JP2016207406A - Sealing member for fuel cell and arrangement method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sealing member for a fuel cell excellent in handleability and low in manufacturing cost, and an arrangement method thereof.SOLUTION: A sealing member 2 for a fuel cell includes: a frame-like sealing body 20 interposed between a pair of laminated members 93 that face each other in the lamination direction of a fuel cell 9; and a reinforcement section 21 arranged at least one of the outside and inside of a frame of the sealing body 20 and integrated with the sealing body 20. The sealing member 2 for a fuel cell is a molded article made of an elastomer. The sealing body 20 corresponds to a cavity 30 of a mold 3. The reinforcement section 21 includes: an annular primary runner corresponding part 210 corresponding to a primary runner 310 of a raw material passage 31 of the mold 3; and a secondary runner corresponding part 211 corresponding to a secondary runner 311 of the raw material passage 31 and connecting the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the sealing body 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell sealing member interposed between, for example, a pair of adjacent cell assemblies in a fuel cell and a method for arranging the same.

  The fuel cell sealing member is disposed in the fuel cell in order to seal air, fuel gas (hydrogen), and refrigerant. For example, the fuel cell sealing member is interposed between a pair of cell assemblies adjacent in the stacking direction.

  In order to reduce the size of the fuel cell, it is necessary to make the cell assembly and the fuel cell seal member thinner. However, the fuel cell sealing member is flexible. For this reason, if the fuel cell seal member is made thin, the fuel cell seal member is likely to be twisted or entangled during transport or placement, for example. That is, the fuel cell seal member is easily deformed. Therefore, the handleability of the fuel cell sealing member is deteriorated.

  In this regard, for example, a metal frame is bonded to the gasket of the fuel cell sealing member described in Patent Document 1. Further, for example, metal tabs are arranged at four corners of the gasket of the fuel cell sealing member described in Patent Document 2 by insert molding. In addition, an inner peripheral surface side collar and an outer peripheral surface side collar are integrally disposed in the gasket of the fuel cell sealing member described in Patent Document 3. For this reason, the sealing member for fuel cells described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 is excellent in handleability.

JP 2005-26127 A JP 2010-112401 A JP 2001-108103 A

  However, in the case of the sealing member for fuel cells described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the frame, tab, inner peripheral surface side collar, outer peripheral surface side collar, which are essentially irrelevant to the function of the gasket, are provided only to improve handling. It is necessary to place it on the gasket.

  Specifically, in the case of the fuel cell sealing member described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to bond the frame to the molded gasket. In the case of the fuel cell sealing member described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to fix the tab to the gasket simultaneously with the molding of the gasket by insert molding. In the case of the fuel cell sealing member described in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to secure the inner peripheral surface side collar forming space and the outer peripheral surface side collar forming space in the mold cavity used during molding, in addition to the gasket forming space. There is. For this reason, according to the sealing member for fuel cells described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the manufacturing cost of the sealing member for fuel cells increases.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell sealing member that is excellent in handleability and low in manufacturing cost, and a method for arranging the same.

  (1) In order to solve the above-described problems, a fuel cell seal member of the present invention includes a frame-shaped seal body interposed between a pair of stacked members facing each other in the fuel cell stacking direction, and a frame of the seal body. An elastomer molded article fuel cell seal member that is disposed on at least one of the outer side and the inner side of the frame, and includes a reinforcing portion that is integral with the seal main body, the seal main body corresponding to a cavity of a mold The reinforcing portion includes an annular primary runner corresponding portion corresponding to the primary runner of the raw material flow path of the mold, the primary runner corresponding portion corresponding to the secondary runner of the raw material flow path, and the seal body. And a secondary runner corresponding portion to be connected.

  Here, the “stacking direction” refers to a direction in which a plurality of cell assemblies of the fuel cell are stacked. The “laminated member” includes, for example, a cell assembly, a separator, an electrode member, and the like. Further, the difference between the pair of laminated members in the “pair of laminated members facing in the lamination direction” is not limited. For example, “separator and separator”, “separator and electrode member”, and the like may be used. In the raw material flow path, another runner may be connected upstream of the “primary runner”. That is, the “primary runner” may not be the most upstream runner. The “elastomer” includes rubber and thermoplastic elastomer.

  The fuel cell seal member of the present invention includes a seal body and a reinforcing portion. The reinforcement part is provided with the primary runner corresponding | compatible part and the secondary runner corresponding | compatible part. The primary runner corresponding part corresponds to the primary runner of the raw material flow path of the mold. The secondary runner corresponding part corresponds to the secondary runner of the raw material flow path of the mold.

