Fuel cell metal plate dispensing tool
By using a split design and a magnetic suction device for dispensing fuel cell metal plates, the problems of plate flatness and alignment were solved, the dispensing success rate and efficiency were improved, the assembly process was simplified, and the airtightness and insulation of the plates were guaranteed.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing fuel cell metal electrode plate dispensing processes cannot guarantee the flatness and alignment of the electrode plates with the center line, leading to dispensing failures, affecting airtightness and insulation. Furthermore, existing tooling structures are complex and assembly is difficult.
The dispensing fixture adopts a split design, combined with a magnetic suction device and an internal positioning device to ensure the flatness and alignment of the electrode plates. The magnetic suction force is controlled by an electromagnet for convenient assembly, and a plate removal ramp is set on the dispensing platform to facilitate the removal of the electrode plates.
It improves the success rate and efficiency of dispensing, reduces assembly complexity, ensures the flatness and airtightness of the electrode plate, avoids the risk of electrode plate cracking, and simplifies the assembly process.
Smart Images

Figure CN223988670U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of fuel cell dispensing fixtures, specifically relating to a fuel cell metal plate dispensing fixture. Background Technology
[0002] Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have garnered significant attention due to their high energy conversion efficiency and environmentally friendly nature, particularly in the field of mobile transportation. The mobile transportation sector requires small-sized electrode plates with excellent shock and vibration resistance, making metal electrode plates a key focus. Currently, 316L stainless steel or Ti is commonly used as the metal substrate for electrode plates, which are relatively thin (around 0.1 mm). Furthermore, residual stress from subsequent stamping and welding processes can lead to unevenness in the electrode plates, significantly complicating the subsequent dispensing process. Current dispensing techniques involve pre-setting parameters before application, meaning that misalignment and unevenness of the electrode plates severely affect the center position and height of the adhesive strip. During fuel cell operation, maintaining good airtightness and insulation is crucial; otherwise, the fuel cell may be at risk. Uniform pressure distribution during assembly is also essential for fuel cell uniformity; otherwise, the stack's shock resistance will decrease, its deviation from uniformity will increase, leading to increased auxiliary power consumption and even single-phase low-pressure phenomena, causing irreversible damage to the stack.
[0003] Existing technical solutions mostly employ vacuum adsorption to fix the electrode plate onto the dispensing platform. The rapid flow of air pressure creates a sealed vacuum system beneath the electrode plate, using atmospheric pressure to press the plate onto the designed dispensing platform. However, this method produces a relatively low vacuum level. While it can be used for electrode plates with high flatness, if the flatness of the electrode plate is average or poor, good flatness and alignment with the center line cannot be guaranteed even after vacuum adsorption. Warping may even occur during dispensing, leading to dispensing failure and significantly reducing the success rate and efficiency.
[0004] Patent publication number CN211802131U discloses an improved multi-point adhesive fixture for metal bipolar plates. This patent uses an integrally constructed clamping assembly, which is divided into an upper pressure frame and a lower pressure frame. Magnetic attraction components are provided on opposite sides of the upper and lower pressure frames to ensure a tight fit between the upper and lower pressure frames and the metal bipolar plate. However, the welding position and the three-cavity position of the metal bipolar plate have special characteristics, and a single pressure frame may not be able to meet the bonding characteristics of the metal bipolar plate well.
[0005] Patent publication number CN215612897U discloses a metal bipolar plate dispensing fixture for fuel cells. This patent uses a split magnetic suction structure to solve the problem of the single-piece tooling in the above-mentioned patent. However, the patent has too many split blocks. According to the three-cavity port, there are 6 pressure blocks and screws that match the size and shape of the three-cavity port, which leads to its complex structure and difficult assembly.
[0006] In fuel cell metal bipolar plate stacks, the metal plates are manufactured using a stamping process, and the substrate used is relatively thin, typically around 0.1 mm. Because the stamped plates still have some residual stress, and the high temperatures generated during welding also alter the stress distribution of the plates, the flatness of the metal bipolar plates is poor during the gas-line dispensing process, potentially resulting in unevenness. This makes gas-line dispensing extremely difficult, easily leading to variations in adhesive height, further causing uneven stress distribution in the stack, resulting in poor gas tightness of the fuel cell stack, and potentially even the risk of plate cracking. Utility Model Content
[0007] This invention overcomes the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a dispensing fixture for metal plates in fuel cells. The invention utilizes a magnetic suction device and an internal positioning device to place the metal bipolar plate to be dispensed flat and accurately onto the dispensing fixture, ensuring consistent dispensing height and levelness.
[0008] This utility model discloses a dispensing fixture for metal plates of fuel cells. It provides a two-in-one dispensing fixture for dispensing metal plates, which addresses the unevenness of integral pressing frames and the complexity and inconvenience of assembly of split multi-piece structures.
[0009] First, a simple split design is adopted to ensure the flatness of the electrode plate pressing;
[0010] Second, the dispensing fixtures for the metal anode plate and cathode plate are combined into one, while reducing the number of separate modules. One module is used to press the surfaces of the anode and cathode plates simultaneously, maximizing the use of the separate pressing module.
