Electric pile shaping equipment and electric pile shaping method

Abstract

The invention discloses electric pile shaping equipment and an electric pile shaping method, and the electric pile shaping equipment comprises a rack which is provided with a bearing position; the four horizontal pushing and pressing modules are arranged on the rack and comprise horizontal driving units and elastic pushing and pressing mechanisms capable of moving in the horizontal direction; the vertical pushing and pressing module is arranged on the rack and comprises a first vertical driving unit, a second vertical driving unit, a first pressing plate capable of moving in the vertical direction and a second pressing plate capable of moving in the vertical direction; the control unit is used for controlling the horizontal pushing and pressing module and the vertical pushing and pressing module to work; the four groups of horizontal pushing and pressing modules are respectively used for applying pressure to four corners of the galvanic pile through the elastic pushing and pressing mechanisms; the first pressing plate is used for applying pressure to a top plate in the galvanic pile, and the second pressing plate is used for applying pressure to a screw rod with a pressure spring in the galvanic pile. According to the application, the problem of interlayer dislocation caused in the downward pressing process can be corrected through the horizontal pushing and pressing module, and better electric pile shaping quality can be obtained.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage battery manufacturing technology, specifically to a battery stack shaping device and a battery stack shaping method. Background Technology

[0002] Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs) are a novel type of energy storage battery that stores and releases electrical energy through redox reactions between the positive and negative electrodes, utilizing the different valence states of vanadium ions. A VRB stack connects multiple VRB cells in a specific manner to form a battery pack system with higher voltage, larger capacity, and stronger output capability, meeting the energy demands of various application scenarios. VRB stacks possess unique advantages such as high safety, long lifespan, and environmental friendliness, and have broad market prospects and industry growth potential.

[0003] In the actual production process of vanadium redox flow battery stacks, the manufactured stacks need to be press-fitted to ensure tight contact between the electrodes, diaphragms, and other components of each individual unit, thereby enhancing the overall mechanical strength of the stack. However, the unique multi-layered stacked structure of the stack makes it prone to quality defects during the press-fitting process, such as interlayer misalignment, damage to the edges of the graphite paper (plate), gasket leakage, S-shaped bending of the stack shape, and uneven tension of the tensioning screws. These defects can affect the durability, insulation, and sealing performance of the stack.

[0004] Currently, existing technologies for pressing fuel cell stacks mainly rely on manual control of the press, with the deformation of the stack being visually monitored during the pressing process. This results in low production efficiency, poor control precision, and poor stack shaping quality. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application aims to address one of the technical problems in related technologies to a certain extent. To this end, this application provides a fuel cell stack shaping apparatus and a fuel cell stack shaping method.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution: a fuel cell stack shaping device, comprising:

[0007] A frame, which has a support position for placing the fuel cell stack;

[0008] Four sets of horizontal pushing modules are arranged on the frame. Each set of horizontal pushing modules includes a horizontal driving unit and an elastic pushing mechanism that is driven by the horizontal driving unit and can move in the horizontal direction.

[0009] A vertical pressing module, disposed on the frame, includes a first vertical drive unit, a second vertical drive unit, a first pressure plate driven by the first vertical drive unit and movable in the vertical direction, and a second pressure plate driven by the second vertical drive unit and movable in the vertical direction; and...

[0010] The control unit is used to control the operation of the horizontal and vertical pressing modules.

[0011] Among them, the four sets of horizontal pushing modules are used to apply pressure to the four corners of the fuel cell stack placed at the bearing position through the elastic pushing mechanism, so as to align the stacked sheet structures in the fuel cell stack.

[0012] The first pressure plate is used to apply pressure to the top plate of the fuel cell stack, and the second pressure plate is used to apply pressure to the screw with a compression spring in the fuel cell stack.

[0013] The application of this application has the following beneficial effects: This fuel cell stack shaping equipment can achieve automated shaping and assembly operations for fuel cell stacks, resulting in high production efficiency and good product consistency. Higher control precision is achieved through automated control of the horizontal and vertical pushing modules via the control unit. Simultaneously, the horizontal and vertical pushing modules can be controlled separately by the control unit, allowing for multiple stages of pressing down. After pressing, the corners can be pressed by the horizontal pushing module to realign the fuel cell stack. Misalignment issues caused during the pressing process can be corrected by pressing the corners of the fuel cell stack with the horizontal pushing module, thus achieving realignment and obtaining better fuel cell stack shaping quality. Furthermore, by setting four sets of horizontal pushing modules to cooperate and press from the four corners, even higher alignment accuracy can be achieved.

[0014] Optionally, the elastic pushing mechanism includes a mounting base connected to the output end of the horizontal drive unit, a gas spring disposed on the mounting base, and a push block that is driven by the gas spring and can move in the horizontal direction. The push block is provided with corner slots for matching the corners of the fuel cell stack.