  According to the fuel cell seal member of the present invention, the annular primary runner corresponding portion is disposed on at least one of the frame outer side and the frame inner side of the seal body. That is, the seal body and the primary runner corresponding part are arranged in a double ring or a triple ring. Further, the seal body and the primary runner corresponding part are connected by the secondary runner corresponding part. For this reason, the seal body is less likely to be twisted or entangled during handling. That is, the seal body is not easily deformed. Thus, the fuel cell seal member of the present invention is excellent in handling.

  Further, at the time of molding the fuel cell seal member, the primary runner (primary runner corresponding part) and the secondary runner (secondary runner corresponding part) are indispensable for injecting the raw material into the cavity. On the other hand, after the molding of the fuel cell seal member, the primary runner corresponding part and the secondary runner corresponding part are essentially useless. For this reason, after the molding, the primary runner corresponding part and the secondary runner corresponding part are separated from the seal body and discarded.

  In this regard, according to the fuel cell seal member of the present invention, the fuel cell seal member can be handled by utilizing the primary runner corresponding part and the secondary runner corresponding part that are essential at the time of molding but are discarded after molding. . For this reason, the sealing member for fuel cells excellent in handleability can be manufactured at low cost.

  (2) In the configuration of (1), it is preferable that the rigidity of the primary runner corresponding portion is higher than the rigidity of the seal body. According to this configuration, the seal body is hardly deformed. For this reason, the handleability of the sealing member for fuel cells is further improved.

  (3) In the configuration of (2) above, it is preferable that the cross-sectional area of the primary runner corresponding portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the seal body. According to this configuration, a rigidity difference can be easily set between the primary runner corresponding part and the seal body.

  (3-1) In the configuration of (2), the length in the stacking direction of the transverse section of the primary runner corresponding part is a plane direction that is perpendicular to the stacking direction, and the length in the stacking direction is greater than the length in the plane direction. A larger configuration is better. According to this configuration, the rigidity in the stacking direction of the primary runner corresponding part can be improved with respect to the rigidity in the surface direction of the primary runner corresponding part.

  (4) In any one of the constitutions (1) to (3), the seal main body is separated from the primary runner corresponding portion in a state of being interposed between a pair of the laminated members facing in the lamination direction. It is better to have the configuration. According to this structure, the primary runner corresponding | compatible part which became unnecessary after arrangement | positioning of the sealing member for fuel cells can be isolate | separated from a seal | sticker main body.

  (5) In order to solve the above-described problem, a fuel cell sealing member disposition method of the present invention includes a frame-shaped cavity, an annular primary runner disposed in at least one of a frame outer side and a frame inner side of the cavity. An elastomer raw material is injected into a mold having a raw material flow path having a secondary runner that connects the primary runner and the cavity, and corresponds to the cavity and faces the stacking direction of the fuel cell. A reinforcing portion having a frame-shaped seal body interposed between a pair of laminated members, a primary runner corresponding portion corresponding to the primary runner, and a secondary runner corresponding portion corresponding to the secondary runner; A molding step for molding a fuel cell seal member made of an elastomer, and the fuel cell seal member is transported from the mold to an arrangement target member on which the seal body is disposed, Charge of the battery sealing member, at least the seal body, and having a a conveying step of arranging the arrangement target member.

  Here, the “placement target member” is a member that is a placement target of the seal body in the transport process. The “arrangement target member” includes, for example, a separator, an electrode member, an accommodation conveyance member (for example, a conveyance tray described later), and the like.

  The mold includes a cavity and a raw material channel. The raw material flow path includes a primary runner and a secondary runner. On the other hand, the fuel cell seal member includes a seal body and a reinforcing portion. The reinforcement part is provided with the primary runner corresponding | compatible part and the secondary runner corresponding | compatible part. The seal body corresponds to the cavity, the primary runner corresponding portion corresponds to the primary runner, and the secondary runner corresponding portion corresponds to the secondary runner.

  As described in (1) above, according to the method for arranging the seal member for a fuel cell of the present invention, the seal main body is unlikely to be twisted or entangled in the conveying step. That is, the seal body is not easily deformed. Therefore, it is excellent in the handleability of the fuel cell sealing member in the transporting process.

  Further, according to the method for arranging the seal member for a fuel cell of the present invention, the seal member for the fuel cell is formed by utilizing the primary runner corresponding portion and the secondary runner corresponding portion that are essential in the forming step but are discarded after the forming step. It can be handled. For this reason, the sealing member for fuel cells excellent in handleability can be manufactured at low cost.

