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:
Nov. 20, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2003
Kim B. Saulsbury, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
Mary R. Boone, West Saint Paul, MN (US);
Dennis P. O'brien, Maplewood, MN (US);
Dennis E. Ferguson, Mahtomedi, MN (US);
Paul M. Boucher, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
Kim B. Saulsbury, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
Mary R. Boone, West Saint Paul, MN (US);
Dennis P. O'Brien, Maplewood, MN (US);
Dennis E. Ferguson, Mahtomedi, MN (US);
Paul M. Boucher, Lake Elmo, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A registration arrangement for a fuel cell stack assembly incorporates registration posts and registration apertures or recesses. Fuel cell assemblies of the stack may include first and second flow field plates and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an active area. Registration apertures are defined in each of the MEA and the first and second flow field plates. The respective registration apertures are situated within non-active areas of the MEA when the first and second flow field plates and the MEA are in axial alignment. Registration posts are configured for reception within the registration apertures. Each of the registration posts has an outer surface differing in shape from a shape of the inner surface of the registration apertures. The inner surface of the registration apertures contact the outer surface of the registration posts at a plurality of discrete press-fit locations.