[0015] Optionally, the horizontal pushing module further includes an elastic element and a linear guide rail. The linear guide rail includes a track fixedly disposed vertically at the output end of the horizontal drive unit and a slider slidably disposed on the track. The mounting base is fixedly connected to the slider, and the elastic element is disposed between the mounting base and the track to support the elastic pushing mechanism.

[0016] Optionally, the elastic pushing mechanism further includes a first connecting shaft and a second connecting shaft, wherein the first connecting shaft is disposed on the push block and slidably disposed relative to the second connecting shaft, and the second connecting shaft is connected to the mounting base through a ball joint.

[0017] Optionally, each of the horizontal pushing modules includes at least two sets of elastic pushing mechanisms spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0018] Optionally, the fuel cell stack shaping equipment further includes a third vertical drive unit disposed on the frame. The third vertical drive unit is connected to the four sets of horizontal pressing modules and is used to drive the horizontal pressing modules to move in the vertical direction so as to adjust the position of the horizontal pressing modules to be compatible with the fuel cell stack.

[0019] Optionally, the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are arranged at intervals, and the second pressure plate is provided with a through hole for the first pressure plate to pass through.

[0020] Optionally, the frame includes a base, a support seat disposed above the base, and a guide column disposed between the base and the support seat. The base has the bearing position. The first vertical drive unit and the second vertical drive unit are disposed on the support seat. The first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are both slidably disposed on the guide column.

[0021] Optionally, the fuel cell stack shaping equipment further includes a conveyor platform disposed through the frame, the conveyor platform being used to move the fuel cell stack into and out relative to the carrying position.

[0022] Optionally, the fuel cell stack shaping equipment further includes a first detection unit and a second detection unit. The first detection unit is used to detect the travel information of each group of horizontal pushing modules and the pushing pressure information on the fuel cell stack. The second detection unit is used to detect the travel information of the vertical pushing module and the pushing pressure information on the fuel cell stack. Both the first detection unit and the second detection unit are electrically connected or signal connected to the control unit.

[0023] Furthermore, this application also provides a fuel cell stack shaping method, which is applied to a control unit in a fuel cell stack shaping device as described in any of the above technical solutions, and the fuel cell stack shaping method includes the following steps:

[0024] S100: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units to drive the corresponding elastic pushing mechanism to move to the corresponding initial shaping position;

[0025] S200: Control the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack until the first predetermined pressure value is reached;

[0026] S300: Control the corresponding horizontal drive unit to drive the elastic push mechanism in the four sets of elastic push mechanisms that has deviated from the initial shaping position to move back to the initial shaping position;

[0027] S400: Control the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack until a second predetermined pressure value is reached, where the second predetermined pressure value is greater than the first predetermined pressure value.

[0028] S500: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units to drive the corresponding elastic pushing mechanism to move to separate from the fuel cell stack, and determine whether the height of the fuel cell stack has reached the specified height. If the height of the fuel cell stack reaches the specified height, execute step S600. If the height of the fuel cell stack has not reached the specified height, execute steps S700 and S800.

[0029] S600: Control the second vertical drive unit to drive the second pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the screw of the fuel cell stack until the specified pressure value is reached;

[0030] S700: Control the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack until the height of the fuel cell stack reaches the specified height, and record the corresponding vertical pressure value as a third predetermined pressure value, wherein the third predetermined pressure value is greater than the second predetermined pressure value;

[0031] S800: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units to drive the corresponding elastic pressing mechanism to move to the corresponding initial shaping position, and then repeat step S500.

[0032] The fuel cell stack shaping method provided in this application is similar to the reasoning process of the beneficial effects of the aforementioned fuel cell stack shaping equipment, and will not be repeated here.

[0033] Optionally, controlling any one of the four sets of horizontal pushing modules to move to the initial shaping position includes:

[0034] Divide the entire movement process into at least two phases;

[0035] In each stage, the elastic pushing mechanism is controlled to move at a preset speed; wherein the preset speed gradually decreases as the stage number increases;

[0036] During the movement of the elastic pushing mechanism, the applied pressure value and the moving stroke of the elastic pushing mechanism are obtained;

[0037] When the applied pressure reaches a preset level or the travel distance reaches a preset distance, the elastic pushing mechanism is moved to the initial shaping position.

[0038] Optionally, the step S200 of controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack includes: controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack in a manner that increases the vertical force according to a 1 / 4 sine curve.

[0039] The steps S400 and S700, which involve controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack, include: controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack in a manner that increases the vertical force according to a 1 / 2 cosine curve.

[0040] Optionally, step S600, which controls the second vertical drive unit to drive the second pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack, includes:

[0041] The second vertical drive unit drives the second pressure plate to apply a vertical force to the screw of the fuel cell stack by increasing the vertical force in a manner that follows a 1 / 4 sine curve.

