JP2015216033A - Gasket for fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow for thinning of fuel cell components 2, 3 while ensuring stabilized sealability, in a gasket 1 interposed between the fuel cell components 2, 3.SOLUTION: A gasket 1 interposed between a pair of fuel cell components 2, 3 includes an inner peripheral seal 11 consisting of seal protrusions 11a, 11b provided on the opposite sides in the thickness direction in tight contact with the fuel cell components 2, 3, an outer support 12 consisting of support protrusions 12a, 12b provided on the opposite sides in the thickness direction in tight contact with the fuel cell components 2, 3 on the outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral seal 11, and an intermediate coupling 13 for coupling the inner peripheral seal 11 and the outer support 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gasket used as a sealing means of a fuel cell and interposed between fuel cell components.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel cell gasket as disclosed in the following prior art document is known.

  Among these, Patent Document 1 discloses a gasket made of an elastic material as a component of a fuel cell, such as a separator, MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) or GDL (Gas Diffusion Layer). In Patent Document 2, a rubber gasket vulcanized and formed on an adhesive layer is fixed to a sealing target substrate of a fuel cell separator via the adhesive layer. Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 describe a rubber gasket (rubber-only product) in which a vulcanized rubber gasket is incorporated between components of a fuel cell. FIG. 3 shows an example using a rubber-only gasket 101 as in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, and this gasket 101 has a circular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3 (B), it is interposed between a groove 102a formed in one separator 102 and the other separator 103 in an appropriately compressed state.

  In order to popularize fuel cells, it is important to reduce the cost of the components. From such a viewpoint, as shown in FIG. The rubber-only product 101 is most preferable from the viewpoint of cost reduction, including the manufacturing process. Moreover, since it is pressed against the side wall 102b of the groove 102a by the pressure P of the fluid to be sealed, a self-sealing effect can also be expected.

JP 2000-033630 A JP 2010-180919 A JP 2005-108565 A JP 2009-231170 A

  However, in this type of gasket 101, as shown in FIG. 4, the separators 102 and 103 are not in contact with each other, and the gasket 101 has a low compression between the groove 102a formed in one separator 102 and the other separator 103. When the pressure P of the fluid to be sealed is increased, the pressure P causes the gap 101 between the groove shoulder of the groove 102a of the separator 102 and the other separator 103 to be part 101a of the gasket 101. There is a concern that it will stick out and be damaged, making it impossible to maintain the sealing performance.

  Further, in order to reduce the size of the fuel cell, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the separators 102, 103, etc., but since the separator 102 is provided with the groove 102a, from the viewpoint of securing a required groove depth, Thinning was difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its technical problem is to secure a stable sealing property in a gasket interposed between fuel battery cell components, and to provide a fuel cell. It is to enable thinning of cell components.

  As a means for effectively solving the above technical problem, a fuel cell gasket according to the present invention is a gasket interposed between a pair of fuel cell components, and the fuel cell components An inner peripheral seal portion formed of seal protrusions provided on both sides in the thickness direction to be in close contact with the outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral seal portion and provided on both sides in the thickness direction in close contact with the fuel cell component parts The outer peripheral support part which consists of a support protrusion, and the intermediate | middle connection part which connects between the said inner peripheral seal part and an outer peripheral support part are provided.

  In the state where the gasket having the above configuration is interposed between a pair of fuel cell components, when the inner peripheral seal portion receives the pressure of the fluid to be sealed from the inner peripheral side, The displacement force of the peripheral seal portion is transmitted to the outer peripheral support portion via the intermediate connecting portion, and the displacement is suppressed by the frictional force between the support protrusion of the outer peripheral support portion and the fuel cell component. For this reason, the displacement of the inner peripheral seal portion is suppressed, and a self-sealing action is obtained in which the surface pressure of the seal protrusion of the inner peripheral seal portion on the fuel cell component is increased by the pressure of the fluid to be sealed, so that excellent sealing performance Play. In addition, the outer peripheral support part has the function of suppressing the displacement of the inner peripheral seal part and inducing a self-sealing action like the side wall of the gasket installation groove, so that it is not necessary to form a gasket installation groove on the fuel cell component parts. It can be.

  According to the fuel cell gasket according to the present invention, the displacement of the inner peripheral seal portion due to the pressure of the fluid to be sealed is suppressed by the outer peripheral support portion via the intermediate coupling portion, and thus the self-sealing action of the inner peripheral seal portion is excellent. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a gasket mounting groove in the fuel cell component parts, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to form the gasket mounting groove, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the fuel cell component parts, thereby contributing to the miniaturization of the fuel cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is sectional drawing which shows preferable embodiment of the gasket for fuel cells which concerns on this invention, (A) is the non-mounting state of a gasket, (B) shows the mounting state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which deformation is caused by the pressure of a fluid to be sealed in a preferred embodiment of the gasket for a fuel cell according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional gasket for fuel cells, (A) is an unmounted state of a gasket, (B) shows an installed state. In an example of the conventional gasket for fuel cells, it is sectional drawing which shows the state which received the deformation | transformation with the pressure of the fluid for sealing.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a gasket for a fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (A), a fuel cell gasket 1 of this embodiment is a vulcanized molded product of an annular rubber made of a single rubber-like elastic material (rubber material or synthetic resin material having rubber-like elasticity). (Rubber-only product), which connects the inner peripheral seal portion 11, the outer peripheral support portion 12 provided on the outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral seal portion 11, and the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the outer peripheral support portion 12. It consists of the intermediate connection part 13 which does.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the gasket 1 is interposed between the separators 2 and 3 which are fuel cell component parts in an appropriate compressed state. Seal protrusions 11a and 11b that are in close contact with the separators 2 and 3 are provided on both sides in the thickness direction, and the outer peripheral support portion 12 is a support protrusion 12a and 12b that is in close contact with the separators 2 and 3 on both sides in the thickness direction. The intermediate connecting portion 13 is formed so as to connect the intermediate positions in the thickness direction (height direction) of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the outer peripheral support portion 12 to each other. It has a substantially H-shaped cross-sectional shape with a narrowed middle portion in the direction.

