Gasket and gasket device

Abstract

A gasket (2) is provided with a gasket member (10) and a support member (30). The gasket member (10) has a seal side surface (11), a contact side surface (12), and a plurality of through holes (16). The gasket member (10) has: a first seal part (13) and a second seal part (14) that seal an anode chamber (S1) or a cathode chamber (S2); and a third seal part (15) that seals some of the plurality of flow paths (109) with respect to the anode chamber (S1) or the cathode chamber (S2). The gasket member (10) has a communication region (17) that communicates each of the through-holes (16a, 16c) with an internal space (10a). The support member (30) is provided in the communication region (17). An electrolyte membrane (104) is sandwiched between the second seal part (14) of the gasket member (10) of the first gasket (2) and the support member (30) of a second gasket (3).

Description

Gasket and gasket device

[0001] The present invention relates to a gasket and a gasket device.

[0002] A gasket is provided in each cell of a water electrolysis device of a hydrogen generator or each cell of a fuel cell. The gasket is formed of an elastic material and is compressed between the separator on the anode side and the separator on the cathode side and the electrolyte membrane, seals the space between each separator and the electrolyte membrane, prevents leakage of fluid in the space inside these cells, and also prevents mixing of fluids in each space (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-117140

[0004] When assembling a water electrolysis device or a fuel cell, in each cell, the gasket is tightened and compressed between the separators. If the gasket is compressed too much, the filling rate of the gasket becomes excessive, and the gasket may be damaged. Therefore, in the cell tightening process, the crushing allowance of the gasket is managed by managing the tightening load, the distance between the separators, etc., so that the gasket is not in an over-compressed state.

[0005] Thus, for a conventional gasket, in the cell tightening process, it is necessary to manage the crushing allowance of the gasket, which complicates the cell assembly process. Therefore, a configuration that can simplify the cell assembly process has been demanded for conventional gaskets.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gasket and a gasket device that can simplify the cell assembly process.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the gasket according to the present invention is a gasket for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction in a water electrolysis apparatus, wherein the gasket is configured such that one gasket is inverted and superimposed on the other gasket to seal the space, and comprises a gasket member formed of an elastic material and a support member formed of a resin material, wherein the gasket member penetrates the gasket member and defines an internal space which is the space included in the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and the gasket member has a pair of opposing surfaces which are sealing sides and contact surfaces that surround the internal space The gasket has a side surface, a pair of through holes included in one of the pair of channels and one of the other pair of channels among a plurality of channels extending in opposing directions between the pair of members on the outer circumference side of the intermediate member, a first seal portion and a second seal portion that seal the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, a third seal portion that seals the pair of channels and the other of the other pair of channels to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a communication region which is a region that connects each of the pair of through holes to the internal space, the support member is provided in the communication region, and the second seal portion of one of the gasket members of the gasket is positioned to sandwich the intermediate member between itself and the other support member of the gasket.

[0008] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member is configured such that a portion of the support member is located in the internal space beyond the communication region.

[0009] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the gasket member has an installation portion which is a portion through which the pair of through holes each pass, the installation portion is located on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion and is adjacent to the internal space, and the first seal portion and the installation portion define the communication region.

[0010] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the installation portion has an installation surface facing the direction in which the sealing side surface faces, the installation surface and the contact side surface are on the same plane, and the support member is in contact with the installation surface.

[0011] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member is configured such that a portion of the support member extends beyond the installation surface and is located in the internal space.

[0012] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, a portion of the contact surface faces a portion of another support member of the gasket in the opposing direction.

[0013] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the gasket member has a pair of through spaces on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion, which are spaces that penetrate between the seal side surface and the contact side surface, and each of the pair of through spaces is surrounded by the first seal portion and the third seal portion on the seal side surface, and is provided in a position through which the pair of flow paths and the other of the other pair of flow paths pass.

[0014] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the contact surface of the gasket member is positioned to face a part of the other support member of the gasket in the portion between each of the through spaces and the internal space.

[0015] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, each of the installation portions is housed within another through space of the gasket.

[0016] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the first sealing portion has at least one bead protruding from the sealing side surface, and the third sealing portion has at least one bead protruding from the sealing side surface, and in the opposing directions, the bead protrudes more than the support member in the direction in which the bead protrudes.

[0017] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member has a flow path that connects each of the pair of through holes to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0018] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path is formed by a recess that is recessed on the inner side of the support member.

[0019] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member has a pair of surfaces facing away from each other and is plate-shaped.

[0020] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the installation portion has a back surface which is the surface facing the side that the contact surface faces, and a bead that protrudes from the back surface and surrounds the through hole.

[0021] To achieve the above objective, the gasket device according to the present invention is a gasket device for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction in a water electrolysis apparatus, comprising an annular first gasket and an annular second gasket, wherein the first gasket has a gasket member formed from an elastic material and a support member formed from a resin material, the gasket member penetrates the gasket member and defines an internal space which is the space included in the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and the gasket member has a sealing side surface and a contact side surface which are a pair of opposing surfaces surrounding the internal space, and on the outer circumference side of the intermediate member, each is included in one of a pair of flow paths and the other pair of flow paths among a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of members The gasket has a pair of through holes, a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion that seal the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, a third sealing portion that seals the pair of flow paths and the other of the other pair of flow paths in the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a communication region which is a region that connects each of the pair of through holes to the internal space, the support member is provided in the communication region, the second gasket is the same as the first gasket, the contact side surface of the gasket member of the first gasket and the contact side surface of the gasket member of the second gasket are brought into contact with each other, the first gasket and the second gasket are stacked to seal the space, the second sealing portion of the gasket member of the first gasket is positioned to sandwich the intermediate member between the support member of the second gasket.

[0022] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member is configured such that a portion of the support member extends beyond the communication region and is located in the internal space.

[0023] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the gasket member has an installation portion which is a portion through which the pair of through holes each pass, the installation portion is located on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion and is adjacent to the internal space, and the first seal portion and the installation portion define the communication region.

[0024] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the installation portion has an installation surface facing the direction to which the sealing side surface faces, the installation surface and the contact side surface extend on the same plane, and the support member is in contact with the installation surface.

[0025] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member is positioned such that a portion of the support member extends beyond the installation surface and is located in the internal space.

[0026] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, a portion of the contact surface faces a portion of the support member of the second gasket in the opposing direction.

[0027] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the gasket member has a pair of through spaces on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion, which are spaces that penetrate between the seal side surface and the contact side surface, and each of the pair of through spaces is surrounded by the first seal portion and the third seal portion on the seal side surface, and is provided in a position through which the pair of flow paths and the other of the other pair of flow paths pass.

[0028] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the contact surface of the gasket member is positioned to face a part of the support member of the second gasket in the portion between each of the through spaces and the internal space.

[0029] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, each of the installation portions is housed within the through-space of the second gasket.

[0030] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the first seal portion has at least one bead protruding from the seal side surface, and the third seal portion has at least one bead protruding from the seal side surface, and in the opposing directions, the bead protrudes more than the support member in the direction in which the bead protrudes.

[0031] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member has a flow path that connects each of the pair of through holes with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0032] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path is formed by a recess that is recessed on the inner side of the support member.

[0033] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the support member has a pair of surfaces facing away from each other and is plate-shaped.

[0034] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the installation portion has a back surface which is the surface facing the side that the contact surface faces, and a bead that protrudes from the back surface and surrounds the through hole.

[0035] The gasket and gasket apparatus according to the present invention can simplify the cell assembly process.

[0036] This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a gasket device and a water electrolysis apparatus equipped with a gasket according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a front view of the gasket device. This is a cross-sectional view showing a section along line A1-A1 or line A2-A2 in Figure 2. This is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a section in Figure 3. This is a cross-sectional view showing a section along line B1-B1 or line B2-B2 in Figure 2. This is a front view of the gasket member. This is a rear view of the gasket member. This is a front view of the support member of the gasket member. This is a rear view of the support member.

[0037] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, not all of the components are assigned reference numerals, and some of the reference numerals for components may be omitted.

[0038] The gasket according to the present invention is a gasket for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member that is opposite to each of the members in the opposing direction. Furthermore, the gasket device according to the present invention is a gasket device for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member that is opposite to each of these members in the opposing direction. These opposing pair of members and intermediate member are, for example, a pair of separators and an electrolyte membrane used in cells such as water electrolysis devices and fuel cells of hydrogen generators. As an example, the gasket and gasket device according to the embodiment of the present invention are for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane in a cell of a water electrolysis device of a hydrogen generator. However, the application of the gasket device according to the present invention is not limited to this and includes other applications.