[0042] These features and advantages of this application will be disclosed in detail in the following specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. The best embodiments or means of this application will be shown in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to limit the technical solutions of this application. In addition, each of these features, elements and components appearing in the following text and drawings is multiple and is labeled with different symbols or numbers for convenience, but all represent parts with the same or similar structure or function. Attached Figure Description

[0043] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrates this application:

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel cell stack shaping device provided in this embodiment;

[0045] Figure 2 This is a top view of the fuel cell stack before shaping.

[0046] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structural state of the fuel cell stack after shaping.

[0047] Figure 4 This is a top view of the fuel cell stack after shaping.

[0048] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing four sets of horizontal pressing modules applying pressure to the fuel cell stack from its four corners.

[0049] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the elastic pushing mechanism;

[0050] Figure 7 This is a side view of the elastic pushing mechanism;

[0051] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical push-press module.

[0052] Figure 9 This is a side view of the vertical push-press module;

[0053] Figure 10 This is a time sequence diagram showing the relationship between the horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack, the height H of the fuel cell stack, the pressure F applied by the first pressure plate to the fuel cell stack, and the pressure f applied by the second pressure plate to the fuel cell stack during a single shaping operation.

[0054] The components include: 1. Frame; 10. Base; 11. Guide column; 12. Support seat; 2. Horizontal pushing module; 20. Horizontal drive unit; 200. Servo motor; 201. Fixed seat; 202. Slide rail structure; 21. Elastic pushing mechanism; 210. Mounting seat; 211. Gas spring; 212. Push block; 213. First connecting shaft; 214. Second connecting shaft; 215. Ball joint; 22. Elastic element; 23. Linear guide rail; 230. Track; 231. Slider; 24. Connecting seat; 3. Vertical pushing module; 30. First vertical drive unit; 31. First pressure plate; 32. Second vertical drive unit; 33. Second pressure plate; 330. Perforation; 4. Third vertical drive unit; 5. Conveyor table; 6. Electrolytic stack; 60. Sheet; 61. Screw. Detailed Implementation

[0055] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described are intended to explain this application and should not be construed as limiting it.

[0056] The terms "an embodiment," "example," or "example" used in this specification refer to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment itself that may be included in at least one embodiment disclosed in this application. The phrase "in an embodiment" appearing in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0057] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise precisely specified.

[0058] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a connection through an intermediary, or a connection within two elements or an interaction between two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0059] This embodiment provides a fuel cell stack shaping device, such as... Figures 1 to 9As shown, the fuel cell stack shaping equipment includes a frame 1, four sets of horizontal pressing modules 2, a vertical pressing module 3, and a control unit. The frame 1 has a support position for placing the fuel cell stack 6, and the four sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 and vertical pressing modules 3 are all mounted on the frame 1. Each set of horizontal pressing modules 2 includes a horizontal drive unit 20 and an elastic pressing mechanism 21 that is driven by the horizontal drive unit 20 and can move horizontally. The vertical pressing module 3 includes a first vertical drive unit 30, a second vertical drive unit 32, a first pressure plate 31 that is driven by the first vertical drive unit 30 and can move vertically, and a second pressure plate 33 that is driven by the second vertical drive unit 32 and can move vertically. The control unit is used to control the operation of the horizontal pressing modules 2 and the vertical pressing modules 3.

[0060] In this embodiment, the four sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 are used to apply pressure to the four corners of the fuel cell stack 6 placed at the bearing position through the elastic pressing mechanism 21, so as to align the stacked sheet 60 structures in the fuel cell stack 6. The first pressure plate 31 is used to apply pressure to the top plate in the fuel cell stack 6, and the second pressure plate 33 is used to apply pressure to the screw 61 with compression spring in the fuel cell stack 6. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment provided in this embodiment can realize automated shaping and assembly operations of the fuel cell stack 6, with high production efficiency and good product consistency. The horizontal pressing module 2 and the vertical pressing module 3 are automatically controlled by the control unit to achieve higher control precision. At the same time, the horizontal pressing module 2 and the vertical pressing module 3 can be controlled by the control unit to press down in stages and multiple times. After pressing down, the corners of the fuel cell stack 6 can be pressed down by the horizontal pressing module 2 to realign the fuel cell stack 6. The interlayer misalignment problem caused by the pressing process can be corrected by the horizontal pressing module 2 pressing down the corners of the fuel cell stack 6 to achieve realignment, thereby obtaining better fuel cell stack shaping quality. In addition, by setting up four sets of horizontal pushing modules 2 to push from the four corners, higher alignment accuracy can be achieved.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, before the shaping operation, the sheets 60 in the fuel cell stack 6 were stacked and there was a problem of interlayer misalignment. Figure 1 As shown, the fuel cell stack shaping equipment also includes a conveyor table 5 that passes through the frame 1. The conveyor table 5 is used to move the fuel cell stack 6 into and out of the supporting position. Before the shaping operation, the fuel cell stack 6 can be moved into the supporting position via the conveyor table 5 to facilitate subsequent shaping operations. For ease of description, combined with... Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, in this embodiment, the pressure applied to the fuel cell stack 6 by two sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 is denoted as direction D and the opposite direction of direction D, and the pressure applied to the fuel cell stack 6 by the other two sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 is denoted as direction P and the opposite direction of direction P. Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the pressure applied to the fuel cell stack 6 by the vertical pressing module 3 is denoted as direction G. Furthermore, the length direction of the fuel cell stack 6 is denoted as the Y direction, the width direction as the X direction, and the height direction as the Z direction.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, when the fuel cell stack forming equipment is used to form the fuel cell stack 6 located in the bearing position, the fuel cell stack 6 is first formed horizontally by the horizontal pushing module 2. Specifically, the control unit first controls four sets of horizontal drive units 20 to drive the corresponding elastic pushing mechanism 21 to the corresponding initial forming position. The initial forming position refers to the position where the edges of the misaligned sheets 60 can be aligned after the elastic pushing mechanism 21 moves to that position.

