Daimler Ag

Ballard Power Systems Corporation

Uwe Pfister

Rae Hartwell

Willi Klumpp

Graham Edward Hill

Ross William Johnston Bailey

Thomas Prager

Michael Schunko

Jürgen Ehleiter

The method is used for automated tightening of a screwed joint (), which is fitted to a component () in advance and contains a screw () and a nut (), using a programmable industrial robot system (). In this case, the invention provides that the industrial robot system () has a first robot () with a screw driving head () and a second robot () with a mating holding head (). In order to tighten the screwed joint () on the component (), the screw driving head () is positioned in a defined screw driving position, and the mating holding head () is positioned in a defined mating holding position in order to produce an interlocking connection, which is suitable for tightening of the screwed joint (), between the mating holding head () and the nut (), as well as between the screw driving head () and the screw (). The screwed joint () on the component () is tightened with a predeterminable fixing torque. The interlocking connections are then disconnected.

Method for tightening a screwed joint on a component in an automated manner, and suitable industrial robot system

A receptacle having an end cap, a pliable sidewall, and a fastener, for receiving and retaining a fuel cell stack in its stacked configuration during fabrication of a multi-stack fuel cell assembly, is shown and described. Methods of fabricating the assembly include stacking the fuel cell in the receptacle, compressing the fuel cell, and engaging the fastener to retain the stack in its stacked configuration and, or to retain the stack under at least partial compression.

Systems, apparatus and methods for isolating, compressing and/or retaining the structure of a fuel cell stack

Growing community of inventors

Leutenbach, Germany

Uwe Pfister