Nok Corporation

Taisuke Matsuda

Shigeru Watanabe

A seal structure is provided that follows fluctuations in a gap between a pair of fuel cell separators without generating a large tightening force. A pair of separators facing each other with an electrolyte membrane as a mating member interposed therebetween have beads which form a flow path for fluid between the beads and the electrolyte membrane in close contact with the electrolyte membrane. A seal which seals the pair of separators causes the beadsof the pair of these separators to overlap each other in a nested manner. A seal material having elasticity is provided between side walls of the respective beads which face each other. When the gap between the pair of separators fluctuates, the seal material deforms in a shearing direction.

Seal structure for fuel cell separator

A method of shaping a gasket on a separator without causing destruction and damage. A fuel battery separator gasket is shaped via a shaping of a sticking agent and a transfer of the sticking agent. During the shaping, the sticking agent to be the gasket is shaped on a flexible substrate having flexibility. During the transfer, the sticking agent shaped on the flexible substrate is transferred to one of a pair of separators facing each other with an electrolyte membrane provided in a fuel battery cell being interposed therebetween and each having a bead forming a flow path of fluid between the bead and the electrolyte membrane in close contact with the electrolyte membrane to shape the gasket.

Method for manufacturing fuel battery cell separator gasket

A separator-integrated gasket is provided for making an electrolyte membrane unlikely to be deformed when a stack is assembled. The separator-integrated gasket for a fuel battery includes a lip-shaped gasket, first and second separator components, and a flat-shaped gasket. The first and second separator components are made of press-workable metal plates, and include first and second three-dimensional shape portions, respectively. The first separator component includes a surface that is on a side opposite to a protruding direction of the first three-dimensional shape portion and on which a gasket attachment groove holding the lip-shaped gasket is formed. The second separator component includes a surface that is on a side opposite to a protruding direction of the second three-dimensional shape portion and on which a three-dimensional shape fitting groove accommodating the first three-dimensional shape portion is formed. The flat-shaped gasket is held on an outer surface side at the second three-dimensional shape portion. The first and second three-dimensional shape portions protrude in the same direction while mutually adjusted in positions on a flat surface. The first and second separator components are joined to each other while superposed over each other in a thickness direction.

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Fujisawa, Japan

Taisuke Matsuda