[0063] Combination Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the elastic pushing mechanism 21 in this embodiment includes a mounting base 210 connected to the output end of the horizontal drive unit 20, a gas spring 211 disposed on the mounting base 210, and a push block 212 that is driven by the gas spring 211 and can move horizontally. The push block 212 is provided with a corner groove for fitting with the corner of the fuel cell stack 6. The elastic pushing mechanism 21 contacts and applies pressure to the corner of the fuel cell stack 6 through the corner groove on the push block 212. In this way, the two sets of opposing elastic pushing mechanisms 21 can cooperate to play a "clamping" effect during the pushing process of the fuel cell stack 6, which facilitates the reshaping and alignment of the misaligned sheets 60. In addition, by providing the gas spring 211, after the push block 212 contacts and applies pressure to the corner of the fuel cell stack 6, the buffering function of the gas spring 211 can prevent the push block 212 from rigidly impacting the fuel cell stack 6, thus preventing damage to the fuel cell stack 6. Similarly, in this embodiment, an elastic structure is also provided on the inner wall of the corner groove of the push block 212 to further reduce the impact force between the push block 212 and the fuel cell stack 6. The elastic structure can be a rubber pad, silicone pad, etc. Before starting the shaping operation, the output pressure value of the gas spring 211 is preset according to the model of the fuel cell stack 6.

[0064] Subsequently, the control unit controls the first vertical drive unit 30 to drive the first pressure plate 31 downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 until a first predetermined pressure value is reached. Pressing the fuel cell stack 6 is a necessary step to ensure tight contact between the electrodes, diaphragms, and other components of each individual unit in the fuel cell stack 6, thereby enhancing the overall mechanical strength of the fuel cell stack 6. It is easy to understand that after the fuel cell stack 6 is pressed down by the first pressure plate 31, the overall height of the fuel cell stack 6 will decrease. To avoid damage caused by friction between the corners of the fuel cell stack 6 and the inner wall of the corner groove of the pusher block 212, this embodiment also designs the horizontal pushing module 2 so that the elastic pushing mechanism 21 can move downward with the fuel cell stack 6 during the pressing process, thereby avoiding relative friction between the pusher block 212 and the fuel cell stack 6 in the vertical direction. Specifically, the horizontal pushing module 2 in this embodiment further includes an elastic element 22 and a linear guide rail 23. The linear guide rail 23 includes a track 230 fixedly disposed vertically at the output end of the horizontal drive unit 20 and a slider 231 slidably disposed on the track 230. The mounting base 210 is fixedly connected to the slider 231, and the elastic element 22 is disposed between the mounting base 210 and the track 230 to support the elastic pushing mechanism 21. Through the above structural design, when the fuel cell stack 6 is pressed down and becomes thinner, the static friction between it and the push block 212 can drive the entire elastic pushing mechanism 21 and the slider 231 to slide along the track 230, thus avoiding sliding friction between the fuel cell stack 6 and the elastic pushing mechanism 21. In this embodiment, the elastic element 22 is a compression spring. That is, when it is not subjected to pressure in the vertical direction, the elastic pushing mechanism 21 is fixed relative to the track 230 by the support of the compression spring. When the fuel cell stack 6 is pressed down and thinned, the elastic pushing mechanism 21 applies pressure to the compression spring under the static friction of the fuel cell stack 6 and slides relative to the track 230.