  (6) In the configuration of the above (5), the configuration includes a cutting step that is performed after the transporting step and separates the seal body from the primary runner corresponding portion by cutting the secondary runner corresponding portion. Better. According to this structure, the primary runner corresponding | compatible part which became unnecessary after the conveyance process can be isolate | separated from a seal | sticker main body.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fuel cell sealing member that is excellent in handleability and low in manufacturing cost, and a method for arranging the same.

It is an up-down direction sectional view of a fuel cell in which a fuel cell sealing member of a first embodiment is arranged. It is a top view of the sealing member for fuel cells. It is the III-III direction sectional drawing of FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the metal mold | die of the formation process of the arrangement | positioning method of the sealing member for fuel cells. It is a schematic diagram of the conveyance tray of the 1st conveyance process of the arrangement method. It is a schematic diagram of the cell assembly of the 2nd conveyance process of the arrangement method. It is a top view of the sealing member for fuel cells of 2nd embodiment. It is a top view of the sealing member for fuel cells of 3rd embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the cell assembly of the 2nd conveyance process of the arrangement method of the sealing member for fuel cells of other embodiment (the 1). It is sectional drawing of the sealing member for fuel cells of other embodiment (the 2). (A)-(d) is a cross-sectional view of the primary runner corresponding | compatible part of the sealing member for fuel cells of other embodiment (the 3)-(the 6). It is a top view of the sealing member for fuel cells of other embodiments (the 7).

  Embodiments of a fuel cell seal member and a method for arranging the same will be described below. In the drawings shown below, the up-down direction corresponds to the stacking direction of the fuel cells, and the horizontal direction (left-right direction, front-rear direction) corresponds to the surface direction of the fuel cells.

<First embodiment>
[Arrangement of Seal Body of Fuel Cell Seal Member]
First, the arrangement of the fuel cell sealing member of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fuel cell in which the fuel cell sealing member of the present embodiment is disposed. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell 9 includes a pair of upper and lower end plates 90, a plurality of seal bodies 20, and a plurality of cell assemblies 91.

  The cell assembly 91 includes an electrode member 92, a pair of upper and lower separators 93, and an in-cell seal member 94. The separator 93 is included in the concept of “laminated member” of the present invention. The upper separator 93 is included in the concept of “arrangement target member” of the present invention.

  The in-cell seal member 94 is made of rubber and surrounds the electrode member 92 from the outside in the horizontal direction. The pair of upper and lower separators 93 are disposed on both sides of the in-cell seal member 94 and the electrode member 92 in the vertical direction. The electrode member 92 includes an MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) 920 and a pair of upper and lower porous layers 921. The pair of upper and lower porous layers 921 are disposed on both sides of the MEA 920 in the vertical direction.

  The seal body 20 has a frame shape. The seal body 20 and the cell assembly 91 are alternately stacked in the vertical direction. For this reason, the arbitrary seal body 20 is interposed between a pair of cell assemblies 91 (specifically, separators 93) adjacent in the vertical direction. Further, the seal body 20 is flexible. For this reason, the arbitrary seal body 20 is in elastic contact with a pair of cell assemblies 91 adjacent in the vertical direction. The pair of upper and lower end plates 90 sandwich the laminated body of the seal body 20 and the cell assembly 91 from both sides in the vertical direction.

[Configuration of sealing member for fuel cell]
Next, the configuration of the fuel cell seal member of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the fuel cell sealing member of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view in the III-III direction of FIG. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the seal body 20 is hatched. Moreover, the seal body 20 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the II cross section of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is made of a rubber cross-linked product containing ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) as a rubber component. The rubber is included in the concept of “elastomer” of the present invention. The fuel cell sealing member 2 is an integral body and has a rectangular frame shape. The fuel cell seal member 2 includes a seal body 20 and a reinforcing portion 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the cross section of the seal main body 20 (the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the seal main body 20) has a semicircular shape that swells upward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing portion 21 is disposed on the outer side in the horizontal direction of the seal body 20 around the center of gravity G of the seal body 20 (the center of gravity G of the outer edge of the seal body 20). That is, the reinforcing portion 21 is disposed outside the frame of the seal body 20. The reinforcing portion 21 includes a primary runner corresponding portion 210 and a plurality of secondary runner corresponding portions 211. The primary runner corresponding part 210 has a quadrangular ring shape. The outer primary runner counterpart 210 and the inner seal body 20 are arranged in a double ring shape. The secondary runner corresponding part 211 connects the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the seal body 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cross section of the primary runner corresponding part 210 (the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the primary runner corresponding part 210) has a quadrangular shape. The cross section of the secondary runner corresponding portion 211 (the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the secondary runner corresponding portion 211) has a semicircular shape that swells upward like the seal body 20. When the cross-sectional area of the primary runner corresponding part 210 is S1, the cross-sectional area of the secondary runner-corresponding part 211 is S2, and the cross-sectional area of the seal body 20 is S3, the relationship of S1> S2 = S3 is established. For this reason, the primary runner corresponding part 210 has higher rigidity than the seal body 20.

