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. 01, 2012
Filed:
Nov. 07, 2007
Lee C. Whitehead, Middleport, NY (US);
Steven R. Falta, Honeoye Falls, NY (US);
Thomas A. Trabold, Pittsford, NY (US);
Jon P. Owejan, Honeoye, NY (US);
Thomas W. Tighe, Bloomfield, NY (US);
Lee C. Whitehead, Middleport, NY (US);
Steven R. Falta, Honeoye Falls, NY (US);
Thomas A. Trabold, Pittsford, NY (US);
Jon P. Owejan, Honeoye, NY (US);
Thomas W. Tighe, Bloomfield, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A bipolar plate includes angled facets oriented to form V-shaped projections on the plate edge. Liquid leaving the reactant channels is drawn back into the V-shaped grooves of the projections, leaving no liquid to obstruct the channel exit openings. The bipolar plate includes one portion of the bipolar plate offset from another portion of the bipolar plate so as to expose the reactant channels. The liquid is drawn toward the end portions of the reactant channels by capillary forces, while the gas flows can exit near the beginning of the offset portion. A fuel cell stack includes angled facets that are rotated to lie in the plane of the bipolar plate edges. The edges are chamfered so the channel exit openings of the reactant channels are at the tip portions thereof, thus allowing the liquid to flow away from the channel exit openings and the gas to exit freely.