[0039] Figure 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a water electrolysis apparatus 4 equipped with a gasket 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water electrolysis apparatus 4 is equipped with a gasket 2. The gasket 2 is used by overlapping one of the gaskets 2 (gasket 3) in an inverted manner. As shown in Figure 1, the gasket 2 is designed to seal the space S1 between one separator 101 of a pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane 104 of the membrane assembly 103, which is an intermediate member, and the space S2 between the other separator 102 of the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane 104 in the cell 100 of the water electrolysis apparatus 4. The gasket 2 comprises a gasket member 10 formed from an elastic material and a support member 30 formed from a resin material. The gasket member 10 penetrates the gasket member 10 and defines an internal space 10a which is a space included in space S1 or space S2. Furthermore, the gasket member 10 has a sealing side surface 11 and a contact side surface 12 which are a pair of opposing surfaces surrounding the internal space 10a, a pair of through holes 16 which are each included in one of a pair of flow paths 109 and the other pair of flow paths 109 among a plurality of flow paths 109 that extend in opposing directions between separator 101 and separator 102 on the outer circumference side of the electrolyte membrane 104, a first sealing portion 13 and a second sealing portion 14 that seal space S1 or space S2, a third sealing portion 15 that seals the other of the pair of flow paths 109 and the other pair of flow paths 109 with respect to space S1 or space S2, and a communication region 17 which is a region that connects each of the pair of through holes 16 to the internal space 10a. The support member 30 is provided in the communication region 17. The second sealing portion 14 of one gasket member 10 of the gasket 2 is positioned to sandwich the electrolyte membrane 104 between itself and the other support member 30 of the gasket 2. The configuration of the gasket 10 will be described in detail below.

[0040] As will be described later, the second seal portion 14 is formed by a portion adjacent to the internal space 10a at the inner peripheral side end of the contact side surface 12. When another gasket 2 (gasket 3) is inverted and stacked on the gasket 2, the second seal portion 14 of the gasket member 10 of the gasket 2 faces the portion of the support member 30 of the other gasket 2 in the direction of inversion and sandwiches the outer peripheral side end of the electrolyte membrane 104 (see FIGS. 1, 3 to 5). An annular gap opened to the inner peripheral side may be formed between the second seal portion 14 of the gasket member 10 of the gasket 2 and the portion of the support member 30 of the other gasket 2 facing the second seal portion 14 of this gasket 2 in the direction of inversion. In this case, the outer peripheral side end of the electrolyte membrane 104 can be accommodated in this gap. The facing direction is the direction in which the separator 101 and the separator 102 face each other in the cell 100. The direction of inversion coincides with the facing direction in the cell 100. Therefore, hereinafter, the direction of inversion is also referred to as the facing direction.

[0041] The pair of through holes 16 penetrate between the seal side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12, and the gasket member 10 has at least one of the pair of through holes 16. When another gasket 2 is inverted and stacked on the gasket 2, one of the pair of through holes 16 of the gasket member 10 of the gasket 2 overlaps with a pair of through spaces 18, which will be described later, of the other gasket 2 in the direction of inversion. Also, when another gasket 2 is inverted and stacked on the gasket 2, at least an annular part of the contact side surface 12 of the gasket member 10 of the gasket 2 overlaps with at least an annular part of the contact side surface 12 of the gasket member 10 of the other gasket 2 in the facing direction.

[0042] Hereinafter, the above-described gasket 2 will be described more specifically. As shown in FIG. 1, one of the gaskets 2 and another one of the gaskets 2 constitute the gasket device 1. Hereinafter, one of the gaskets 2 is referred to as the first gasket 2, and another one of the gaskets 2 is referred to as the second gasket 3. Also, the gasket portion 10 of the second gasket 3 is referred to as the gasket portion 20.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, the gasket device 1 is provided in the cell 100 between one separator 101 of a pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane 104 of the membrane assembly 103 which is an intermediate member, and between the other separator 102 of the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane 104, sealing the space S1 between separator 101 and the electrolyte membrane 104 and the space S2 between separator 102 and the electrolyte membrane 104. As shown in Figure 1, the gasket device 1 comprises a first gasket 2 having an internal space 10a and a second gasket 3 having an internal space 20a. As described above, the second gasket 3 is gasket 2 and is the same as the first gasket 2. The first gasket 2 seals space S1, and the second gasket 3 seals space S2. The configuration of the gasket device 1 will be described in detail below.

[0044] As shown in Figure 1, in the cell 100 of the water electrolysis apparatus 4, the membrane assembly 103 has an electrolyte membrane 104 and a pair of catalyst layers, an anode catalyst layer 105 which is the anode side electrode and a cathode catalyst layer 106 which is the cathode side electrode, respectively, provided on both sides of the electrolyte membrane 104. The electrolyte membrane 104 is, for example, an ion exchange membrane, and more specifically, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Gas diffusion layers 107 and 108 are provided on the surfaces of the anode catalyst layer 105 and the cathode catalyst layer 106, respectively. As shown in Figure 1, in the cell 100, the internal space of the cell 100 is divided into two spaces S1 and S2 by the electrolyte membrane 104, with an anode chamber S1 formed between the separator 101 and the electrolyte membrane 104, and a cathode chamber S2 formed between the separator 102 and the electrolyte membrane 104. The anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 are the spaces to be sealed by the gasket device 1. As shown in Figure 1, the anode chamber S1 is sealed by the first gasket 2, and the cathode chamber S2 is sealed by the second gasket 3. The anode chamber S1 is the internal space 10a of the first gasket 2 in the cell 100, and the cathode chamber S2 is the internal space 20a of the second gasket 3 in the cell 100. The anode catalyst layer 105 and the gas diffusion layer 107 are located in the anode chamber S1, and the cathode catalyst layer 106 and the gas diffusion layer 108 are located in the cathode chamber S2. The water electrolysis device 4 comprises, for example, a plurality of cells 100, which are stacked and compressed in the stacking direction to hold them in place. The water electrolysis device 4 may also be formed by a single cell 100.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a front view of the gasket device 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along line A1 - A1 or A2 - A2 of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the cross-section of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along line B1 - B1 or line B2 - B2 of FIG. 2. In FIGS. 2 to 5, the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 are assembled, and the gasket device 1 in an assembled state in which the electrolyte membrane 104 is assembled between the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 is shown. In FIG. 2, the reference numerals of the corresponding configurations of the first gasket 2 or the second gasket 3 on the opposite side are shown in parentheses. Also, in FIGS. 2 to 5, the illustration of the anode catalyst layer 105, the cathode catalyst layer 106, and the diffusion layers 107, 108 is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the gasket device 1 has an approximately annular shape along a plane.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the gasket device 1 has, for example, four through-holes 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. The through-holes 6a to 6d penetrate the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3, respectively. The through-holes 6a to 6d are each part of a plurality of flow paths 109 of the cell 100. The through-holes 6a to 6d are passages for supplying an electrolyte to the anode chamber S1 or the cathode chamber S2 in the cell 100, or passages for discharging the products generated from the anode chamber S1 or the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100. For example, the through-hole 6a is a supply path for supplying an electrolyte to the anode chamber S1, and the through-hole 6b is a supply path for supplying an electrolyte to the cathode chamber S2. Also, the through-hole 6c is a discharge path for discharging the products generated from the anode chamber S1 to the outside of the cell 100, and the through-hole 6d is a discharge path for discharging the products generated from the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100. Note that the electrolytes supplied from the through-holes 6a and 6b may be the same or different. The cell 100 is, for example, an alkaline water electrolysis device, and an alkaline aqueous solution is used as the electrolyte. This alkaline aqueous solution is not limited to a specific one, but for example, a KOH aqueous solution, a NaOH aqueous solution, K ２ CO ３ aqueous solution, KHCO ３ aqueous solution, Na ２ CO ３Aqueous solution, NaHCO ３ The electrolyte is an aqueous solution, etc. Cell 100 may be, for example, a PEM-type water electrolysis apparatus. In this case, pure water is supplied to the anode chamber S1. The gases generated in the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 are oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. The electrolyte may be discharged from the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, respectively, through through holes 6c and 6d, along with the products.

[0047] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, a portion of the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2 and a portion of the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 are in contact. Note that the assembled gasket device 1 shown in Figures 3 to 5 is in a free state, and no external force is applied to the gasket device 1. Furthermore, the outer peripheral end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is sandwiched between the second seal portion 14, which is adjacent to the internal space 10a of the inner peripheral end of the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2, and the portion of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 located in the internal space 20a. Note that a harbor space, which is an annular space open to the inner peripheral side, may be formed between the second seal portion 14 and the support member 30, in which case the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is harbored in the harbor space.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1, 2 to 5, the first gasket 2 has a support member 30 made of the resin described above, and the support member 30 is attached to the communication region 17 of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2. Similarly, the second gasket 3 also has a support member 30, and the support member 30 is attached to the communication region 27 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3. In the water electrolysis apparatus 4, in each cell 100 compressed in the stacking direction, as will be described later, the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 contacts the separator 101 and limits the amount of compression of the gasket member 10, and the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 contacts the separator 102 and limits the amount of compression of the gasket member 20.

[0049] Next, the configuration of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2 will be described in detail. Figure 6 is a front view of the gasket member 10, and Figure 7 is a rear view of the gasket member 10. In Figures 6 and 7, the reference numerals in parentheses indicate the corresponding components of the gasket member 10 or gasket member 20 on the opposite side.

[0050] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the gasket member 10 has a shape corresponding to the gasket device 1, defines an internal space 10a inside, and has an approximately annular shape along a plane. Specifically, the gasket member 10 has an axis x, which is a virtual line extending in the direction of reversal (opposite direction), and has a closed shape around axis x that encloses the internal space 10a along a plane perpendicular to this axis x. The shape of the outer peripheral end of the gasket member 10 is, for example, a rectangular or approximately rectangular annular shape with axis x as the central axis, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Also, the shape of the inner peripheral end surface 10b, which is the inner peripheral end that defines the internal space 10a of the gasket member 10, is, for example, a rectangular or approximately rectangular annular shape, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. In other words, the shape of the anode chamber S1 is, for example, rectangular or approximately rectangular when viewed in the direction of axis x. Specifically, for example, the outer circumferential end of the gasket member 10 may be square or a roughly square annular shape, or rectangular or a roughly rectangular annular shape, and the inner circumferential end surface 10b of the gasket member 10 may be square or a roughly square annular shape, or rectangular or a roughly rectangular annular shape. However, the shape of the gasket member 10 is not limited to the shapes described above; as long as the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 are assembled together as described later, the outer circumferential end may be an annular shape or other shape, and the inner circumferential end may also be an annular shape or other shape.