[0065] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, the elastic pushing mechanism 21 in this embodiment also includes a first connecting shaft 213 and a second connecting shaft 214. The first connecting shaft 213 is disposed on the push block 212 and slidably disposed relative to the second connecting shaft 214. The second connecting shaft 214 is connected to the mounting base 210 through a ball joint 215. This structural design enhances the flexibility of the push block 212. The push block 212 can move or sway relative to the mounting base 210 through the relatively sliding first connecting shaft 213, the second connecting shaft 214, and the omnidirectional ball joint 215. This improves the adaptability of the push block 212 during the fuel cell stack shaping process and further reduces the risk of scraping between the push block 212 and the corner of the fuel cell stack 6.

[0066] In this embodiment, each horizontal pressing module 2 includes two sets of elastic pressing mechanisms 21 spaced apart along the vertical direction. It is readily understood that in other optional embodiments, each horizontal pressing module 2 may also include one or more sets of elastic pressing mechanisms 21. The number of sets of elastic pressing mechanisms 21 can be designed according to the specific structure of the fuel cell stack 6. When the sheet material in the fuel cell stack 6 has one or more sets of outer frames along the height direction, multiple sets of spaced elastic pressing mechanisms 21 are needed to avoid these outer frames.

[0067] In addition, combined Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the fuel cell stack shaping equipment provided in this embodiment also includes a third vertical drive unit 4 disposed on the frame 1. The third vertical drive unit 4 is connected to four sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 and is used to drive the horizontal pressing modules 2 to move vertically, so as to adjust the position of the horizontal pressing modules 2 to match the fuel cell stack 6. By setting the third vertical drive unit 4, the height position of the horizontal pressing modules 2 can be adaptively adjusted according to the shaping requirements of fuel cell stacks 6 with different height dimensions, so that the elastic pressing mechanism 21 in the horizontal pressing module 2 is approximately located in the middle position relative to the fuel cell stack 6. Before the shaping operation begins, the third vertical drive unit 4 can drive the horizontal pressing modules 2 to move up and down according to the overall height value of the fuel cell stack 6, so that the horizontal pressing modules 2 are in a suitable position before the shaping operation begins. Of course, after the shaping operation, if the height dimension of the fuel cell stack 6 changes significantly due to pressing, the third vertical drive unit 4 can also be used to drive the horizontal pressing modules 2 to move down as needed for adaptive adjustment.

[0068] Specifically, the horizontal pushing module 2 in this embodiment also includes a connecting seat 24, which is mounted on the frame 1. The output end of the third vertical drive unit 4 is connected to the connecting seat 24, and the horizontal drive unit 20 is mounted entirely on the connecting seat 24. Thus, the horizontal pushing module 2 can be driven to move up and down as a whole by the third vertical drive unit 4. In this embodiment, the horizontal drive unit 20 includes a servo motor 200, a fixed seat 201, and a slide rail structure 202. The fixed seat 201 is mounted on the connecting seat 24, and the slide rail structure 202 and the servo motor 200 are mounted on the fixed seat 201. The elastic pushing mechanism 21 is slidably mounted on the fixed seat 201 via the slide rail structure 202. At the same time, the output end of the servo motor 200 is connected to the top end of the track 230 in the elastic pushing mechanism 21.

[0069] Combination Figure 1 , Figure 8 and Figure 9As shown, the frame 1 in this embodiment includes a base 10, a support seat 12 disposed above the base 10, and a guide post 11 disposed between the base 10 and the support seat 12. The base 10 has a bearing position. The first vertical drive unit 30, the second vertical drive unit 32, and the third vertical drive unit 4 are all disposed on the support seat 12. The first pressure plate 31, the second pressure plate 33, and the connecting seat 24 are all slidably disposed on the guide post 11. In this embodiment, the first vertical drive unit 30, the second vertical drive unit 32, and the third vertical drive unit 4 are all cylinders. The arrangement and working principle of the three are common technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0070] To save layout space and facilitate the pressing action of the first pressure plate 31 and the second pressure plate 33, the first pressure plate 31 and the second pressure plate 33 are arranged at intervals in this embodiment, and the second pressure plate 33 is provided with a through hole 330 for the first pressure plate 31 to pass through.

[0071] The fuel cell stack shaping device in this embodiment further includes a first detection unit and a second detection unit. The first detection unit is used to detect the travel information of each group of horizontal pushing modules 2 and the pushing pressure information on the fuel cell stack 6. The second detection unit is used to detect the travel information of the vertical pushing module 3 and the pushing pressure information on the fuel cell stack 6. Both the first and second detection units are electrically or signal-connected to the control unit. By setting up the first and second detection units, the control unit can collect and feedback relevant parameter information and control the operation of the horizontal pushing module 2 and the vertical pushing module 3 based on the relevant parameter information. The travel information of the horizontal pushing module 2 refers to the travel distance of the pusher block 212 in the horizontal pushing module 2, and the pushing pressure information of the horizontal pushing module 2 on the fuel cell stack 6 refers to the pressure value applied by the pusher block 212 in the horizontal pushing module 2 to the fuel cell stack 6. Similarly, the travel information of the vertical pushing module 3 includes the travel distance of the first pressure plate 31 and the second pressure plate 33 in the vertical pushing module 3, and the pushing pressure information of the vertical pushing module 3 on the fuel cell stack includes the pressure applied by the first pressure plate 31 to the fuel cell stack 6 and the pressure applied by the second pressure plate 33 to the fuel cell stack 6. The aforementioned travel distance values ​​and applied pressure values ​​can be detected by the distance sensor and pressure sensor, respectively, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0072] Combination Figure 10 As shown, the method for shaping the fuel cell stack 6 using the fuel cell stack shaping equipment provided in this embodiment is described below:

