Patent ID: 8652702

Claim:
A fuel cell system ( 10 ) comprising: a stacked plurality of adjacent fuel cells ( 14 ) collectively forming a fuel cell stack ( 12 ), said fuel cells each including a pair of first and second plates ( 30 , 32 ) at respective opposite ends thereof and an electrolyte ( 40 ) there between, a first said fuel cell ( 14 ) having a first said plate ( 30 , 30 ′, 30 ″) in engagement with a second said plate ( 32 , 32 ′, 32 ″) of a second fuel cell ( 14 ) adjacent to said first fuel cell at respective engagement surfaces thereof; and a slip mitigation arrangement ( 50 , 50 ′, 50 ″) between at least one pair of said first and said second fuel cells comprising: a first seat ( 62 , 62 ′, 62 ″) recessed in said engagement surface of said first plate ( 30 , 30 ′, 30 ″), a second seat ( 64 , 64 ′, 64 ″) recessed in said engagement surface of said second plate ( 32 , 32 ′, 32 ″), and a key member ( 60 , 60 ′, 60 ″) having opposite ends seated in said first and said second recessed seats such that relative movement between said first and said second fuel cells is reduced, said first and said second seats ( 62 , 62 ′, 62 ″; 64 , 64 ′, 64 ″) respectively recessed in the engagement surfaces of said first and said second plates ( 30 , 30 ′, 30 ″; 32 , 32 ′, 32 ″) of said first and said second fuel cells ( 14 ) having respective cross-sectional geometries and the key member ( 60 , 60 ′, 60 ″) having a cross-sectional geometry adapted for firm engagement with the sides of said first and said second seats when the fuel cell stack ( 12 ) is fully assembled, at least one ( 62 , 64 , 62 ″) of said first and said second seats ( 62 , 62 ′, 62 ″; 64 , 64 ′, 64 ″) is an annular recess having a central mounting stub ( 70 , 70 ″), and said key member ( 60 , 60 ″) is annular and is mountedly disposed on said mounting stub for assembly.