[0051] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the gasket member 10 is plate-shaped and, as described above, has a pair of sealing sides 11 and contact sides 12 facing away from each other. The sealing side 11 is the front side, and the contact side 12 is the back side. For the sake of explanation, the side facing the sealing side 11 in the axial x direction will be referred to as the front side, and the side facing the contact side 12 in the axial x direction will be referred to as the back side. The sealing side 11 extends, for example, along a plane perpendicular to the axis x, and the contact side 12 extends, for example, along a plane perpendicular to the axis x. Specifically, the sealing side 11 extends, for example, along a plane perpendicular to the axis x, or a substantially plane, and specifically, the contact side 12 extends, for example, along a plane perpendicular to the axis x, or a substantially plane.

[0052] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the gasket member 10 has two through holes 16a and 16c formed as through holes 16. As described above, the first gasket 2 is a gasket that forms the anode chamber S1 in the cell 100, and the through holes 16a and 16c each form one of a pair of through holes 6a and 6c from the four through holes 6a to 6d of the gasket device 1 described above. The through holes 16a and 16c penetrate between the seal side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12. Through hole 16a corresponds to through hole 6a of the gasket device 1 and, as described above, is an opening for supplying electrolyte to the anode chamber S1. Through hole 16c corresponds to through hole 6c of the gasket device 1 and, as described above, is an opening for discharging products generated from the anode chamber S1 to the outside of the cell 100. Through holes 16a and 16c form a pair. Furthermore, the through-hole 16c may correspond to the through-hole 6a of the gasket device 1 and serve as an opening for supplying electrolyte to the anode chamber S1, and the through-hole 16a may correspond to the through-hole 6c of the gasket device 1 and serve as an opening for discharging products generated from the anode chamber S1 to the outside of the cell 100. The through-holes 16a and 16c are located on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion 13.

[0053] Furthermore, the through holes 16a and 16c are, for example, the same or approximately the same size (opening area) and shape. However, the through holes 16a and 16c do not have to be the same or approximately the same size and shape. Also, the through holes 16a and 16c may be rotationally symmetric with respect to axis x, but they do not have to be rotationally symmetric with respect to axis x.

[0054] As described above, the gasket member 10 has a communication region 17. The gasket member 10 has, for example, two communication regions 17. The two communication regions 17 communicate through holes 16a and 16c, respectively, with the internal space 10a. As described above, the support member 30 is provided in the communication region 17. As will be described later, in the cell 100 in use, the support member 30 contacts the separator 101 and the separator 102 to limit the amount of compression of the gasket device 1. As will be described later, the support member 30 extends beyond the communication region 17, with a portion of the support member 30 located in the internal space 10a.

[0055] As shown in Figures 2 to 7, the communication region 17 is specifically defined by, for example, the first sealing portion 13 and the installation portion 17a. The installation portion 17a is formed in the gasket member 10 and is the portion through which the through holes 16a and 16c pass. In other words, the gasket member 10 has two installation portions 17a, and the through holes 16a and 16c are located in each of the two installation portions 17a. The installation portion 17a is located on the inner circumference side of the first sealing portion 13 and is adjacent to the internal space 10a. The installation portion 17a may be provided adjacent to the first sealing portion 13, or it may be provided at a distance from the first sealing portion 13. The installation portion 17a is a plate-shaped portion that extends along the sealing side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the mounting portion 17a is in contact with the internal space 10a on its internal side, and the inner end surface 17b, which is the internal end of the mounting portion 17a, is in contact with a part of the internal space 10a. The inner end surface 17b is the surface facing the axis x. The inner end surface 17b extends, for example, along a plane containing the axis x, and specifically, for example, it extends parallel or substantially parallel to the plane containing the axis x.

[0056] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6, the mounting portion 17a specifically has, for example, a mounting surface 17c facing the front side. The mounting surface 17c extends from the inner end surface 17b toward the outer circumference to the end of the mounting portion 17a along the first seal portion 13 or to the vicinity of this end. The mounting surface 17c extends on the same plane as the contact side surface 12. Specifically, for example, the mounting surface 17c extends on a plane or substantially plane perpendicular to the axis x, and the position of the mounting surface 17c in the axial x direction is the same as or substantially the same as the position of the contact side surface 12 in the axial x direction, and the mounting surface 17c extends on a virtual plane that is an extension of the contact side surface 12, or extends approximately on a virtual plane that is an extension of the contact side surface 12. The mounting surface 17c is in contact with the support member 30. Specifically, as will be described later, the surface of the support member 30 contacts the installation surface 17c, so that the support member 30 is placed on the installation surface 17c. The support member 30 extends beyond the installation surface 17c, with a portion located in the internal space 10a, and the installation surface 17c is smaller than the surface of the support member 30. Also, for example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the installation surface 17c is located on the rear side of the portion adjacent to the installation surface 17c on the first seal portion 13 side in the installation portion 17a, and a step is formed at the outer end 17d, which is the end of the installation surface 17c on the first seal portion 13 side. As shown in Figure 6, the shape of the installation surface 17c is, for example, a triangle or a roughly triangular shape. Note that the shape of the installation surface 17c may be other shapes.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, the mounting portion 17a has a back surface 17e that faces away from the mounting surface 17c. The back surface 17e has the same or substantially the same shape as the mounting surface 17c when viewed in the axial x direction, and extends from the end of the mounting portion 17a on the first seal portion 13 side or near this end to the inner end surface 17b. The back surface 17e extends along the mounting surface 17c, for example, parallel to or substantially parallel to the mounting surface 17c. As described above, the mounting portion 17a is plate-shaped, and there is a width between the mounting surface 17c and the back surface 17e. For this reason, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the back surface 17e is located on the back side in the axial x direction compared to the contact side surface 12.

[0058] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, each installation portion 17a has an annular bead 17f that protrudes from the back surface 17e. The bead 17f is a bead for sealing the flow path 109 that communicates with the anode chamber S1. Specifically, each bead 17f is formed on the back surface 17e and surrounds the through holes 16a and 16b from the outer circumference, sealing the through holes 16a and 16c. Each bead 17f extends annularly along the back surface 17e and surrounds the through holes 16a and 16c from the outside. The height h2 of the bead 17f (see Figure 3) is such that, for example, as will be described later, in the assembled gasket device 1, the position of the tip surface 17g, which is the tip of the bead 17f, in the axial x direction is the same as or approximately the same as the position of the tips of the beads 23a and 25a of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 in the axial x direction. Note that the height h2 of the bead 17f is the width in the axial x direction from the back surface 17e to the tip surface 17g of the bead 17f.

[0059] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the gasket member 10 has a pair of through spaces 18b and 18d on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion 13, which are spaces that penetrate between the seal side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12. As shown in Figure 6, the pair of through spaces 18b and 18d are each surrounded by the first seal portion 13 and the third seal portion 15 on the seal side surface 11. Furthermore, as will be described later, the through spaces 18b and 18d are provided in positions through which the pair of flow paths 109 of the cell 100 and the other of the other pair of flow paths 109 pass. Also, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the shape, size, and position of the through spaces 18b and 18d are set so that, as will be described later, in the assembled gasket device 1, the installation portion 17a of the gasket member 10 is housed within the through spaces 18b and 18d, respectively.

[0060] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the through spaces 18b and 18d are, for example, triangular or roughly triangular when viewed in opposing directions. Specifically, for example, the outer edges of each through space 18b and 18d are aligned with a part of the first seal portion 13, and the inner edges of each through space 18b and 18d are aligned with the third seal portion 15. Furthermore, the inner edges of each through space 18b and 18d are specifically aligned with a part of the edge of the inner space 10a. Note that the shape of the through spaces 18b and 18d is not limited to the shape described above. As will be described later, the shape of the through spaces 18b and 18d may be any other shape as long as it is a shape into which the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 can be assembled.

[0061] Furthermore, the through-spaces 18b and 18d are, for example, the same or approximately the same size (opening area) and shape. However, the through-spaces 18b and 18d do not have to be the same or approximately the same size and shape. Also, the through-spaces 18b and 18d may be rotationally symmetric with respect to axis x, or they may not be rotationally symmetric with respect to axis x.

[0062] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, for example, the through-hole 16a and the through-space 18b are provided such that the positions of the centers of the through-hole 16a and the through-space 18b are symmetrical or substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry P. Similarly, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, for example, the through-hole 16c and the through-space 18d are provided such that the positions of the centers of the through-hole 16c and the through-space 18d are symmetrical or substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry P. This allows the through-holes 16a and 16c of the gasket member 10 to face the through-spaces 18b and 18d of the gasket member 20 when the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2 and the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 come into contact. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, for example, the through-holes 16a and 16c may be rotationally symmetric or substantially rotationally symmetric with respect to axis x, and the through-spaces 18b and 18d may be rotationally symmetric or substantially rotationally symmetric with respect to axis x. In this case, when the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2 and the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 come into contact, the through-hole 16a of the gasket member 10 can be positioned to face the through-space 18b or through-space 18d of the gasket member 20, and the through-hole 16c of the gasket member 10 can be positioned to face the through-space 18b or through-space 18d of the gasket member 20. Note that the plane of symmetry P is a plane containing axis x and is a virtual plane.