[0073] This fuel cell stack shaping method is applied to the control unit in the fuel cell stack shaping equipment. The control unit performs the following control steps for the horizontal pressing module 2 and the vertical pressing module 3 according to this fuel cell stack shaping method:

[0074] Step S100: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units 20 to drive the corresponding elastic pressing mechanisms 21 to move to the corresponding initial shaping position; as mentioned above, the initial shaping position refers to the position where the edges of the misaligned sheets 60 can be aligned after the elastic pressing mechanism 21 moves to that position. This step completes one shaping operation in the horizontal direction. (Reference) Figure 10 As shown, this step corresponds to the time period from 0 to T1. The height H of the fuel cell stack 6, the pressure F applied by the first pressure plate 31 to the fuel cell stack 6, and the pressure f applied by the second pressure plate 33 to the fuel cell stack 6 do not change. The horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack 6 gradually increases from 0.

[0075] Step S200: Control the first vertical drive unit 30 to drive the first pressure plate 31 to move downwards and apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 until a first predetermined pressure value is reached. This step corresponds to the time period T1 to T2. During this period, the horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack 6 and the pressure f applied by the second pressure plate 33 to the fuel cell stack 6 do not change, while the height H of the fuel cell stack 6 gradually decreases due to the pressing process, and the pressure F applied by the first pressure plate 31 to the fuel cell stack 6 gradually increases. In addition, in this embodiment, during this step, the first vertical drive unit 30 is controlled to drive the first pressure plate 31 to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 in a manner that increases according to a 1 / 4 sine curve. This method of gradually increasing the pressure and slowing down the pressurization rate as the pressure increases can reduce the probability of the fuel cell stack 6 sliding friction relative to the elastic pressing mechanism 21. During this process, since the four sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 maintain pressure on the four corners of the fuel cell stack 6, it can prevent the fuel cell stack 6 from exhibiting significant interlayer misalignment again due to the pressing process. Therefore, this process does not cause a change in the horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack 6. However, the overall horizontal dimensions of the fuel cell stack 6 will change due to pressure, which in turn will react on the elastic pressing mechanism 21, causing the elastic pressing mechanism 21 to deviate from its initial shaping position.

[0076] Step S300: Control the corresponding horizontal drive unit 20 to drive the elastic push mechanism 21 among the four sets of elastic push mechanisms 21 that deviated from the initial shaping position to move back to the initial shaping position; this step corresponds to the time period T2 to T3, which is equivalent to performing a secondary shaping on the fuel cell stack 6. The height H of the fuel cell stack 6, the pressure F applied to the fuel cell stack 6 by the first pressure plate 31, and the pressure f applied to the fuel cell stack 6 by the second pressure plate 33 all remain unchanged, and the horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack 6 gradually increases.

[0077] Step S400: Control the first vertical drive unit 30 to drive the first pressure plate 31 to continue moving downwards, applying a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 until a second predetermined pressure value is reached, which is greater than the first predetermined pressure value. This step corresponds to the time period T3 to T4 and is used to further press the fuel cell stack 6. During this step, the height H of the fuel cell stack 6 further decreases, the pressure F applied by the first pressure plate 31 to the fuel cell stack 6 gradually increases, while the pressure f applied by the second pressure plate 33 to the fuel cell stack 6 and the horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack 6 remain unchanged. In addition, in this embodiment, in this step stage, the first vertical drive unit 30 is controlled to drive the first pressure plate 31 to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 in a manner that increases according to a 1 / 2 cosine curve. This method of first slowly increasing, then rapidly increasing, and then slowly increasing the pressure again can improve the pressing effect.

[0078] Step S500: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units 20 to drive the corresponding elastic pushing mechanism 21 to move until it separates from the fuel cell stack 6, and determine whether the height of the fuel cell stack 6 has reached the specified height. If the height of the fuel cell stack 6 has reached the specified height, execute step S600; if the height of the fuel cell stack 6 has not reached the specified height, execute steps S700 and S800. This step is a judgment step, and... Figure 10 There is no corresponding stage in the timing sequence. In this step, if it is determined that the height of the fuel cell stack 6 has reached the specified height, it is considered that the first pressure plate 31 has pressed the fuel cell stack 6 into place, and then step S600 is performed to press the screw 61 of the fuel cell stack 6 into place using the second pressure plate 33. If it is determined that the height of the fuel cell stack 6 has not reached the specified height, it is considered that the first pressure plate 31 has not pressed the fuel cell stack 6 into place, and the first pressure plate 31 needs to be used again to press the fuel cell stack 6 into place.

