US20060131819A1 - Gasket - Google Patents
Gasket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060131819A1 US20060131819A1 US10/545,228 US54522805A US2006131819A1 US 20060131819 A1 US20060131819 A1 US 20060131819A1 US 54522805 A US54522805 A US 54522805A US 2006131819 A1 US2006131819 A1 US 2006131819A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gasket
- back surface
- adhesive agent
- separator
- adhesion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J15/00—Sealings
- F16J15/02—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces
- F16J15/06—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
- F16J15/10—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J15/00—Sealings
- F16J15/02—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces
- F16J15/06—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
- F16J15/08—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with exclusively metal packing
- F16J15/0806—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with exclusively metal packing characterised by material or surface treatment
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J15/00—Sealings
- F16J15/02—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
- H01M8/0273—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a gasket sealing between fixed members, and more particularly to a gasket which can be applied as a sealing means for a separator of a fuel battery and a top cover of a hard disc drive (HDD).
- HDD hard disc drive
- the fuel battery employs a stack structure obtained by laminating a lot of fuel battery cells each constituted by a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in which a high polymer electrolyte membrane is inserted between a pair of catalyst electrode layers, and a carbon separator. In the case that they are many, the number of the fuel battery cells is some hundreds.
- MEA membrane electrode assembly
- An oxidizing gas (an oxygen) is supplied to one catalyst electrode layer from an oxidizing gas flow path formed in one surface of each of the separators, a hydrogen is supplied to the other catalyst electrode layer from a fuel gas flow path formed in the other surface of each of the separators, and an electric power is generated on the basis of an electrochemical reaction corresponding to a reverse reaction of an electrolytic process of the water, that is, a reaction of generating the water from the hydrogen and the oxygen.
- FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing a part of the fuel battery.
- Reference numeral 101 denotes a high polymer electrolyte membrane
- reference symbols 102 A and 102 K denote catalyst electrode layers in both sides thereof
- reference numeral 103 denotes a separator.
- the separator 103 is provided with a gasket 104 made of a rubber-like elastic material, and a seal projection 104 a is close contacted with the high polymer electrolyte membrane 101 , thereby preventing the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas supplied to the catalyst electrode layers 102 A and 102 K from leaking to the external. It has been conventionally known that this kind of gasket 104 is adhered to the separator 103 via an adhesive agent 105 after being formed.
- the separator 103 since the separator 103 has an operation as a collecting plate from the catalyst electrode layers 102 A and 102 K in addition to an operation of sealing the gas supplied to the catalyst electrode layers 102 A and 102 K, and the separators 103 in both sides of the high polymer electrolyte membrane 101 or the like respectively form a negative electrode and a positive electrode, it is necessary to insulate them. Accordingly, in conventional, for example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-197249, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-283893 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-158018, an insulating means is provided between the separators in the periphery of a power generating portion by the MEA.
- the insulation between the separators is achieved by the high polymer electrolyte membrane by making an outer peripheral edge of the high polymer electrolyte membrane into the same shape and the same size as an outer peripheral edge of the separator.
- a sheet-like insulating layer is interposed between the separators, in an outer peripheral side of the high polymer electrolyte membrane.
- the adhesive agent 105 is applied all around the periphery. However, if a part of the adhesive agent 105 runs over from the adhesion surface of the gasket 104 as shown by reference symbol 105 a and is exposed to the gas flow path in large quantities, there is a case that a battery performance is adversely affected by an elution component from the adhesive agent 105 .
- the present invention is made by taking the problem mentioned above into consideration, and a technical problem of the present invention is to inhibit a gasket adhered to a plate body such as a separator of a fuel battery or the like from being adversely affected by an elution component from an adhesion means.
- a gasket adhered to a plate body comprising:
- a gasket as recited in the first aspect, wherein the back surface seal portion is formed in a back surface of a main lip.
- a gasket as recited in the first or second aspect, wherein the adhesion means is constituted by an adhesive agent, and an adhesive agent sump holding an excess adhesive agent is provided between the back surface seal portion and the adhesion portion.
- a gasket as recited in any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the back surface seal portion is closely contacted with a bottom portion of a gasket installation groove formed in the plate body to be adhered.
- a gasket wherein a gasket lip is integrally provided in an insulation layer interposed between separators of a fuel battery, and the insulation layer is adhered to a separator via an adhesion means in a region in an opposite side to a space to be sealed with respect to the gasket lip.
- a gasket as recited in the fifth aspect, wherein a gasket lip made of the same material as the insulation layer is integrally formed in the insulation layer.
- the portion between the adhesion portion (the adhesion means) and the space to be sealed is sealed by the back surface seal portion, it is possible to effectively prevent the component included in the adhesion means from being eluted to the space to be sealed, so that in the case that the gasket is applied to the gasket of the fuel battery separator, it is possible to effectively prevent the adverse effect caused by the component elution into the oxidizing gas flow path or the fuel gas flow path corresponding to the space to be sealed.
- sealing in the fixed side to the plate body to be adhered is made by the back surface seal portion, and does not depend upon the sealing performance by the adhesion means, it is possible to reduce a use amount of the adhesion means such as the adhesive agent or the like, and it is possible to restrict an amount of the elution component.
- the back surface seal portion is exposed to the reaction force on the basis of a collapsing margin of the main lip, a close contact force with respect to the plate body to be adhered is increased, and it is possible to further improve the sealing performance between the adhesion portion (the adhesion means) and the space to be sealed.
- the back surface seal portion of the gasket is positioned by the gasket installation groove formed in the plate body to be adhered, it is possible to stably fix the gasket.
- the portion between the adhesion region and the space to be sealed is sealed by the reaction force against the collapse of the gasket lip, it is possible to effectively prevent the component included in the adhesion means from being eluted to the space to be sealed, and it is possible to effectively prevent the adverse effect caused by the component elution of the adhesion means to the space to be sealed.
- the sealing performance is further improved, the adhesion means between the gasket lip and the insulation layer is not necessary, and the gasket can be provided at a low cost.
- FIG. 1 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a first embodiment in which a gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as a gasket for a fuel battery;
- FIG. 2 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of the first embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery;
- FIG. 3 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a second embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery;
- FIG. 4 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a third embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery;
- FIG. 5 is a view showing a surface of a separator to which the gasket is attached
- FIG. 6 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fourth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is preferably applied to a portion VI in FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 7 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fifth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery;
- FIG. 8 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a sixth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery;
- FIG. 9 is a view, as seen from a laminating direction, of a separated state of a fuel battery cell to which the invention in accordance with the sixth aspect is applied, as a seventh aspect in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a view, as seen from the laminating direction, of an assembled state of the fuel battery cell in FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of the fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along a line XI-XI in FIG. 10 ;
- FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of a fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10 , in accordance with an eighth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery;
- FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the separated state of the fuel battery cell, showing the gasket in FIG. 12 by cutting at a position along a line XIII-XIII in FIG. 10 ;
- FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing a part a fuel battery to which a gasket in accordance with conventional art is installed.
- FIG. 1 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a first embodiment in which a gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as a gasket for a fuel battery
- FIG. 2 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of the same.
- a term “back surface” means a surface directed to an opposite side to a main lip 11 in a gasket 1 , that is, a surface directed to a separator 3 side.
- the gasket in accordance with this embodiment is provided with a structure corresponding to the first to fourth aspects, is adhered to the separator 3 of a fuel battery via an adhesive agent 2 as shown in FIG. 2 , is interposed between the separator 3 and a high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 so as to prevent a hydrogen gas or an oxidizing gas from leaking out from a space S to be sealed such as a fuel gas flow path, an oxidizing gas flow path or the like for supplying a hydrogen gas or an oxidizing gas (an oxygen) to a catalyst electrode layer (not shown), and is formed by a rubber-like elastic material, preferably a rubber-like elastic material selected from a silicone rubber (VMQ), a fluorine-contained rubber (FKM), an ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) or the like.
- the separator 3 corresponds to the plate body to be adhered described in the first aspect, is formed by a carbon and has a conductivity.
- the gasket 1 has the main lip 11 protruding in a chevron shape, a back surface seal portion 12 protruding to a back surface side, an extension portion 13 protruding to an opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a portion between the main lip 11 and the back surface seal portion 12 , and an adhesion portion 14 formed so as to protrude to a back surface side of the extension portion 13 .
- a groove-like adhesive agent sump 15 is provided in a concave shape between the back surface seal portion 12 and the adhesion portion 14 .
- a gasket installation groove 31 extending in correspondence to an installation position of the gasket 1 and having a rectangular cross section is formed in the separator 3 .
- the gasket installation groove 31 is formed at a width which can receive the back surface seal portion 12 and the adhesion portion 14 in the gasket 1 .
- the gasket 1 is structured such that, in the state of a step portion 16 between an end portion of the extension portion 13 and the adhesion portion 14 being positioned at a groove shoulder 32 in an opposite side to the space S to be sealed in the gasket installation groove 31 , the back surface seal portion 12 is closely contacted with a position close to the space S to be sealed in a bottom portion 31 a of the gasket installation groove 31 , and the adhesion portion 14 is adhered to a position close to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed in the bottom portion 31 a of the gasket installation groove 31 via the adhesive agent 2 .
