Appeal 2007-1687
Application 10/136,781
17. A method of making an electro-chemical fuel cell stack, the
method comprising the steps of:
positioning a fuel cell assembly between first and second end
plates with a first end of said fuel cell assembly substantially parallel to and
adjacent a major surface of said first end plate and a second end of said fuel
cell assembly substantially parallel to and adjacent a major surface of said
second end plate;
applying an external compressive force to at least one of said
end plates so that said fuel cell assembly is compressed by at least a planar
portion of said major surface of each of said end plates;
establishing an overlap between said at least one side plate1 and
at least one of said end plates, said overlap being continuously adjustable;
attaching at least one side plate to a peripheral side wall of said
first and second end plates with first and second ends of said at least one side
plate being attached to said first and second end plates respectively so that
said first and second end plates remain in a fixed spaced relation with said
established overlap and said fuel cell assembly remains compressed when
said external compressive force is removed; and
removing said external compressive force from said end plates.
32. An electro-chemical fuel cell stack comprising:
a fuel cell assembly having opposite first and second ends with
a length therebetween, said first and second ends corresponding to major
planar surfaces of said fuel cell assembly;
a first end assembly disposed on said first end of said fuel cell
assembly, said first end assembly having a first end plate with a major
surface substantially parallel with said planar surface of said first end of said
fuel cell assembly;
1 This claim 17 phrase “said at least one side plate” lacks antecedent basis.
This informality should be corrected in any further prosecution that may
occur.
3
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