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:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 16, 1999
Kazuhito Hatoh, Daito, JP;
Eiichi Yasumoto, Katano, JP;
Kazufumi Nishida, Moriguchi, JP;
Hisaaki Gyoten, Shijonawate, JP;
Hideo Ohara, Kadoma, JP;
Makoto Uchida, Hirakata, JP;
Yasushi Sugawara, Neyagawa, JP;
Teruhisa Kanbara, Ikeda, JP;
Toshihiro Matsumoto, Ibaraki, JP;
Kouji Nakagawa, Habikino, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., Osaka-fu, JP;
Abstract
The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a small-sized, light-weighted mechanism for fastening a stack of unit cells assembly. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a stack of unit cells obtained by laying a plurality of unit cells one upon another; a first end plate disposed on one end of the stack of unit cells; a second end plate arranged on the other end of the stack of unit cells; an auxiliary plate disposed at least outside the first end plate; at least one set of restraining means, each of which has a band-like shape and restrains a first member located on one end of an assembly, which includes the stack of unit cells, the first and the second end plates, and the auxiliary plate, and a second member located on the other end of the assembly to restrict separation of the first member and the second member from each other; a screw fitted in a threaded hole formed in the auxiliary plate in such a manner that an end of the screw comes into contact with the first end plate; and compressive means that generates a repulsive force to compress the stack of unit cells when the screw is fitted in the threaded hole of the auxiliary plate.