- the gasket 1 when adhering the gasket 1 to the separator 3 , the gasket 1 is adhered to the separator 3 by first applying the adhesive agent 2 to a position close to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed in the bottom portion 31 a of the gasket installation groove 31 in the separator 3 , and pressing the adhesion portion 14 of the gasket 1 to an application surface of the adhesive agent 2 in the state of positioning the step portion 16 at the groove shoulder 32 in the opposite side to the space S to be sealed of the gasket installation groove 31 .
- the gasket 1 is structured such that the main lip 11 is closely contacted with the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 shown by a single dot chain line in FIG. 2 with a desired collapse margin, the back surface seal portion 12 formed in the back surface side of the main lip 11 is closely contacted with the bottom portion 31 a of the gasket installation groove 31 by a suitable surface pressure. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent an eluted component from the excess adhesive agent 2 a within the adhesive agent sump 15 from being discharged to the space S to be sealed.
- the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 is provided with catalyst electrode layers (a fuel electrode and an air electrode) (not shown) in both sides in a thickness direction thereof so as to structure the MEA.
- the sealing with the separator 3 corresponding to the plate body to be adhered in the fixed side is executed by the back surface seal portion 12 , and does not depend on the adhesive agent 2 interposed between the bottom portion 31 a and the adhesion portion 14 . Accordingly, the adhesive agent 2 is not necessarily applied to an entire periphery of the bottom portion 31 a as far as a necessary amount for fixing the gasket 1 is provided. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a use amount of the adhesive agent 2 , and it is possible to inhibit an amount of the eluted component from the adhesive agent 2 . Further, in the case that the adhesive agent 2 is applied to the entire periphery of the bottom portion 31 a , the sealing is executed by both of the back surface seal portion 12 and the adhesion portion 14 . Accordingly, it is possible to make a sealing performance with respect to the space S to be sealed on the basis of a double seal operation.
- FIG. 3 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a second embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery.
- This embodiment is also basically provided with the structure corresponding to the first to fourth aspects, and is structured such that a flat back surface of the extension portion 13 protruding to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a portion between the main lip 11 and the back surface seal portion 12 forms the adhesion portion 14 , and the gasket installation groove 31 of the separator 3 is formed at a width which can receive the back surface seal portion 12 of the gasket 1 .
- the adhesion portion 14 of the gasket 1 is adhered to the groove shoulder 32 in the opposite side to the space S to be sealed of the gasket installation groove 31 via the adhesive agent 2 .
- the adhesive agent sump 15 is formed in a step groove shape between the back surface seal portion 12 and the adhesion portion 14 , the excess adhesive agent 2 a running over to the back surface seal portion 12 side from the portion between the groove shoulder 32 and the adhesion portion 14 at a time of applying the adhesive agent 2 to the groove shoulder 32 so as to adhere the adhesion portion 14 is held between the end portion 31 a in the opposite side to the space S to be sealed of the gasket installation groove 31 and the adhesive agent sump 15 , thereby effectively preventing the excess adhesive agent from interposing to the back surface seal portion 12 side. Accordingly, the same effect as the first embodiment can be achieved.
- FIG. 4 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a third embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery.
- the gasket in accordance with this embodiment is provided with the structure corresponding to the first to third aspects, and has a chevron-shaped main lip 11 which is closely contacted with the high polymer electrolyte membrane (not shown) with a desired collapse margin, plural lines of back surface seal portions 12 which are formed to protrude in a back surface side thereof, an extension portion 13 which protrudes to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a base portion of the main lip 11 , and an adhesion portion 14 which is formed to protrude in parallel to the back surface seal portion 12 in a back surface side of the extension portion 13 .
- a groove-like adhesive agent sump 15 is provided in a concave shape between the back surface seal portion 12 and the adhesion portion 14 .
- a gasket installation groove as shown in FIG. 2 or 3 is not formed in the separator 3 corresponding to the plate body to be adhered, the adhesion portion 14 of the gasket 1 is adhered to the flat surface 3 a of the separator 3 facing to the high polymer electrolyte membrane (not shown) via the adhesive agent 2 , and the back surface seal portions 12 positioned at the space S to be sealed side are closely contacted therewith.
- the excess adhesive agent 2 a running over to the back surface seal portion 12 side from the portion between the surface 3 a of the separator 3 and the adhesion portion 14 at a time of adhesion is held in the adhesive agent sump 15 , thereby effectively preventing the excess adhesive agent from interposing to the back surface seal portion 12 side. Accordingly, the same effect as the first embodiment can be achieved.
- FIG. 5 is a view showing a surface of the separator 3 to which the gasket 1 is attached.
- Reference numeral 33 in the drawing denotes a lot of flow path grooves formed in the surface of the separator 3 and circulating the fuel gas or the oxidizing gas
- reference numeral 34 denotes a manifold provided in the separator 3 and communicating with the flow path groove 33
- reference numerals 35 and 36 denote manifolds provided in the separator 3 and communicating with respective flow path grooves (not shown).
- the gasket 1 provided so as to surround a forming region of the flow path groove 33 and an opening portion of the manifold 34 , the gasket 1 provided so as to surround an opening portion of the manifold 35 , and the gasket 1 provided so as to surround an opening portion of the manifold 36 .
- the gasket 1 surrounding the forming region of the flow path groove 33 and the opening portion of the manifold 34 and a part of the gasket 1 surrounding the opening portion of the manifold 35 , or the gasket 1 surrounding the forming region of the flow path groove 33 and the opening portion of the manifold 34 and a part of the gasket 1 surrounding the opening portion of the manifold 36 extend in parallel in the state of being close to each other.
- FIG. 6 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fourth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery.
- the gasket in accordance with this embodiment is basically provided with the structure corresponding to the first to fourth aspects, and is preferably applied to the case of including the part extending in parallel in the state of being close to each other as shown by the portion VI in FIG. 5 mentioned above.
- Gaskets 1 A and 1 B shown in FIG. 6 respectively aim at sealing against different fluids. For example, the fuel gas circulates in the space S 1 to be sealed by one gasket 1 A, and the oxidizing gas circulates in the space S 2 to be sealed by the other gasket 1 B.
- the gaskets 1 A and 1 B are basically the same as the previously described gasket in FIG. 3 (the second embodiment).
- the gaskets 1 A and 1 B respectively have main lips 11 A and 11 B protruding in a chevron shape and closely contacted with the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 by a desired collapse margin, back surface seal portions 12 A and 12 B formed in back surface sides thereof, and extension portions 13 A and 13 B protruding from portions between the main lips 11 A, 11 B and the back surface seal portions 12 A, 12 B, and flat back surfaces of the extension portions 13 A and 13 B form adhesion portions 14 A and 14 B.
- a concave fitting groove 13 a is formed in a leading end of the extension portion 13 A in one gasket 1 A, and a leading end of the extension portion 13 B in the other gasket 1 B is formed in a convex shape capable of closely fitting to the fitting groove 13 a.
- a pair of gasket installation grooves 31 A and 31 B extending in correspondence to the position in which the respective back surface seal portions 12 A and 12 B of the gaskets 1 A and 1 B are placed and having a rectangular cross section are formed in the separator 3 .
- the gasket installation grooves 31 A and 31 B are formed at a width which can receive the back surface seal portions 12 A ad 12 B, and an interval between both the grooves 31 A and 31 B (a width of a groove shoulder 37 ) is slightly smaller than a length of both the extension portions 13 A and 13 B at a time of fitting the fitting groove 13 a of the extension portion 13 A in the gasket 1 A to the leading end of the extension portion 13 B in the gasket 1 B.
- the gaskets 1 A and 1 B are adhered by first applying the adhesive agent 2 to the groove shoulder 37 between the gasket installation grooves 31 A and 31 B in the separator 3 , inserting both the back surface seal portions 12 A and 12 B to the gasket installation grooves 31 A and 31 B in the state of fitting the fitting groove 13 a of the extension portion 13 A in the gasket 1 A to the leading end of the extension portion 13 B in the gasket 1 B, and pressing the adhesion portions 14 A and 14 B in the back surfaces of the extension portions 13 A and 13 B to the application surface (the groove shoulder 37 ) of the adhesive agent 2 .
- the excess adhesive agent 2 a runs over to both sides from the portion between the groove shoulder 37 and the adhesion portions 14 A and 14 B, however, since adhesive agent sumps 15 A and 15 B are provided respectively between the adhesion portion 14 A in the gasket 1 A and the back surface seal portion 12 A, and between the adhesion portion 14 B in the gasket 1 B and the back surface seal portion 12 B, the running over excess adhesive agents 2 a and 2 a are held within the adhesive agent sumps 15 A and 15 B, thereby effectively preventing the excess adhesive agent from interposing to the back surface seal portions 12 A and 12 B side.
- the first to fourth embodiments mentioned above employ the adhesive agent 2 as an adhesion means of the gasket 1 ( 1 A or 1 B) to the separator 3 , however, the present invention can be applied to a structure adhered in accordance with a vulcanizing adhesion or a structure using a sheet-like adhesive member.
- FIGS. 7 and 8 employ the adhesion means mentioned above.