[0063] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, the shape and size of the through spaces 18b and 18d are such that the installation surface 17c and back surface 17e of the installation portion 17a are housed within the through spaces 18b and 18d, respectively, in the axial x direction. Also, as shown in Figures 2 to 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, the installation surfaces 17c and back surface 17e of the two installation portions 17a of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2 are housed within the through spaces 18b and 18d of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3, respectively. For example, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the through spaces 18b and 18d are similar to or approximately similar to the back surface 17e of the installation portion 17a, and the size of the through spaces 18b and 18d is larger than the back surface 17e of the installation portion 17a. Furthermore, for example, the installation surface 17c and the back surface 17e of the installation portion 17a are located within a symmetrical range with respect to the symmetry plane P of the through spaces 18b and 18d. Also, for example, the inner ends 18e of the through spaces 18b and 18d are such that their symmetrical positions with respect to the symmetry plane P coincide or substantially coincide with the position of the inner end surface 17b of the installation portion 17a. Note that the inner ends 18e are the inner ends of the through spaces 18b and 18d, respectively, and are the portions of the through spaces 18b and 18d that face the internal space 10a via the third seal portion 15.

[0064] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the through spaces 18b and 18d are adjacent to the internal space 10a via inner circumferential end 19, which is part of the gasket member 10. One of the two inner circumferential end 19 extends along the inner end 18e of the through space 18b, and similarly, the other of the two inner circumferential end 19 extends along the inner end 18e of the through space 18d. The inner circumferential end 19 includes a part of the inner circumferential end surface 10b and is part of the portion that defines the internal space 10a. For example, in the assembled gasket device 1 described later, both ends of the inner circumferential end 19 are in contact with both ends of the inner circumferential end 29 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3, facing each other in the axial x direction.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the first sealing portion 13 described above is formed on the sealing side surface 11 to seal the anode chamber S1. The first sealing portion 13 has, for example, a bead 13a protruding from at least one sealing side surface 11. The bead 13a protrudes from the sealing side surface 11 toward the front and extends in an annular shape along the sealing side surface 11. The bead 13a is an annularly closed bead. Also, as shown in Figure 6, the bead 13a is provided on the outer circumference side of the through holes 16a, 16c and through spaces 18b, 18d, and surrounds the through holes 16a, 16c and through spaces 18b, 18d from the outer circumference side. As shown in Figure 6, the first sealing portion 13 extends, for example, along the outer circumference edge of the sealing side surface 11. As an example, as shown in Figure 6, the first sealing portion 13 has two beads 13a. The two beads 13a are, for example, spaced apart and arranged parallel or nearly parallel to each other.

[0066] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, a third sealing portion 15 is formed on the sealing side surface 11 to seal the pair of flow paths 109 of the cell 100 and the other of the other pair of flow paths 109 with respect to the anode chamber S1 described above. As described above, the first gasket 2 is a gasket that forms the anode chamber S1 in the cell 100, and the third sealing portion 15 of the gasket member 10 seals the flow path 109 communicating with the cathode chamber S2 with respect to the anode chamber S1. Specifically, the third sealing portion 15 seals the through spaces 18b and 18d with respect to the anode chamber S1. Specifically, the third sealing portion 15 extends along the inner circumferential end 19 and is provided in two locations.

[0067] The third seal portion 15 has, for example, a bead 15a protruding from at least one seal side surface 11. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6, each bead 15a has a pair of ends, extends along the seal side surface 11 at the inner circumference end 19, and connects at both ends to a part of the inner circumference bead 13a of the first seal portion 13. In this way, the bead 15a extending from one inner circumference end 19 encloses a part of the inner circumference bead 13a and the through space 18b, preventing the through space 18b from communicating with the anode chamber S1, and the bead 15a extending from the other inner circumference end 19 encloses a part of the inner circumference bead 13a and the through space 18d, preventing the through space 18d from communicating with the anode chamber S1. As an example, as shown in Figure 6, the third seal portion 15 has two beads 15a at each inner circumference end 19. The two beads 15a are, for example, spaced apart and arranged parallel or nearly parallel to each other.

[0068] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, for example, the height of the bead 13a of the first seal portion 13 and the height of the bead 15a of the third seal portion 15 are the same or approximately the same, and the cross-sectional shape of the bead 13a and the cross-sectional shape of the bead 15a are the same or approximately the same. The height of the bead 13a (hereinafter referred to as height h1) is the width in the axial x direction from the contact surface 12 to the tip of the bead 13a, and the height of the bead 15a (hereinafter referred to as height h1) is the width in the axial x direction from the contact surface 12 to the tip of the bead 15a. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shapes of the beads 13a and 15a are the shapes in the cross-section of a plane perpendicular to the extension direction, which is the direction in which the beads 13a and 15a extend.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, a bead 13b is formed on the contact surface 12, facing away from the bead 13a of the first seal portion 13. The bead 13b is formed, for example, by forming a groove on the contact surface 12 that is recessed toward the front side. The bead 13b extends along the bead 13a and has the same or substantially the same shape as the bead 13a when viewed in the axial x direction. The bead 13b is provided on the outer circumference side of the through holes 16a, 16c and through spaces 18b, 18d, and surrounds the through holes 16a, 16c and through spaces 18b, 18d from the outer circumference side. As shown in Figure 7, the bead 13b corresponds to the first seal portion 13 and extends, for example, along the outer circumference edge of the contact surface 12, and two beads 13b are provided. As will be described later, the bead 13b is positioned to be in contact with the bead 23b of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 in the axial x direction when assembled in the gasket device 1. For example, the bead 13b has a symmetrical shape with respect to the plane of symmetry P. Note that the bead 13b does not necessarily have to be provided on the contact surface 12 at the inner circumference end 19.

[0070] Similarly, as shown in Figure 7, a bead 19a is formed on the contact surface 12, facing away from the bead 15a of the third seal portion 15. The bead 19a is formed, for example, by forming a groove on the contact surface 12 that is recessed toward the front. The bead 19a extends along the bead 15a and, for example, has the same or substantially the same shape as the bead 15a when viewed in the axial x direction. The bead 19a extends along the contact surface 12 at the inner circumferential end 19 and connects to a part of the bead 13b at both ends. As shown in Figure 7, corresponding to the third seal portion 15, the bead 19a extends along one inner circumferential end 19, enclosing a part of the bead 13a and the through space 18b, and extends along the other inner circumferential end 19, enclosing a part of the bead 13b and the through space 18d. Furthermore, two beads 19a are provided at each inner circumference end 19, corresponding to, for example, the third seal portion 15. Note that beads 19a do not necessarily have to be provided on the contact surface 12 at the inner circumference end 19.

[0071] Next, the configuration of the support members 30 provided in the first gasket 2 will be described. Figure 8 is a front view of the support member 30, and Figure 9 is a rear view of the support member 30. The first gasket 2 has a number of support members 30 corresponding to the communication region 17, and in this embodiment, it has two support members 30.

[0072] The support member 30 is formed from a resin material, and as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the support member 30 is a plate-shaped member having a pair of opposing surfaces, a front surface 31 and a back surface 32. The front surface 31 and the back surface 32 have, for example, the same or substantially the same contour. The support member 30 is sizable within the communication region 17, and is shaped and sized such that when sizable within the communication region 17, a portion (protruding region 30a) extends from the communication region 17 into the inner space 10b. The front surface 31 extends along a plane, for example, it is a plane or substantially a plane. The back surface 32 extends along a plane, for example, it is a plane or substantially a plane. The front surface 31 and the back surface 32 are, for example, parallel or substantially parallel. The shape of the back surface 32 is such that the portion excluding the protruding surface 32a at one end of the back surface 32 contacts the installation surface 17c of the installation portion 17a of the gasket member 10. For example, the shape of the portion of the back surface 32 excluding the protruding surface 32a is the same as or approximately the same as the shape of the mounting surface 17c. The protruding surface 32a of the back surface 32 protrudes from the inner end surface 17b of the mounting portion 17a and is located in the inner space 10a. The area of ​​the portion of the back surface 32 excluding the protruding surface 32a is, for example, the same as or approximately the same as the area of ​​the mounting surface 17c, or smaller than the area of ​​the mounting surface 17c.

[0073] The support member 30 has an inner end surface 30b, which is an end surface that extends along the end of the communication region 17 connected to the anode chamber S1. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the inner end surface 30b is a surface facing the inner circumference that extends along the inner end surface 17b of the installation portion 17a in the first gasket 2. The protruding region 30a is a portion that extends along the inner end surface 30a of the support member 30. The protruding surface 32a is the back surface 32 of the protruding region 30a and extends along the inner end surface 30a. As will be described later, the protruding surface 32a is positioned to face the contact surface 22 at the inner circumference end 29 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 in the assembled gasket device 1. For example, the protruding surface 32a faces the contact surface 22 in the portion of the inner circumference end 29 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 excluding both ends. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the support member 30 has through holes 33. The through holes 33 penetrate between the surface 31 and the back surface 32. When the support member 30 is placed on the installation surface 17c such that the back surface 32 faces the installation surface 17c of the gasket member 10, the through holes 33 are positioned on the back surface 32 such that they overlap and communicate with the through holes 16a and 16c when viewed in the axial x direction. The cross-sectional area of ​​the through holes 33 is, for example, smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the through holes 16a and 16c, as shown in Figures 3 to 5. However, the cross-sectional area of ​​the through holes 33 may be the same as or larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the through holes 16a and 16c.