[Method of arranging sealing member for fuel cell]
Next, a method for arranging the fuel cell seal member of the present embodiment will be described. The arrangement method of the fuel cell seal member of the present embodiment includes a forming step, a first transfer step, a second transfer step, and a cutting step. A 1st conveyance process and a 2nd conveyance process are contained in the concept of the "conveyance process" of this invention.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a mold in the molding step of the fuel cell sealing member arranging method of the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, the schematic diagram of the conveyance tray of the 1st conveyance process of the arrangement | positioning method is shown. In FIG. 6, the schematic diagram of the cell assembly of the 2nd conveyance process of the arrangement | positioning method is shown. The fuel cell sealing member 2 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the IV-IV cross section of FIG.

(Molding process)
In this step, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is manufactured using a mold. As shown in FIG. 4, the mold 3 includes an upper mold 32 and a lower mold 33. The upper mold 32 can be separated from the lower mold 33. A cavity 30 and a raw material flow path 31 are formed at the boundary between the upper mold 32 and the lower mold 33. The cavity 30 has a shape symmetrical to the seal body 20. The raw material flow path 31 includes a primary runner 310 and a plurality of secondary runners 311. The primary runner 310 has a shape symmetrical to the primary runner counterpart 210. The secondary runner 311 has a shape symmetrical to the secondary runner corresponding part 211. The secondary runner 311 is disposed on the downstream side of the primary runner 310. A gate (not shown) is set at the boundary between the secondary runner 311 and the cavity 30.

  In this step, first, the raw material of the fuel cell seal member 2 (uncrosslinked rubber containing EPDM as a rubber component) is supplied from an injection molding machine (not shown) through a primary runner 310 and a secondary runner 311. Inject into the cavity 30. Next, by heating the mold 3, the raw material remaining in the primary runner 310, the raw material remaining in the secondary runner 311, and the raw material injected into the cavity 30 are cross-linked. By this step, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is manufactured.

(First transfer process)
In this step, the produced fuel cell sealing member 2 is transported from the mold 3 shown in FIG. 4 to the transport tray 4 shown in FIG. 5 and accommodated in the transport tray 4. The transport tray 4 is included in the concept of “arrangement target member” of the present invention.

  First, the upper mold 32 shown in FIG. 4 is raised to expose the fuel cell sealing member 2 after fabrication. Next, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is taken out from the lower mold 33 using the chuck 5 shown in FIG. Subsequently, using the chuck 5, the fuel cell seal member 2 is transported to a position directly above the transport tray 4. Then, the fuel cell seal member 2 is accommodated in the transport tray 4 using the chuck 5. Specifically, a recess 40 corresponding to the fuel cell sealing member 2 is formed on the upper surface of the transport tray 4. The fuel cell sealing member 2 is accommodated in the recess 40.

  In this step, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is disposed not on the separator 93 but on the transport tray 4 for the following reason. That is, when the production site of the fuel cell seal member 2 and the assembly site of the fuel cell 9 are separated from each other, the fuel cell seal member 2 is moved from the production site to the assembly site by a transportation means such as a truck. Need to be transported. At this time, the fuel cell seal member 2 may be deformed by vibration or the like. If the fuel cell seal member 2 is deformed, it is troublesome when the fuel cell seal member 2 is incorporated into the fuel cell 9.

  In this regard, when the transport tray 4 is used, the fuel cell seal member 2 can be transported from the production site to the assembly site while suppressing deformation of the fuel cell seal member 2. For this reason, in this step, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is disposed not on the separator 93 but on the transport tray 4.

(Second transfer process)
In this step, the fuel cell seal member 2 is transported from the transport tray 4 shown in FIG. 5 to the cell assembly 91 shown in FIG. 6, and the fuel cell seal member 2 is placed in the cell assembly 91. The transport tray 4 has already been transported from the place where the fuel cell seal member 2 is manufactured to the place where the fuel cell 9 is assembled.

  First, as in the first transport process, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is transported from the transport tray 4 to directly above the cell assembly 91 using the chuck 5. Next, the fuel cell seal member 2 is disposed in the cell assembly 91 using the chuck 5. Specifically, positioning ribs 930 are projected from the upper surface of the separator 93 on the upper side of the cell assembly 91. The fuel cell seal member 2 is positioned with respect to the separator 93 by bringing the inner edge of the seal body 20 into contact with the rib 930.