- FIG. 7 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fifth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery.
- the gasket 1 in accordance with this embodiment is integrally formed in the separator 3 , and has the main lip 11 protruding in a chevron shape and closely contacted with the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 by a desired collapse margin, the back surface seal portion 12 formed in a back surface side thereof, the extension portion 13 protruding to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a portion between the main lip 11 and the back surface seal portion 12 , and a flat back surface of the extension portion 13 forms the adhesion portion 14 .
- the back surface seal portion 12 is closely fitted to a gasket installation groove 31 formed in the separator 3 in correspondence to the installation position of the gasket 1 and having a rectangular cross section, and the adhesion portion 14 is vulcanized and adhered to a groove shoulder 32 in an opposite side to the space S to be sealed of the gasket installation groove 31 .
- the gasket 1 is made integral to the separator 3 at the same time of forming the gasket 1 by previously applying an adhesive agent for vulcanizing adhesion to the groove shoulder 32 of the separator 3 , thereafter setting the separator 3 within a predetermined metal mold (not shown), injecting an unvulcanized rubber material into a cavity defined with respect to an inner surface of the metal mold along the gasket installation groove 31 and vulcanizing it.
- the adhesion portion 14 is integrally vulcanized and adhered to the groove shoulder 32 by the adhesive agent for vulcanizing adhesion applied to the groove shoulder 32 of the separator 3 , however, the back surface seal portion 12 is formed in a rectangular cross sectional shape while copying with the inner surface of the gasket installation groove 31 of the separator 3 , that is, is closely contacted with the inner surface of the gasket installation groove 31 in a non-adhesion state.
- a membrane-like portion 17 is formed in the opposite side to the extension portion 13 (the adhesion portion 14 ), that is, in the space S to be sealed side of the main lip 11 and the back surface seal portion 12 , and is closely contacted with the groove shoulder 38 in the space S to be sealed side of the gasket installation groove 31 in the separator 3 .
- the membrane-like portion 17 since the back surface seal portion 12 exists between the adhesion portion 14 and the space S to be sealed, and the membrane-like portion 17 has a sealing function, it is possible to prevent an influence caused by the eluted component from the vulcanizing adhesion portion eluting into the gas circulating in the space S to be sealed.
- FIG. 8 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a sixth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery.
- the gasket 1 in accordance with this aspect is structured such that a sheet-like adhesion member 21 is stuck to the adhesion portion 14 of the gasket 1 in the previously described FIG. 1 (the first embodiment).
- the sheet-like adhesive member 21 is structured such that an adhesive agent or a pressure sensitive adhesive agent (not shown) is applied to one surface (a lower surface in the drawing) 21 a of a synthetic resin film, and the other surface (an upper surface in the drawing) 21 b is adhered to the adhesion portion 14 of the gasket 1 in accordance with an insert molding method.
- the synthetic resin film is selected from a synthetic resin film made of an electrical insulating synthetic resin material such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a polyimide (PI) or the like.
- the rubber material of the gasket 1 is not particularly limited, however, the silicone rubber (VMQ), the fluorine-contained rubber (FKM), the ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) mentioned above and the like are preferable.
- the synthetic resin film in which the adhesive agent for the vulcanizing adhesion is previously applied to the other surface 21 b , is set within the metal mold for injection molding the gasket 1 , the unvulcanized rubber material is injected into the metal mold, and the synthetic resin film is made integral to the gasket 1 at the same time of forming the gasket 1 .
- the structure is made such that a releasing film (not shown) is stuck to one surface 21 a of the synthetic resin film to which the adhesive agent or the pressure sensitive adhesive agent is applied, the releasing film mentioned above is peeled off at a time of attaching the gasket 1 to a predetermined position of the separator 3 so as to expose one surface 21 a , to which the adhesive agent or the pressure sensitive adhesive agent is applied, and adhere.
- the back surface seal portion 12 exists between the sheet-like adhesion member 21 provided in the adhesion portion 14 and the space S to be sealed, it is possible to prevent an influence caused by the eluted component from the adhesive agent or the pressure sensitive adhesive agent of the sheet-like adhesion member 21 eluting to the gas circulating in the space to be sealed, and it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first embodiment. Accordingly, in this embodiment, since the fixed side seal with the separator is carried out by the back surface seal portion 12 , and does not depend on the sheet-like adhesion member 21 , it is not necessary that the sheet-like adhesion member 21 is stuck to an entire periphery of the adhesion portion 14 .
- the gasket 1 is adhered to the separator 3 side, however, the structure may be made such that the gasket 1 is adhered to the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 and the main lip 11 is closely contacted with the separator 3 .
- the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 corresponds to the plate body to be adhered described in the first aspect.
- gasket in accordance with the embodiments mentioned above can be applied, for example, to a gasket of a gasket integrally formed type top cover for sealing a case receiving a hard disc corresponding to a recording medium, a head reading and writing data with respect to the head disc, an actuator driving the head and the like, in a hard disc drive apparatus (HDD) of a personal computer, in addition to the fuel battery.
- HDD hard disc drive apparatus
- FIG. 9 is a view, as seen from a laminating direction, of a separated state of a fuel battery cell as a seventh embodiment to which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery
- FIG. 10 is a view, as seen from the laminating direction, of an assembled state of the fuel battery cell in FIG. 9
- FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of the fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along a line XI-XI in FIG. 10 .
- reference numeral 3 denotes a separator
- reference numeral 4 denotes a high polymer electrolyte membrane
- reference numerals 41 and 42 denote a pair of catalyst electrode layers provided in both surfaces of the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4
- reference numeral 5 denotes a gasket in accordance with the present embodiment in which gasket lips 52 and 53 are integrally provided in an insulating layer 51 positioned in an outer peripheral side of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 and interposed between outer peripheral portions of the respective separators 3 .
- the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 and the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 provided in both surfaces thereof construct a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 40 .
- MEA membrane electrode assembly
- the separator 3 is made of a carbon or the like having a conductivity and a gas impermeability, a lot of groove-shaped flow path grooves 33 are formed in both surfaces thereof so as to be positioned to face surfaces of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 , and a plurality of manifolds 34 to 36 for supplying or discharging a fuel gas, an oxidizing gas or a cooling water are provided in an outer peripheral portion thereof, in the same manner as FIG. 5 described previously. Further, as shown in FIG.
- the manifolds for supplying the fuel and discharging the fuel communicate via flow paths 33 a and 33 a covered by cover plates 33 b and 33 b supporting the gasket 5 in both ends of the flow path groove 33 formed in one surface of the separator 3 , and the manifolds for supplying the oxidizing gas and discharging the oxidizing gas communicate in the same manner via a passage (not shown) covered by a cover plate supporting the gasket 5 in both ends of the flow path groove 33 formed in the other surface of the separator 3 .
- the gasket 5 is structured such that gasket lips 52 and 53 made of a rubber-like elastic material such as VMQ, FKM, EPDM or the like are integrally provided in the insulating layer 51 made of a synthetic resin material, for example, PET, PEN, PI or the like, or a rubber-like elastic material which is excellent in an electric insulating property between the respective separators 3 .
- a method of integrally forming the gasket lips 52 and 53 with respect to the insulating layer 51 there can be employed both of a method of directly forming the gasket lip 52 in the insulating layer 51 in accordance with an injection molding or the like, and a method of attaching the independently formed gasket lips 52 and 53 by an adhesive agent. In this case, in the latter method, since there is a possibility that the elution component is eluted from the adhesive agent, and there is a risk that the adhesive agent peeling or the like is generated, the former integrally forming method is preferable.
- the insulating layer 51 is in a sheet shape with an outer peripheral edge which is formed in the same shape and the same size as those of an outer peripheral edge of the separator 3 , has a window portion 51 a corresponding to a power generating region (a forming region of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 in the MEA 40 and the flow path groove 33 in the separator 3 ) in an inner periphery, and is provided with a plurality of manifolds 51 b to 51 d which have the same shape and the same size as those of the respective manifolds 34 to 36 , at positions corresponding to the respective manifolds 34 to 36 in the separator 3 .
- the gasket lip 52 is formed so as to surround an outer periphery of the window portion 51 a
- the gasket lip 53 is formed so as to surround an outer periphery of each of the manifolds 51 b to 51 d.
- the thickness of the insulating layer 51 is set to 50 to 500 ⁇ m, and preferably set to 100 to 300 ⁇ m.
- a region P shown by hatching with diagonal lines in FIG. 9 corresponds to an adhesive agent applying region in the separator 3 .
- the adhesive agent applying region P corresponds to a region in the opposite side to the flow path groove 33 and each of the manifolds 34 to 36 , which are the objects to be sealed by the gasket lips 52 and 53 , with respect to the gasket lips 52 and 53 at a time of positioning and laminating the gasket 5 to the separator 3 .
- the gasket 5 is adhered by applying the adhesive agent to the adhesive agent applying region P in the separator 3 and thereafter positioning and pressing the surface in the side in which the gasket lips 52 and 53 are not formed in the insulating layer 51 .
- the fuel gas (the hydrogen) is supplied to the flow path groove 33 facing to one of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 of the MEA 40 , via the passages 33 a and 33 a between the manifolds for supplying the fuel and discharging the fuel, and the oxidizing gas (the oxygen) is supplied to the flow path groove 33 facing to the other catalyst electrode layer.
