1. A fuel cell separator comprising:
a reactant gas supply manifold hole penetrating the separator in a thickness direction thereof;
a reactant gas discharge manifold hole penetrating the separator in the thickness direction thereof;
a groove-shaped first reactant gas channel provided on at least one main surface thereof such that the first reactant gas channel is bent, an upstream end of the first reactant gas channel is connected to the reactant gas supply manifold hole, and a downstream end of the first reactant gas channel is connected to the reactant gas discharge manifold hole; and
one or more groove-shaped second reactant gas channels provided on the at least one main surface such that the second reactant gas channels are bent, at least upstream ends of the second reactant gas channels are connected to the reactant gas supply manifold hole, and the second reactant gas channels run along the first reactant gas channel,
wherein the first reactant gas channel includes an upstream portion, a midstream portion and a downstream portion, and the upstream portion and the downstream portion surround the midstream portion, in a plan view of the separator,
wherein the first reactant gas channel includes a first portion and a second portion located upstream of the first portion, the first portion is located closest to the upstream end in the downstream portion of the first reactant gas view of the separator, and the second portion is located closest to the downstream end in the upstream portion of the first reactant gas channel, in a plan view of the separator,
wherein the second reactant gas channel does not exist between the first portion and the upstream end, but exists between the downstream end and the second portion, and
wherein at least one of a cross-sectional area of at least a continuous portion (hereinafter referred to as a first specified portion) of the first reactant gas channel, the continuous portion extending from the upstream end, and a cross-sectional area of at least a portion (hereinafter referred to as a second specified portion) of the first reactant gas channel, the portion being located downstream of the first portion is smaller than a cross-sectional area of all portions of at least one second reactant gas channel (hereinafter referred to as specified second reactant gas channel) of the one or more second reactant gas channels.
2. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein a width of a channel portion of the at least one of the first specified portion and the second specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a width of the specified second reactant gas channel.
3. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein a depth of a channel portion of the at least one of the first specified portion and the second specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a depth of the specified second reactant gas channel.
4. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of a channel portion of the first specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a channel portion of a portion of the first reactant gas channel which is other than the first specified portion.
5. The fuel cell separator according to claim 4, wherein a width of the channel portion of the first specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a width of the channel portion of the portion of the first reactant gas channel which is other than the first specified portion.
6. The fuel cell separator according to claim 4, wherein a depth of the channel portion of the first specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a depth of the channel portion of the portion of the first reactant gas channel which is other than the first specified portion.
7. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of a channel portion of the second specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a portion of the first reactant gas channel which is other than the second specified portion.
8. The fuel cell separator according to claim 7, wherein a width of the channel portion of the second specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a width of the portion of the first reactant gas channel which is other than the second specified portion.
9. The fuel cell separator according to claim 7, wherein a depth of the channel portion of the second specified portion of the first reactant gas channel is smaller than a depth of the portion of the first reactant gas channel which is other than the second specified portion.
10. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein the first reactant gas channel is connected to at least a second reactant gas channel of the one or more second reactant gas channels, which is located closest to the first reactant gas channel such that the first reactant gas channel is connected to at least the second reactant gas channel in a location downstream of the first specified portion.
11. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein the first reactant gas channel is connected to at least a second reactant gas channel of the one or more second reactant gas channels, which is located closest to the first reactant gas channel such that the first reactant gas channel is connected to at least the second reactant gas channel in a location upstream of the second specified portion.
12. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first reactant gas channel which lies between the first portion and the second portion has a spiral shape.
13. The fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first reactant gas channel which lies between the first portion and the second portion has a serpentine shape.