[0074] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2, 4, and 8, a flow path 35 is formed on the surface 31 of the support member 30. The flow path 35 is formed by recesses that are recessed inward on the support member 30. The flow path 35 is formed, for example, by a plurality of grooves 36, 37 and recesses 38 that are recessed from the surface 31 toward the back surface 32. The plurality of grooves 36 are formed, for example, along the inner end surface 30b, with one end of each groove 36 open to the outside of the support member 30 at the inner end surface 30b. The plurality of grooves 37 are provided, for example, along a portion of the entire circumference of the through hole 33, with one end of each groove 37 communicating with the through hole 33 and the other end of each groove 37 facing toward the inner end surface 30b. The recesses 38 are formed between the plurality of grooves 36 and the plurality of grooves 37, with the ends of the grooves 36 and 37 communicating with each other. As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the surface 31 extends along the end of the support member 30, excluding the inner end face 30b, and also extends between the multiple grooves 36 and the multiple grooves 37. In this way, on the surface 31 side of the support member 30, a flow path 35 is formed by the multiple grooves 36, 37 and recesses 38 that are recessed from the surface 31, connecting the through hole 33 with the outside of the support member 30 along the inner end face 30b.

[0075] The height h3 of the support member 30 is set to a predetermined height based on the height h1 of the beads 13a and 15a of the gasket member 10. The height h3 is the width in the x-axis direction between the surface 31 and the back surface 32, as shown in Figure 3. The height h3 of the support member 30 is such that, for example, in the cell 100 of the water electrolysis apparatus 4, the beads 13a and 15a of the gasket member 10 are compressed by a predetermined amount. The height h3 of the support member 30 will be described in detail later.

[0076] The two support members 30 may have the same shape and size, or they may have different shapes and sizes. For example, if the shape and size of the two communication regions 17 of the gasket member 10, the shape and size of the through holes 16a and 16c, and the positions of the through holes 16a and 16c on the installation surface 17c are the same, the two support members 30 can be the same. On the other hand, if the two communication regions 17 are not the same shape or size, the through holes 16a and 16c are not the same shape or size, the positions of the through holes 16a and 16c on the installation surface 17c are not the same, or if the configurations of the two communication regions 17 and the two installation surfaces 17c are not the same, then two types of support members 30 corresponding to the respective configurations of the two communication regions 17 and the respective configurations of the two installation surfaces 17c may be provided. For example, if the through holes 16a and 16c are not the same shape or size, the through hole 33 of one support member 30 will be in a position and shape corresponding to the through hole 16a, and the through hole 33 of the other support member 30 will be in a position and shape corresponding to the through hole 16c.

[0077] As will be described later, in the assembled gasket device 1, the bead 19a on the inner circumference end 19 of the gasket member 10 faces the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3, and sandwiches the electrolyte membrane 104 between the bead 19a and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30. Furthermore, both ends of the bead 19a extending from the portion facing the protruding surface 32a face both ends of the bead 29a on the inner circumference end 29 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3, as will be described later, and sandwiches the electrolyte membrane 104 between them. In this way, the bead 19a on the inner circumference end 19 of the gasket member 10 constitutes the second seal portion 14. Note that the bead 19a does not necessarily have to be formed on the inner circumference end 19 of the gasket member 10. In this case, in the assembled gasket device 1, the contact surface 12 at the inner circumferential end 19 of the gasket member 10 faces the corresponding portion of the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 and the contact surface 22 of the inner circumferential end 29 of the gasket member 20, and the electrolyte membrane 104 is sandwiched between the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 and the contact surface 22 of the inner circumferential end 29 of the gasket member 20. In other words, in this case, the contact surface 12 at the inner circumferential end 19 of the gasket member 10 constitutes the second seal portion 14. Note that the second seal portion 14 at the contact surface 12 of the inner circumferential end 19 may be recessed toward the seal surface 11 side than the other contact surfaces 12, forming an annular space that opens toward the inner circumferential side to accommodate the end of the electrolyte membrane 104 as described above.

[0078] The first gasket 2 has the configuration described above. The second gasket 3 is the same as the first gasket 2 and has the same configuration. The only difference between the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3, as shown in Figure 1, is whether they are used to seal the anode chamber S1 in the cell 100 or to seal the cathode chamber S2 by inverting them.

[0079] As described above, the configuration of the second gasket 3 is the same as that of the first gasket 2, and the second gasket 3 has the same configuration as the first gasket 2, as shown in Figures 1 to 5. In Figures 2, 6, and 7, the corresponding reference numerals for the second gasket 3 are shown in parentheses next to the reference numerals for the first gasket 2.

[0080] The second gasket 3 has a gasket member 20 corresponding to the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2, and a support member 30 corresponding to the support member 30 of the first gasket 2. In this embodiment, the second gasket 2 has two support members 30. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the gasket member 20 has a sealing side 21 and a contact side 22, which correspond to the sealing side 11 and contact side 12 of the gasket member 10, respectively. The gasket member 20 also has an internal space 20a and an inner circumferential end surface 20b, which correspond to the internal space 10a and inner circumferential end surface 10b of the gasket member 10, respectively. Furthermore, the gasket member 20 includes the first sealing portion 13, bead 13a, second sealing portion 14, tip surface 14a, third sealing portion 15, bead 15a, through holes 16, 16a, 16c, communication region 17, installation portion 17a, inner end surface 17b, installation surface 17c, outer end 17d, back surface 17e, bead 17f, tip surface 17g, through spaces 18b, 18d, inner end 18e, inner circumference end 19, and Corresponding to each of the 19a sections, it has a first sealing section 23, a bead 23a, a second sealing section 24, a tip surface 24a, a third sealing section 25, a bead 25a, through holes 26, 26a, 26c, a communication region 27, an installation section 27a, an inner end surface 27b, an installation surface 27c, an outer end 27d, a back surface 27e, a bead 27f, a tip surface 27g, through spaces 28b, 28d, an inner end 28e, an inner circumferential end 29, and a bead 29a.

[0081] As described above, the second gasket 3 is the same as the first gasket 2, and therefore the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 is able to contact the contact surface 11 of the gasket member 10, so as to coincide or substantially coincide with each other when viewed in the direction of contact.

[0082] The gasket members 10 and 20 have the above-described structure and are each integrally formed from the same elastic material. The elastic material of the gasket members 10 and 20 is, for example, rubber. Specifically, the elastic material of the gasket members 10 and 20 can be, for example, ethylene propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), fluororubber (FKM), silicone rubber (VMQ), etc. Since the gasket members 10 and 20 are made from an elastic material, they are flexible. In particular, when the gasket members 10 and 20 are large, each part of the gasket members 10 and 20 is flexible. The description of the gasket members 10 and 20, especially the description of their shape, refers to the gasket members 10 and 20 in an undeformed state, for example, in the state shown in the design drawings.

[0083] Next, the operation of the gasket device 1 having the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 having the above-described configuration will be explained. In order to assemble the cell 100, the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 are assembled with the electrolyte membrane 104 in between, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, to assemble the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103. Furthermore, the assembled gasket device 1 and membrane assembly 103 are sandwiched between a pair of separators 101 and 102, as shown in Figure 1, to assemble the cell 100. Note that the assembled cell 100 shown in Figure 1 is in use as it constitutes a water electrolysis device 4 in which multiple cells 100 are stacked and compressed and fixed in the stacking direction, and the beads 13a, 13b, 15a, 17f, 19a, 23a, 23b, 25a, 27f, and 28a are crushed by a predetermined amount.

[0084] As described above, the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 are identical. Therefore, in the assembled gasket device 1, where the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 are inverted relative to each other, each component of the first gasket 2 coincides with or substantially coincides with the component of the second gasket 3 that is symmetrically positioned with respect to the plane of symmetry P in the first gasket 2, in the axial x direction. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, the first gasket 2 and the second gasket 3 face opposite each other in the axial x direction, and the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 and the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 are in contact. Specifically, mainly the bead 13b on the contact side surface 12 of the gasket member 10 and the bead 23b on the contact side surface 22 of the gasket member 20 are in contact.

[0085] As described above, in the gasket member 10, the installation surfaces 17c and back surfaces 17e of the two installation portions 17a are each located in symmetrical regions with respect to the symmetrical plane P of the through spaces 18b and 18d. Similarly, in the gasket member 20, the installation surfaces 27c and back surfaces 27e of the two installation portions 27a are each located in symmetrical regions with respect to the symmetrical plane P of the through spaces 28b and 28d. Therefore, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, the installation surfaces 17c and back surfaces 17e of the installation portion 17a in the gasket member 10, where the through hole 16a is formed, are housed within the through space 18b of the gasket member 20. This results in the formation of the through hole 6a in the gasket device 1. Similarly, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, the installation surface 17c and back surface 17e of the installation portion 17a in which the through hole 16c of the gasket member 10 is formed are housed within the through space 18d of the gasket member 20. As a result, the through hole 6c is formed in the gasket device 1.

