Patent ID: 7008712

Claim:
A split cell type fuel cell stack comprising end plates; one or more unit cells, provided between said end plates; a fuel distribution manifold provided in a central portion of said unit cell or cells for supplying fuel thereto; a single tie bolt passing through a central portion of said fuel distribution manifold and the central portion of said unit cell or cells for clamping said fuel cell stack together into a unitary construction; and fixing nuts threaded respectively on both end portions of said tie bolt through respective O-rings to clamp said unit cell or cells between said end plates; wherein said cell unit includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode disposed respectively on opposite sides of said polymer electrolyte membrane in opposed relation to each other, a flow field plate disposed adjacent to said oxygen electrode, and separator plates disposed respectively on an outer side of said flow field plate and an outer side of said fuel electrode; and wherein each said unit cell is divided into a plurality of sections in a same plane which are electrically insulated from one another, and are formed adjacent to said polymer electrolyte membrane.