(Cutting process)
In this step, the reinforcing portion 21 is removed from the seal body 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the boundary C with the seal body 20 in the secondary runner corresponding part 211 (the gate corresponding part of the raw material flow path 31 shown in FIG. 4) is cut. Thereafter, the cell assembly 91 having the seal body 20 disposed on the upper surface is laminated, thereby producing a laminate of the seal body 20 and the cell assembly 91. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell 9 is assembled by sandwiching the laminated body from both sides in the vertical direction with a pair of upper and lower end plates 90.

[Function and effect]
Next, the function and effect of the fuel cell seal member and the arrangement method thereof according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, according to the fuel cell seal member 2 and the arrangement method thereof according to the present embodiment, the annular primary runner corresponding portion 210 is arranged outside the frame of the seal body 20. That is, the seal body 20 and the primary runner corresponding part 210 are arranged in a double ring shape. Further, the seal body 20 and the primary runner corresponding part 210 are connected by a secondary runner corresponding part 211. For this reason, at the time of handling (for example, a 1st conveyance process, a 2nd conveyance process, etc.), the seal body 20 is hard to be twisted or entangled. That is, the seal body 20 is not easily deformed. As described above, the fuel cell sealing member 2 of the present embodiment is excellent in handleability.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the molding process, the primary runner 310 (primary runner corresponding part 210) and the secondary runner 311 (secondary runner corresponding part 211) are essential for injecting the raw material into the cavity 30. On the other hand, after the molding process, the primary runner correspondence part 210 and the secondary runner correspondence part 211 are essentially useless. For this reason, the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the secondary runner corresponding part 211 are originally separated from the seal body 20 and discarded after the molding process.

  In this regard, according to the fuel cell sealing member 2 and the arrangement method thereof of the present embodiment, using the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the secondary runner corresponding part 211 that are essential for the forming process but are discarded after the forming process, In the first transfer process and the second transfer process, the fuel cell sealing member 2 can be handled. For this reason, the sealing member 2 for fuel cells excellent in handleability can be manufactured at low cost.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the cross-sectional area of the primary runner corresponding part 210 is S1, the cross-sectional area of the secondary runner-corresponding part 211 is S2, and the cross-sectional area of the seal body 20 is S3, the relationship of S1> S2 = S3 is established. doing. For this reason, the primary runner corresponding part 210 has higher rigidity than the seal body 20. Therefore, the seal body 20 is reinforced by the primary runner corresponding part 210. Therefore, the seal body 20 is not easily deformed. Thus, when S1> S3, the handleability of the fuel cell seal member 2 is further improved. Further, by providing a difference in the cross-sectional area, a rigidity difference can be easily set between the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the seal body 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the cutting process, the boundary C (the gate corresponding part of the raw material flow path 31 shown in FIG. 4) with the seal body 20 in the secondary runner corresponding part 211 is cut. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the seal body 20 is separated from the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the secondary runner corresponding part 211 in a state of being interposed between a pair of separators 93 opposed in the vertical direction. . Therefore, the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the secondary runner corresponding part 211 which are unnecessary after the fuel cell seal member 2 is interposed between the pair of separators 93 can be separated from the seal body 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper surface of the primary runner corresponding part 210 has a planar shape. For this reason, the chuck 5 tends to attract the primary runner corresponding part 210 in the first transport process and the second transport process.

  As shown in FIG. 6, positioning ribs 930 protrude from the upper surface of the separator 93 on the upper side of the cell assembly 91. For this reason, in the 2nd conveyance process, the positioning of the fuel cell seal member 2 with respect to the separator 93 can be easily performed by bringing the inner edge of the seal body 20 into contact with the rib 930.

<Second embodiment>
The difference between the fuel cell seal member and its arrangement method of the present embodiment and the fuel cell seal member and its arrangement method of the first embodiment is that the reinforcing portion is arranged inside the frame of the seal body. is there. Here, only differences will be described.

  In FIG. 7, the top view of the sealing member for fuel cells of this embodiment is shown. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 2, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing portion 21 is disposed on the inner side in the horizontal direction of the seal body 20 with the center of gravity G of the seal body 20 as the center. That is, the reinforcing portion 21 is disposed inside the seal body 20. The inner primary runner counterpart 210 and the outer seal body 20 are arranged in a double ring shape. The secondary runner corresponding part 211 connects the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the seal body 20.

  The fuel cell seal member 2 and the arrangement method thereof according to the present embodiment and the fuel cell seal member and the arrangement method thereof according to the first embodiment have the same functions and effects with respect to parts having the same configuration. According to the fuel cell seal member 2 and the arrangement method thereof in the present embodiment, the seal body 20 can be reinforced from the inside of the frame during handling (for example, the first transport step, the second transport step, etc.).

