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An end unit for a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell stacked in a first direction, the end unit for stacking in the first direction adjacent an end fuel cell in the fuel cell stack. The end unit separates a current collection post from the end cell of the fuel cell stack and comprises a

An end unit for a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell stacked in a first direction, the end unit for stacking in the first direction adjacent an end fuel cell in the fuel cell stack. The end unit separates a current collection post from the end cell of the fuel cell stack and comprises a first wall being adjacent the end cell when the end unit is stacked in the first direction in the fuel cell stack, a second wall opposing the first wall and adjacent the current collection post when the end unit is stacked in the first direction in the stack, a first side wall connecting the first and second walls, a second side wall transverse to the first side wall and connecting the first and second walls, a third side wall opposing the first side wall and connecting the first and second walls, a fourth side wall opposing the second side wall and connecting the first and second walls, with the first and second walls and the first, second, third and fourth side walls forming an enclosure, and a plurality of electrically conductive posts disposed within the enclosure and extending between the first and second walls for providing a structure which restricts electrical current flow from the first fuel cell stack to the current collection post when the end unit is stacked in the first direction in the fuel cell stack.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell stack end unit for a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells stacked in a first direction and an external manifold disposed externally of said fuel cell stack and adjacent a first face of said fuel cell stack for receiving a fuel cell stack outlet gas of

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell stack end unit for a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells stacked in a first direction and an external manifold disposed externally of said fuel cell stack and adjacent a first face of said fuel cell stack for receiving a fuel cell stack outlet gas of said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell stack end unit for stacking in said first direction adjacent an end fuel cell in said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell stack end unit comprising: an assembly having: a first wall being adjacent said end cell when said fuel cell stack end unit is stacked in said first direction in said fuel cell stack; a second wall opposing said first wall; a first side wall connecting said first and second walls and being on the side of said first face of said fuel cell stack when said end unit is stacked in said first direction in said fuel cell stack; an inlet port situated in said first side wall so as to be encompassed by said external manifold when said fuel cell stack end unit is stacked in said first direction in said fuel cell stack, said inlet port receiving the fuel cell stack outlet gas from said external manifold when said fuel cell outlet gas is in said external manifold for passage into said assembly; and an outlet port for conveying the fuel cell stack outlet gas when in said assembly from said assembly. 2. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said assembly further comprises a second side wall connecting said first and second walls, said second side wall having said outlet port. 3. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second side wall is one of: opposite to said first side wall; and transverse to said first side wall. 4. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said fuel cell stack outlet gas is one of: fuel cell stack anode outlet gas; and fuel cell stack cathode outlet gas. 5. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said second side wall is opposite said first side wall; and said fuel cell stack outlet gas is fuel cell stack cathode outlet gas. 6. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein: said assembly further comprises: third and fourth opposing side walls connecting said first and second walls and transverse to said first and second side walls; said first and second walls and said first, second, third and fourth side walls forming a hollow enclosure. 7. An end unit according to claim 6, further comprising: a further inlet port in said third side wall for receiving an anode inlet gas of said fuel cell stack when said end unit is stacked in said stack. 8. An end unit according to claim 7, wherein said end unit further comprises: further outlet port in said third side wall for outputting said anode inlet gas in said assembly. 9. An end unit according to claim 8, further comprising an interior wall extending between said first and second walls and said first and second side walls, said interior wall being spaced from said fourth side wall and forming with said first and second walls and said first and second side walls a chamber; an additional inlet port in said fourth side wall for receiving in said chamber an anode outlet gas of said fuel cell stack when said end unit is stacked in said stack; and an additional outlet port in said first side wall for outputting said an anode outlet gas after passage through said chamber. 10. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said second side wall is transverse to said first side wall; and said fuel cell stack outlet gas is fuel cell stack anode outlet gas. 11. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 10, wherein: said assembly further comprises: third and fourth side walls connecting said first and second walls and opposing said first and second side walls, respectively; said first and second walls and said first, second, third and fourth side walls forming a hollow enclosure. 12. A fuel cell stack end unit in accordance with claim 11, wherein: said assembly further comprises a further inlet port adapted to receive fuel cell stack anode inlet gas for passage through said assembly; and a further outlet port adapted to convey fuel cell stack anode inlet gas when in said assembly from said assembly. 13. A fuel cell stack structure comprising: a plurality of fuel cells stacked in a first direction to form a fuel cell stack; an external manifold disposed externally of said fuel cell stack and adjacent a first face of said fuel cell stack adapted to receive a fuel cell stack outlet gas; a fuel cell stack end unit stacked in said first direction adjacent an end cell in said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell stack end unit comprising: an assembly having: a first wall adjacent said end cell; a second wall opposing said first wall; a first side wall connecting said first and second walls and being on the side of said first face of said fuel cell stack; an inlet port situated in said first side wall so as to be encompassed by said external manifold, said inlet port receiving fuel cell stack outlet gas from said external manifold when said fuel cell outlet gas is in said external manifold for passage into said assembly; and an outlet port adapted to convey fuel cell stack outlet gas when in said assembly from said assembly. 14. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 13, wherein: said assembly further comprises a second side wall connecting said first and second walls, said second side wall having said outlet port. 15. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 14, wherein said second side wall is one of: opposite to said first side wall; and transverse to said first side wall. 16. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 15, wherein: said external manifold is one of: an anode outlet gas external manifold adapted to receive fuel cell stack anode outlet gas from said fuel cell stack; and a cathode outlet gas external manifold adapted to receive fuel cell stack cathode outlet gas from said fuel cell stack. 17. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein: said second side wall is opposite said first side wall; and said external manifold is a cathode outlet gas external manifold adapted to receive fuel cell stack cathode outlet gas from said fuel cell stack. 18. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 17, wherein: said assembly further comprises: third and fourth opposing side walls connecting said first and second walls and transverse to said first and second side walls; said first and second walls and said first, second, third and fourth side walls forming a hollow structure. 19. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 18 wherein said assembly further comprises: a further inlet port in said third side wall for receiving an anode inlet gas of said fuel cell stack. 20. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 19 wherein said assembly further comprises: a further outlet port in said third side wall for outputting said anode inlet gas in said assembly. 21. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 20 wherein: said assembly further comprises: an interior wall extending between said first and second walls and said first and second side walls, said interior wall being spaced from said fourth side wall and forming with said first and second walls and said first and second side walls a chamber; an additional inlet port in said fourth side wall for receiving in said chamber an anode outlet gas of said fuel cell stack; and an additional outlet port in said first side wall for outputting said an anode outlet gas after passage through said chamber. 22. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 21 further comprising: a further external manifold disposed externally of said fuel cell stack and adjacent a further face of said fuel cell stack on the side of said third side wall, said further external manifold encompassing said further outlet port in said third side wall and receiving the anode inlet gas being output by said further outlet port; and an additional external manifold disposed externally of said fuel cell stack and adjacent an additional face of said fuel cell stack on the side of said fourth side wall, said additional external manifold encompassing said additional inlet port in said fourth sidewall and conveying anode outlet gas to said additional inlet port. 23. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein: said second side wall is transverse to said first side wall; and said external manifold is an anode outlet gas external manifold adapted to receive fuel cell stack anode outlet gas from said fuel cell stack. 24. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 23, wherein: said assembly further comprises: third and fourth opposing side walls connecting said first and second walls and transverse to said first and second side walls; said first and second walls and said first, second, third and fourth side walls forming a hollow enclosure. 25. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 24, wherein: said assembly further comprises a further inlet port adapted to receive fuel cell stack anode inlet gas for passage through said assembly; and a further outlet port adapted to convey fuel cell stack anode inlet gas when in said assembly from said assembly. 26. A fuel cell stack structure in accordance with claim 25 further comprising: a further external manifold disposed externally of said fuel cell stack and encompassing said further outlet port for receiving the anode inlet gas being output by said further outlet port.