[0086] Similarly, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, in the assembled gasket device 1, the installation surface 27c and back surface 27e of the installation portion 27a in which the through hole 26a of the gasket member 20 is formed are housed within the through space 18b of the gasket member 10. This forms the through hole 6b in the gasket device 1. Similarly, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, in the assembled gasket device 1, the installation surface 27c and back surface 27e of the installation portion 27a in which the through hole 26c of the gasket member 20 is formed are housed within the through space 18d of the gasket member 10. This forms the through hole 6d in the gasket device 1.

[0087] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the two support members 30 are placed on the two mounting surfaces 17c of the gasket member 10 and attached to the gasket member 10. In the attached state, the portions of the back surface 32 of the support members 30, excluding the protruding surface 32a, are in contact with the two mounting surfaces 17c of the gasket member 10. Also, in the attached state, the through hole 33 of one support member 30 overlaps with the through hole 16a of the gasket member 10, and the through hole 33 of the other support member 30 overlaps with the through hole 16c of the gasket member 10. Thus, in the attached state, the through holes 33 of the support members 30 are in communication with the through holes 16a and 16c of the gasket member 10, respectively. The support members 30 may each be fixed to the mounting surface 17c. For example, the support members 30 may each be fixed to the mounting surface 17c by adhesive. Furthermore, each support member 30 may be fixed to the gasket member 10 by being sandwiched between, for example, the bead 13a and the two inner circumferential ends 19. In this way, the two support members 30 are each housed in the two communication regions 17 of the gasket member 10. Also, the protruding regions 30a of each support member 30 extend from the communication region 17 and are located in the internal space 10a.

[0088] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the two support members 30 are placed on the two mounting surfaces 27c of the gasket member 20 and attached to the gasket member 20. In the attached state, the portions of the back surface 32 of the support members 30, excluding the protruding surface 32a, are in contact with the two mounting surfaces 27c of the gasket member 20. Also, in the attached state, the through hole 33 of one support member 30 overlaps with the through hole 26a of the gasket member 20, and the through hole 33 of the other support member 30 overlaps with the through hole 26c of the gasket member 20. As a result, in the attached state, the through holes 33 of the support members 30 are in communication with the through holes 26a and 26c of the gasket member 20, respectively. The support members 30 may each be fixed to the mounting surface 27c. For example, the support members 30 may each be fixed to the mounting surface 27c by adhesive. Furthermore, each support member 30 may be fixed to the gasket member 20 by being sandwiched between, for example, the bead 23a and the two inner circumferential ends 29. In this way, the two support members 30 are each housed in the two communication regions 27 of the gasket member 20. Also, the protruding region 30a of each support member 30 extends from the communication region 27 and is located in the internal space 20a.

[0089] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, in the installed state, the through holes 33 of the four support members 30 each communicate with the through holes 6a to 6d of the gasket device 1. Also, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, in the support member 30 where the through hole 33 communicates with the through hole 6a, the flow path 35 communicates the through hole 6a with the anode chamber S1, and in the support member 30 where the through hole 33 communicates with the through hole 6c, the flow path 35 communicates the through hole 6c with the anode chamber S1. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, in the support member 30 where the through hole 33 communicates with the through hole 6b, the flow path 35 communicates the through hole 6b with the cathode chamber S2, and in the support member 30 where the through hole 33 communicates with the through hole 6d, the flow path 35 communicates the through hole 6d with the cathode chamber S2. As a result, in cell 100, two flow paths 109 communicate with the anode chamber S1, and the other two flow paths 109 communicate with the cathode chamber S2.

[0090] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the through-hole 6a passes through the through-space 28b, and the flow path 109 of the cell 100 containing the through-hole 6a passes through the through-space 28b. Also, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the through-hole 6c passes through the through-space 28d, and the flow path 109 of the cell 100 containing the through-hole 6c passes through the through-space 28d. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the through-hole 6b passes through the through-space 18b, and the flow path 109 of the cell 100 containing the through-hole 6b passes through the through-space 18b. Also, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the through-hole 6d passes through the through-space 18d, and the flow path 109 of the cell 100 containing the through-hole 6d passes through the through-space 18d.

[0091] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, in the free-state gasket device 1, the beads 13a and 15a protrude beyond the support member 30 in the direction of the protrusion of the beads 13a and 15a in the axial x direction. As shown in Figure 3, in the free-state gasket device 1, the height h3 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 is such that the surface 31 is lower than the tip of the beads 13a and 15a (back side position) when facing the front side in the axial x direction. For example, the height is such that the surface 31 is lower than the tip of the beads 13a and 15a (back side position) when facing the front side in the axial x direction by a predetermined amount of compression of the beads 13a and 15a, or approximately a predetermined amount of compression of the beads 13a and 15a. Thus, the height h3 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 is set relative to the height h1 of the beads 13a and 15a.

[0092] Similarly, as shown in Figure 5, in the free-state gasket device 1, the beads 23a and 25a protrude beyond the support member 30 in the direction of the protrusion of the beads 23a and 25a in the axial x direction. As shown in Figure 5, in the free-state gasket device 1, the height h3 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 is such that the surface 31 is lower than the tip of the beads 23a and 25a (front position) toward the rear side in the axial x direction. For example, the height is such that the surface 31 is lower than the tip of the beads 23a and 25a (front position) toward the rear side in the axial x direction by a predetermined amount of compression of the beads 23a and 25a, or approximately by a predetermined amount of compression of the beads 23a and 25a. Thus, the height h3 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 is set relative to the height h1 of the beads 23a and 25a.

[0093] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 and the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 are in contact, and the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 and the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 are located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane. Also, in the gasket member 20, the installation surface 27c of the installation portion 27a is arranged to extend on the same plane as the contact surface 22. For this reason, in the assembled gasket device 1, the contact surface 12 at the inner circumference end 19 of the gasket member 10 and the installation surface 27c of the gasket member 20 are located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane. In the assembled gasket device 1, a part of the back surface 32 of the support member 30 is in contact with the installation surface 27c, and the back surface 32 of the support member 30 is located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane as the installation surface 27c. Therefore, in the assembled gasket device 1, the contact surface 12 at the inner circumferential end 19 of the gasket member 10 and the back surface 32 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 are located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane. Specifically, the position of the contact surface 12 at the inner circumferential end 19 of the gasket member 10 in the axial x direction and the position of the back surface 32 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 in the axial x direction are the same or approximately the same. The same applies to the bead 19a of the second seal portion 14, which is part of the contact surface 12, and also to the protruding surface 32a, which is part of the back surface 32. Furthermore, in the assembled gasket device 1, the two second seal portions 14 of the gasket member 10 and the two protruding surfaces 32 of the support members 30 of the second gasket 3 each face each other in the axial x direction via the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 of the membrane assembly 103. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, in the assembled gasket device 1, the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10 sandwiches the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 between itself and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3. Specifically, the bead 19a of the inner circumference end portion 19 of the gasket member 10 sandwiches the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 between itself and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3.In the assembled gasket device 1, the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10 may or may not be in contact with the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104, and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 may or may not be in contact with the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104.

[0094] Similarly, in the gasket member 10, the installation surface 17c of the installation portion 17a is positioned to extend on the same plane as the contact surface 12. As a result, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the assembled gasket device 1, the contact surface 22 at the inner circumferential end 29 of the gasket member 20 and the installation surface 17c of the gasket member 10 are located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane. In the assembled gasket device 1, a portion of the back surface 32 of the support member 30 is in contact with the installation surface 17c, and the back surface 32 of the support member 30 is located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane as the installation surface 17c. As a result, in the assembled gasket device 1, the contact surface 22 at the inner circumferential end 29 of the gasket member 20 and the back surface 32 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 are located on the same plane or approximately on the same plane. Specifically, the position of the contact surface 22 at the inner circumferential end 29 of the gasket member 20 in the axial x direction and the position of the back surface 32 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 in the axial x direction are the same or approximately the same. The same applies to the bead 29a of the second seal portion 24, which is part of the contact surface 22, and also to the protruding surface 32a, which is part of the back surface 32. Furthermore, in the assembled gasket device 1, the two second seal portions 24 of the gasket member 20 and the two protruding surfaces 32 of the support members 30 of the first gasket 2 each face each other in the axial x direction via the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 of the membrane assembly 103. Therefore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, in the assembled gasket device 1, the second seal portion 24 of the gasket member 20 sandwiches the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 between itself and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 3. Specifically, the bead 29a of the inner circumference end 29 of the gasket member 20 sandwiches the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 between itself and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2. In the assembled gasket device 1, the second sealing portion 24 of the gasket member 20 may or may not be in contact with the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104, and the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 may or may not be in contact with the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104.

[0095] Furthermore, in the assembled gasket device 1, both ends of the two second seal portions 14 of the gasket member 10 and both ends of the two second seal portions 24 of the gasket member 20 face each other in the axial x direction via the ends 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 of the membrane assembly 103. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2, in the assembled gasket device 1, both ends of the second seal portions 14 of the gasket member 10 and both ends of the second seal portions 24 of the gasket member 20 each sandwich the ends 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104. Specifically, the bead 19a of the inner circumference end 19 of the gasket member 10 and the bead 29a of the inner circumference end 29 of the gasket member 20 sandwich the ends 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104.

