Fastening device and fuel cell system

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device (10) for a fuel cell system (100) for fastening a fuel cell stack (110) of the fuel cell system (100) to a base body (120) of the fuel cell system (100), the fastening device (10) having two fastening discs (20, 30), a first fastening disc (20) being fastenable to the base body (120) and a second fastening disc (30) being fastenable to the base body (120). A second fastening disc (30) is mounted on the first fastening disc (20) so as to be rotatable about a first spatial axis (Z) and is arranged with a first eccentricity (El) relative to the first fastening disc (20), the second fastening disc (30) having a coupling element (32) for coupling to a mating coupling element (112) of the fuel cell stack (110), the coupling element (32) having a first eccentricity (El) relative to the first fastening disc (20), and the coupling element (32) having a second eccentricity (El) relative to the first fastening disc (20). The coupling element (32) is arranged with a second amount of eccentricity (E2) relative to the second fastening disc (30), and wherein the two fastening discs (20, 30) can be fastened to each other in a non-movable manner by means of at least one fastening means (40) of the fastening device (10). Furthermore, the invention relates to a fuel cell system (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening device for a fuel cell system, for fastening a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system to a base body of the fuel cell system. In addition, the invention also relates to a fuel cell system, comprising a fuel cell stack having a mating coupling element, a base body and at least one fastening device. Background Art

[0002] Known fuel cell systems consist of a plurality of individual fuel cells in which the media hydrogen and oxygen from the air react via a membrane and thereby generate a voltage. The "waste product" of the reaction is water. The total number of fuel cells forms a fuel cell stack. The total voltage of the fuel cell stack is obtained by summing the individual voltages of each fuel cell.

[0003] In order to protect the fuel cell stack from environmental influences and for safety reasons, the fuel cell stack is usually installed in a housing. The housing also has the function of receiving and storing the fuel cell stack. In the case of a large structural height of the fuel cell stack and the resulting high mass, it is no longer sufficient to fasten it to the base plate of the housing, but it is additionally necessary to fix the fuel cell stack on the upper side. This is usually achieved with the help of a floating bearing, which allows mobility for the fuel cell stack in height, also defined as the Z spatial axis within the scope of the present invention, and fixes the fuel cell stack in the X and Y directions. This is advantageous because the fuel cell stack expands or contracts due to temperature and internal pressure during operation. The known floating bearing is composed of a hinge bearing bushing on the fuel cell stack side and a bearing pin, a bearing flange and an intermediate flange on the housing side. However, because the position of the hinge bearing may cover a large area in the fuel cell stack due to component tolerances, the flange is currently bonded to the intermediate flange, which is screwed into the housing cover. The screwing and bonding of the intermediate flange to the cover are very demanding and need to be improved due to the cleanliness requirements in the material and process.

[0004] In other bearings, it is also known to bond the bearing flange directly to the housing cover, ie to omit the intermediate flange and the associated seal. However, the preparation and implementation of the bonding is still very demanding and disadvantageous. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention claims a fastening device for a fuel cell system having the features of independent claim 1 for fastening a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system to a substrate of the fuel cell system. The invention also discloses a fuel cell system according to the features of independent claim 8, comprising a fuel cell stack having a mating coupling element, a substrate and at least one fastening device. Further advantages and details of the invention are derived from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Here, of course, the features described in connection with the fastening device according to the invention also apply to the features described in connection with the fuel cell system according to the invention and vice versa, so that the disclosures concerning the various aspects of the invention are always mutually referenced or mutually referenceable.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention discloses a fastening device for a fuel cell system, for fastening a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system to a base body of the fuel cell system. The fastening device has two fastening discs, wherein a first fastening disc can be fastened to the base body, wherein a second fastening disc can be supported on the first fastening disc rotatably around a first spatial axis and is arranged to have a first eccentricity relative to the first fastening disc, wherein the second fastening disc has a coupling element for coupling with a counterpart coupling element of the fuel cell stack, wherein the coupling element is arranged to have a second eccentricity relative to the second fastening disc, and wherein the two fastening discs can be immovably fastened to each other by means of at least one fixing device of the fastening device.

[0007] By combining the two fastening disks, multiple position differences and / or deviations of the counterpart coupling element of the fuel cell stack relative to the coupling element can be compensated and / or the counterpart coupling element of the fuel cell stack and the coupling element can be mechanically fixedly connected to each other. In this way, the assembly process of the fuel cell stack in the base body is advantageously simplified and can be realized, for example, by a conventional screw connection. Advantageous sealing of the base body is preferably achieved by conventional O-rings.