- a reaction for decomposing a hydrogen molecule into a hydrogen ion and an electron is executed in a side (an anode) to which the fuel gas is supplied, and a reaction for generating water from an oxygen, the hydrogen ion and the electron is executed in a side (a cathode) to which the oxidizing gas is supplied, whereby an electromotive force is generated.
- the outer peripheral portions (the outer peripheral sides of the power generating region) of the separator 3 which are adjacent in the thickness direction are insulated from each other on the basis of the interposition of the sheet-shaped insulating layer 51 in the gasket 5 .
- the gasket lip 52 in the gasket 5 is closely contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 (the MEA 40 ) by a suitable collapse margin
- the gasket lip 53 is closely contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the separator 3 by a suitable collapse margin, thereby achieving an excellent sealing performance with respect to the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas circulating within the flow path groove 33 , and the fuel gas, the oxidizing gas or the cooling water circulating in the manifolds 34 to 36 .
- the gasket lip 52 has a function of elastically pressing the outer peripheral portion of the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 (the MEA 40 ) so as to clamp.
- the adhesive agent applied to the adhesive agent applying region P is hard to run over to the side of the flow path groove 33 and each of the manifolds 34 to 36 corresponding to the spaces to be sealed, and it is possible to effectively prevent the elution component from the adhesive agent from being discharged to the side of the flow path groove 33 and each of the manifolds 34 to 36 corresponding to the spaces to be sealed.
- FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of a fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10 , in accordance with an eighth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery
- FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the separated state of the fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along a line XIII-XIII in FIG. 10 .
- the gasket 5 is adhered to both surfaces of each of the separators 3 .
- the gasket 5 is entirely made of a single rubber-like elastic material selected from VMQ, FKM, EPDM and the like, and gasket lips 52 A and 53 A (hereinafter, refer to as a main lip) and gasket lips 52 B and 53 B (hereinafter, refer to as a back surface lip) are integrally formed with each other in both surfaces of the insulating layer 51 .
- the insulating layer 51 , the main lips 52 A and 53 A and the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B are made of rubber-like elastic materials which are continuous with each other, and are structured such that no adhered portion is interposed between both the elements.
- the insulating layer 51 has the outer peripheral edge which is formed in the same shape and the same size as those of the outer peripheral edge of the separator 3 , has the window portion 51 a corresponding to the power generating region (the forming region of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 in the MEA 40 and the flow path groove 33 in the separator 3 ) in the inner periphery, and is formed in a sheet shape provided with a plurality of manifolds 51 b to 51 d corresponding to the respective manifolds 34 to 36 in the separator 3 shown in the previous FIG. 9 (only the manifolds 35 and 51 c are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 ).
- the main lip 52 A and the back surface lip 52 B are formed along an outer periphery of the window portion 51 a
- the main lip 53 A and the back surface lip 53 B are formed along an outer periphery of each of the manifolds 51 c ( 51 b , 51 d ).
- the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B are not provided in the portion corresponding to the cover plate 33 b (the passage 33 a ) of the separator 3 shown in the previous FIG. 9 , and only the main lips 52 A and 53 A are formed in this portion as shown in FIG. 13 .
- gasket installation grooves 31 C and 31 D are respectively formed in both surfaces in an outer peripheral side of the power generating region in the separator 3 in correspondence to the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B of the gasket 5 .
- the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B are closely contacted within the gasket installation grooves 31 C and 31 D by a predetermined collapse margin.
- the gasket installation grooves 31 C and 31 D are not formed in a portion in which the passage 33 a of the separator 3 shown in FIG. 9 passes.
- the structures of the other portions for example, the flow path groove 33 in the separator 3 , the arrangement of the manifolds 34 to 36 and the like, the MEA 40 (the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 and the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 ) and the like are basically the same as the previously explained seventh embodiment.
- the insulating layer 51 of the gasket 5 having the structure mentioned above is adhered to the separator 3 via the adhesive agent, and the adhesive agent applying region P of the separator 3 for the adhesion is formed in a region corresponding to an opposite side to the flow path groove 33 and the manifold 35 ( 34 , 36 ), which are the objects to be sealed by the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B, with respect to the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B at a time of positioning and laminating the gasket 5 to the separator 3 , in other words, an opposite side to the flow path groove 33 and the manifold 35 ( 34 , 36 ) with respect to the gasket installation grooves 31 C and 31 D.
- the gasket 5 is adhered by applying the adhesive agent to the adhesive agent applying region P of the separator 3 and thereafter pressing the surface in which the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B exist in the insulating layer 51 . Further, since the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B are fitted to the gasket installation grooves 31 C and 31 D in the above process, it is possible to easily position them.
- the main lip 52 A of the gasket 5 adhered to one separator 3 in the separators 3 and 3 adjacent to each other, and the main lip 52 A of the gasket 5 adhered to the other separator 3 are closely contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the MEA 40 (the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 ) by the suitable collapse margin, thereby well sealing the power generating region and elastically clamping the MEA 40 .
- the main lip 53 A of the gasket 5 adhered to one separator 3 , and the main lip 53 A of the gasket 5 adhered to the other separator 3 are closely contacted with each other by the suitable collapse margin, thereby achieving a good sealing performance with respect to the manifold 35 ( 34 , 36 ).
- the main lips 52 A and 53 A are backed up by the cover plate 33 b in the forming portion of the passage 33 a of the separator 3 shown in FIG. 13 , the main lips 52 A and 53 A can be well closely contacted with the facing separator 3 .
- the gasket 5 has the structure in which the insulating layer 51 and the gasket lips (the main lips 52 A and 53 A and the back surface lips 52 B and 53 B) are continuously formed with each other, it is possible to provide at a low cost in accordance with a simultaneous integral molding with the rubber-like elastic material. Further, it is not necessary to adhere between both the elements. Further, since it is not necessary to adhere the insulating layer 51 and the gasket lip by the adhesive agent, the elution component is not generated therefrom, and there is no risk that the adhesive agent peeling or the like is generated.
- the gasket 5 is provided in both the surfaces of each of the separators 3 , however, the structure may be made such that the gasket 5 is provided only in one surface and the main lip 53 A is closely contacted with the adjacent separator 3 , in the same manner as shown in FIG. 11 .
Abstract
In order to inhibit a gasket (1) adhered to a plate body such as a separator (3) of a fuel battery or the like from being adversely affected by an elution component from an adhesion means, the gasket has a main lip (11), a back surface seal portion (12) formed in a back surface of the main lip and closely contacted with a separator (a plate body to be adhered) (3), an adhesion portion (14) arranged in a position in an opposite side to a space (S) to be sealed with respect to the back surface seal portion (12) and adhered to a bottom portion (31 a) of a gasket installation groove (31) of the separator (3) via an adhesive agent (2), and an adhesive agent sump (15) formed between the back surface seal portion (12) and the adhesion portion (14) and holding an excess adhesive agent (2 a).
Description
- The present invention relates to a gasket sealing between fixed members, and more particularly to a gasket which can be applied as a sealing means for a separator of a fuel battery and a top cover of a hard disc drive (HDD).
- The fuel battery employs a stack structure obtained by laminating a lot of fuel battery cells each constituted by a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in which a high polymer electrolyte membrane is inserted between a pair of catalyst electrode layers, and a carbon separator. In the case that they are many, the number of the fuel battery cells is some hundreds. An oxidizing gas (an oxygen) is supplied to one catalyst electrode layer from an oxidizing gas flow path formed in one surface of each of the separators, a hydrogen is supplied to the other catalyst electrode layer from a fuel gas flow path formed in the other surface of each of the separators, and an electric power is generated on the basis of an electrochemical reaction corresponding to a reverse reaction of an electrolytic process of the water, that is, a reaction of generating the water from the hydrogen and the oxygen.
