Assembly device for integrated battery stack housing

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell technology, specifically to an assembly device for an integrated fuel cell stack housing. It includes a gas port end plate, an upper end plate, and a main housing frame located at both ends of the stack core. The upper end of the gas port end plate is provided with a positioning pin that mates with a positioning hole at the bottom of the main housing frame. A first positioning guide block and a second positioning guide block are symmetrically installed on both sides of the gas port end plate. A third positioning guide block and a fourth positioning guide block are symmetrically installed on both sides of the main housing frame. A first guide rod passes through the first and third positioning guide blocks, which are coaxially arranged, and a second guide rod passes through the second and fourth positioning guide blocks, which are coaxially arranged. The through holes of the first and second positioning guide blocks are respectively interference-fitted with the first and second guide rods, and the through holes of the third and fourth positioning guide blocks are respectively slidingly fitted with the first and second guide rods. This design ensures that the housing installation does not touch the stack core, enabling low-cost assembly of the prototype stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell technology, specifically to an assembly device for an integrated fuel cell stack housing. Background Technology

[0002] The fuel cell stack is the core component of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell power generation system. It is composed of layers of stacked membrane electrode assemblies and bipolar plates, pressed and secured together. The integrated shell encapsulation technology combines tensioning and fixing, with the shell directly bearing the pressure of the stack core. After the stack core is pressed in, the shell is fitted to secure it, eliminating the need for screws, tie rods, straps, and other accessories and fastening steps. This fuel cell stack encapsulation shell structure includes a main shell with open top and front ends; a front plate of the main shell, a tensioning structure for adjustable fixing of the stack core within the main shell; a blind end plate above the main shell and tensioning structure; and the main shell frame, front plate, and blind end plate are assembled together to encapsulate the stack core. This encapsulation shell structure ensures a combined pre-tightening and shell encapsulation structure after the fuel cell stack is pressed in. Compared to existing fuel cell encapsulation structures, this integrated stack encapsulation significantly reduces the overall size of the fuel cell stack and improves the volumetric power ratio of the fuel cell.

[0003] Currently, integrated fuel cell stack packaging is widely used and recognized by companies such as Toyota, BMW, and leading domestic fuel cell manufacturers. However, for the assembly of the casing, these companies use non-standard customized equipment, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the existing housing installation process is as follows:

[0004] ① Before pressing, place the reactor core longitudinally on the press, with the gas port end plate at the bottom of the reactor core and the upper end plate at the top of the reactor core. Positioning fixtures are used on both sides of the reactor core to ensure that the stacking is not misaligned. The shell is fixed to the upper part of the press by fixtures, and the shell has reserved holes for hydraulic rods to pass through.

[0005] ② The hydraulic rod applies pressure from top to bottom to the reactor core. When the core is compressed, the positioning fixture is removed to maintain the compressed state.

[0006] ③ The housing is installed from top to bottom along the direction of the hydraulic rod using tooling, with the lower part contacting the air port end plate and the upper part contacting the upper end plate;

[0007] ④ The lower air inlet end plate is connected to the housing by bolts, and the upper tightening bolts are connected to the housing to tighten the upper end plate;

[0008] The press uses two hydraulic rods to pass through the shell, with the pressure head pressing against the reactor core to apply a fixed pressure, keeping the core compressed and fixed. The shell is fixed by columns on both sides of the press (the columns are connected and fixed to the shell via sliding fixtures), allowing it to slide up and down. The shell passes through the two hydraulic rods from top to bottom and is fitted into the reactor core to complete the assembly. Throughout the entire process, the shell is fixed and positioned by the press equipment. This solution requires the product to be mature and finalized before customizing non-standard press equipment, resulting in high costs. It is also unfriendly to prototype reactor products in the design phase, making it impossible to complete the manufacturing of prototype reactor products at a low cost. Therefore, how can the shell assembly be completed during the prototype reactor manufacturing process without relying on high-cost customized equipment? Utility Model Content

[0009] The problem to be solved is how to assemble the sample fuel cell stack casing without the aid of large, non-standard equipment.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: an assembly device for an integrated fuel cell stack housing, comprising a gas port end plate located at the bottom of the core, an upper end plate located at the top of the core, and a main housing frame that can be fitted over the core. The upper end of the gas port end plate is provided with a positioning pin that mates with a positioning hole at the bottom of the main housing frame. A first positioning guide block and a second positioning guide block are symmetrically installed on both sides of the gas port end plate. A third positioning guide block and a fourth positioning guide block are symmetrically installed on both sides of the main housing frame. A first guide rod can pass through the first and third positioning guide blocks, which are coaxially arranged, and a second guide rod can pass through the second and fourth positioning guide blocks, which are coaxially arranged. The through holes of the first and second positioning guide blocks are respectively interference-fitted with the first and second guide rods, and the through holes of the third and fourth positioning guide blocks are respectively slidingly fitted with the first and second guide rods.