[0008] By means of two fastening disks, each with an eccentricity, the center axis of the coupling element and the center axis of the counter-coupling element can be oriented relative to one another. During assembly, the preassembled fastening device is assembled in the cover of the base body, for example by manual engagement and rotation about two eccentric degrees of freedom. Once the desired position is reached, the two fastening disks can be fixedly connected to one another by means of at least one fastening means, for example a screw connection, so that no relative movement occurs during operation of the fuel cell. The fastening device is preferably fastened to the base body by means of a suitably designed retaining element, which is fixedly screwed to the base body, in particular to the cover of the base body.

[0009] Within the scope of the invention, preferably the coupling element can be moved by the fastening device by a maximum of the sum of two eccentricities. Within the scope of the invention, further fastening discs can also be integrated into the fastening device. Further fastening discs can be understood here in such a way that the further fastening discs are arranged, movable and fastened in a stepped manner relative to the first fastening disc like the second fastening disc. For example, the third fastening disc is rotatably arranged on the second fastening disc and has a third eccentricity. It is important for the invention that the fastening discs can be fastened to each other immovably and have at least one coupling element.

[0010] The first fastening disk is supported on the base body so as to be rotatable about the first spatial axis in the loosened state and is immovably supported on the base body in the tightened state. The second fastening disk is supported on the first fastening disk so as to be rotatable about the first spatial axis in the loosened state and is immovably fastened to the first fastening disk in the tightened state.

[0011] The first eccentricity can be understood with reference to the first fastening disk, and the second eccentricity can be understood with reference to the second fastening disk.

[0012] A fastening device designed in this way is particularly advantageous, since fastening of a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system to a base body of the fuel cell system can be achieved particularly flexibly and simply by means of the fastening device, in particular by means of two fastening disks.

[0013] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fastening device that the second fastening disc is at least partially, especially completely arranged in the first fastening disc. The second fastening disc is at least partially, especially completely arranged in the first fastening disc, which can advantageously save installation space and a particularly flat configuration of the fastening device. Additionally or alternatively, the second fastening disc is at least partially, especially completely arranged in the first fastening disc, which can achieve a favorable height compensation between the coupling element and the counterpart coupling element. For the second fastening disc being at least partially, especially completely arranged in the first fastening disc, the first fastening disc has a notch, a recess and / or a hole. The notch, the recess and / or the hole are preferably configured as a cylinder and / or a cone at least in sections.

[0014] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fastening device that the first fastening disc and / or the second fastening disc are at least partially circular and / or plate-shaped. The at least partially circular configuration of the first fastening disc and / or the second fastening disc can advantageously enable rotation while having a small installation space requirement. In addition, the circular configuration of the first fastening disc and / or the second fastening disc can enable advantageous guidance of the fastening discs to each other and / or an advantageous guidance of the first fastening disc on the substrate. The plate-shaped configuration of the first fastening disc and / or the second fastening disc can advantageously enable a flat configuration of the fastening device and thus a small installation space requirement.

[0015] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fastening device that the coupling element is configured as a bearing bushing or a bearing pin and is configured to be coupled with a bearing bushing or a bearing pin of a fuel cell stack. The structural design configuration of the coupling element and the counterpart coupling element is preferably functionally interchangeable with each other in the sense of kinematic reversal. The coupling element and the counterpart coupling element constitute the two halves of the coupling device within the scope of the present invention and are used for guiding and / or fixing the position of the fuel cell stack on the substrate. For example, the coupling element is configured as a bearing bushing. In order to couple with the coupling element, in this example, the fuel cell stack has a bearing pin as a counterpart coupling element. The coupling element and the counterpart coupling element preferably have a form fit.

[0016] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fastening device that the value of the first eccentricity corresponds to the value of the second eccentricity. Within the scope of the present invention, the eccentricity is to be understood as the distance between two center points and / or center axes of the corresponding components and / or devices. If the first eccentricity and the second eccentricity are of the same size, it is advantageously possible to realize a coupling element arranged centrally relative to the first fastening disk. The two eccentricities are arranged relative to each other for a central arrangement. Therefore, the maximum distance and / or displacement of the coupling element and / or the center axis is at most twice the value of one of the eccentricities. The two eccentricities are preferably arranged along a line for the maximum displacement.

