Dana Corporation

The Richardson Company

Kanu G Shah

Frank Walter Popielas

Dennis F Person

Brent R Boldt

Thomas P Plunkett

Thomas E Staab

Frank C Grant-Acquah

Paul E Gallo

Colin Ching-Ho Chen

Paul V Rakauskas

Methods and materials for sealing and insulating a fuel cell plate are disclosed. The disclosed process includes applying a coating precursor on at least one surface of the fuel cell plate, and curing the coating precursor by exposure to radiation. Disclosed coating precursors include those containing an acrylated oligomer and a photoinitiator, which can polymerize in response to ultraviolet or electron beam radiation. Other disclosed coating precursors are those that can polymerize in response to exposure to infrared radiation or heating, and include epoxy nitrile resins and organopolysiloxane resins. The disclosed processes and coating precursors provide certain advantages over conventional methods and designs for insulating and sealing fuel cell plates since the disclosed coating precursors can be quickly and precisely applied to fuel cell plates by, for example, screening printing.

Insulator and seal for fuel cell assemblies

Methods and materials for sealing and insulating a fuel cell plate are disclosed. The disclosed process includes applying a coating precursor on at least one surface of the fuel cell plate, and curing the coating precursor by exposure to radiation. Disclosed coating precursors include those containing an acrylated oligomer and a photoinitiator, which can polymerize in response to ultraviolet or electron beam radiation. Other disclosed coating precursors are those that can polymerize in response to exposure to infrared radiation or to heating, and include epoxy nitrile resins and organopolysiloxane resins. The disclosed processes and coating precursors provide certain advantages over conventional methods and designs for insulating and sealing fuel cell plates since the disclosed coating precursors can be quickly and precisely applied to fuel cell plates by, for example, screening printing.

Epoxy nitrile insulator and seal for fuel cell assemblies

A fuel cell apparatus includes at least two facing, parallel plates, stacked together but spaced apart by resilient sealing beads disposed on at least one of the plates. The resilient sealing beads are adapted to facilitate control of fluid flows, such as electrolytes, between the plates and are thus called fluid sealing beads. Each plate contains at least one bolt aperture for securement of the two plates together in the described facing, yet spaced apart, arrangement. Separate beads disposed about the aperture(s) act as aperture load compensation beads. In one preferred embodiment, the fluid sealing beads have one uniform thickness, while the aperture compensation beads have another thickness less than that of the fluid sealing beads. In the same embodiment, the aperture compensation beads are wider, however, than the fluid sealing beads. In another embodiment, the thicknesses of the fluid sealing beads may be varied as a function of proximity of any portion of the fluid bead to the bolt hole apertures, with the thickness of aperture beads being less to accommodate anticipated normally higher stress loads at bolted connections.

Fuel cell plate with variable thickness sealing beads

A baffle for use in an interior of a cam cover and a method of making the baffle are disclosed. The baffle includes a structural layer, which is made of metal, and an isolation layer that is made of a resilient foam. The isolation layer is disposed on a surface of the structural layer in a pattern that leaves uncovered a portion of the surface of the structural layer. When the baffle is installed in the cam cover, the isolation layer provides an interface between the structural layer and the cam cover, which isolates the baffle from vibrations in the cam cover. Since the isolation layer is applied only where it is needed, the disclosed baffle and process use less material.

Screen printable foam coating for sealing and vibration isolation of cam cover baffles

A coating for a cylinder head gasket, which contains a modified silicone system having a vinyl ether incorporated therein. The modified silicone system is preferably UV-curable, the preferred vinyl ether in the silicone system is cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether, and the coating consists completely of reactive components prior to curing.

High load bearing UV coating for cylinder head gaskets and head gasket incorporating the same

A cylinder head gasket of the present invention includes a main gasket body and a metallic generally U-shaped flange which engages the inner periphery of a combustion bore opening formed in the main gasket body. A coating including tetrafluoroethylene and a high temperature resin binder such as either a polyimide or a polyamide-imide polymer are applied to at least the flange after it is formed and the entire gasket then cured at high temperatures in a series of steps including sintering to securely bond the coating to the flange. An optional plating layer disposed between the coating and the base material of the flange further improves bonding.

Galling resistant gasket

A gasket has two outer facing layers positioned on opposite sides of a central metal shim with a perforated core disposed between each facing layer and the shim. The thickness of the metal shim may be varied to control the overall thickness of the gasket. In one embodiment, the core is secured to the shim using a thermosetting adhesive and includes tangs which extend into a facing layer to clinch the core and facing layer together. Alternatively, the facing layers may also be secured to the shim using a mechanical fastener such as an eyelet so long as a sealing medium is disposed between at least the cores and the shim. The sealing medium may be thermosetting adhesive.

Reinforced core heavy duty gasket

A material suitable for use in gaskets is disclosed. The material can comprise: (a) a mass of intermeshed fibers bonded to one-another at points of contact by an elastomeric binder; and (b) graphite distributed throughout the intermeshed fibers in an amount of from about 45% to 95% of the total weight of the material. The fibers can be organic and selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, polyamide, aramid and polybenzimidazole, or of cellulose, ceramic, glass or wollastonite. A gasket comprising the material, and a gasket comprising at least one surface layer and at least one additional layer of the material bonded thereto are also disclosed.

Gasketing material

A gasket and a process for preparing it are described characterized in that a sealant coating for the gasket is a compressible, resilient, foamed cured resin. The resin, which may be an epoxy, polyester, or polyurethane resin, is comminuted while partially cured, admixed with a blowing agent, and applied, preferably electrostatically, to a base sheet of a gasket. The resin is finally cured while activating the blowing agent to form the compressible, resilient, foamed sealant coating.

Gasket having foamed sealant

A gasket and a process for preparing it are disclosed in which the gasket comprises a base sheet and a sealant layer strongly adhered to it. The sealant layer comprises a polymerized, solid organopolysiloxane having an organotitanate dispersed therein. The organotitanate has a dual role. It retards the polymerization rate of the organopolysiloxane to provide a longer pot life which facilitates working with the polysiloxane. Also, the organotitanate acts as a coupling agent and greatly increases the adherence of the organopolysiloxane layer to the base sheet.

Gasket having polysiloxane sealant layer containing organotitanate

A thermoplastic polyester urethane molding composition is disclosed having low compression set and high elastic modulus and which comprises the reaction product of a poly(epsilon-caprolactone) polymer, a hydroxy terminated polyol, an organic diisocyanate and a siloxane polymer. More specifically, by adding the siloxane polymer and maintaining a mole ratio of isocyanate to isocyanate-reactable hydroxy grouping in the range of from about 1.05 to about 1.3 or higher, it is possible to produce an improved molding composition having allophanate cross-links. The allophanate linkage breaks down at molding temperatures and reforms upon cooling thereby allowing an easily moldable thermoplastic urethane polyester which, after molding, will maintain its shape and have characteristics of a thermoset material. Additionally, the use of the siloxane polymer improves certain physical properties of the reaction product such as tensile and modulus of elasticity.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

Kanu G Shah