[0011] Preferably, the third positioning guide block and the fourth positioning guide block have the same diameter, the first guide rod and the second guide rod have the same diameter, and the diameter of the third positioning guide block is larger than the diameter of the first guide rod.

[0012] Preferably, the diameters of the through holes on the first positioning guide block and the second positioning guide block are the same, and the diameter of the through hole on the first positioning guide block is the same as the diameter of the first guide rod.

[0013] Preferably, the first positioning guide block and the second positioning guide block are each provided with a positioning boss that is positioned and connected to the air port end plate, and the third positioning guide block and the fourth positioning guide block are each provided with a positioning boss that is positioned and connected to the main frame of the housing.

[0014] Preferably, the positioning boss is cylindrical.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, this utility model provides an assembly device for an integrated fuel cell stack housing, which has the following advantages: Furthermore, with iterative optimization of product design, changes to the assembly device are simple, without the complex modifications required for large equipment; the housing assembly process is simple and efficient. This utility model is adapted to prototype stack manufacturing at low cost. It replaces a custom press with a first guide rod, a second guide rod, a first positioning guide block, a second positioning guide block, a third positioning guide block, and a fourth positioning guide block. Only the first and second guide rods need to be installed on the gas port end plate. After passing through the first and second positioning guide blocks, the first and second guide rods restrict the downward movement path of the main housing frame. Then, the main housing frame moves downward along the first and second guide rods via the third and fourth positioning guide blocks. The first and second guide rods limit the vertical movement path of the main housing frame, preventing contact with the reactor core during assembly and avoiding misalignment or collapse. The positioning pins align with the positioning holes at the bottom of the main housing frame, ensuring precise alignment between the main housing frame and the bolt holes on the gas port end plate, guaranteeing assembly accuracy. The main frame of the shell only needs to be moved down along the first guide rod and the second guide rod, eliminating the need for hydraulic positioning fixtures of non-standard equipment, ensuring that the core will not be touched during the sliding process. Compared with expensive non-standard presses, this utility model is more suitable for prototype stack manufacturing. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the existing fuel cell stack assembly process;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the air inlet end plate connecting the guide rod of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the second positioning guide block and the air port end plate of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the assembly process using this utility model;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the left axial side of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the right axial side of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a top view of the assembly device of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view at point B in the middle;

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Core; 11. Gas inlet end plate; 12. Upper end plate; 13. Locating pin; 2. Main frame of the shell; 3. First positioning guide block; 4. Second positioning guide block; 41. Positioning boss; 42. First bolt; 43. Second bolt; 44. Through hole; 5. First guide rod; 6. Second guide rod; 7. Third positioning guide block; 8. Fourth positioning guide block; 9. Bottom platform. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model:

[0026] To facilitate the assembly of the prototype stack, this utility model provides an assembly device for the fuel cell stack enclosure, including a gas port end plate 11 located at the bottom of the core 1, an upper end plate 12 located at the top of the core 1, and a main frame 2 of the enclosure that can be sleeved on the core 1. The upper end of the gas port end plate 11 is provided with a positioning pin 13 that mates with the positioning hole at the bottom of the main frame 2 of the enclosure. A first positioning guide block 3 and a second positioning guide block 4 are symmetrically installed on both sides of the gas port end plate 11. A third positioning guide block 7 and a fourth positioning guide block 8 are symmetrically installed on both sides of the main frame 2 of the enclosure. A first guide rod 5 can pass through the first positioning guide block 3 and the third positioning guide block 7, which are coaxially arranged, and a second guide rod 6 can pass through the second positioning guide block 4 and the fourth positioning guide block 8, which are coaxially arranged. The through holes of the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 are respectively interference-fitted with the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6, and the through holes of the third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 are respectively sliding-fitted with the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6. The third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 have the same diameter. The first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6 have the same diameter, and the diameter of the third positioning guide block 7 is larger than the diameter of the first guide rod 5. The diameters of the through holes on the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 are equal, and the diameter of the through hole on the first positioning guide block 3 is the same as the diameter of the first guide rod 5. The first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 are each provided with a positioning boss that is positioned and connected to the air port end plate 11, and the third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 are each provided with a positioning boss that is positioned and connected to the main frame 2 of the housing.

