Fuel Cell Separator Conveying Apparatus with Warping Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveying fuel cell separators stacked via sealing portions is challenging due to adhesive forces, making it difficult to separate them individually during manufacturing, and existing methods require significant gas supply to achieve separation, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A conveying apparatus that holds and lifts the intermediate part of a separator, using restricting portions to warp it into an arch shape, allowing it to be pulled off without the need for excessive gas supply, thereby reducing costs and efficiently conveying multiple separators one by one.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large supply amount of medium is used to separate separators from each other, then the separators can be effectively separated, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (medium supply) with a mechanical system (warping mechanism). By bending the separator to create an arch shape using restricting portions, the separator is mechanically pulled off from the adsorption pad without requiring large amounts of gas medium, thus reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining effective separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (restricting portions that create arch shape) between the conveying portion and the separator. This intermediary mechanically facilitates the separation by warping the separator into an arch shape, reducing the direct reliance on medium supply and thereby reducing the quantity of substance needed
2Ease of manufacture
If separators are stacked via sealing portions, then they can be easily stacked, but they adhere to each other making individual conveyance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the separator into different functional zones: the intermediate part that is warped into an arch shape and the opposite ends that are restricted. This segmentation allows the intermediate part to provide separation force while the ends remain constrained, enabling easy individual conveyance from the stacked separators without compromising stacking ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies curvature by warping the separator into an arch shape. This curvature creates a mechanical advantage that facilitates separation from the adsorption pad and other separators, allowing easy individual conveyance while maintaining the stacking capability through the sealing portions
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 apparatus effectively reduces the adhesive force between separators, allowing for efficient one-by-one conveyance without the need for large gas supplies, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and preventing separator damage.
Implementation Method 1
restricting portions configured to restrict opposite ends of the one separator to warp the intermediate part of the one separator in the lifting direction when the one separator is lifted by the conveying portion
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying apparatus for a separator for a fuel cell includes: a conveying portion configured to hold an intermediate part of the separator and lift the separator; and restricting portions configured to restrict the opposite ends of the separator to warp the intermediate part of the separator in the lifting direction when the conveying portion lifts the separator. The restricting portions are configured to release the opposite ends when the intermediate part of the separator warps in the lifting direction with a target curvature amount.