[0011] Third, the bottom magnetic attraction device uses an electromagnet, which can be switched on and off, greatly facilitating the assembly process.
[0012] Fourth, limiting holes are used on different pressing modules to ensure the uniformity of pressing and to facilitate the placement and removal of the handle. At the same time, board removal ramps are set on both sides of the dispensing platform to facilitate the removal of the electrode plate after dispensing and to avoid damage to the adhesive during the removal process.
[0013] The above design greatly reduces the installation complexity of the split module pressing fixture, speeds up the loading and unloading of metal plates, significantly saves assembly time before and after dispensing, and ensures uniformity of pressing and integrity of dispensing.
[0014] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows:
[0015] A fuel cell metal plate dispensing fixture includes a main module cover plate, a metal bipolar plate, a magnetic suction device, a dispensing fixture jig, a jig fixing platform, and a split module cover plate.
[0016] A dispensing fixture is provided above the fixture fixing platform; a magnetic attraction device is provided on the dispensing fixture, a metal bipolar plate is placed above the magnetic attraction device, and a main module cover plate is provided on the metal bipolar plate; the split module cover plate is located at the four corners of the metal bipolar plate.
[0017] Preferably, the dispensing fixture is divided into a metal electrode plate anode side dispensing fixture and a metal electrode plate cathode side dispensing fixture.
[0018] Preferably, the dispensing fixture is provided with a metal bipolar plate and a positioning device inside the split module cover plate.
[0019] Preferably, the dispensing platform of the dispensing fixture is provided with a plate-picking ramp.
[0020] Preferably, four inclined planes 2-5 are symmetrically arranged on the dispensing platform.
[0021] Preferably, the dispensing platform is further provided with grooves for matching the cathode-side gas path adhesive and the anode-side gas path adhesive.
[0022] Preferably, the main module cover plate includes a metal electrode anode side main cover plate and a metal electrode cathode side main cover plate; the metal electrode anode side main cover plate is disposed on the anode plate, and the metal electrode cathode side main cover plate is disposed on the cathode plate.
[0023] Preferably, a handle for the split module cover is provided above the split module cover.
[0024] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are:
[0025] 1. This utility model tooling can perform adsorption of the positive and negative sides of the road surface by two electrode plates at one time.
[0026] 2. In this utility model, four edge pressing blocks (i.e., split module cover plates) are added to the periphery of the tooling, which is beneficial to the flatness of the whole metal plate when applying glue.
[0027] 3. The dispensing platform is equipped with a plate-removing ramp, which facilitates the removal of the electrode plate after dispensing and also effectively avoids damage to the adhesive during the removal process.
[0028] 4. The magnetic attraction device can control the magnetic attraction force by switching the current on and off, making it more convenient to pick up and put down the metal bipolar plates.
[0029] 5. The tooling in this utility model is equipped with an internal positioning device to ensure that the relative positions of the split cover plate, the metal bipolar plate and the dispensing platform are fixed. Attached Figure Description
[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a tooling fixture for applying adhesive to the anode side of a metal electrode plate.
[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the magnetic attraction device for the upper cover plate.
[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the matching of the split-module cover plate device with the dispensing platform and the metal bipolar plate.
[0033] Figure 4 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the dispensing fixture and the fixture fixing platform;
[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of the image.
[0035] Metal electrode plate anode side dispensing fixture 1-1, metal electrode plate cathode side dispensing fixture 1-2, split module cover plate internal positioning device 2-4, plate picking ramp 2-5, cathode side gas path adhesive groove 2-6, anode side gas path adhesive groove 2-7, split module cover plate 3-1, metal electrode plate anode side main body cover plate 3-2, metal electrode plate cathode side main body cover plate 3-3, split module cover plate handle 4-1, main body module cover plate 4-3, metal bipolar plate 4-4, magnetic suction device 4-5, fixture fixing platform 4-6, dispensing fixture 4-7. Detailed Implementation
[0036] The technical solutions are illustrated in the following description with specific figures to provide a full understanding of this utility model application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and similar extended embodiments made by those skilled in the art without inventive effort are all within the scope of protection of this utility model.
[0037] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a fuel cell metal plate dispensing fixture includes a main module cover plate 4-3, a metal bipolar plate 4-4, a magnetic suction device 4-5, a dispensing fixture jig 4-7, a jig fixing platform 4-6, and a split module cover plate 3-1.
[0038] A dispensing fixture 4-7 is installed above the fixture fixing platform 4-6. A magnetic suction device 4-5 is installed on the dispensing fixture 4-7, and a metal bipolar plate 4-4 is placed above the magnetic suction device 4-5. A main module cover plate 4-3 is placed on top of the metal bipolar plate 4-4. Positioning devices 2-4 inside the split module cover plate are located above the dispensing fixture 4-7, and the split module cover plate 3-1 is located at the four corners of the metal bipolar plate 4-4. In this embodiment, the fixture fixing platform 4-6 is used to fix the dispensing platform and dispensing equipment, preventing displacement during dispensing and affecting the dispensing quality. In this embodiment, there are a total of 12 positioning devices 2-4 inside the split module cover plate, used to ensure that the metal bipolar plate is located in the groove of the dispensing fixture, while ensuring that the positions of the split module cover plate and the metal bipolar plate are relatively fixed and relative to the dispensing fixture, and effectively flattening the corners of the metal bipolar plate.