[0017] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fastening device that the two fastening discs respectively have a thickness along the first spatial axis, wherein the thickness of the first fastening disc corresponds to the thickness of the second fastening disc or substantially corresponds to the thickness of the second fastening disc, or the thickness of the first fastening disc is greater than the thickness of the second fastening disc. Within the scope of the present invention, the expression "X or substantially X" should be understood as, for example, a possible small deviation caused by manufacturing tolerances, materials and / or process characteristics, without changing the basic, intended function of the feature. Preferably, the two fastening discs are arranged in alignment on at least one side, especially on a side facing the fuel cell stack. When the first fastening disc and the second fastening disc have the same thickness, the two fastening discs are preferably arranged on both sides in a face-aligned manner. In the configuration of the two fastening discs (wherein the thickness of the first fastening disc is greater than the thickness of the second fastening disc), the second fastening disc is preferably arranged in a recess of the first fastening disc. The recess in the first fastening disc can preferably realize the guidance and / or stop of the second fastening disc.

[0018] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fastening device that the second fastening disc is supported in the first fastening disc in a form-locked and / or coplanar manner. The second fastening disc and the first fastening disc, especially the form-locked configuration with the notch in the first fastening disc can realize the guiding and / or matching of the fastening discs that are advantageous to each other. Additionally or alternatively, the advantageous, especially uniform and / or stable movability of the second fastening disc can be realized. Within the scope of the present invention, the coplanar arrangement of the fastening discs relative to each other can be understood as the coplanar arrangement of the fastening disc, at least one corresponding surface of the fastening disc and / or the corresponding main extension plane of the fastening disc. The fastening device of such configuration is particularly advantageous, because by the fastening device, especially by the second fastening disc being supported in the first fastening disc in a form-locked and / or coplanar manner, it can be particularly flexible and simply realized that the fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system is fastened to the matrix of the fuel cell system.

[0019] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention discloses a fuel cell system, comprising a fuel cell stack having a matching coupling element, a substrate and at least one fastening device according to the first aspect. The first fastening disc is fastened to the substrate and the fuel cell stack is coupled to the fastening device via the coupling element and the matching coupling element. In the described fuel cell system, all the advantages already described about the fastening device according to the first aspect of the present invention are obtained. The substrate is preferably configured as a housing of the fuel cell system, in particular with a cover. A fuel cell system configured in this way is particularly advantageous because the fastening of the fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system to the substrate of the fuel cell system can be achieved particularly flexibly and simply by the fastening device, in particular by two fastening discs.

[0020] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, it can be provided in the fuel cell system that the base body includes at least one receiving device, wherein the first fastening disc is arranged and / or fastened in the receiving device. Preferably, the receiving device has a depth corresponding to the thickness of the first fastening disc and / or the second fastening disc. The receiving device can advantageously realize the position fixation and / or positioning of the first fastening disc on and / or in the base body. By configuring the receiving device as a recess in the base body, a small installation space requirement and / or a slender configuration of the fuel cell system can be advantageously achieved.

[0021] According to a preferred extension of the invention, it can be provided in the fuel cell system that the fastening device, in particular the coupling element and the counter-coupling element, have a degree of freedom for the movement of the fuel cell stack along the first spatial axis. Preferably, however, the fastening device enables the fixation and / or limitation of the freedom of movement of the fuel cell stack along the second and third spatial axes, in particular by at least one fixing device of the fastening device. A fastening device configured in this way is particularly advantageous, because the fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system can be fastened to the base of the fuel cell system particularly flexibly and simply by the fastening device, in particular by two fastening discs, and wherein movement of the fuel cell stack along the first spatial axis, for example due to expansion and / or heating, can be achieved.

[0022] According to a preferred extension of the present invention, in the fuel cell system, it can be provided that the two fastening discs can be immovably fastened to each other and / or to the base body by means of at least one fastening device of the fastening device. Preferably, the at least one fastening device can achieve immovable fastening of the two fastening discs to each other and / or to the base body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The fastening device and the fuel cell system according to the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings schematically show:

[0024] Figure 1 : A top view and a side view of a combination of a fuel cell system with a fastening device,

[0025] Figure 2 : A side view of a fuel cell system with a fastening device, and

[0026] Figure 3 : Side view of a fuel cell system with a fastening device.

