Claims
- 1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
a first electrode; a second electrode; a proton exchange membrane disposed between and in intimate contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; a pressure pad disposed in electrical communication with the first electrode, the pressure pad comprising an electrically conductive sheet and an elastomeric material disposed at the electrically conductive sheet; and a pressure distributor disposed adjacent to the elastomeric material.
- 2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said pressure distributor is a screen mesh.
- 3. The electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein a mesh size of said screen mesh is from about 5/0 to about 1/0.
- 4. The electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein a mesh size of said screen mesh is about 3/0.
- 5. A pressure pad system for an electrochemical cell, said system comprising:
a pressure pad comprising a weave of elastomeric material and conductive material; and a pressure distributor disposed adjacent to and in compressive communication with said pressure pad.
- 6. The pressure pad system of claim 5, wherein said conductive material is scored to facilitate its weaving with said elastomeric material.
- 7. The pressure pad system of claim 5, wherein said pressure distributor comprises a screen mesh configured to be pressed into a surface of said elastomeric material.
- 8. The pressure pad system of claim 7, wherein a mesh size of said screen mesh is from about 5/0 to about 1/0.
- 9. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein a mesh size of said screen mesh is about 3/0.
- 10. A pressure distributor for a pressure pad, said pressure distributor comprising: a screen mesh configured to be pressed into a surface of an elastomeric material of said pressure pad.
- 11. The pressure distributor of claim 10, wherein a size of said screen mesh is about 5/0 to about 1/0.
- 12. The pressure distributor of claim 10, wherein a size of said screen mesh is about 3/0.
- 13. A method of distributing a load on a pressure pad, said method comprising:
disposing a screen mesh at an elastomeric material of said pressure pad; and pressing said screen mesh into said elastomeric material.
- 14. A method of distributing a load on a woven pressure pad, said method comprising:
scoring an electrically conductive material woven into an elastomeric material of said woven pressure pad; disposing a screen mesh at said elastomeric material; and pressing said screen mesh into said elastomeric material.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/965,679, filed Sep. 27, 2001, which claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/235,872 filed Sep. 27, 2000, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/235,629 filed Sep. 27, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/235,871 filed Sep. 27, 2000, the entire contents of all applications being incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60235872 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
|
60235629 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
|
60235871 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09965679 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10137991 |
May 2002 |
US |