Fuel cell mounting structure

Abstract

A housing case that houses a fuel cell is provided with mounts for fixing two ends of a lower surface of an end plate that retains stacked unit cells of the fuel cell, and a mount for fixing a central portion of a lower surface of another end plate. Using these three mounts, the fuel cell is fixed to the housing case.

1. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a fuel cell stack having a plurality of stacked unit cells and having a first electrode in a first end portion of the fuel cell stack and a second electrode in a second end portion which is opposite side of the first end portion of the fuel cell stack;   a first end portion retaining member having a first retaining portion in a first end portion of a lower surface of the first end portion retaining member and having a second retaining portion in a second end portion of the lower surface of the first end portion retaining member, and which is directly or indirectly fixed to one end portion of the fuel cell stack;   a second end portion retaining member having a third retaining portion in a central portion of a lower surface of the second end portion retaining member, and which is directly or indirectly fixed to the other end portion of the fuel cell stack; and   a fuel cell housing case that houses the fuel cell stack sandwiched by the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member, the fuel cell stack being fixed to the fuel cell housing case via the first retaining portion, the second retaining portion and the third retaining portion.   
     
     
       2. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member that reinforces a bottom surface portion which includes a position of the third retaining portion and which extends perpendicularly to a stacking direction of the unit cells. 
     
     
       3. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member are plate members. 
     
     
       4. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member have a mounting portion respectively for installation in a vehicle body. 
     
     
       5. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a plurality of fuel cell stacks having a plurality of stacked unit cells and having a first electrode in a first end portion of the fuel cell stack and a second electrode in a second end portion which is opposite side of the first end portion of the fuel cell stack, and which are provided in parallel each other;   a first end portion retaining member having a first retaining portion in a first end portion of a lower surface of the first end portion retaining member and having a second retaining portion in a second end portion of the lower surface of the first end portion retaining member, and which is directly or indirectly fixed to one end portion of the fuel cell stack and extends over the one end portions of the fuel cell stacks,   a second end portion retaining member having a third retaining portion in a central portion of a lower surface of the second end portion retaining member, and which is directly or indirectly fixed to the other end portion of the fuel cell stack and extends over the other end portions of the fuel cell stacks; and   a fuel cell housing case that houses the fuel cell stack sandwiched by the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member, the fuel cell stack being fixed to the fuel cell housing case via the first retaining portion, the second retaining portion and the third retaining portion.   
     
     
       6. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 5 , further comprising a fluid supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a fluid with respect to the fuel cell stacks, and which is provided in one of the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member. 
     
     
       7. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the fluid supply/discharge portion comprises:
 a first fuel supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a first fuel with respect to a first electrode side;   a second fuel supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a second fuel with respect to a second electrode side, and   a coolant supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a coolant for cooling the fuel cell stacks.   
     
     
       8. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising an insulating member that is formed with an electrically insulating material as a plate member having a predetermined thickness, and that is disposed between one of the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member and the fuel cell stacks. 
     
     
       9. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a voltage detecting sensor,
 wherein the fluid supply/discharge portion has a water supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a water, and   wherein the predetermined thickness is such a thickness that, when the fuel cell has a short circuit that includes as portions thereof a signal line of the sensor connected to the fuel cell stacks and the water present in a water supply/discharge passage provided in the insulating member, the insulating member keeps an electric current that flows through the signal line to within a range of current such that the signal line is not broken.   
     
     
       10. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined thickness is at least 3 mm. 
     
     
       11. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising a pressure exerting member that is disposed inwardly of the second end portion retaining member and that exerts a pressure in the stacking direction on each of the fuel cell stacks. 
     
     
       12. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure exerting member includes a plurality of coned disc springs. 
     
     
       13. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure exerting member includes bolts that extend through the fuel cell stacks. 
     
     
       14. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 5 , further comprising a series connecting member that is formed into a plate shape from an electrically conductive material and connects electrically plurality of adjacent fuel cell stacks in series. 
     
     
       15. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fuel cell stacks are two fuel cell stacks, and the series connecting member is disposed inwardly of the first end portion retaining member and connects a first end portion of a first fuel cell stack and a second end portion of a second fuel cell stack adjacent to the first fuel cell stack. 
     
     
       16. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 15 , further comprising a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal that are disposed on the second end portion retaining member. 
     
     
       17. The fuel cell assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fuel cell stacks are more than three fuel cell stacks, and a first series connecting member disposed inwardly of the first end portion retaining member connects the first end portion of one fuel cell stack and the second end portion of one adjacent fuel cell stack, and a second series connecting member disposed inwardly of the second end portion retaining member connects the second end portion of the one fuel cell stack and the first end portion of the another adjacent fuel cell stack. 
     
     
       18. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a fuel cell stack having a plurality of stacked unit cells and having a first electrode in a first end portion of the fuel cell stack and a second electrode in a second end portion which is opposite side of the first end portion of the fuel cell stack;   a first end portion retaining member having a first retaining portion in a first end portion of a lower surface of the first end portion retaining member and having a second retaining portion in a second end portion of the lower surface of the first end portion retaining member, and which is directly or indirectly fixed to one end portion of the fuel cell stack;   a second end portion retaining member having a third retaining portion in a central portion of a lower surface of the second end portion retaining member, and which is directly or indirectly fixed to the other end portion of the fuel cell stack; and   a supporting member fixed to the fuel cell stack via the first retaining portion, the second retaining portion and the third retaining portion, the fuel cell stack being sandwiched by the first end portion retaining member and the second end portion retaining member.   
     