<Third embodiment>
The difference between the fuel cell seal member and the arrangement method of the present embodiment and the fuel cell seal member and the arrangement method of the first embodiment is that the reinforcing portion is arranged on the outer side and the inner side of the frame of the seal body. It is a point. Here, only differences will be described.

  FIG. 8 shows a top view of the fuel cell sealing member of the present embodiment. In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 2, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcing portion 21 is arranged on the outer side in the horizontal direction and the inner side in the horizontal direction of the seal body 20 with the center of gravity G of the seal body 20 as the center. That is, the reinforcing portion 21 is disposed on the outer side and the inner side of the seal body 20. The inner primary runner corresponding part 210, the intermediate seal body 20, and the outer primary runner corresponding part 210 are arranged in a triple ring shape. The inner secondary runner corresponding part 211 connects the inner primary runner corresponding part 210 and the seal body 20. The outer secondary runner corresponding part 211 connects the outer primary runner corresponding part 210 and the seal body 20.

  The fuel cell seal member 2 and the arrangement method thereof according to the present embodiment and the fuel cell seal member and the arrangement method thereof according to the first embodiment have the same functions and effects with respect to parts having the same configuration. According to the fuel cell seal member 2 and the arrangement method thereof in the present embodiment, the seal body 20 can be reinforced from the outside of the frame and the inside of the frame during handling (for example, the first transfer step, the second transfer step, etc.). .

<Others>
The embodiment of the fuel cell seal member and the arrangement method thereof has been described above. However, the embodiment is not particularly limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications and improvements that can be made by those skilled in the art are also possible.

  FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the cell assembly in the second transport step of the fuel cell sealing member arrangement method of the other embodiment (part 1). In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 6, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 9, the shape of the primary runner corresponding part 210 and the length of the secondary runner corresponding part 211 may be adjusted so that the separator 93 just enters the inside of the frame of the primary runner corresponding part 210. In other words, the fuel cell seal member 2 may be positioned with respect to the separator 93 using the primary runner corresponding portion 210. Of course, the fuel cell seal member 2 may be positioned with respect to the transport tray 4 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 10, sectional drawing of the sealing member for fuel cells of other embodiment (the 2) is shown. The cross-sectional view corresponds to the cross-sectional view in the III-III direction of FIG. Moreover, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 3, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 10, the lower surface of the primary runner corresponding part 210, the lower surface of the secondary runner corresponding part 211, and the lower surface of the seal body 20 may be flush with each other. If it carries out like this, the type | mold surface of the lower mold | type 33 (or upper mold | type 32) shown in FIG. 4 can be made into a plane.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, you may set the inclination part 211a and the cutting part 211b in the secondary runner corresponding | compatible part 211. FIG. The vertical thickness of the inclined portion 211a decreases from the boundary D with the primary runner corresponding portion 210 toward the boundary E with the cutting portion 211b. The thickness in the vertical direction of the cutting portion 211 b is constant from the boundary E to the boundary C with the seal body 20. When the inclined portion 211a is disposed in the secondary runner corresponding portion 211, a large rigidity difference is unlikely to occur in the vicinity of the boundary D as compared with the case where the inclined portion 211a is not disposed (see FIG. 3). For this reason, at the time of handling (for example, a 1st conveyance process, a 2nd conveyance process, etc.), it is hard to concentrate stress in the boundary D vicinity. Moreover, in the cutting process shown in FIG. 6, the cutting part 211b is easily cut. As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 10, the shape of the upper surface (or lower surface) of the inclined portion 211a may be a convex curve shape, a concave curve shape, a step shape, or the like.

  11A to 11D are cross-sectional views of the primary runner corresponding part of the fuel cell seal member of other embodiments (part 3) to part (part 6). In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 3, it shows with the same code | symbol.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the cross section of the primary runner corresponding part 210 may be a perfect circle. As shown in FIG. 11B, the cross section of the primary runner corresponding part 210 may be an ellipse that is long in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG.11 (c), it is good also considering the cross section of the primary runner corresponding | compatible part 210 as a rectangular shape long in an up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 11D, a pair of upper and lower reinforcing ribs 210 a may be provided on the primary runner corresponding part 210. According to FIG.11 (b)-FIG.11 (d), the up-down direction length of the cross section of the primary runner corresponding | compatible part 210 is larger than the horizontal direction length. For this reason, the rigidity in the vertical direction of the primary runner corresponding part 210 can be improved with respect to the rigidity in the horizontal direction of the primary runner corresponding part 210. Therefore, the seal body is not easily deformed. Of course, the cross section of the secondary runner corresponding part 211 and the cross section of the seal body 20 may be the shapes shown in FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (d).