[0079] Step S600: Control the second vertical drive unit 32 to drive the second pressure plate 33 to move downwards, applying a vertical force to the screw 61 of the fuel cell stack 6 until a specified pressure value is reached; this step corresponds to the time period T4 to T5, during which the height H of the fuel cell stack 6, the pressure F applied by the first pressure plate 31 to the fuel cell stack 6, and the horizontal displacement S of the fuel cell stack 6 remain unchanged, while the pressure f applied by the second pressure plate 33 to the fuel cell stack 6 gradually increases. In this embodiment, the second vertical drive unit 32 is controlled to drive the second pressure plate 33 to apply a vertical force to the screw 61 of the fuel cell stack 6 in a manner that increases according to a 1 / 4 sine curve.

[0080] Step S700: Control the first vertical drive unit 30 to drive the first pressure plate 31 to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 until the height of the fuel cell stack 6 reaches the specified height, and record the corresponding vertical pressure value as the third predetermined pressure value, which is greater than the second predetermined pressure value; In this step, the first vertical drive unit 30 can also be controlled to drive the first pressure plate 31 to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack 6 in a manner that increases with the vertical force according to a 1 / 2 cosine curve, as in step S400.

[0081] Step S800: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units 20 to drive the corresponding elastic pressing mechanism 21 to move to the corresponding initial shaping position, and then repeat step S500. Steps S700 and S800 may be repeated multiple times. Step S700 is used to press the fuel cell stack 6 with the first pressure plate 31 to make the height of the fuel cell stack 6 reach the specified height. Step S800 is used to reshape and align the fuel cell stack 6 again with the elastic pressing mechanism 21.

[0082] Furthermore, regarding step S100, controlling any one of the elastic pressing mechanisms 21 in the four sets of horizontal pressing modules 2 to move to the initial shaping position includes the following steps:

[0083] Step S110: Divide the entire movement process into at least two stages;

[0084] Step S120: In each stage, the elastic pushing mechanism 21 is controlled to move at a preset speed; wherein the preset speed gradually decreases as the stage number increases;

[0085] Step S130: During the movement of the elastic pushing mechanism 21, the pressure value and the movement stroke of the elastic pushing mechanism 21 are obtained; specifically, the movement distance value of the push block 212 and the pressure value it applies to the fuel cell 6 are obtained.

[0086] Step S140: When the applied pressure value reaches the preset horizontal pressure value or the moving stroke reaches the preset stroke, determine that the elastic pushing mechanism 21 moves to the initial shaping position.

[0087] The above control scheme for step S100 can improve the displacement control accuracy of the elastic pushing mechanism 21. Specifically, the feed step is controlled by the servo motor 200, adopting a "fast first, slow second, and micro-step" control strategy. "Fast first" focuses on the safe stroke before feeding, "slow second" focuses on the slow advance after pushing away the electrode stack 6 just after contact. During this process, the buffer support provided by the gas spring 211 with a preset output pressure value ensures that there is no rigid impact between the push block 212 and the electrode stack 6, thus avoiding damage to the electrode stack 6. "Micro-step" focuses on maintaining the shape when the sampling value of the first detection unit reaches the preset value.

[0088] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application includes, but is not limited to, the contents described in the accompanying drawings and the specific embodiments above. Any modifications that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of this application will be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fuel cell stack shaping device, characterized in that, include: A frame, which has a support position for placing the fuel cell stack; Four sets of horizontal pushing modules are arranged on the frame. Each set of horizontal pushing modules includes a horizontal driving unit and an elastic pushing mechanism that is driven by the horizontal driving unit and can move in the horizontal direction. A vertical pressing module, disposed on the frame, includes a first vertical drive unit, a second vertical drive unit, a first pressure plate driven by the first vertical drive unit and movable in the vertical direction, and a second pressure plate driven by the second vertical drive unit and movable in the vertical direction; and... The control unit is used to control the operation of the horizontal and vertical pressing modules. Among them, the four sets of horizontal pushing modules are used to apply pressure to the four corners of the fuel cell stack placed at the bearing position through the elastic pushing mechanism, so as to align the stacked sheet structures in the fuel cell stack. The first pressure plate is used to apply pressure to the top plate of the fuel cell stack, and the second pressure plate is used to apply pressure to the screw with a compression spring in the fuel cell stack.

2. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic pushing mechanism includes a mounting base connected to the output end of the horizontal drive unit, a gas spring disposed on the mounting base, and a push block that is driven by the gas spring and can move in the horizontal direction. The push block is provided with corner slots for matching the corners of the fuel cell stack.

3. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The horizontal pushing module also includes an elastic element and a linear guide rail. The linear guide rail includes a track fixedly disposed vertically at the output end of the horizontal drive unit and a slider slidably disposed on the track. The mounting base is fixedly connected to the slider, and the elastic element is disposed between the mounting base and the track to support the elastic pushing mechanism.

4. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic pushing mechanism further includes a first connecting shaft and a second connecting shaft. The first connecting shaft is disposed on the push block and is slidably disposed relative to the second connecting shaft. The second connecting shaft is connected to the mounting base through a ball joint.

5. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the horizontal pushing modules includes at least two sets of elastic pushing mechanisms spaced apart in the vertical direction.

6. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack shaping equipment also includes a third vertical drive unit mounted on the frame. The third vertical drive unit is connected to the four sets of horizontal pushing modules and is used to drive the horizontal pushing modules to move in the vertical direction so as to adjust the position of the horizontal pushing modules to match the fuel cell stack.

7. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are arranged at intervals, and the second pressure plate is provided with a through hole for the first pressure plate to pass through.

8. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The frame includes a base, a support seat disposed above the base, and a guide column disposed between the base and the support seat. The base has the bearing position. The first vertical drive unit and the second vertical drive unit are disposed on the support seat. The first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are both slidably disposed on the guide column.

9. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack shaping equipment also includes a conveyor platform disposed through the frame, the conveyor platform being used to move the fuel cell stack into and out of the bearing position.

10. The fuel cell stack shaping equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack shaping equipment further includes a first detection unit and a second detection unit. The first detection unit is used to detect the travel information of each group of horizontal pushing modules and the pushing pressure information on the fuel cell stack. The second detection unit is used to detect the travel information of the vertical pushing module and the pushing pressure information on the fuel cell stack. Both the first detection unit and the second detection unit are electrically connected or signal connected to the control unit.

11. A method for shaping an electric fuel cell stack, characterized in that, The fuel cell stack shaping method is applied to a control unit in a fuel cell stack shaping device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, and the fuel cell stack shaping method includes the following steps: S100: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units to drive the corresponding elastic pushing mechanism to move to the corresponding initial shaping position; S200: Control the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack until the first predetermined pressure value is reached; S300: Control the corresponding horizontal drive unit to drive the elastic push mechanism in the four sets of elastic push mechanisms that has deviated from the initial shaping position to move back to the initial shaping position; S400: Control the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack until a second predetermined pressure value is reached, where the second predetermined pressure value is greater than the first predetermined pressure value. S500: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units to drive the corresponding elastic pushing mechanism to move to separate from the fuel cell stack, and determine whether the height of the fuel cell stack has reached the specified height. If the height of the fuel cell stack reaches the specified height, execute step S600. If the height of the fuel cell stack has not reached the specified height, execute steps S700 and S800. S600: Control the second vertical drive unit to drive the second pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the screw of the fuel cell stack until the specified pressure value is reached; S700: Control the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack until the height of the fuel cell stack reaches the specified height, and record the corresponding vertical pressure value as a third predetermined pressure value, wherein the third predetermined pressure value is greater than the second predetermined pressure value; S800: Control the four sets of horizontal drive units to drive the corresponding elastic pressing mechanism to move to the corresponding initial shaping position, and then repeat step S500.

12. The fuel cell stack shaping method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, Controlling any one of the elastic pressing mechanisms in the four sets of horizontal pressing modules to move to the initial shaping position includes: Divide the entire movement process into at least two phases; In each stage, the elastic pushing mechanism is controlled to move at a preset speed; wherein the preset speed gradually decreases as the stage number increases; During the movement of the elastic pushing mechanism, the applied pressure value and the moving stroke of the elastic pushing mechanism are obtained; When the applied pressure reaches a preset level or the travel distance reaches a preset distance, the elastic pushing mechanism is moved to the initial shaping position.

13. The fuel cell stack shaping method as described in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The step S200, which involves controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to move downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack, includes: controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack in a manner that increases the vertical force according to a 1 / 4 sine curve. The steps S400 and S700, which involve controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to continue moving downward to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack, include: controlling the first vertical drive unit to drive the first pressure plate to apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack in a manner that increases the vertical force according to a 1 / 2 cosine curve.

14. The fuel cell stack shaping method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, Step S600, controlling the second vertical drive unit to drive the second pressure plate to move downwards and apply a vertical force to the fuel cell stack, includes: The second vertical drive unit drives the second pressure plate to apply a vertical force to the screw of the fuel cell stack by increasing the vertical force in a manner that follows a 1 / 4 sine curve.

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