[0027] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the drawings, elements having the same function and mode of action are respectively provided with the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] exist Figure 1Schematically, a fuel cell system 100 with a fastening device 10 is shown in a combined top view and side view. The fuel cell system 100 has a fuel cell stack 110, which has a counter-coupling element 112, a base body 120 and a fastening device 10. The fastening device 10 has two fastening disks 20, 30, wherein a first fastening disk 20 can be fastened to the base body 120, wherein a second fastening disk 30 is supported on the first fastening disk 20 so as to be rotatable about a first spatial axis Z and is arranged with a first eccentricity E1 relative to the first fastening disk 20. The second fastening disk 30 has a coupling element 32 for coupling with the counter-coupling element 112 of the fuel cell stack 110, wherein the coupling element 32 is arranged with a second eccentricity E2 relative to the second fastening disk 30, and wherein the two fastening disks 20, 30 can be immovably fastened to each other by means of a fixing device 40 of the fastening device 10. The first fastening disk 20 can be fastened on the base body 120, and the fuel cell stack 110 is coupled to the fastening device 10 through the coupling element 32 and the counter coupling element 112. The second fastening disk 30 is completely arranged in the first fastening disk 20. The first fixing disk 20 and the second fixing disk 30 are circular and plate-shaped. The coupling element 32 is configured as a bearing bushing and is configured to be coupled with a bearing pin as a counter coupling element 32 of the fuel cell stack 110. The second fastening disk 30 is supported in the first fastening disk 20 in a form-locked and coplanar manner. The base body 120 includes a receiving device 122, wherein the first fastening disk 20 is arranged and fastened in the receiving device 122. The fastening device 10, in particular the coupling element 32 and the counter coupling element 112, has a degree of freedom for the fuel cell stack 110 to move along the first spatial axis Z. The two fastening disks 20, 30 are immovably fastened to each other and immovably fastened to the base body 120 by means of the fixing device 40 of the fastening device 10.

[0029] exist Figure 2 Schematically shows a fuel cell system 100 with a fastening device 10 in a side view. The value of the first eccentricity E1 corresponds to the value of the second eccentricity E2. Figure 2 The maximum displacement of the coupling element 32 due to the two eccentricities E1 , E2 is shown in . The two fastening disks 20 , 30 each have a thickness D1 , D2 along the first spatial axis Z, wherein the thickness D1 of the first fastening disk 20 is greater than the thickness D2 of the second fastening disk 30 .

[0030] exist Figure 3 A fuel cell system 100 with a fastening device 10 is schematically shown in a side view. Figure 3 , the coupling element 32 is shown to be centered by the opposite arrangement of the two eccentricities E1 , E2 .

Claims

1. A fastening device (10) for a fuel cell system (100), used for fastening a fuel cell stack (110) of the fuel cell system (100) to a substrate (120) of the fuel cell system (100), the fastening device (10) having two fastening plates (20, 30), wherein: A first fastening disk (20) can be fastened to the base body (120), wherein a second fastening disk (30) can be supported on the first fastening disk (20) rotatably about a first spatial axis (Z) and is arranged to have a first eccentricity (El) relative to the first fastening disk (20), wherein the second fastening disk (30) has a coupling element (32) for coupling with a counterpart coupling element (112) of the fuel cell stack (110), wherein the coupling element (32) is arranged to have a second eccentricity (E2) relative to the second fastening disk (30), and wherein the two fastening disks (20, 30) can be immovably fastened to each other by means of at least one fixing device (40) of the fastening device (10).

2. The fastening device (10) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The second fastening disk (30) is arranged at least partially, in particular completely, within the first fastening disk (20).

3. The fastening device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The first fastening disk (20) and / or the second fastening disk (30) are at least partially circular and / or plate-shaped.

4. The fastening device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The coupling element (32) is designed as a bearing bushing or a bearing pin and is designed for coupling to a bearing bushing or a bearing pin of the fuel cell stack (110).

5. The fastening device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The value of the first eccentricity (E1) corresponds to the value of the second eccentricity (E2).

6. Fastening device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The two fastening disks (20, 30) each have a thickness (D1, D2) along the first spatial axis (Z), wherein the thickness (D1) of the first fastening disk (20) corresponds to the thickness (D2) of the second fastening disk (30), or the thickness (D1) of the first fastening disk (20) is greater than the thickness (D2) of the second fastening disk (30).

7. The fastening device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The second fastening disk (30) is supported in the first fastening disk (20) in a form-fitting and / or coplanar manner.

8. A fuel cell system (100) comprising a fuel cell stack (110) having a mating coupling element (112), a base body (120) and at least one fastening device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first fastening plate (20) is fastened to the base body (120), and the fuel cell stack (110) is coupled to the fastening device (10) via the coupling element (32) and the counter-coupling element (112).

9. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 8, It is characterized in that The base body (120) comprises at least one receiving device (122), wherein the first fastening disk (20) is arranged and / or fastened in the receiving device (122).

10. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 8 or 9, It is characterized in that The fastening device (10), in particular the coupling element (32) and the counter-coupling element (112), has a degree of freedom for movement of the fuel cell stack (110) along the first spatial axis (Z).

11. The fuel cell system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, It is characterized in that The two fastening disks (20, 30) can be immovably fastened to one another and / or to the base body (120) by means of at least one fastening means (40) of the fastening device (10).

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