  Further, the cross section of the primary runner corresponding part 210, the cross section of the secondary runner corresponding part 211, and the cross section of the seal body 20 are formed into shapes other than those shown in FIGS. (Triangle, pentagon, hexagon, etc.), cross, star, etc.).

  FIG. 12 is a top view of a fuel cell sealing member according to another embodiment (part 7). In addition, about the site | part corresponding to FIG. 2, it shows with the same code | symbol. As shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the seal body 20 is not particularly limited. Corresponding to the manifold M, a plurality of annular portions may be arranged on the seal body 20.

  12, when the seal body 20 has a plurality of annular portions, the “outside of the frame of the seal body” means the outer edge of the seal body 20 with the center of gravity G of the seal body 20 as the center. The outside in the surface direction. In addition, as indicated by a thick line β in FIG. 12, when the seal main body 20 has a plurality of annular portions, the “inner side of the frame of the seal main body” means the inner edge of the seal main body 20 around the center of gravity G of the seal main body 20. The inside in the surface direction.

  The cutting position of the secondary runner corresponding part 211 in the cutting process shown in FIG. 6 is not particularly limited. The boundary D with the primary runner corresponding | compatible part 210 may be sufficient. Further, it may be intermediate between the boundary C and the boundary D. If at least a part of the secondary runner corresponding part 211 remains in the seal body 20 after the cutting process, it is convenient for the subsequent handling of the seal body 20.

  In addition, after the cutting process, at least a part of the primary runner corresponding part 210 may be left in the seal body 20 together with the secondary runner corresponding part 211. In particular, when the reinforcing portion 21 is disposed outside the frame of the seal body 20, the reinforcing portion 21 is unlikely to interfere with the fuel cell 9. For this reason, at least a part of the secondary runner corresponding part 211 and at least a part of the primary runner corresponding part 210 are likely to remain in the seal body 20. For example, the entire reinforcing portion 21 is likely to remain in the seal body 20. In this case, a cutting process is unnecessary.

  The conveyance tray 4 shown in FIG. 5 has a function as an accommodating conveyance member that can accommodate and convey the fuel cell sealing member 2. You may arrange | position the several recessed part 40 which can accommodate the several sealing member 2 for fuel cells in the conveyance tray 4. FIG. Thus, a plurality of fuel cell sealing members 2 can be accommodated and transported by a single transport tray 4. Moreover, the shape of the recessed part 40 is not specifically limited. For example, as will be described later, when the cutting step is executed after the first conveying step, the shape of the recess 40 corresponds to the shape of the fuel cell seal member 2 after cutting (for example, the shape of only the seal body 20). Good. Moreover, you may use the conveyance box with a lid | cover as an accommodation conveyance member.

  The chuck 5 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a function as an extraction / conveyance member that can extract and convey the fuel cell sealing member 2 from the lower mold 33 and the conveyance tray 4. Instead of the suction chuck 5, a gripping robot hand may be used as the take-out conveyance member. Of course, the operator may manually convey and arrange the fuel cell sealing member 2.

  The rib 930 shown in FIG. 6 has a function as a positioning portion of the seal body 20. You may arrange | position the groove | channel where the lower surface of the seal body 20 is accommodated as a positioning part. Further, as the reinforcing portion 21 shown in FIG. 2, a sprue corresponding portion corresponding to the sprue of the raw material flow path 31 of the mold 3 may be used.

  In the molding process, a plurality of cavities 30 may be arranged in a single mold 3. In this case, a primary runner 310 and a secondary runner 311 may be arranged for each cavity 30. The number of secondary runners 311 arranged in a single cavity 30 is not particularly limited.

  Moreover, you may perform a cutting process after a 1st conveyance process. That is, the cutting step may be performed after the fuel cell sealing member 2 is arranged on the transport tray 4. Moreover, you may perform a cutting process at the last stage (included in a 1st conveyance process) of a 1st conveyance process. That is, the fuel cell sealing member 2 may be cut just above the transport tray 4 shown in FIG. Then, the fuel cell sealing member 2 may be dropped by its own weight and disposed on the transport tray 4.

  Similarly, the cutting process may be executed at the end of the second transport process (included in the second transport process). That is, the fuel cell sealing member 2 may be cut just above the separator 93 shown in FIG. Then, the fuel cell sealing member 2 may be dropped by its own weight and disposed on the separator 93.

  Moreover, you may perform a cutting process in multiple times. That is, you may cut | disconnect the secondary runner corresponding | compatible part 211 over multiple times. For example, the first cutting process may be performed after the first transport process, and the second cutting process may be performed after the second transport process.