[0027] like Figure 2-8 This embodiment of the utility model includes an air inlet end plate 11, an upper end plate 12, a main housing frame 2, a positioning pin 13, a first positioning guide block 3, a second positioning guide block 4, a first guide rod 5, a second guide rod 6, a third positioning guide block 7, and a fourth positioning guide block 8; the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 have identical structural dimensions, and the third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 have identical structural dimensions, as shown below. Figure 8 As shown, the diameter of the first positioning guide block 3 is d (because... Figure 8(The first positioning guide block 3 is blocked by the third positioning guide block 7 in the top view, not shown). The diameter of the third positioning guide block 7 is D, where D>d. D is generally 13mm and d is generally 12mm. The diameter of the first guide rod 5 is also 12mm, ensuring that the first positioning guide block 3 and the first guide rod 5 have an interference fit. At the same time, the third positioning guide block 7 can slide along the first guide rod 5. Taking the second positioning guide block 4 as an example, two positioning bosses 41 are provided on the side connected to the air port end plate 11. The positioning bosses 41 are cylindrical and are used for the connection and positioning of the main frame 2 of the housing and the air port end plate 11. The second positioning guide block 4 is connected to the air port end plate 11 by the first bolt 42 and the second bolt 43. The through hole 44 in the middle of the second positioning guide block 4 allows the second guide rod 6 to slide through. The structure of the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 is the same as that of the second positioning guide block 4. The difference is that the through holes on the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 are interference fit with the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6. The first positioning guide block 3 and the third positioning guide block 7 are coaxially arranged, and the second positioning guide block 4 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 are coaxially arranged. First positioning guide blocks 3 and second positioning guide blocks 4 are installed on both sides of the gas inlet end plate 11. First guide rods 5 and second guide rods 6 pass through the first positioning guide blocks 3 and second positioning guide blocks 4, respectively. Third positioning guide blocks 7 and fourth positioning guide blocks 8 are installed at the same positions on both sides of the main shell frame 2. Positioning pins 13 are screwed into the main shell frame 2. Positioning pins 13 ensure the fitting accuracy between the main shell frame 2 and the gas inlet end plate 11. At this time, all components of the fitting device are installed. During assembly, after the reactor core 1 is installed, the main shell frame 2 is raised to directly above the reactor core 1. The third positioning guide blocks 7 and fourth positioning guide blocks 8 on the main shell frame 2 pass through the first guide rods 5 and second guide rods 6. The main shell frame 2 is fitted from top to bottom. When the main shell frame 2 is about to contact the gas inlet end plate 11, the positioning pins 13 of the gas inlet end plate 11 are aligned with the positioning holes on the main shell frame 2 to ensure the fitting accuracy between the shell and the end plate. This invention alleviates the problems in the prior art where the reactor core 1 comes into contact with the core during the lowering process of the shell assembly, causing irreversible misalignment and bending of the core 1, which leads to assembly failure. The shell assembly device provided by this utility model can effectively prevent assembly failure caused by contact and collision when the core 1 is fitted into the main frame 2 of the shell. At the same time, it also ensures the assembly accuracy when the shell is fixed, and has the advantages of being simple, fast, convenient and low cost.

[0028] After the reactor core 1 (composed of overlapping repeating independent units—bipolar plates and membrane electrode components) on the gas inlet endplate 11 is stacked, during the assembly of the main shell frame 2, since the reactor core 1 lacks external auxiliary fixation, it is highly susceptible to tilting or even collapse upon contact or impact from external forces. Therefore, during the installation of the main shell frame 2, it is required that the main shell frame 2 not come into any contact with the reactor core 1. The specific assembly steps for the main shell frame 2 are as follows:

[0029] 1. Pre-installation of the main frame 2 of the housing: The third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 are installed on each side of the main frame 2 of the housing. The diameter of the through hole in the middle of the third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 is larger than the diameter of the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6 that are penetrated.

