Patent ID: 8354203

Claim:
A bipolar plate ( 1 ) for fuel cells, said bipolar plate consisting of two metal sheets having corresponding profiles in such a manner that a channel ducting comprised of channel ducts ( 2 ) is generated between the two metal sheets during joining, wherein each metal sheet exhibits profile regions ( 6 ) for forming the channel ducts and planar regions ( 3 ) between the profile regions in which the planar regions include non-welding zone contact regions as well as welding zones ( 4 , 5 ) for connecting the metal sheets, wherein the metal sheets are only connected by means of individual welding zones ( 10 ) distributed over the bipolar plate ( 1 ), wherein the planar regions are broader and the channel duct width is decreased at the welding zones ( 10 ) relative to the non-welding zone contact regions, and wherein the planar regions are narrower and the channel duct width is increased intermediate the welding zones ( 10 ) relative to the welding zones.