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:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1997
Peter Robert Gibb, Coquitlam, CA;
Ballard Power Systems Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Abstract
An electrochemical fuel cell stack comprises a first end plate, a second end plate, and fuel cell assemblies interposed between the first and second end plates. The stack further includes a compression assembly comprising a compression mechanism and a restraining mechanism. The compression mechanism urges the first end plate towards the second end plate applying an internal compressive force to the fuel cell assemblies, even as the thickness of the fuel cell assemblies changes. The restraining mechanism prevents movement of the first end plate away from the second end plate by preventing deflection of the compression mechanism, which may occur, for example, when internal fluid pressure is increased.