     
       19. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 at least one fuel cell stack having a plurality of stacked unit cells and a lower surface; and   end plates clamping the at least one fuel cell stack;   wherein one end plate of the end plates is supported at two points by first and second mounts, while another end plate of the end plates is supported at one single point by a third mount, and   wherein each of the first, second, and third mounts extends vertically downward from the lower surface of the fuel cell stack.    
     
     
       20. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a reinforcing member that reinforces a bottom surface portion which includes a position of the one single point and which extends perpendicularly to a stacking direction of the unit cells.  
     
     
       21. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 19, wherein the end plates have a mounting portion respectively for installation in a vehicle body.  
     
     
       22. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a fluid supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a fluid with respect to the at least one fuel cell stack, and which is provided in one of the end plates.  
     
     
       23. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 22, wherein the fluid supply/discharge portion comprises: a first fuel supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a first fuel with respect to a first electrode side; a second fuel supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a second fuel with respect to a second electrode side, and a coolant supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a coolant for cooling the at least one fuel cell stack.  
     
     
       24. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 22, further comprising an insulating member that is formed with an electrically insulating material as a plate member having a predetermined thickness, and that is disposed between one of the end plates and the at least one fuel cell stack.  
     
     
       25. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 24, further comprising a voltage detecting sensor, wherein the fluid supply/discharge portion has a water supply/discharge portion that supplies and discharges a water, and wherein the predetermined thickness is such a thickness that, when the fuel cell has a short circuit that includes as portions thereof a signal line of the sensor connected to the fuel cell stacks and the water present in a water supply/discharge passage provided in the insulating member, the insulating member keeps an electric current that flows through the signal line to within a range of current such that the signal line is not broken.  
     
     
       26. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 24, wherein the predetermined thickness is at least 3 mm.  
     
     
       27. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 22, further comprising a pressure exerting member that is disposed at an end plate and that exerts a pressure in the stacking direction on the at least one fuel cell stack.  
     
     
       28. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 27, wherein the pressure exerting member includes a plurality of coned disc springs.  
     
     
       29. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 27, wherein the pressure exerting member includes a bolt.  
     
     
       30. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 27, wherein the pressure exerting member is disposed at the end plate supported at one single point.  
     
     
       31. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 27, wherein the pressure exerting member is disposed at the end plate supported at two points.  
     
     
       32. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a series connecting member that is formed into a plate shape from an electrically conductive material and electrically connects a plurality of adjacent fuel cell stacks in series.  
     
     
       33. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of fuel cell stacks are two fuel cell stacks, and the series connecting member is disposed inwardly of an end plate and connects a first end portion of a first fuel cell stack and a second end portion of a second fuel cell stack adjacent to the first fuel cell stack.  
     
     
       34. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 33, wherein the series connecting member is disposed at the end plate supported at one single point.  
     
     
       35. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 33, wherein the series connecting member is disposed at the end plate supported at two points.  
     
     
       36. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 33, further comprising a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal that are disposed on the end plate supported at the one single point.  
     
     
       37. The fuel cell assembly according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of fuel cell stacks are more than three fuel cell stacks, and a first series connecting member disposed inwardly of the end plate supported at two points connects a first end portion of one fuel cell stack and the second end portion of one adjacent fuel cell stack, and a second series connecting member disposed inwardly of the end plate supported at the one single point connects a second end portion of the one fuel cell stack and the first end portion of the another adjacent fuel cell stack.  
     
     
       38. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a fuel cell stack having a lower surface;   end plates to retain the fuel cell stack; and   a support system applied to the end plates at three points and no more than three points,   wherein the support system includes first, second, and third mounts, and   wherein each of the first, second, and third mounts extends vertically downward from the lower surface of the fuel cell stack.    
     
     
       39. The fuel cell assembly of claim 38, wherein the support system comprises a first mount associated with a first end plate, and second and third mounts associated with a second end plate.  
     
     
       40. The fuel cell assembly of claim 38, further comprising a housing to contain the fuel cell stack.  
     
     
       41. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
 a fuel cell stack having a lower surface;   a housing for the fuel cell stack; and   three mounts and no more than three mounts which extend vertically downward from the lower surface of the fuel cell stack.    
     
     
       42. The fuel cell assembly of claim 41, wherein a first mount is arranged at a first end of the fuel cell stack, and second and third mounts are arranged at a second end of the fuel cell stack opposite the first end.  
     
     
       43. The fuel cell assembly of claim 19, wherein the plurality of stacked unit cells are stacked horizontally and the end plates clamp the plurality of stacked unit cells from either side thereof.  
     
     
       44. The fuel cell assembly of claim 38, wherein the fuel cell stack includes a plurality of stacked unit cells stacked horizontally and the end plates clamp the plurality of stacked unit cells from either side thereof.  
     
     
       45. The fuel cell assembly of claim 41, wherein the fuel cell stack includes a plurality of stacked unit cells stacked horizontally and end plates which clamp the plurality of stacked unit cells from either side thereof.  
     
     
       46. The fuel cell assembly of claim 19, wherein the three mounts are arranged on a floor of a housing.  
     
     
       47. The fuel cell assembly of claim 38, wherein the three mounts are arranged on a floor of a housing.  
     
     
       48. The fuel cell assembly of claim 41, wherein the three mounts are arranged on a floor of the housing.