Patent ID: 7704626

Claim:
A fuel cell assembly comprising: a plurality of fuel cells arranged adjacent one another and forming a fuel cell stack; a terminal plate in electrically conductive contact with said fuel cell stack and operable to conduct electrical current from said fuel cell stack, said terminal plate having an opening for transporting a fluid stream to or from said fuel cell stack; an end plate operable to impose a compressive force on said fuel cell stack, said end plate having an opening therethrough to allow said fluid stream to flow to or from said fuel cell stack; an insulating plate disposed between said end plate and said terminal plate, said insulating plate electrically isolating said end plate from said terminal plate, said insulating plate having an opening therethrough to allow said fluid stream to flow to or from said fuel cell stack; and an electrically non-conductive header sealingly engaged with said fuel cell stack and passing through said openings in said terminal plate, said insulating plate, and said end plate, said header having a fluid transport passageway that allows said fluid stream to flow to or from said fuel cell stack through said openings in said terminal plate, said insulating plate, and said end plate, wherein said header is a component separate and distinct from said terminal plate, said insulating plate, and said end plate, and said header prevents said fluid stream from contacting said terminal plate, said insulating plate, and said end plate.