[0096] As described above, in the assembled gasket device 1, the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10 sandwiches the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 between the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 and both ends of the second sealing portion 24 of the gasket member 20, and the second sealing portion 24 of the gasket member 20 sandwiches the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 between the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 and both ends of the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10. As will be described later, in the operating state of the cell 100 in which the space between separator 101 and separator 102 is compressed, the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10 is pressed against the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 and both ends of the second sealing portion 24 of the gasket member 20 via the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104, and the second sealing portion 24 of the gasket member 20 is pressed against the protruding surface 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 and both ends of the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10 via the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104. In this way, in the cell 100, the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 are separated by the second sealing portion 14 of the gasket member 10 and the second sealing portion 24 of the gasket member 20, thereby suppressing so-called cross-leakage.

[0097] As described above, the gasket device 1, which is assembled from the gasket device 1 and the membrane bonding body 103, is sandwiched between separators 101 and 102, as shown in Figure 1, thereby assembling the cell 100. Specifically, separator 101 is positioned opposite the sealing side surface 11 of the gasket member 10 of the first gasket 2 of the gasket device 1, and is in contact with the gasket member 10, and separator 102 is positioned opposite the sealing side surface 21 of the gasket member 20 of the second gasket 3 of the gasket device 1, and is in contact with the gasket member 20.

[0098] In the assembled cell 100, separator 101 is in contact with beads 13a and 15a, facing the first gasket 2. Separator 102 is in contact with beads 23a and 25a, facing the second gasket 3. In the assembled cell 100, when a force is applied to separator 101 toward separator 102, and a force is applied to separator 102 toward separator 101, the gasket members 10 and 20 are compressed, and the cell 100 becomes ready for use.

[0099] In the cell 100 in use, the beads 13a and 15a of the gasket member 10 are pressed against the separator 101, and the second seal portion 24 of the gasket member 20 is pressed against the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104, thereby sealing the anode chamber S1. The bead 15a seals the through spaces 18b and 18d relative to the anode chamber S1, blocking the anode chamber S1 from the through holes 6b and 6d, respectively. Also in the cell 100 in use, the beads 23a and 25a of the gasket member 20 are pressed against the separator 102, and the second seal 14 of the gasket member 10 is pressed against the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104, thereby sealing the cathode chamber S2. The bead 25a seals the through spaces 28b and 28d relative to the cathode chamber S2, blocking the cathode chamber S2 from the through holes 6a and 6c, respectively. Contact between the electrolyte membrane 104 and the second sealing portions 14 and 24 prevents communication between the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, thus preventing so-called cross-leakage. Furthermore, the bead 13b on the contact surface 12 of the gasket member 10 and the bead 23b on the contact surface 22 of the gasket member 20 are in contact, thereby preventing the sealed material in the anode chamber S1 from leaking out of the cell 100, and also preventing the sealed material in the cathode chamber S2 from leaking out of the cell 100.

[0100] Furthermore, in the cell 100 in use, the bead 17f of the gasket member 10 may be pressed against the separator 102, and similarly, the bead 27f of the gasket member 20 may be pressed against the separator 101. In this case, the sealing performance of each flow path 109 of the cell 100 can be improved.

[0101] As described above, in use, the gasket members 10 and 20 are compressed by being sandwiched between separator 101 and separator 102. For example, as shown in Figure 1, separators 101 and 102 are pressed in opposing directions such that the surface 101a of separator 101 contacts the surface 31 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2, and the surface 102a of separator 102 contacts the surface 31 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3.

[0102] As described above, the height h1 of the beads 13a and 15a and the height h3 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 are such that, in the assembled gasket device 1, the surface 31 of the support member 30 is positioned lower than the tip of the beads 13a and 15a by the amount of the compression allowance of the beads 13a and 15a, or approximately the amount of the compression allowance of the beads 13a and 15a, towards the front side in the axial x direction (see Figure 3). Therefore, in the above-described usage state, the beads 13a and 15a are compressed by the amount of the compression allowance, or approximately the amount of the compression allowance. As a result, each of the beads 13a and 15a generates the desired surface pressure and exhibits the desired sealing performance.

[0103] Similarly, the height h1 of the beads 23a and 25a and the height h3 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 are such that, in the assembled gasket device 1, the surface 31 of the support member 30 is positioned (front side position) lower than the tip of the beads 23a and 25a by the amount of the compression allowance of the beads 23a and 25a or approximately the amount of the compression allowance of the beads 23a and 25a, toward the back side in the axial x direction (see Figure 5). Therefore, in the above-described usage state, the beads 23a and 25a are compressed by the amount of the compression allowance or approximately the amount of the compression allowance. As a result, each of the beads 23a and 25a generates the desired surface pressure and exhibits the desired sealing performance.

[0104] Furthermore, the support member 30 is formed from a resin material and does not compress or deform in the direction of compression due to the pressure of the separators 101 and 102, or if it does compress or deform in the direction of compression, the amount of deformation is minimal. Therefore, damage to the beads 13a and 15a or beads 23a and 25a due to overcompression can be prevented or suppressed. This prevents or suppresses a reduction in the lifespan of the gasket members 10 and 20. In addition, the flow path 35 of the support member 30 does not deform due to the pressure of the separators 101 and 102, or if it does deform, it is minimal, and the flow paths between the through holes 6a and 6c and the anode chamber S1, and between the through holes 6b and 6d and the cathode chamber S2, do not decrease, or their decrease is suppressed.

[0105] Furthermore, in the assembled gasket device 1, even if the difference between the tips of the beads 13a and 15a in the axial x-direction and the surface 31 of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 is greater than the set compression allowance for the beads 13a and 15a, the separators 101 and 102 are supported by the support member 30, and the beads 13a and 15a will not be compressed more than the amount of compression when the separators 101 and 102 each contact the surface 31 of the support member 30. Therefore, damage to the beads 13a and 15a due to overcompression can be prevented or suppressed. The same applies when, in the assembled gasket device 1, the difference between the tips of the beads 23a and 25a in the axial x-direction and the surface 31 of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 is greater than the set compression allowance for the beads 23a and 25a. In this case as well, the flow path 35 of the support member 30 ensures a flow path between the through holes 6a and 6c and the anode chamber S1, and a flow path between the through holes 6b and 6d and the cathode chamber S2.

[0106] As described above, the gasket device 1 eliminates the need for strict control of the tightening load of the cell 100 during the assembly of the water electrolysis apparatus 4. Furthermore, the gasket members 10 and 20 can be easily brought into a state that exhibits suitable sealing performance. In addition, regardless of the magnitude of the tightening load of the cell 100, the flow paths between the through holes 6a and 6c and the anode chamber S1, and the flow paths between the through holes 6b and 6d and the cathode chamber S2 can be secured. Moreover, the gasket device 1 eliminates the need for strict control of the spacing between the separators 101 and 102 for tightening the cell 100 during the assembly of the water electrolysis apparatus 4.

[0107] On the other hand, if the support member 30 is absent, the tightening load on the cell 100 may become excessive, causing the bead to be crushed more than necessary. This may damage the bead. In addition, the flow paths between the through holes 6a and 6c and the anode chamber S1, and between the through holes 6b and 6d and the cathode chamber S2 may be crushed, making it impossible to maintain these flow paths. Furthermore, the separators 101 and 102 may come into contact with the diffusion layers 107 and 108, potentially damaging the film bonding body 103 and the diffusion layers 107 and 108. Thus, if the support member 30 is absent, strict control of the tightening load on the cell 100 is necessary. Also, if the support member 30 is absent, strict control of the spacing between the separators 101 and 102 for tightening the cell 100 is necessary.

[0108] Furthermore, the flow path 35 of the support member 30 ensures a flow path between the through holes 6a, 6c and the anode chamber S1, and a flow path between the through holes 6b, 6d and the cathode chamber S2. For this reason, the separators 101 and 102 do not need to have a configuration for forming a flow path between the through holes 6a, 6c and the anode chamber S1, and a flow path between the through holes 6b, 6d and the cathode chamber S2. However, the separators 101 and 102 may have a configuration for forming a flow path between the through holes 6a, 6c and the anode chamber S1, and a flow path between the through holes 6b, 6d and the cathode chamber S2.

[0109] In the water electrolysis apparatus, multiple cells 100 are arranged in series, and these arranged cells 100 are pressed and fixed in such a way that the separators 101 and 102 in each cell 100 are pressed in opposing directions. Furthermore, only one separator is provided between two adjacent cells 100, and this single separator functions as both separator 101 and separator 102.

[0110] The gasket device 1 has the above-described configuration, and when assembling the cell 100, the gasket device 1 and the membrane bond 103 can be integrated into one unit. Therefore, when assembling the cell 100, the handling of the gasket device 1 and the membrane bond 103 can be made easier, and the assembly of the gasket device 1 and the membrane bond 103 with the separators 101 and 102 can be made easier. In this way, the gasket device 1 makes it possible to assemble the cell 100 and improve the manufacturing efficiency of the cell 100.

