Fuel Cell Separator Conveyance via Pin Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for conveying fuel cell separator materials often result in unstable gripping due to a small grippable area, leading to potential slippage and dropping during conveyance, which can cause indentations and reduce productivity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves inserting conveyance pins into through-holes on the separator material, allowing for stable conveyance by pulling the material in a direction that separates the pins, eliminating the need for gripping members and avoiding indentations, while utilizing excess space around hydrogen distribution ports for through-hole formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gripping members are used to convey the separator material, then the separator material can be conveyed, but the gripping is unstable due to small grippable area causing slippage and potential dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the gripping function from complex gripping members and replaces it with simple conveyance pins that insert through holes in the separator material. The pins directly engage with pre-formed holes in the separator, eliminating the need for complex gripping mechanisms and providing reliable conveyance through a simple insertion-based holding method.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance pins act as intermediaries between the conveyor system and the separator material. Instead of directly gripping the separator material surface (which has limited grippable area), the pins insert through holes in the separator, providing a more reliable mechanical connection that prevents slippage during conveyance.
2Reliability
If gripping force is increased to prevent slippage, then conveyance stability improves, but the separator material may get indentations from the gripping members
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the harmful gripping contact from the separator material surface by using pins that insert through holes rather than pressing against the surface. This extraction of the gripping function from surface contact eliminates the source of indentations while maintaining conveyance stability through the pin-insertion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance pins serve as intermediaries that transfer the conveyance force through the holes in the separator material rather than applying direct surface pressure. This intermediary approach provides stable conveyance without the surface contact that causes indentations, preserving the separator material's surface quality.
3Reliability
If through-holes are formed around hydrogen distribution ports for pin insertion, then stable conveyance is achieved, but the separator material size may need to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The through-holes in the separator material serve multiple functions: they are used as assembly reference holes during fuel cell assembly and simultaneously as conveyance holes for stable material handling. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate conveyance features, maintaining separator material size without compromising conveyance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the assembly reference hole function with the conveyance hole function into a single through-hole feature. By combining these two functions, the separator material does not require additional holes or increased size for conveyance purposes, as the same holes serve both assembly and conveyance needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for conveying a separator that ensures stably conveying a separator material without leaving an indentation or the like. The conveyance method conveys a separator material for use in a single cell of a fuel cell. A hydrogen gas and an air are supplied for the fuel cell to generate electricity. The separator material has a rectangular shape in a plan view of the separator material, and the separator material has both sides on which a pair of through-holes are formed at proximity of a pair of hydrogen distribution ports through which a hydrogen gas flows. The conveyance method includes, when the separator material is conveyed, inserting a conveyance pin into each of the through-holes formed on the separator material, and in a state where the conveyance pin is inserted in each of the through-holes, conveying the separator material while pulling the separator material in a direction in which the conveyance pins mutually separate.