Power Generating Cell Stack Assembly With Vibrating Stack Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling power generating cell stack bodies face challenges in efficiently stacking stack units with high accuracy due to increased frictional forces between positioning pins and holes, leading to potential blockage and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a vibratable stack guide portion on a stacking table to guide and position stack units, applying vertical vibration to reduce frictional forces and enable precise alignment without increasing clearance between the guide and positioning portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the clearance between the positioning pin and positioning hole is increased to reduce frictional force, then the stack unit can drop smoothly along the positioning pin, but the positioning accuracy between stack units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pin is vibrated in the vertical direction during the stacking process. This vibration reduces the frictional force between the positioning pin and positioning hole, allowing the stack unit to drop smoothly without increasing clearance. The vibration temporarily reduces static friction to dynamic friction, enabling smooth passage while maintaining tight clearance for high positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the positioning pin is changed by applying vibration, which alters the friction characteristics between the pin and hole. This parameter change (from static to dynamic friction through vibration) allows the system to achieve both smooth dropping and high positioning accuracy simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If the frictional force between positioning pin and positioning hole is reduced by increasing clearance, then the stack unit can be positioned accurately, but the stacking efficiency deteriorates due to potential blockage
Solution Approach 1:
By vibrating the positioning pin vertically, the system reduces frictional resistance during the stacking operation. This enables smooth passage of the stack unit through the positioning hole without increasing clearance, thereby maintaining both high positioning accuracy and efficient stacking throughput.
3Manufacturing precision
If the frictional force is increased to maintain tight clearance for high positioning accuracy, then the positioning precision is improved, but the stack unit may remain partway and stacking efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pin is subjected to vertical vibration during the stacking process. This vibration reduces the frictional force between the pin and the positioning hole in the stack unit, allowing the stack unit to drop completely and efficiently without getting stuck, while maintaining the tight clearance necessary for high positioning accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for efficient and accurate stacking of power generating cell stack bodies by minimizing frictional forces, preventing blockage, and maintaining high positioning accuracy, thus reducing misalignment and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a stack guide portion protruding upward from the stacking table, and a vibration applying unit applying vibration to the stack guide portion in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
the frictional force generated between the outer peripheral surface of the positioning pin and the inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole tends to increase. Accordingly, when the dropping of the stack unit along the positioning pin is inhibited
Data Source
AI summary
In a preparation process of a method for manufacturing a power generating cell stack, a stacking table provided with a vibratable stack guide portion projecting upward and a stack unit provided with a positioning portion guided by the stack guide portion are prepared. In the placing step, the stack unit is stacked on the stacking table by dropping the stack unit toward the stacking table while the positioning portion is stacked along the stack guide portion which is vibrated in the vertical direction.