The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1991
Bryan J Dec, Chicopee, MA (US);
Robert Misage, Manchester, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells juxtaposed with one another in the stack and each including a pair of plate-shaped anode and cathode electrodes that face one another, and a quantity of liquid electrolyte present at least between the electrodes. A number of separator plates that are substantially impermeable to liquids but wettable by electrolyte is interposed between respective successive electrodes of adjacent ones of the fuel cells. Each such separator plate has edge portions situated at a periphery of the fuel stack and having a peripheral surface, and marginal surfaces respectively facing the successive electrodes and forming respective interfaces therewith. Migration of any electrolyte that may be present at one of the interfaces to the other of the interfaces and thus from one to the other of the adjacent fuel cells is prevented by providing a layer of a material that is non-wettable by the electrolyte at least on the peripheral surface of the separator plate, but advantageously also on the marginal surfaces.