Fuel Cell Gas Separator Stacking Guide and Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel cell manufacturing methods face challenges in achieving accurate positioning and stacking of gas separators due to inherent clearances in engagement elements and positioning frames, leading to potential misalignment and shifting during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing method utilizing guide sections with parallel guide members and engagement elements of concave/convex shapes, positioned to suspend gas separators in a manner that leverages gravitational force for stability and accuracy, ensuring the center of gravity is below the line connecting support locations to prevent swinging and shifting, and using vibration generators to reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas separators are suspended by engagement elements at the upper side, then the stacking operation can be performed, but the gas separators are likely to swing relatively easily about the engagement element due to clearance between the engagement element and positioning frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the support dimension from single-point suspension to multi-point support. By providing multiple engagement elements (first and second engagement elements) on the gas separator that engage with corresponding guide members, the system transitions from one-dimensional point suspension to two-dimensional distributed support, reducing swinging and improving positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different parts of the engagement system. The engagement elements are specifically designed with engagement portions that locally engage with the guide members at multiple positions, providing differential support characteristics that prevent swinging while maintaining ease of operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of positioning holes and positioning shafts is increased to enhance positioning accuracy, then the positioning accuracy may be improved, but the operation for stacking is likely to become more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide positioning accuracy through multi-point engagement, maintain structural integrity during stacking, and enable ease of operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate positioning holes and positioning shafts, reducing operational complexity while maintaining 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 enhances the accuracy and stability of gas separator positioning, reduces the risk of misalignment, and simplifies the stacking process by utilizing gravitational force to maintain parallel alignment without increasing contact pressure, thereby improving the overall assembly efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first support location of the first engagement element and a second support location of the second engagement element supported by the first guide member and the second guide member are arranged at positions away from each other across a center of gravity of the gas separator and that the center of gravity is located in a lower area in the direction of gravity below a straight line of connecting the first support location with the second support location
Data Source
AI summary
There is a need to improve the positioning accuracy in stacking gas separators. A guide section 58 provided in a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 50 has first and second guide members 52 arranged to be parallel to each other and away from each other in a horizontal direction and extended in a stacking direction of the gas separators. The gas separator has first and second engagement elements 28 provided at corresponding positions to the first and the second guide members 52 to have a concave and/or convex shape formed along its outer periphery. A manufacturing method of a fuel cell includes a stacking step of stacking a plurality of members including gas separators by engaging the first engagement element with the first guide member and engaging the second engagement element with the second guide member. The gas separators stacked by the stacking step satisfy such a configuration that a first support location of the first engagement element and a second support location of the second engagement element are arranged at positions away from each other across a center of gravity of the gas separator and that the center of gravity is located in a lower area in a direction of gravity below a straight line of connecting the first support location with the second support location on a stacking surface of the gas separator.