Patent ID: 7855031
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of making a series of plate members for bipolar plates specified for a fuel cell comprising an assembled stack of a plurality of such bipolar plates; each bipolar plate comprising two such plate members, each of the two plate members having two opposite plate surfaces with gas flow passages formed on one surface and coolant flow passages formed on the other surface, the plate members being formed with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet and being attachable with coolant flow surfaces in facing relationship to define coolant flow passages; the method comprising: successively stamping a plate configuration in a metal sheet for a series of the plate members, each plate configuration containing a plurality of stamped coolant flow restricting elements at a coolant inlet and/or at a coolant outlet for adjusting coolant flow, the stamped coolant flow restricting elements being of a number and shape for limiting coolant flow to permit operation of a plate member intended for a bipolar plate to be located in the stack at a first coolant flow requirement; and, removing selected coolant flow restricting elements from those stampings for use in a selected plate member intended for a bipolar plate to be located in the stack at a second coolant flow requirement higher than the first coolant flow requirement.