-
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing a part of the fuel battery.Reference numeral 101 denotes a high polymer electrolyte membrane,reference symbols reference numeral 103 denotes a separator. Theseparator 103 is provided with agasket 104 made of a rubber-like elastic material, and aseal projection 104 a is close contacted with the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 101, thereby preventing the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas supplied to thecatalyst electrode layers gasket 104 is adhered to theseparator 103 via anadhesive agent 105 after being formed. - In this case, since the
separator 103 has an operation as a collecting plate from thecatalyst electrode layers catalyst electrode layers separators 103 in both sides of the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 101 or the like respectively form a negative electrode and a positive electrode, it is necessary to insulate them. Accordingly, in conventional, for example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-197249, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-283893 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-158018, an insulating means is provided between the separators in the periphery of a power generating portion by the MEA. In other words, in the insulating means described in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-197249, the insulation between the separators is achieved by the high polymer electrolyte membrane by making an outer peripheral edge of the high polymer electrolyte membrane into the same shape and the same size as an outer peripheral edge of the separator. Further, in the case that the size of the high polymer electrolyte membrane is limited to a peripheral edge portion of a power generating region as in the structure described in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-283893 or No. 2002-158018, a sheet-like insulating layer is interposed between the separators, in an outer peripheral side of the high polymer electrolyte membrane. - However, in accordance with the structure as shown in
FIG. 14 , if there is a portion where the layer of theadhesive agent 105 adhering the separator 103 (or the high polymer electrolyte membrane 101) and thegasket 104 is not applied, the leakage is generated there. Accordingly, theadhesive agent 105 is applied all around the periphery. However, if a part of theadhesive agent 105 runs over from the adhesion surface of thegasket 104 as shown byreference symbol 105 a and is exposed to the gas flow path in large quantities, there is a case that a battery performance is adversely affected by an elution component from theadhesive agent 105. - Further, in accordance with the structure as described in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-197249, since an area of the expensive high polymer electrolyte membrane is expanded to a portion which is not used for power generation, there is a problem that a cost is increased. In this connection, the structure described in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-283893 or No. 2002-158018 does not have the problem mentioned above, however, an independent gasket lip (a linear projection) is provided in the sheet-like insulating layer. In this case, the gasket lip is adhered to the sheet-like insulating layer by using the adhesive agent in the light of a displacement prevention and a sealing performance. Accordingly, similarly to that shown in
FIG. 14 , there is a risk that a part of the adhesive agent is exposed to the gas flow path or the like and a battery performance is adversely affected by the elution component from the adhesive agent. Further, there is a risk that an adhesion peeling between the insulating layer and the gasket lip is generated in use for a long period and a sealing performance is deteriorated. - The present invention is made by taking the problem mentioned above into consideration, and a technical problem of the present invention is to inhibit a gasket adhered to a plate body such as a separator of a fuel battery or the like from being adversely affected by an elution component from an adhesion means.
- As a means for effectively solving the technical problem mentioned above, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gasket adhered to a plate body, comprising:
- a back surface seal portion which is closely contacted with the plate body to be adhered; and
- an adhesion portion adhered to the plate body to be adhered via an adhesion means at a position in an opposite side to a space to be sealed with respect to the back surface seal portion.
- In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gasket as recited in the first aspect, wherein the back surface seal portion is formed in a back surface of a main lip.
- In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gasket as recited in the first or second aspect, wherein the adhesion means is constituted by an adhesive agent, and an adhesive agent sump holding an excess adhesive agent is provided between the back surface seal portion and the adhesion portion.
- In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gasket as recited in any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the back surface seal portion is closely contacted with a bottom portion of a gasket installation groove formed in the plate body to be adhered.
- In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gasket, wherein a gasket lip is integrally provided in an insulation layer interposed between separators of a fuel battery, and the insulation layer is adhered to a separator via an adhesion means in a region in an opposite side to a space to be sealed with respect to the gasket lip.
- In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gasket as recited in the fifth aspect, wherein a gasket lip made of the same material as the insulation layer is integrally formed in the insulation layer.
- In accordance with the gasket on the basis of the invention described in the first aspect, since the portion between the adhesion portion (the adhesion means) and the space to be sealed is sealed by the back surface seal portion, it is possible to effectively prevent the component included in the adhesion means from being eluted to the space to be sealed, so that in the case that the gasket is applied to the gasket of the fuel battery separator, it is possible to effectively prevent the adverse effect caused by the component elution into the oxidizing gas flow path or the fuel gas flow path corresponding to the space to be sealed. Further, since sealing in the fixed side to the plate body to be adhered is made by the back surface seal portion, and does not depend upon the sealing performance by the adhesion means, it is possible to reduce a use amount of the adhesion means such as the adhesive agent or the like, and it is possible to restrict an amount of the elution component.
- In accordance with the gasket on the basis of the second aspect of the present invention, since the back surface seal portion is exposed to the reaction force on the basis of a collapsing margin of the main lip, a close contact force with respect to the plate body to be adhered is increased, and it is possible to further improve the sealing performance between the adhesion portion (the adhesion means) and the space to be sealed.
- In accordance with the gasket on the basis of the third aspect of the present invention, since the excess adhesive agent going to run over to the back surface seal portion side from the portion between the adhesion portion and the plate body to be adhered is held in the adhesive agent sump in the case that the adhesive agent is employed as the adhesion means, it is possible to further securely prevent the excess adhesive agent from running over to the space to be sealed side.
- In accordance with the gasket on the basis of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the back surface seal portion of the gasket is positioned by the gasket installation groove formed in the plate body to be adhered, it is possible to stably fix the gasket.
- In accordance with the gasket on the basis of the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the adhesion region between the insulation layer integrally having the gasket lip, and the separator exists in the opposite side to the space to be sealed with respect to the gasket lip, the portion between the adhesion region and the space to be sealed is sealed by the reaction force against the collapse of the gasket lip, it is possible to effectively prevent the component included in the adhesion means from being eluted to the space to be sealed, and it is possible to effectively prevent the adverse effect caused by the component elution of the adhesion means to the space to be sealed.
- In accordance with the gasket on the basis of the sixth aspect of the present invention, since no joint portion exists between the gasket lip and the insulation layer, the sealing performance is further improved, the adhesion means between the gasket lip and the insulation layer is not necessary, and the gasket can be provided at a low cost.
-
FIG. 1 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a first embodiment in which a gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as a gasket for a fuel battery; -
FIG. 2 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of the first embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery; -
FIG. 3 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a second embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery; -
FIG. 4 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a third embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery; -
FIG. 5 is a view showing a surface of a separator to which the gasket is attached; -
FIG. 6 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fourth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is preferably applied to a portion VI inFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fifth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery; -
FIG. 8 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a sixth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery; -
FIG. 9 is a view, as seen from a laminating direction, of a separated state of a fuel battery cell to which the invention in accordance with the sixth aspect is applied, as a seventh aspect in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a view, as seen from the laminating direction, of an assembled state of the fuel battery cell inFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of the fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along a line XI-XI inFIG. 10 ; -
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of a fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along the line XI-XI inFIG. 10 , in accordance with an eighth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery; -
FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the separated state of the fuel battery cell, showing the gasket inFIG. 12 by cutting at a position along a line XIII-XIII inFIG. 10 ; and -
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing a part a fuel battery to which a gasket in accordance with conventional art is installed. -
- 1, 1A, 1B GASKET
- 11, 11A, 11B, 52A, 53A MAIN LIP
- 12, 12A, 12B BACK SURFACE SEAL PORTION
- 13, 13A, 13B EXTENSION PORTION
- 13 a FITTING GROOVE
- 14, 14A, 14B ADHESION PORTION
- 15 ADHESIVE AGENT SUMP
- 16 STEP PORTION
- 17 MEMBRANE PORTION
- 2 ADHESIVE AGENT (ADHESION MEANS)
- 2 a EXCESS ADHESIVE AGENT
- 21 SHEET-LIKE ADHESION MEMBER (ADHESION MEANS)
- 3 SEPARATOR
- 3 a FLAT SURFACE
- 31, 31A-31D GASKET INSTALLATION GROOVE
- 31 a BOTTOM PORTION
- 32, 37, 38 GROOVE SHOULDER
- 33 FLOW PATH GROOVE (SPACE TO BE SEALED)
- 34-36, 51 b-51 d MANIFOLD (SPACE TO BE SEALED)
- 4 HIGH POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE
- 40 MEA
- 41, 42 CATALYST ELECTRODE LAYER
- 5 GASKET
- 51 INSULATION LAYER
- 51 a WINDOW PORTION
- 52, 53 GASKET LIP
- 52B, 53B BACK SURFACE LIP
- P ADHESIVE AGENT APPLICATION REGION
