Fuel Cell Stack Clamp With Elastic Hooks for Bolt-Free Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell stacks face challenges in maintaining stable fastening and sealability without the use of separate fastening bolts, which can complicate assembly, increase costs, and hinder efficient maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cell stack design incorporating endplates with catching grooves and hook portions, where catching protrusions on the hook portions are elastically movable and integrated with the hook portions, and edge restriction parts to ensure secure fastening without separate fastening bolts, enhancing assembly convenience and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate fastening bolts are used to secure the clamp to endplates, then the fastening reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fastening function into the clamp body itself by integrating elastic hook portions directly onto the clamp. These hook portions engage with catching grooves on the endplates, eliminating the need for separate fastening bolts and simplifying the overall assembly while maintaining secure fastening reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic hook portions automatically engage with the catching grooves when the clamp is installed, providing self-fastening capability without requiring additional fastening operations or separate fastening components. The elastic nature of the hooks allows for easy engagement and disengagement
2Strength
If multiple separate fastening components are used, then the fastening strength is improved, but the weight and size of the fuel cell stack increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is merged into the clamp body through integrated elastic hook portions, eliminating the weight of separate fastening bolts and reducing the overall number of components in the fuel cell stack assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic hook portions function as flexible fastening elements that provide sufficient fastening strength through their elastic deformation and engagement with the catching grooves, replacing rigid bolt-based fastening systems with lighter flexible elements
3Ease of manufacture
If separate fastening bolts are used, then the ease of assembly is improved through standardized components, but the manufacturing cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the fastening function into the clamp body itself through elastic hook portions, the patent reduces the number of assembly steps required. The hooks automatically engage with the catching grooves during clamp installation, eliminating separate fastening operations and reducing assembly time
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic hook portions provide self-fastening capability, automatically engaging with the catching grooves without requiring additional fastening operations. This self-service mechanism simplifies the assembly process and reduces the time required for installation
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
The design stabilizes the fastening state, simplifies assembly, reduces the size and weight of the fuel cell stack, and facilitates easier handling and maintenance, while maintaining sealability and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The catching protrusion may be connected to a respective hook portion of the plurality of hook portions and is configured to be elastically movable from a first position at which the catching protrusion is accommodated in the catching groove to a second position at which the catching protrusion is withdrawn out of the catching groove
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell stack includes a reaction part configured by stacking a plurality of unit cells, a plurality of endplates configured to cover ends of the reaction part in a stacking direction of the unit cells, and a clamp including a clamp body configured to cover an outer surface of the reaction part in the stacking direction of the unit cell and a plurality of hook portions connected to ends of the clamp body so as to cover outer surfaces of the plurality of endplates and be restricted directly by the endplates.