligned perforations, said perforations in said separator plate being surrounded by a primary flattened manifold wet seal structure extending from each said face of said separator plate completely around said perforations;said separator plate having a retaining flattened wet seal structure adjacent a portion of said primary flattened peripheral wet seal structure on a side of said primary flattened peripheral wet seal structure towards a center region of said separator plate and adjacent a portion of said primary flattened manifold wet seal structure of each said perforation on a side of said primary flattened manifold wet seal structure facing said center region of said separator plate, said retaining flattened peripheral wet seal extending from each said face completely around said center region of said separator plate at a distance less than said primary flattened peripheral wet seal structure and said primary manifold wet seal structure, thereby forming a first raised step from said retaining flattened peripheral wet seal structure to said primary flattened peripheral wet seal structure and said primary manifold wet seal structure;said separator plate having a component shelf flattened peripheral wet seal structure adjacent said retaining flattened peripheral wet seal structure on a side of said retaining flattened peripheral wet seal structure towards said center region of said separator plate, said component shelf flattened peripheral wet seal extending from each said face completely around said center region at a distance less than said retaining flattened peripheral wet seal structure, thereby forming a second raised step from said component shelf flattened peripheral wet seal structure to said retaining flattened peripheral wet seal structure;said anode in electrical contact with said component shelf peripheral wet seal on one said face of said separator plate and said cathode in electrical contact with said component shelf peripheral wet seal on the other face of said separator plate;said separator plate forming a channel between said primary flattened peripheral wet seal structure and a portion of said primary flattened manifold wet seal structure facing away from said center region of said separator plate; andconduits extending through said primary flattened manifold wet seal structures between said aligned perforations and said center regions of said separator plate, forming a fuel gas communication between one set of said aligned perforations and said center region of said separator plate on one said face of said separator plate and forming an oxidant gas communication between another set of said aligned perforations and said center region of said separator plate on said other face of said separator plate.