[0111] Furthermore, the protruding region 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 is not supported by the portion of the gasket member 10, and in the gasket device 1, there is no portion of the gasket member 10 interposed between the protruding region 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 and the second seal portion 24 of the gasket member 20, and the protruding region 32a of the support member 30 of the first gasket 2 directly contacts the second seal portion 24 of the gasket member 20. Similarly, the protruding region 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 is not supported by the portion of the gasket member 20, and in the gasket device 1, there is no portion of the gasket member 20 interposed between the protruding region 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 and the second seal portion 14 of the gasket member 10, and the protruding region 32a of the support member 30 of the second gasket 3 directly contacts the second seal portion 14 of the gasket member 10. Therefore, the support member 30 and gasket members 10 and 20 can be made thinner (thinner) while ensuring the necessary thickness (wall thickness) of the support member 30 and gasket members 10 and 20. This makes the gasket device 1 thinner and the cell 100 thinner.

[0112] As described above, according to the gaskets 2, 3 and gasket apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturing of the cell 100 can be facilitated.

[0113] Although the present invention has been described above through the embodiments described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiments above. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the embodiments described above. It will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0114] The embodiments described above are for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its interpretation. Furthermore, the embodiments described above do not limit the scope of application of the present invention, and the present invention may encompass anything as its target application. The components of the above embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, and sizes, are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. For example, the present invention includes differences that arise in the implementation of manufacturing tolerances, etc. Furthermore, components shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined to the extent that they do not contradict each other in a technical sense. In addition, each configuration can be selectively combined as appropriate to achieve at least some of the problems and effects described above.

[0115] For example, within the scope of the gasket device 1 described above and the function and effect of the gasket device 1, the second gasket 3 does not have to be exactly the same as the first gasket 2, but may be substantially the same, for example.

[0116] In the above explanation, the gasket device 1 was described using a water electrolysis apparatus as an example of an applicable device, but the application of the gasket device 1 is not limited to water electrolysis apparatuses. For example, the gasket device 1 can also be used in the cells of a fuel cell.

[0117] 1 Gasket device, 2 First gasket, 3 Second gasket, 4 Water electrolysis device, 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) Through hole, 10 Gasket member, 10a Internal space, 10b Inner circumferential end surface, 11 Seal side surface, 12 Contact side surface, 13 First seal portion, 13a Bead, 14 Second seal portion, 14a Front end surface, 15 Third seal portion, 15a Bead, 16, 16a, 16c Through hole, 17 Communication area, 17a Installation portion, 17b Inner end surface, 17c Installation surface, 17d Outer end, 17e Back surface, 17f Bead, 17g Front end surface, 18b, 18d Through space, 18e Inner end, 19 Inner circumferential end surface, 19a Bead, 20 Gasket member, 20a Internal space, 20b 21 Inner circumferential end face, 22 Seal side face, 23 Contact side face, 23 First seal portion, 23a Bead, 24 Second seal portion, 24a Front end face, 25 Third seal portion, 25a Bead, 26, 26a, 26c Through hole, 27 Communication region, 27a Installation portion, 27b Inner end face, 27c Installation surface, 27d Outer end, 27e Back surface, 27f Bead, 27g Front end face, 28b, 28d Through space, 28e Inner end, 29 Inner circumferential end portion, 29a Bead, 30 Support member, 30a Protruding region, 30b Inner end face, 31 Surface, 32 Back surface, 32a Protruding surface, 33 Through hole, 35 Flow path, 36, 37 Groove, 38 Recess, 100 Cell, 101, 102 Separator, 101a Surface, 101b recess, 101c-101f through-hole, 103 membrane assembly, 104 electrolyte membrane, 104a end, 104b outer edge, 105 anode catalyst layer, 106 cathode catalyst layer, 107, 108 diffusion layer, 109 channel, h1, h2, h3 height, P plane of symmetry, S1 anode chamber (space), S2 cathode chamber (space), T1 thickness, x axis

Claims

1. A gasket for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, wherein the gasket is configured such that one gasket is inverted and placed on top of the other gasket to seal the space, and comprises a gasket member formed of an elastic material and a support member formed of a resin material. The gasket member penetrates the gasket member and defines an internal space which is the space included in the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member. The gasket member has a sealing side surface and a contact side surface which are a pair of opposing surfaces surrounding the internal space, a pair of through holes which are included in one of the flow paths and one of the other pair of flow paths among a plurality of flow paths which extend in the opposing directions between the pair of members on the outer circumference side of the intermediate member, a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion which seal the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, a third sealing portion which seals the other of the pair of flow paths and the other of the other pair of flow paths to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a communication region which is a region which connects each of the pair of through holes to the internal space. The support member is provided in the communication region, and the second sealing portion of one of the gasket members of the gasket is positioned to sandwich the intermediate member between itself and the other support member of the gasket.

2. The gasket according to claim 1, wherein the support member extends beyond the communication region, and a portion of the support member is located in the internal space.

3. The gasket member has an installation portion which is a portion through which each of the pair of through holes passes, the installation portion is located on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion and is adjacent to the internal space, and the first seal portion and the installation portion define the communication region, the gasket according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The gasket according to claim 3, wherein the installation portion has an installation surface facing the direction in which the seal side surface faces, the installation surface and the contact side surface extend on the same plane, and the support member is in contact with the installation surface.

5. The gasket according to claim 4, wherein the support member extends beyond the installation surface, and a portion of the support member is located in the internal space.

6. The gasket according to claim 2, wherein a portion of the contact surface faces a portion of another support member of the gasket in the opposing direction.

7. The gasket member has a pair of through spaces on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion, which are spaces that penetrate between the seal side surface and the contact side surface, and each of the pair of through spaces is surrounded by the first seal portion and the third seal portion on the seal side surface, and is provided in a position through which the pair of flow paths and the other of the other pair of flow paths pass.

8. The gasket according to claim 7, wherein the contact surface of the gasket member faces a portion of the other support member of the gasket in the portion between each of the through spaces and the internal space.

9. The gasket according to claim 8, wherein each of the installation portions is housed within the other through space of the gasket.

10. The gasket according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing portion has at least one bead protruding from the sealing side surface, and the third sealing portion has at least one bead protruding from the sealing side surface, and in the opposing directions, the bead protrudes more than the support member in the direction in which the bead protrudes.

11. The gasket according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a flow path that connects each of the pair of through holes to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

12. The gasket according to claim 11, wherein the flow path is formed by a recess that is recessed on the inner side of the support member.

13. The gasket according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a pair of surfaces facing each other and is plate-shaped.

14. The gasket according to claim 3, wherein the installation portion has a back surface which is the surface facing the side that the contact side faces, and a bead protruding from the back surface which surrounds the through hole.

15. A gasket device for sealing the space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, comprising an annular first gasket and an annular second gasket, wherein the first gasket has a gasket member formed from an elastic material and a support member formed from a resin material, The gasket member penetrates the gasket member and defines an internal space which is the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member. The gasket member has a sealing side surface and a contact side surface which are a pair of opposing surfaces surrounding the internal space, a pair of through holes which are included in one of the pair of channels and one of the other pair of channels which are among a plurality of channels which extend in the opposing directions between the pair of members on the outer circumference side of the intermediate member, a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion which seal the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, a third sealing portion which seals the other of the pair of channels and the other of the other pair of channels with respect to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a communication region which is a region which connects each of the pair of through holes to the internal space. The support member is provided in the communication region, and the second gasket is the same as the first gasket. A gasket device wherein the contact surface of the gasket member of the first gasket and the contact surface of the gasket member of the second gasket are brought into contact with each other, the first gasket and the second gasket are stacked to seal the space, and the second sealing portion of the gasket member of the first gasket is configured to sandwich the intermediate member between itself and the support member of the second gasket.

16. The gasket device according to claim 15, wherein the support member extends beyond the communication region, and a portion of the support member is located in the internal space.

17. The gasket device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the gasket member has an installation portion which is a portion through which each of the pair of through holes passes, the installation portion is located on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion and is adjacent to the internal space, and the first seal portion and the installation portion define the communication region.

18. The gasket device according to claim 17, wherein the installation portion has an installation surface facing the direction in which the seal side surface faces, the installation surface and the contact side surface extend on the same plane, and the support member is in contact with the installation surface.

19. The gasket device according to claim 18, wherein the support member extends beyond the installation surface, and a portion of the support member is located in the internal space.

20. The gasket device according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the contact surface faces a portion of the support member of the second gasket in the opposing direction.

21. The gasket device according to claim 17, wherein the gasket member has a pair of through spaces on the inner circumference side of the first seal portion, which are spaces that penetrate between the seal side surface and the contact side surface, and each of the pair of through spaces is surrounded by the first seal portion and the third seal portion on the seal side surface, and is provided in a position through which the pair of flow paths and the other of the other pair of flow paths pass.

22. The gasket device according to claim 21, wherein the contact surface of the gasket member faces a part of the support member of the second gasket in the portion between each of the through spaces and the internal space.

23. The gasket device according to claim 22, wherein each of the installation parts is housed within the through space of the second gasket.

24. The gasket device according to claim 15, wherein the first seal portion has at least one bead protruding from the seal side surface, and the third seal portion has at least one bead protruding from the seal side surface, and in the opposing directions, the bead protrudes more than the support member in the direction in which the bead protrudes.

25. The gasket device according to claim 15, wherein the support member has a flow path that connects each of the pair of through holes to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

26. The gasket device according to claim 25, wherein the flow path is formed by a recess that is recessed on the inner side of the support member.

27. The gasket device according to claim 15, wherein the support member has a pair of surfaces facing each other and is plate-shaped.

28. The gasket device according to claim 17, wherein the installation portion has a back surface which is the surface facing the side that the contact side faces, and a bead protruding from the back surface which surrounds the through hole.

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