  Further, for example, when the place where the fuel cell sealing member 2 is manufactured and the place where the fuel cell 9 is assembled are close to each other, the transport tray 4 may not be used. In this case, in the arrangement method of the fuel cell sealing member 2, the conveying step is executed only once. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, using the chuck 5, the fuel cell sealing member 2 is first removed from the lower mold 33, and then transported to a position directly above the cell assembly 91. Place in the cell assembly 91.

  The magnitude relationship among the cross-sectional area S1 of the primary runner corresponding part 210, the cross-sectional area S2 of the secondary runner-corresponding part 211, and the cross-sectional area S3 of the seal body 20 is not particularly limited. For example, S1 = S2> S3, S1> S2> S3, S1 = S2 = S3, S1> S3> S2, and the like may be used.

  Also, the horizontal length (the length from the boundary D to the boundary C) of the secondary runner corresponding portion 211 shown in FIG. 3 is made shorter than the horizontal length (the front-rear direction in FIG. 3) of the primary runner corresponding portion 210. May be. If it carries out like this, the secondary runner corresponding | compatible part 211 will not change easily at the time of handling.

  Further, the stacking direction of the fuel cells 9 is not particularly limited. The seal body 20 and the cell assembly 91 may be alternately stacked in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Further, the fuel cell seal member of the present invention may be embodied as the in-cell seal member 94 shown in FIG. In this case, the fuel cell sealing member is interposed between a pair of separators 93 facing each other in the vertical direction in the same cell assembly 91.

  The material of the fuel cell seal member 2 and the in-cell seal member 94 is not particularly limited. In addition to the rubber component, a crosslinking agent, a crosslinking aid, an adhesive component, and the like may be included. Suitable rubber components include EPDM, silicone rubber (VMQ), fluorine rubber (FKM), butyl rubber (IIR), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. (H-NBR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR) and the like.

  2: Sealing member for fuel cell 3: Mold 4: Transport tray (arrangement target member) 5: Chuck 9: Fuel cell 20: Seal body 21: Reinforcing part 30: Cavity 31: Raw material flow path 32: Upper die 33: Lower Type 40: Concave part 90: End plate 91: Cell assembly 92: Electrode member 93: Separator (laminate member, arrangement target member) 94: In-cell seal member 210: Primary runner corresponding part 210a: Reinforcement rib 211: Secondary runner corresponding part 211a: Inclined portion 211b: Cut portion 310: Primary runner 311: Secondary runner 921: Porous layer 930: Rib C to E: Boundary G: Center of gravity M: Manifold S1 to S3: Cross-sectional area

Claims (6)

A frame-shaped seal body interposed between a pair of stacked members facing in the stacking direction of the fuel cell;
A reinforcing portion that is disposed at least one of a frame outer side and a frame inner side of the seal body;
An elastomer molded article fuel cell sealing member comprising:
The seal body corresponds to the cavity of the mold,
The reinforcing part connects the primary runner corresponding part corresponding to the primary runner of the raw material flow path of the mold, and the primary runner corresponding part corresponding to the secondary runner of the raw material flow path and the seal body. And a secondary runner corresponding portion.   2. The fuel cell seal member according to claim 1, wherein a rigidity of the primary runner corresponding portion is higher than a rigidity of the seal body.   The fuel cell seal member according to claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional area of the primary runner corresponding part is larger than a cross-sectional area of the seal body.   4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the seal body is separated from the primary runner corresponding portion in a state of being interposed between a pair of the laminated members facing in the stacking direction. Seal member. A frame-shaped cavity;
A raw material flow path that is disposed on at least one of the frame outer side and the frame inner side of the cavity, and has an annular primary runner, and a secondary runner that connects the primary runner and the cavity;
Inject a raw material of elastomer into a mold comprising
A frame-shaped seal body corresponding to the cavity and interposed between a pair of stacked members facing the stacking direction of the fuel cell;
A reinforcing portion having a primary runner corresponding portion corresponding to the primary runner and a secondary runner corresponding portion corresponding to the secondary runner;
A molding step for molding an elastomer fuel cell sealing member comprising:
The fuel cell seal member is transported from the mold to an arrangement target member on which the seal body is disposed, and at least the seal body of the fuel cell seal member is disposed on the arrangement target member. Process,
The arrangement method of the sealing member for fuel cells which has this.   6. The method of disposing a fuel cell seal member according to claim 5, further comprising a cutting step that is performed after the conveying step and separates the seal body from the primary runner corresponding portion by cutting the secondary runner corresponding portion. .

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