Pressure-adjustable fixture for fuel cell unit testing

Abstract

A pressure-adjustable fixture for fuel cell unit includes a controllable pressure source, a pressure guiding mechanism, a press plate, and a pressure-applying carrier mechanism. The controllable pressure source supplies an amount of pressure, which is transmitted via the pressure guiding mechanism to the press plate, and the pressure is further uniformly distributed via the press plate over the fuel cell units loaded on the pressure-applying carrier mechanism for testing. In this manner, the fuel cell units have optimal contact pressure to achieve the best electrical properties.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional way of binding fuel cell units to be tested, in which the fuel cell units are bound between two protective plates using a plurality of bolts;

FIG. 2 shows three representative performance curves of fuel cell units;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pressure-adjustable fixture for fuel cell unit testing according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 3.

Claims

1. A pressure-adjustable fixture for uniformly distributing pressure over a fuel cell unit, comprising: a controllable pressure source for supplying an amount of pressure and having a transmission rod;a pressure guiding mechanism connected to the transmission rod of the controllable pressure source for transmitting the pressure supplied by the controllable pressure source; anda press plate connected to the pressure guiding mechanism opposite to the transmission rod, so that the pressure supplied by the controllable pressure source and transmitted via the pressure guiding mechanism to the press plate is uniformly distributed over the fuel cell unit.

2. The pressure-adjustable fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controllable pressure source is an air press.

3. The pressure-adjustable fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controllable pressure source is an oil press.

4. The pressure-adjustable fixture as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure-applying carrier mechanism, on which the fuel cell units to be tested are loaded.

5. The pressure-adjustable fixture as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pressure-applying carrier mechanism includes an upper carrier plate, a lower carrier plate located at a predetermined distance from the upper carrier plate for carrying the fuel cell units thereon, and a plurality of bolts extended through the upper and the lower carrier plate to firmly hold the fuel cell units to the pressure-applying carrier mechanism at a predetermined position.

6. The pressure-adjustable fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure guiding mechanism includes a universal joint, via which the pressure supplied by the controllable pressure source and transmitted via the pressure guiding mechanism to the press plate is uniformly distributed over the fuel cell units.