- S, S1, S2 SPACE TO BE SEALED
- A description will be given below of a preferable embodiment of a gasket in accordance with the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. First,
FIG. 1 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a first embodiment in which a gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as a gasket for a fuel battery, andFIG. 2 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of the same. In this case, in the following description, a term “back surface” means a surface directed to an opposite side to amain lip 11 in agasket 1, that is, a surface directed to aseparator 3 side. - The gasket in accordance with this embodiment is provided with a structure corresponding to the first to fourth aspects, is adhered to the
separator 3 of a fuel battery via anadhesive agent 2 as shown in FIG. 2, is interposed between theseparator 3 and a highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 so as to prevent a hydrogen gas or an oxidizing gas from leaking out from a space S to be sealed such as a fuel gas flow path, an oxidizing gas flow path or the like for supplying a hydrogen gas or an oxidizing gas (an oxygen) to a catalyst electrode layer (not shown), and is formed by a rubber-like elastic material, preferably a rubber-like elastic material selected from a silicone rubber (VMQ), a fluorine-contained rubber (FKM), an ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) or the like. In this case, theseparator 3 corresponds to the plate body to be adhered described in the first aspect, is formed by a carbon and has a conductivity. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thegasket 1 has themain lip 11 protruding in a chevron shape, a backsurface seal portion 12 protruding to a back surface side, anextension portion 13 protruding to an opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a portion between themain lip 11 and the backsurface seal portion 12, and anadhesion portion 14 formed so as to protrude to a back surface side of theextension portion 13. Further, a groove-likeadhesive agent sump 15 is provided in a concave shape between the backsurface seal portion 12 and theadhesion portion 14. - On the other hand, as shown in
FIG. 2 , agasket installation groove 31 extending in correspondence to an installation position of thegasket 1 and having a rectangular cross section is formed in theseparator 3. Thegasket installation groove 31 is formed at a width which can receive the backsurface seal portion 12 and theadhesion portion 14 in thegasket 1. In other words, thegasket 1 is structured such that, in the state of astep portion 16 between an end portion of theextension portion 13 and theadhesion portion 14 being positioned at agroove shoulder 32 in an opposite side to the space S to be sealed in thegasket installation groove 31, the backsurface seal portion 12 is closely contacted with a position close to the space S to be sealed in abottom portion 31 a of thegasket installation groove 31, and theadhesion portion 14 is adhered to a position close to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed in thebottom portion 31 a of thegasket installation groove 31 via theadhesive agent 2. - In the structure mentioned above, when adhering the
gasket 1 to theseparator 3, thegasket 1 is adhered to theseparator 3 by first applying theadhesive agent 2 to a position close to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed in thebottom portion 31 a of thegasket installation groove 31 in theseparator 3, and pressing theadhesion portion 14 of thegasket 1 to an application surface of theadhesive agent 2 in the state of positioning thestep portion 16 at thegroove shoulder 32 in the opposite side to the space S to be sealed of thegasket installation groove 31. At this time, an excessadhesive agent 2 a runs over to both sides of theadhesion portion 14, however, since theadhesive agent sump 15 is provided between theadhesion portion 14 and the backsurface seal portion 12, the excessadhesive agent 2 a running over toward the backsurface seal portion 12 side from theadhesion portion 14 is held within theadhesive agent sump 15, whereby it is possible to effectively prevent the excessadhesive agent 2 a from interposing to the backsurface seal portion 12 side. - Further, since the
gasket 1 is structured such that themain lip 11 is closely contacted with the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 shown by a single dot chain line inFIG. 2 with a desired collapse margin, the backsurface seal portion 12 formed in the back surface side of themain lip 11 is closely contacted with thebottom portion 31 a of thegasket installation groove 31 by a suitable surface pressure. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent an eluted component from the excessadhesive agent 2 a within theadhesive agent sump 15 from being discharged to the space S to be sealed. In this case, the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 is provided with catalyst electrode layers (a fuel electrode and an air electrode) (not shown) in both sides in a thickness direction thereof so as to structure the MEA. - Further, the sealing with the
separator 3 corresponding to the plate body to be adhered in the fixed side is executed by the backsurface seal portion 12, and does not depend on theadhesive agent 2 interposed between thebottom portion 31 a and theadhesion portion 14. Accordingly, theadhesive agent 2 is not necessarily applied to an entire periphery of thebottom portion 31 a as far as a necessary amount for fixing thegasket 1 is provided. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a use amount of theadhesive agent 2, and it is possible to inhibit an amount of the eluted component from theadhesive agent 2. Further, in the case that theadhesive agent 2 is applied to the entire periphery of thebottom portion 31 a, the sealing is executed by both of the backsurface seal portion 12 and theadhesion portion 14. Accordingly, it is possible to make a sealing performance with respect to the space S to be sealed on the basis of a double seal operation. - Next,
FIG. 3 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a second embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery. This embodiment is also basically provided with the structure corresponding to the first to fourth aspects, and is structured such that a flat back surface of theextension portion 13 protruding to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a portion between themain lip 11 and the backsurface seal portion 12 forms theadhesion portion 14, and thegasket installation groove 31 of theseparator 3 is formed at a width which can receive the backsurface seal portion 12 of thegasket 1. - In other words, the
adhesion portion 14 of thegasket 1 is adhered to thegroove shoulder 32 in the opposite side to the space S to be sealed of thegasket installation groove 31 via theadhesive agent 2. Theadhesive agent sump 15 is formed in a step groove shape between the backsurface seal portion 12 and theadhesion portion 14, the excessadhesive agent 2 a running over to the backsurface seal portion 12 side from the portion between thegroove shoulder 32 and theadhesion portion 14 at a time of applying theadhesive agent 2 to thegroove shoulder 32 so as to adhere theadhesion portion 14 is held between theend portion 31 a in the opposite side to the space S to be sealed of thegasket installation groove 31 and theadhesive agent sump 15, thereby effectively preventing the excess adhesive agent from interposing to the backsurface seal portion 12 side. Accordingly, the same effect as the first embodiment can be achieved. - Next,
FIG. 4 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a third embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery. The gasket in accordance with this embodiment is provided with the structure corresponding to the first to third aspects, and has a chevron-shapedmain lip 11 which is closely contacted with the high polymer electrolyte membrane (not shown) with a desired collapse margin, plural lines of backsurface seal portions 12 which are formed to protrude in a back surface side thereof, anextension portion 13 which protrudes to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a base portion of themain lip 11, and anadhesion portion 14 which is formed to protrude in parallel to the backsurface seal portion 12 in a back surface side of theextension portion 13. Further, a groove-likeadhesive agent sump 15 is provided in a concave shape between the backsurface seal portion 12 and theadhesion portion 14. - On the other hand, a gasket installation groove as shown in
FIG. 2 or 3 is not formed in theseparator 3 corresponding to the plate body to be adhered, theadhesion portion 14 of thegasket 1 is adhered to theflat surface 3 a of theseparator 3 facing to the high polymer electrolyte membrane (not shown) via theadhesive agent 2, and the backsurface seal portions 12 positioned at the space S to be sealed side are closely contacted therewith. The excessadhesive agent 2 a running over to the backsurface seal portion 12 side from the portion between thesurface 3 a of theseparator 3 and theadhesion portion 14 at a time of adhesion is held in theadhesive agent sump 15, thereby effectively preventing the excess adhesive agent from interposing to the backsurface seal portion 12 side. Accordingly, the same effect as the first embodiment can be achieved. -
FIG. 5 is a view showing a surface of theseparator 3 to which thegasket 1 is attached.Reference numeral 33 in the drawing denotes a lot of flow path grooves formed in the surface of theseparator 3 and circulating the fuel gas or the oxidizing gas,reference numeral 34 denotes a manifold provided in theseparator 3 and communicating with theflow path groove 33, andreference numerals separator 3 and communicating with respective flow path grooves (not shown). - In the
separator 3 shown inFIG. 5 , there are thegasket 1 provided so as to surround a forming region of the flow path groove 33 and an opening portion of the manifold 34, thegasket 1 provided so as to surround an opening portion of the manifold 35, and thegasket 1 provided so as to surround an opening portion of the manifold 36. Further, in a portion shown by reference symbol VI, thegasket 1 surrounding the forming region of the flow path groove 33 and the opening portion of the manifold 34 and a part of thegasket 1 surrounding the opening portion of the manifold 35, or thegasket 1 surrounding the forming region of the flow path groove 33 and the opening portion of the manifold 34 and a part of thegasket 1 surrounding the opening portion of the manifold 36 extend in parallel in the state of being close to each other. -
FIG. 6 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fourth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery. The gasket in accordance with this embodiment is basically provided with the structure corresponding to the first to fourth aspects, and is preferably applied to the case of including the part extending in parallel in the state of being close to each other as shown by the portion VI inFIG. 5 mentioned above.Gaskets FIG. 6 respectively aim at sealing against different fluids. For example, the fuel gas circulates in the space S1 to be sealed by onegasket 1A, and the oxidizing gas circulates in the space S2 to be sealed by theother gasket 1B. - The
gaskets FIG. 3 (the second embodiment). Thegaskets main lips polymer electrolyte membrane 4 by a desired collapse margin, backsurface seal portions extension portions main lips surface seal portions extension portions form adhesion portions fitting groove 13 a is formed in a leading end of theextension portion 13A in onegasket 1A, and a leading end of theextension portion 13B in theother gasket 1B is formed in a convex shape capable of closely fitting to thefitting groove 13 a. - On the other hand, a pair of
gasket installation grooves surface seal portions gaskets separator 3. Thegasket installation grooves surface seal 12B, and an interval between both theportions 12A adgrooves extension portions fitting groove 13 a of theextension portion 13A in thegasket 1A to the leading end of theextension portion 13B in thegasket 1B. - In the structure mentioned above, when adhering the