[0030] II. Pre-installation of the air port end plate 11: The air port end plate 11 is mounted on the bottom platform 9. A first positioning guide block 3 and a second positioning guide block 4 are installed on each side of the air port end plate 11. The first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6 pass through the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 from top to bottom and abut against the bottom platform 9. The diameter of the through holes in the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 is greater than or equal to the diameter of the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6. For example, the diameter of the through holes in the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 is... The machining tolerance is the upper tolerance. The diameter of the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6 is 12mm. The core 1 is set on the gas port end plate 11.

[0031] 3. Move the main frame 2 of the housing down along the guide rods on both sides: The first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6 first pass through the first positioning guide block 3 and the second positioning guide block 4 on the air port end plate 11 respectively. When the main frame 2 of the housing is installed downward, the third positioning guide block 7 and the fourth positioning guide block 8 on the main frame 2 of the housing pass through the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6 respectively. Then the main frame 2 of the housing is slowly moved downward.

[0032] IV. Assembly of the main housing frame 2 and the air port end plate 11: When the main housing frame 2 moves downward and is about to contact the end plate, the position of the main housing frame 2 is adjusted by the positioning pin 13 to ensure the positional accuracy of the main housing frame 2 and the air port end plate 11 after assembly. Only by ensuring the positional accuracy of the main housing frame 2 and the air port end plate 11 after assembly can the fastening bolts between the main housing frame 2 and the air port end plate 11 be installed in place and there will be no problem of bolt misalignment during installation.

[0033] This invention provides an assembly device for an integrated fuel cell stack housing. Addressing the reliance on high-cost non-standard presses in prototype stack manufacturing, it innovatively employs a first guide rod 5, a second guide rod 6, and a first positioning guide block 3, a second positioning guide block 4, a third positioning guide block 7, and a fourth positioning guide block 8 to collaboratively guide the main frame 2 of the housing and the core 1 downwards. Specifically, positioning guide blocks are symmetrically installed on the gas port end plate 11 and the main frame 2 of the housing; guide rods penetrate the positioning guide blocks, forming a vertical movement channel; the main frame 2 of the housing moves downwards along the first guide rod 5 and the second guide rod 6, and is precisely positioned with the gas port end plate 11 by positioning pins 13. This device avoids the risk of contact between the main frame 2 of the housing and the core 1, solves the assembly failure problem caused by core side bending misalignment in existing technologies, eliminates the need for large non-standard equipment, and achieves low-cost, high-precision housing assembly, making it particularly suitable for the fuel cell prototype stack development stage.

[0034] The above embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A stack integration packaging housing assembling device, comprising a gas port end plate (11) located at the bottom end of a stack core (1), an upper end plate (12) located at the upper end of the stack core (1), and a housing main frame (2) which can be sleeved outside the stack core (1), characterized in that: The upper end of the air port end plate (11) is provided with a positioning pin (13) that mates with the positioning hole at the bottom of the main frame of the housing (2); the first positioning guide block (3) and the second positioning guide block (4) are symmetrically installed on both sides of the air port end plate (11); the third positioning guide block (7) and the fourth positioning guide block (8) are symmetrically installed on both sides of the main frame of the housing (2); the first guide rod (5) can pass through the first positioning guide block (3) and the third positioning guide block (7) which are coaxially arranged, and the second guide rod (6) can pass through the second positioning guide block (4) and the fourth positioning guide block (8) which are coaxially arranged; the through holes of the first positioning guide block (3) and the second positioning guide block (4) are respectively press-fitted with the first guide rod (5) and the second guide rod (6), and the through holes of the third positioning guide block (7) and the fourth positioning guide block (8) are respectively slidably fitted with the first guide rod (5) and the second guide rod (6).

2. The assembly device for the integrated battery stack housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third positioning guide block (7) and the fourth positioning guide block (8) have the same diameter, the first guide rod (5) and the second guide rod (6) have the same diameter, and the diameter of the third positioning guide block (7) is greater than the diameter of the first guide rod (5).

3. The assembly device for the integrated battery pack housing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameters of the through holes on the first positioning guide block (3) and the second positioning guide block (4) are the same, and the diameter of the through hole on the first positioning guide block (3) is the same as the diameter of the first guide rod (5).

4. The assembly device for the integrated battery stack housing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first positioning guide block (3) and the second positioning guide block (4) are each provided with a positioning boss that is positioned and connected to the air port end plate (11), and the third positioning guide block (7) and the fourth positioning guide block (8) are each provided with a positioning boss that is positioned and connected to the main frame (2) of the housing.

5. The assembly device for the integrated battery stack housing according to claim 4, characterized in that: The positioning boss is cylindrical.

Images