Appeal 2006-0249
Application 10/315,401
INTRODUCTION
The claims are directed to an elastic sealing element (e.g., Fig. 1 at
17) that encloses the cell separator plates and membrane electrode assembly
of a fuel cell. The sealing element includes a peripheral sealing band (e.g.,
Fig. 1 at 28) and a peripheral sealing strip (e.g., Fig. 1 at 20). Claim 1 is
illustrative:
1. A sealing arrangement for fuel cells having including at least one
composite formed of two cell separator plates with a deformable membrane
electrode assembly placed therebetween, the deformable membrane
electrode assembly being composed of two porous, gas-permeable plates or
layers and an ion-exchange membrane placed therebetween, the membrane
electrode assembly having lateral surfaces set back with respect to lateral
surfaces of the cell separator plates to leave a sealing gap, the sealing
arrangement comprising:
an elastic sealing element having a sealing band peripherally
enclosing the composite and having a peripheral sealing strip extending into
the sealing gap to seal the sealing gap in a gas-tight manner by compression
between the cell separator plates.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Kühl US 3,746,176 Nov. 5, 1974
Singelyn US 4,774,154 Sep. 27, 1988
Schmid US 6,080,503 Jun. 27, 2000
Inoue US 2002/0055027 A1 May 9, 2002
Wozniczka GB 2 368 968 A May 15, 2002
Osenar US 2002/0068212 A1 Jun. 6, 2002
2
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