gaskets separator 3, thegaskets adhesive agent 2 to thegroove shoulder 37 between thegasket installation grooves separator 3, inserting both the backsurface seal portions gasket installation grooves fitting groove 13 a of theextension portion 13A in thegasket 1A to the leading end of theextension portion 13B in thegasket 1B, and pressing theadhesion portions extension portions adhesive agent 2. At this time, the excessadhesive agent 2 a runs over to both sides from the portion between thegroove shoulder 37 and theadhesion portions adhesive agent sumps adhesion portion 14A in thegasket 1A and the backsurface seal portion 12A, and between theadhesion portion 14B in thegasket 1B and the backsurface seal portion 12B, the running over excessadhesive agents adhesive agent sumps surface seal portions - The first to fourth embodiments mentioned above employ the
adhesive agent 2 as an adhesion means of the gasket 1 (1A or 1B) to theseparator 3, however, the present invention can be applied to a structure adhered in accordance with a vulcanizing adhesion or a structure using a sheet-like adhesive member. The next described embodiments inFIGS. 7 and 8 employ the adhesion means mentioned above. - First of all,
FIG. 7 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing an installation state of a fifth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery. Thegasket 1 in accordance with this embodiment is integrally formed in theseparator 3, and has themain lip 11 protruding in a chevron shape and closely contacted with the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 by a desired collapse margin, the backsurface seal portion 12 formed in a back surface side thereof, theextension portion 13 protruding to the opposite side to the space S to be sealed from a portion between themain lip 11 and the backsurface seal portion 12, and a flat back surface of theextension portion 13 forms theadhesion portion 14. The backsurface seal portion 12 is closely fitted to agasket installation groove 31 formed in theseparator 3 in correspondence to the installation position of thegasket 1 and having a rectangular cross section, and theadhesion portion 14 is vulcanized and adhered to agroove shoulder 32 in an opposite side to the space S to be sealed of thegasket installation groove 31. - The
gasket 1 is made integral to theseparator 3 at the same time of forming thegasket 1 by previously applying an adhesive agent for vulcanizing adhesion to thegroove shoulder 32 of theseparator 3, thereafter setting theseparator 3 within a predetermined metal mold (not shown), injecting an unvulcanized rubber material into a cavity defined with respect to an inner surface of the metal mold along thegasket installation groove 31 and vulcanizing it. Theadhesion portion 14 is integrally vulcanized and adhered to thegroove shoulder 32 by the adhesive agent for vulcanizing adhesion applied to thegroove shoulder 32 of theseparator 3, however, the backsurface seal portion 12 is formed in a rectangular cross sectional shape while copying with the inner surface of thegasket installation groove 31 of theseparator 3, that is, is closely contacted with the inner surface of thegasket installation groove 31 in a non-adhesion state. - In this case, a membrane-
like portion 17 is formed in the opposite side to the extension portion 13 (the adhesion portion 14), that is, in the space S to be sealed side of themain lip 11 and the backsurface seal portion 12, and is closely contacted with thegroove shoulder 38 in the space S to be sealed side of thegasket installation groove 31 in theseparator 3. - In this embodiment, since the back
surface seal portion 12 exists between theadhesion portion 14 and the space S to be sealed, and the membrane-like portion 17 has a sealing function, it is possible to prevent an influence caused by the eluted component from the vulcanizing adhesion portion eluting into the gas circulating in the space S to be sealed. Further, similarly to each of the embodiments mentioned above, since a suitable close contact surface pressure is applied to the backsurface seal portion 12 on the basis of a reaction force of the collapse margin of themain lip 11 with respect to the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4, an excellent sealing performance can be achieved, and since the backsurface seal portion 12 is firmly fixed to the inner surface of thegasket installation groove 31 on the basis of the reaction force with the fastening margin mentioned above, a fixing performance of thegasket 1 is high, so that it is possible to reduce a use amount of the agent for vulcanizing adhesion at a time of forming, and it is possible to effectively inhibit the component eluting amount. - Next,
FIG. 8 is a partly cross sectional perspective view showing a single body of a sixth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery. Thegasket 1 in accordance with this aspect is structured such that a sheet-like adhesion member 21 is stuck to theadhesion portion 14 of thegasket 1 in the previously describedFIG. 1 (the first embodiment). - In detail, the sheet-
like adhesive member 21 is structured such that an adhesive agent or a pressure sensitive adhesive agent (not shown) is applied to one surface (a lower surface in the drawing) 21 a of a synthetic resin film, and the other surface (an upper surface in the drawing) 21 b is adhered to theadhesion portion 14 of thegasket 1 in accordance with an insert molding method. The synthetic resin film is selected from a synthetic resin film made of an electrical insulating synthetic resin material such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a polyimide (PI) or the like. Further, the rubber material of thegasket 1 is not particularly limited, however, the silicone rubber (VMQ), the fluorine-contained rubber (FKM), the ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) mentioned above and the like are preferable. - The synthetic resin film, in which the adhesive agent for the vulcanizing adhesion is previously applied to the
other surface 21 b, is set within the metal mold for injection molding thegasket 1, the unvulcanized rubber material is injected into the metal mold, and the synthetic resin film is made integral to thegasket 1 at the same time of forming thegasket 1. The structure is made such that a releasing film (not shown) is stuck to onesurface 21 a of the synthetic resin film to which the adhesive agent or the pressure sensitive adhesive agent is applied, the releasing film mentioned above is peeled off at a time of attaching thegasket 1 to a predetermined position of theseparator 3 so as to expose onesurface 21 a, to which the adhesive agent or the pressure sensitive adhesive agent is applied, and adhere. - In this embodiment, since the back
surface seal portion 12 exists between the sheet-like adhesion member 21 provided in theadhesion portion 14 and the space S to be sealed, it is possible to prevent an influence caused by the eluted component from the adhesive agent or the pressure sensitive adhesive agent of the sheet-like adhesion member 21 eluting to the gas circulating in the space to be sealed, and it is possible to achieve the same effect as the first embodiment. Accordingly, in this embodiment, since the fixed side seal with the separator is carried out by the backsurface seal portion 12, and does not depend on the sheet-like adhesion member 21, it is not necessary that the sheet-like adhesion member 21 is stuck to an entire periphery of theadhesion portion 14. - In all the embodiments mentioned above, the
gasket 1 is adhered to theseparator 3 side, however, the structure may be made such that thegasket 1 is adhered to the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 and themain lip 11 is closely contacted with theseparator 3. In this case, the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 corresponds to the plate body to be adhered described in the first aspect. - Further, the gasket in accordance with the embodiments mentioned above can be applied, for example, to a gasket of a gasket integrally formed type top cover for sealing a case receiving a hard disc corresponding to a recording medium, a head reading and writing data with respect to the head disc, an actuator driving the head and the like, in a hard disc drive apparatus (HDD) of a personal computer, in addition to the fuel battery.
- Next,
FIG. 9 is a view, as seen from a laminating direction, of a separated state of a fuel battery cell as a seventh embodiment to which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery,FIG. 10 is a view, as seen from the laminating direction, of an assembled state of the fuel battery cell inFIG. 9 , andFIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of the fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along a line XI-XI inFIG. 10 . - This embodiment corresponds to the invention in accordance with the fifth aspect. In these
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11,reference numeral 3 denotes a separator,reference numeral 4 denotes a high polymer electrolyte membrane,reference numerals polymer electrolyte membrane 4, andreference numeral 5 denotes a gasket in accordance with the present embodiment in which gasketlips layer 51 positioned in an outer peripheral side of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 and interposed between outer peripheral portions of therespective separators 3. The highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 and the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 provided in both surfaces thereof construct a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 40. - The
separator 3 is made of a carbon or the like having a conductivity and a gas impermeability, a lot of groove-shapedflow path grooves 33 are formed in both surfaces thereof so as to be positioned to face surfaces of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42, and a plurality ofmanifolds 34 to 36 for supplying or discharging a fuel gas, an oxidizing gas or a cooling water are provided in an outer peripheral portion thereof, in the same manner asFIG. 5 described previously. Further, as shown inFIG. 9 , in a plurality ofmanifolds 34 to 36, the manifolds for supplying the fuel and discharging the fuel communicate viaflow paths cover plates gasket 5 in both ends of the flow path groove 33 formed in one surface of theseparator 3, and the manifolds for supplying the oxidizing gas and discharging the oxidizing gas communicate in the same manner via a passage (not shown) covered by a cover plate supporting thegasket 5 in both ends of the flow path groove 33 formed in the other surface of theseparator 3. - The
gasket 5 is structured such thatgasket lips layer 51 made of a synthetic resin material, for example, PET, PEN, PI or the like, or a rubber-like elastic material which is excellent in an electric insulating property between therespective separators 3. As a method of integrally forming thegasket lips layer 51, there can be employed both of a method of directly forming thegasket lip 52 in the insulatinglayer 51 in accordance with an injection molding or the like, and a method of attaching the independently formedgasket lips - The insulating
layer 51 is in a sheet shape with an outer peripheral edge which is formed in the same shape and the same size as those of an outer peripheral edge of theseparator 3, has awindow portion 51 a corresponding to a power generating region (a forming region of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 in theMEA 40 and the flow path groove 33 in the separator 3) in an inner periphery, and is provided with a plurality ofmanifolds 51 b to 51 d which have the same shape and the same size as those of therespective manifolds 34 to 36, at positions corresponding to therespective manifolds 34 to 36 in theseparator 3. Further, thegasket lip 52 is formed so as to surround an outer periphery of thewindow portion 51 a, and thegasket lip 53 is formed so as to surround an outer periphery of each of themanifolds 51 b to 51 d. - If a thickness of the insulating