  1A, the width dimension w from the inner surface of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 to the outer surface of the outer peripheral support portion 12 is the thickness of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the outer peripheral support portion 12. The contact surfaces of the seal protrusions 11a and 11b of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the separators 2 and 3 of the support protrusions 12a and 12b of the outer peripheral support portion 12 are formed flat.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell gasket 1 having the above-described configuration is interposed between the separators 2 and 3 at a relatively low compression rate, as shown in FIG. When the pressure P of the fluid to be sealed (for example, fuel gas, oxidant gas, refrigerant, etc.) is increased, the inner peripheral seal portion 11 that directly receives this pressure P has a relatively low pressure on the outer peripheral side (see FIG. Although the seal protrusions 11a and 11b are pressed against the separators 2 and 3 to generate a frictional force, the intermediate portion in the thickness direction is compressed so as to be recessed toward the low pressure side. The compressive force is transmitted to the outer peripheral support portion 12 via the intermediate connecting portion 13, and the displacement in the width direction of the outer peripheral support portion 12 is caused by deformation of the intermediate connecting portion 13 and support protrusions for the separators 2 and 3. It is suppressed by the frictional force of 12a, 12b.

  For this reason, the displacement in the width direction of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 due to the pressure P is suppressed by the outer peripheral support portion 12 via the intermediate connecting portion 13, and the compressive force of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 due to the pressure P is applied to the separators 2 and 3. A self-sealing action is obtained by conversion to the surface pressure of the seal protrusions 11a and 11b, and the sealing effect is improved.

  Moreover, since the outer peripheral support portion 12 has a function of suppressing the displacement in the width direction of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and causing a self-sealing action, it is not necessary to form a gasket mounting groove in the separator 2 or 3. As a result, not only the manufacturing cost can be reduced, but also the thickness of the separator 2 or 3 can be reduced to contribute to the miniaturization of the fuel cell.

  In addition, when the fuel cell gasket 1 having the above-described configuration is interposed between the separators 2 and 3 at a relatively high compression rate, a compression reaction force (surface pressure) is obtained due to a constricted shape by the intermediate connecting portion 13. ) Is suppressed, so that the load acting on the separators 2 and 3 is also suppressed.

  Further, the gasket 1 has a width dimension w from the inner side surface of the inner peripheral seal part 11 to the outer side surface of the outer peripheral support part 12 larger than the thickness dimension t of the inner peripheral seal part 11 and the outer peripheral support part 12. In addition, since the close contact surfaces of the seal protrusions 11a and 11b of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the support protrusions 12a and 12b of the outer peripheral support portion 12 with the separators 2 and 3 are formed flat, It will be hard to fall down.

  In addition, even if the frictional force of the support protrusions 12a and 12b of the outer peripheral support part 12 with respect to the separators 2 and 3 is equal to the frictional force of the seal protrusions 11a and 11b of the inner peripheral seal part 11 with respect to the separators 2 and 3, Although the effect | action which suppresses the displacement of the inner peripheral seal part 11 by the pressure P in the width direction is acquired, the frictional force of the support protrusions 12a and 12b of the outer peripheral support part 12 is applied to the seal protrusions 11a and 11b of the inner peripheral seal part 11. More preferably, it is larger than the frictional force.

  In order to make the frictional force of the support protrusions 12 a and 12 b of the outer peripheral support part 12 larger than the frictional force of the seal protrusions 11 a and 11 b of the inner peripheral seal part 11, the compression rate of the outer peripheral support part 12 is higher than that of the inner peripheral seal part 11. The thickness t dimension of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the outer peripheral support portion 12 is increased so that the contact area of the support protrusions 12a and 12b with respect to the separators 2 and 3 is different from the contact area of the seal protrusions 11a and 11b. It is conceivable to make a difference in the width dimension of the inner peripheral seal portion 11 and the outer peripheral support portion 12 so as to be larger, or to form a rough surface for increasing the friction coefficient on the surfaces of the support protrusions 12a and 12b. It is done.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell gasket 11 Inner periphery seal part 11a, 11b Seal protrusion 12 Outer periphery support part 12a, 12b Support protrusion 13 Intermediate | middle connection part 2, 3 separator (fuel cell component)

Claims (1)

  A gasket interposed between a pair of fuel cell component parts, an inner peripheral seal portion comprising seal protrusions provided on both sides in the thickness direction in close contact with the fuel cell component parts, and the inner circumference An outer peripheral support portion composed of support protrusions provided on both sides in the thickness direction, which are in close contact with the fuel battery cell component, on the outer peripheral side of the seal portion, and an intermediate connecting the inner peripheral seal portion and the outer peripheral support portion A gasket for a fuel cell comprising a connecting portion.

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