[0039] In this embodiment, the magnetic attraction device 4-5 is used to attract the main module cover plate 4-3 and the split module cover plate 3-1. This device is an electromagnetic attraction device, which means that the magnetic attraction can be controlled by an energizing switch.
[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a fixture for applying adhesive to the anode side of a metal electrode plate. Figure 2 The diagram shows the structure of the magnetic suction device for the upper cover plate. In this embodiment, the dispensing fixture 4-7 is divided into a metal electrode plate anode side dispensing fixture 1-1 and a metal electrode plate cathode side dispensing fixture 1-2. In this embodiment, the metal electrode plate anode side dispensing fixture 1-1 is used to place the metal anode plate with its anode side facing upwards; the metal electrode plate cathode side dispensing fixture 1-2 is used to place the metal cathode plate with its cathode side facing upwards. The dispensing platform of the dispensing fixture 4-7 is equipped with plate-removing ramps 2-5. In this embodiment, the plate-removing ramps 2-5 are symmetrically arranged on the dispensing platform, totaling four. The function of the plate-removing ramps 2-5 is to facilitate the removal of the electrode plate after dispensing and to effectively avoid damage to the adhesive during the removal process. The dispensing platform is also provided with grooves 2-6 for matching the cathode-side gas path adhesive and grooves 2-7 for the anode-side gas path adhesive. Its function is to facilitate the placement of the adhesive on the opposite side when dispensing the adhesive on the other side after dispensing the adhesive on one side, so that the metal electrode plate fits tightly against the dispensing platform fixture.
[0041] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram showing the matching of the split module cover plate device with the dispensing platform and the metal bipolar plate. In this embodiment, the main module cover plate 4-3 includes a metal electrode plate anode side main cover plate 3-2 and a metal electrode plate cathode side main cover plate 3-3. The metal electrode plate anode side main cover plate 3-2 is disposed on the anode plate, and the metal electrode plate cathode side main cover plate 3-3 is disposed on the cathode plate. The split module cover plate 3-1 is located at the four corners of the metal bipolar plate 4-4, and a split module cover plate handle 4-1 is provided above the split module cover plate 3-1.
[0042] The specific working method is as follows: The metal bipolar plates to be glued are placed on the anode and cathode sides respectively using the grooves and positioning posts on the anode or cathode side. Then, the electromagnetic suction device is energized to provide magnetic attraction, adhering the metal bipolar plates to the dispensing fixture platform. To ensure the flatness of the large central metal plate and the surrounding metal plates, strong magnetic split-module cover plates and main module cover plates are placed in the center and four corners of the metal bipolar plates using the positioning posts on the dispensing fixture platform. Magnetic force effectively holds the cover plates above the metal bipolar plates, pressing them flat against the dispensing fixture. The dispensing fixture is fixedly connected to the dispensing equipment via a fixture fixing platform to maintain its stability. The dispensing machine dispenses glue onto the metal bipolar plates. After dispensing, a plate-removing ramp on the dispensing platform facilitates the removal of the plates and effectively prevents damage to the glue during removal.
[0043] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A fuel cell metal plate dispensing tool, characterized by, The main body module cover plate, the metal bipolar plate, the magnetic attraction device, the dispensing tool jig, the jig fixing platform and the split module cover plate are included. The jig fixing platform is provided with the dispensing tool jig above; the dispensing tool jig is provided with the magnetic attraction device above, the metal bipolar plate is placed above the magnetic attraction device, and the main body module cover plate is covered above the metal bipolar plate; the split module cover plate is located at four corner positions of the metal bipolar plate.
2. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 1, wherein, The dispensing tool jig is divided into the metal plate anode side dispensing tool jig and the metal plate cathode side dispensing tool jig.
3. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 1, wherein, The dispensing tool jig is provided with the metal bipolar plate and the split module cover plate inner positioning device above.
4. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 1, wherein, The dispensing platform of the dispensing tool jig is provided with a plate taking inclined table.
5. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 4, wherein, The plate taking inclined tables (2-5) are symmetrically arranged on the dispensing platform, and there are four in total.
6. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 4, wherein, The dispensing platform is further provided with a groove matching the cathode side gas path glue and a groove matching the anode side gas path glue.
7. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 1, wherein, The main body module cover plate includes the metal plate anode side main body cover plate and the metal plate cathode side main body cover plate; the metal plate anode side main body cover plate is arranged on the anode plate, and the metal plate cathode side main body cover plate is arranged on the cathode plate.
8. The fuel cell metal plate dispensing tooling of claim 1, wherein, The split module cover plate is provided with a split module cover plate handle above.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Improved metal bipolar plate multi-station dispensing tool
CN211802131U