Patent ID: 8247125

Claim:
A fuel cell system with a fuel cell stack ( 10 ), whose fuel cells are connected to an air supply inlet ( 16 ) through an end plate ( 14 ) or distributor plate and which are connected to an air discharge ( 24 ) through an end plate ( 14 ) or distributor plate, locking means ( 26 , 32 ) for automatic unblocking or blocking of the air supplied via the air supply inlet ( 16 ), and locking means ( 28 , 34 ) for the automatic unblocking or blocking of air movement at the air discharge ( 24 ) during an operation or after a termination of the operation, wherein each locking means ( 26 , 28 ; 32 , 34 ) is arranged directly in or at the end plate ( 14 ) or distributor plate connected to the air supply inlet ( 16 ) or in or at the end plate ( 14 ) or distributor plate connected to the air discharge ( 28 , 34 ), wherein a first channel ( 44 ) is formed in an end plate ( 14 ) or a distributor plate, which channel connects a connection ( 36 ) for an air supply inlet ( 16 ) to an inlet ( 40 ) on a stack side, and wherein a second channel ( 46 ) is formed therein or in another end plate or distributor plate, which connects an outlet ( 42 ) on a stack side to a connection ( 38 ) for the air discharge ( 24 ), and wherein the locking means ( 32 , 34 ) are provided in a respective channel ( 44 , 46 ), wherein the locking means comprise an expandable body ( 32 , 34 ), and wherein an expansion state of the expandable body ( 32 , 34 ) is fixed or limited by means of a piston ( 50 ), which is charged by air supplied by means of the air supply inlet ( 16 ).