14. A fuel cell comprising:
a pair of fuel cell separators including the fuel cell separator as recited in claim 1; and
a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte layer, the membrane-electrode assembly being sandwiched between the pair of fuel cell separators.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for reducing the wheel-spray and the aerodynamic drag of a wheel-set of a vehicle having a framework with holes, said apparatus comprising:
a. a three-dimensionally adjustable support infrastructure comprising: an anchor plate for anchoring said support infrastructure to the vehicle framework, said anchor plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving two threaded struts; a vertical-lateral plate having two vertical slots for adjustably receiving said struts, and an aperture above said slots for receiving a girder; and said girder having one end rotatably engaged with said vertical-lateral plate aperture, and another end having an externally threaded lateral terminus also defining an internally counter-threaded axial bore;
b. a three-dimensionally adjustable housing superstructure comprising: a box-sleeve having an interior chamber for slidably receiving said girder, and two exterior sides defining a plurality of vertical grooves; a housing substantially screening the wheel-set and comprising an obtuse-angled forward face and an obtuse-angled rearward face, and a top side having a plurality of apertures aligned with said grooves; and a stand-on plate having a plurality of apertures aligned with said grooves for affixing said housing between said box-sleeve and said stand-on plate with a terminal securing system; and
c. a fastening means for fastening said housing superstructure to said girder.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, said anchor plate further comprising a plurality of perpendicular J-hooks for horizontally anchoring to the framework holes.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing further comprising a forward side having an obtuse-angled forward face extending forwardly over the forward section of the wheel-set; a rearward side having an obtuse-angled rearward face extending rearwardly over the rearward section of the wheel-set; a top side having a plurality of perforations for anti-vacuum air flow and for ice evacuation; and a side wall defining at least one forward opening for receiving a first girder and a first of said fastening means, and at least one rearward opening for receiving a second girder and a second of said fastening means, said side wall further comprising a center-point curvature.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a removable protective shield having a plurality of T-slots; said housing further comprising an exterior side wall having a plurality of T-slots; and a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors having a stretchable band connected between two discs for connecting between each of the said shield T-slots and each of the said exterior side wall T-slots.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing superstructure further comprising a first attenuation ring receivable on said girder lateral terminus between the proximal end of said box-sleeve and said vertical-lateral plate for reducing vibration, and a second attenuation ring receivable on said girder lateral terminus between the lateral end of said box-sleeve and said fastening means.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing having a segmented body comprising:
a. a forward segment comprising: (i) a forward side having an obtuse-angled forward face extending forwardly over the forward section of the wheel-set; (ii) a top side having a plurality of perforations for anti-vacuum air flow and a plurality of apertures for affixing said housing to said box-sleeve and said stand-on plate with said terminal securing system; (iii) a side wall defining at least one opening for receiving a first girder and first of said fastening means; and (iv) a plurality of saw-tooth clamps for connecting said forward segment to an intermediate segment;
b. said intermediate segment comprising: (i) a top side; (ii) a plurality of clamp ports, (iii) a plurality of locking slots; (iv) a plurality of gaskets for connecting said forward segment and a rearward segment to said intermediate segment; and (v) a side wall having a center-point curvature;
c. said rearward segment comprising; (I) a rearward side having an obtuse-angled rearward face extending rearwardly over the rearward section of the wheel-sets; (ii) a top side having a plurality of perforations for anti-vacuum air flow, and a plurality of apertures for affixing said housing to said box-sleeve and said stand-on plate; (iii) a side wall defining at least one opening for receiving a second girder and a second of said fastening means; and (iv) a plurality of saw-tooth clamps for connecting said rearward segment to said intermediate segment.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, said housing formed from a high strength, anti-static, carbon black material having a high temperature tolerance, a high density, ultraviolet stabilized, and a high tensile modulus for withstanding amplitude of modulation and chemical degradation, said material selected from the group consisting of plastics, polymers, copolymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber, synthetic rubber and combinations thereof.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, said fastening means comprising:
a. a cap having an essentially planar outer face and an internally threaded transplanar bore for rotational engagement with said lateral terminus of said girder and said housing further comprising a side wall having an opening;
