Patent ID: 8541144

Claim:
A manifold seal for a fuel cell system comprising: a sealing area defined by a peripheral portion of a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system and a portion of an end plate positioned on the fuel cell stack; a manifold frame defining a mating surface which sealingly engages said sealing area, said mating surface having a slot formed therein; a bracket defining a base portion and having a lip projecting from an edge thereof, said base portion being moveably secured to a face of said end plate so that said edge is positioned on said sealing area; during operation of the fuel cell system, at least a portion of the mating surface and the sealing area are disengaged from one another defining a gap therebetween and said lip is moveably engaged in and cooperates with said slot to seal said gap between said mating surface and said sealing area, said gap being caused by movement of said fuel cell stack resulting from operation of said fuel cell system; said lip defines a leg extending laterally therefrom; and said slot includes a beginning of stack life section and an end of stack life section, wherein said leg moves from said beginning of life section to said end of life section.