layer 51 is too thin, a strength and a sufficient insulating property can not be obtained, and if it is too thick inversely, a volume of a stack formed by laminating the fuel battery cells is vainly increased. Accordingly, the thickness of the insulatinglayer 51 is set to 50 to 500 μm, and preferably set to 100 to 300 μm. - A region P shown by hatching with diagonal lines in
FIG. 9 corresponds to an adhesive agent applying region in theseparator 3. The adhesive agent applying region P, as shown inFIG. 11 , corresponds to a region in the opposite side to the flow path groove 33 and each of themanifolds 34 to 36, which are the objects to be sealed by thegasket lips gasket lips gasket 5 to theseparator 3. Thegasket 5 is adhered by applying the adhesive agent to the adhesive agent applying region P in theseparator 3 and thereafter positioning and pressing the surface in the side in which thegasket lips layer 51. - In each of the fuel battery cells provided with the structured mentioned above, the fuel gas (the hydrogen) is supplied to the flow path groove 33 facing to one of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 of the
MEA 40, via thepassages - The outer peripheral portions (the outer peripheral sides of the power generating region) of the
separator 3 which are adjacent in the thickness direction are insulated from each other on the basis of the interposition of the sheet-shaped insulatinglayer 51 in thegasket 5. In an assembled state, thegasket lip 52 in thegasket 5 is closely contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 (the MEA 40) by a suitable collapse margin, thegasket lip 53 is closely contacted with the outer peripheral portion of theseparator 3 by a suitable collapse margin, thereby achieving an excellent sealing performance with respect to the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas circulating within theflow path groove 33, and the fuel gas, the oxidizing gas or the cooling water circulating in themanifolds 34 to 36. Further, thegasket lip 52 has a function of elastically pressing the outer peripheral portion of the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4 (the MEA 40) so as to clamp. - Further, since the
gasket lips gasket 5 are closely contacted with theseparator 3 or the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 by the desired collapse margin, a close contact surface pressure applied to theseparator 3 or the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 is increased on the basis of the compression reaction force of thegasket lips gasket lips layer 51, whereby the portion functions as aback surface seal portion, and on the contrary, the surface pressure becomes small in the portion corresponding to the adhesive agent applying region P. Accordingly, the adhesive agent applied to the adhesive agent applying region P is hard to run over to the side of the flow path groove 33 and each of themanifolds 34 to 36 corresponding to the spaces to be sealed, and it is possible to effectively prevent the elution component from the adhesive agent from being discharged to the side of the flow path groove 33 and each of themanifolds 34 to 36 corresponding to the spaces to be sealed. - Next,
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a separated state of a fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along the line XI-XI inFIG. 10 , in accordance with an eighth embodiment in which the gasket in accordance with the present invention is applied as the gasket for the fuel battery, andFIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the separated state of the fuel battery cell, shown by cutting at a position along a line XIII-XIII inFIG. 10 . - This embodiment corresponds to the invention in accordance with the sixth aspect, and the
gasket 5 is adhered to both surfaces of each of theseparators 3. Thegasket 5 is entirely made of a single rubber-like elastic material selected from VMQ, FKM, EPDM and the like, andgasket lips gasket lips layer 51. Accordingly, the insulatinglayer 51, themain lips back surface lips - In detail, the insulating
layer 51 has the outer peripheral edge which is formed in the same shape and the same size as those of the outer peripheral edge of theseparator 3, has thewindow portion 51 a corresponding to the power generating region (the forming region of the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42 in theMEA 40 and the flow path groove 33 in the separator 3) in the inner periphery, and is formed in a sheet shape provided with a plurality ofmanifolds 51 b to 51 d corresponding to therespective manifolds 34 to 36 in theseparator 3 shown in the previousFIG. 9 (only themanifolds FIGS. 12 and 13 ). Themain lip 52A and theback surface lip 52B are formed along an outer periphery of thewindow portion 51 a, and themain lip 53A and theback surface lip 53B are formed along an outer periphery of each of themanifolds 51 c (51 b, 51 d). Further, theback surface lips cover plate 33 b (thepassage 33 a) of theseparator 3 shown in the previousFIG. 9 , and only themain lips FIG. 13 . - On the other hand,
gasket installation grooves separator 3 in correspondence to theback surface lips gasket 5. Theback surface lips gasket installation grooves gasket installation grooves passage 33 a of theseparator 3 shown inFIG. 9 passes. - The structures of the other portions, for example, the flow path groove 33 in the
separator 3, the arrangement of themanifolds 34 to 36 and the like, the MEA 40 (the highpolymer electrolyte membrane 4 and the catalyst electrode layers 41 and 42) and the like are basically the same as the previously explained seventh embodiment. - The insulating
layer 51 of thegasket 5 having the structure mentioned above is adhered to theseparator 3 via the adhesive agent, and the adhesive agent applying region P of theseparator 3 for the adhesion is formed in a region corresponding to an opposite side to the flow path groove 33 and the manifold 35 (34, 36), which are the objects to be sealed by theback surface lips back surface lips gasket 5 to theseparator 3, in other words, an opposite side to the flow path groove 33 and the manifold 35 (34, 36) with respect to thegasket installation grooves gasket 5 is adhered by applying the adhesive agent to the adhesive agent applying region P of theseparator 3 and thereafter pressing the surface in which theback surface lips layer 51. Further, since theback surface lips gasket installation grooves - At this time, a part of the adhesive agent applied to the
separator 3 runs over to both sides from the adhesive agent applying region P by pressing the insulatinglayer 51 of thegasket 5, however, since the adhesive agent sump shown in the previously explainedFIG. 3 is formed between the adhesive agent applying region P and theback surface lips gasket 5 by thegasket installation grooves back surface lips - In the assembled state of the fuel battery cell, the
main lip 52A of thegasket 5 adhered to oneseparator 3 in theseparators main lip 52A of thegasket 5 adhered to theother separator 3 are closely contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the MEA 40 (the high polymer electrolyte membrane 4) by the suitable collapse margin, thereby well sealing the power generating region and elastically clamping theMEA 40. Further, themain lip 53A of thegasket 5 adhered to oneseparator 3, and themain lip 53A of thegasket 5 adhered to theother separator 3 are closely contacted with each other by the suitable collapse margin, thereby achieving a good sealing performance with respect to the manifold 35 (34, 36). Further, since theback surface lips gasket installation grooves main lips - In this case, since the
main lips cover plate 33 b in the forming portion of thepassage 33 a of theseparator 3 shown in FIG. 13, themain lips separator 3. - Since the
gasket 5 has the structure in which the insulatinglayer 51 and the gasket lips (themain lips back surface lips layer 51 and the gasket lip by the adhesive agent, the elution component is not generated therefrom, and there is no risk that the adhesive agent peeling or the like is generated. - In accordance with this embodiment, the
gasket 5 is provided in both the surfaces of each of theseparators 3, however, the structure may be made such that thegasket 5 is provided only in one surface and themain lip 53A is closely contacted with theadjacent separator 3, in the same manner as shown inFIG. 11 .
Claims (6)
1. A gasket adhered to a plate body, comprising:
a back surface seal portion which is closely contacted with the plate body to be adhered; and
an adhesion portion adhered to said plate body to be adhered via an adhesion means at a position in an opposite side to a space to be sealed with respect to the back surface seal portion.
2. The gasket as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the back surface seal portion is formed in a back surface of a main lip.
3. The gasket as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adhesion means is constituted by an adhesive agent, and an adhesive agent sump holding an excess adhesive agent is provided between the back surface seal portion and the adhesion portion.
4. The gasket as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the back surface seal portion is closely contacted with a bottom portion of a gasket installation groove formed in the plate body to be adhered.
5. A gasket, wherein a gasket lip is integrally provided in an insulation layer interposed between separators of a fuel battery, and the insulation layer is adhered to a separator via an adhesion means in a region in an opposite side to a space to be sealed with respect to said gasket lip.
6. The gasket as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a gasket lip made of the same material as the insulation layer is integrally formed in the insulation layer.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/213,922 US8304119B2 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2008-06-26 | Gasket |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
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JP2003309834 | 2003-09-02 | ||
JP2003-375132 | 2003-11-05 | ||
JP2003375132A JP4678123B2 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2003-11-05 | gasket |
PCT/JP2004/012511 WO2005024279A1 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2004-08-31 | Gasket |
Related Child Applications (1)
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US12/213,922 Division US8304119B2 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2008-06-26 | Gasket |
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US12/213,922 Expired - Fee Related US8304119B2 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2008-06-26 | Gasket |
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US12/213,922 Expired - Fee Related US8304119B2 (en) | 2003-09-02 | 2008-06-26 | Gasket |
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EP (1) | EP1717494B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4678123B2 (en) |
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WO (1) | WO2005024279A1 (en) |
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-
2004
- 2004-08-31 KR KR1020057015965A patent/KR101142651B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-08-31 WO PCT/JP2004/012511 patent/WO2005024279A1/en active Application Filing
- 2004-08-31 EP EP04772467.9A patent/EP1717494B1/en active Active
- 2004-08-31 US US10/545,228 patent/US20060131819A1/en not_active Abandoned
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2008
- 2008-06-26 US US12/213,922 patent/US8304119B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP4678123B2 (en) | 2011-04-27 |
WO2005024279A1 (en) | 2005-03-17 |
EP1717494B1 (en) | 2015-06-24 |
KR101142651B1 (en) | 2012-05-10 |
EP1717494A4 (en) | 2007-10-03 |
US20090075143A1 (en) | 2009-03-19 |
US8304119B2 (en) | 2012-11-06 |
EP1717494A1 (en) | 2006-11-02 |
JP2005098476A (en) | 2005-04-14 |
KR20060038356A (en) | 2006-05-03 |
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