b. a counter-threaded bolt having a diameter smaller than said transplanar bore and a length sufficient to rotationally engage said axial bore of said girder while inserted through said transplanar bore;
c. a bolt-rotational stop means for preventing over rotation of said bolt engaged with said axial bore of said girder; and
d. a cap-rotation stop means for preventing counter rotation of said cap engaged with said bolt and said girder lateral terminus.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, said cap-rotation stop means and said bolt-rotation stop means comprising said cap planar outer face further including a pair of outstanding stops on opposite sides of said transplanar bore; and said bolt further including a head having an aperture and at least one outwardly biased divergence cooperating with said stops.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, said outwardly biased divergence selected from the group consisting of a spring-biased detent ball within said bolt head and protruding outwardly from an aperture defined by said bolt head, a separate pin inserted through a pin-aperture defined by said bolt head, or any other divergence cooperating with said stops.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, said outwardly biased divergence comprising a separate pin inserted through a pin-aperture defined by said bolt head, said pin comprising an end-stop preventing complete push-through of said pin and at least one outwardly biased surface divergence preventing un-insertion of said pin, each of said cap outstanding stops comprising a domed arch abutting said pin.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, said outwardly biased surface divergence selected from the group consisting of a retractable flange biased outwardly from said pin and converging toward an insertion end, a spring-biased detent ball within said pin and protruding outwardly from an aperture defined by said pin, or any other pin having an outwardly biased surface divergence.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, said apparatus further comprising said cap planar outer face further comprising a plurality of perimeter slots, and a tightening tool having a convex exterior surface, a handle having a handgrip, and a plurality of prongs protruding from said tool to rotationally engage with said slots.
14. An apparatus for reducing the wheel-spray and aerodynamic drag of a wheel-set of a vehicle having a framework with holes, said apparatus comprising:
a. a three-dimensionally adjustable support infrastructure comprising: an anchor plate for horizontally anchoring said support infrastructure to the vehicle framework, said anchor plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving two threaded struts and a plurality of perpendicular J-hooks; a vertical-lateral plate having two vertical slots for adjustably receiving said struts, and an aperture above said slots; and a girder having one end rotatably engaged with said vertical-lateral plate aperture, and another end having an externally threaded lateral terminus also defining an internally counter-threaded axial bore;
b. a three-dimensionally adjustable housing superstructure comprising:
i. a box-sleeve having an interior chamber for slidably receiving said girder, and two exterior sides defining a plurality of vertical grooves;
ii. a housing substantially screening the wheel-set, said housing comprising a forward side having an obtuse-angled forward face extending forwardly over the forward section of the wheel-set; a rearward side having an obtuse-angled rearward face extending rearwardly over the rearward section of the wheel-set; a top side having a plurality of perforations for anti-vacuum air flow and for ice evacuation, and a plurality of apertures aligned with said grooves; and a side wall defining at least one forward opening for receiving a first girder and a first of said fastening means, and at least one rearward opening for receiving a second girder and a second of said fastening means, said side wall further comprising a center-point curvature; and
iii. a stand-on plate having a plurality of apertures aligned with said grooves for affixing said housing between said box-sleeve and said stand-on plate with a terminal securing system, said terminal securing system comprising U-bolts and fasteners; and
c. at least one fastening means for fastening said housing superstructure to said girder, said fastening means comprising:
i. a cap having an essentially planar outer face, an internally threaded transplanar bore for rotational engagement with said lateral terminus of said girder, and a pair of outstanding stops on opposite sides of said transplanar bore extending from the circumference of said transplanar bore toward the periphery of said cap;
ii. a counter-threaded bolt having a diameter smaller than said transplanar bore, a length sufficient to counter-rotationally engage said axial bore of said girder while inserted through said transplanar bore, and a head having a pin-aperture; and
iii. a pin inserted through said bolt pin-aperture, said pin having an end-stop preventing complete push-through of said pin and at least one intermediate flange allowing insertion but preventing un-insertion, said pin cooperating with said stops having two domed arches to prevent counter rotation of said cap engaged with said girder lateral terminus and said bolt engaged with said girder axial bore.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, said housing superstructure further comprising a first attenuation ring receivable on said girder between the proximal end of a box-sleeve and said vertical-lateral plate for reducing vibration, and a second attenuation ring receivable on said girder between the lateral end of said box-sleeve and said housing wall and said fastening means.
16. The method of using an apparatus for reducing the wheel-spray and the aerodynamic drag of a wheel-set of a vehicle having a framework having holes, said method comprising the steps of:
a. providing the apparatus comprising:
i. a three-dimensionally adjustable support infrastructure comprising an anchor plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving two threaded struts; a vertical-lateral plate having two vertical slots for adjustably receiving said struts, and an aperture above said slots; a girder having one end rotatably engaged with said vertical-lateral plate aperture, and another end having an externally threaded lateral terminus also defining an internally counter-threaded axial bore;
ii. a three-dimensionally adjustable housing superstructure comprising at least one box-sleeve having an interior chamber, and two exterior sides defining vertical grooves; a housing substantially screening the wheel-set, said housing comprising a top side having a plurality of perforations for air flow and ice evacuation and a plurality of apertures aligned with said grooves, and a side wall defining at least one forward opening for receiving a first girder and a first of said fastening means, and at least one rearward opening for receiving a second girder and a second of said fastening means, said side wall further comprising a center-point curvature for marking a center placement of the housing in relation to the wheel-set; and at least one stand-on plate having a plurality of apertures aligned with said grooves for affixing said housing between said box-sleeve and said stand-on plate with a U-bolt terminal securing system;
iii. a cap having an essentially planar outer face, an internally threaded transplanar bore for rotational engagement with said lateral terminus of said girder, and a pair of outstanding stops on opposite sides of said transplanar bore from the circumference of said transplanar bore toward the periphery of said cap;
iv. a counter-threaded bolt having a diameter smaller than said transplanar bore, a length sufficient to rotationally engage said axial bore of said girder while inserted through said transplanar bore, and a head larger than the girder axial bore for abutting against the girder axial bore, with said bolt head defining a pin-aperture, wherein said bolt remains engaged with said girder when said cap is removed; and
v. a pin inserted through said bolt pin-aperture, said pin having an end-stop preventing complete push-through of said pin and at least one intermediate flange allowing insertion but preventing un-insertion, said pin cooperating with said stops having two domed arches to prevent counter rotation of said cap engaged with said girder lateral terminus and said bolt engaged with said girder axial bore;
b. anchoring two of said support infrastructures horizontally to the framework holes with two of said anchor plates, inserting each of said threaded struts through each of said anchor plate apertures, and securing with said terminal securing system;
c. adjusting the support infrastructure laterally and vertically with said vertical-lateral plate slidably adjusted along said struts and said girder;
d. connecting said housing superstructure onto said support infrastructure by sliding said box-sleeve chamber onto said girder lateral terminus;
e. rotatably tightening said cap through said housing side wall opening onto said girder; inserting said bolt through said cap transplanar bore and rotatably tightening it into said girder counter-threaded axial bore until said bolt pin-aperture is within said cap outstanding stops; and inserting said pin through said bolt pin-aperture.
17. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the step of affixing said box-sleeve to said housing and said stand-on plate with a U-bolt terminal securing system.
18. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the step of adjusting said support infrastructure laterally and vertically by slidably inserting said vertical-lateral plate vertical slots over said struts inwardly or outwardly, and raising or lowering along said struts and tightening into place; and by rotatably inserting said girder through said vertical-lateral plate aperture and adjusting said girder inwardly or outwardly within said vertical-lateral plate aperture.
19. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the step of rotatably tightening said cap with a tightening tool having a concave interior surface cooperating with said cap planar outer face, a handle having a handgrip, and a plurality of prongs for engaging with said cap planar outer face perimeter further comprising a plurality of slots.
20. The method of claim 16, said method further comprising the step of preventing substantial rotation that loosens said cap outwardly from said girder lateral terminus by rotatably adjusting said bolt in the opposite direction inwardly onto said girder axial bore to a desired degree, and inserting said pin having an end-point to abut said cap outstanding stops comprising two domed arches.