JP2008024258A - Tank fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A tank fixing structure capable of maintaining a good fixing state at low cost is provided.
A high-pressure tank is fastened and fixed to a bottom portion of a vehicle by a fixing band. A convex portion 31 that protrudes away from the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10 is formed on the tank holding portion 22 of the fixed band 11 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10 and holds the high-pressure tank 10. When the outer diameter of the high-pressure tank 10 is deformed by filling the high-pressure tank 10 with hydrogen gas or releasing the hydrogen gas from the high-pressure tank 10, the convex portion 31 of the tank holding portion 22 absorbs the deformation, and the high-pressure tank 10 Maintain good fixation.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a tank fixing structure for fixing a tank such as a high-pressure tank to a vehicle.

  In general, a vehicle equipped with a drive source such as a fuel cell or a gas engine is equipped with a high-pressure tank filled with gas to be supplied to the drive source, and is fixed to the vehicle by a fixed band, for example. Since the high-pressure tank expands slightly when the gas is filled and contracts when the gas is discharged, if the fixing band is plastically deformed due to the expansion of the tank, the fixing force by the fixing band becomes weak when the gas is released.

For this reason, a fixed band having a shape memory material is used to hold the tank in accordance with the outer shape deformation due to the internal pressure of the tank due to the elastic characteristics of the shape memory material (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A structure is also known in which a spring is provided on a fastener that fastens a band wound around a tank, and the outer shape deformation of the tank is absorbed by the spring (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-254165 A JP 2003-291666 A

  However, the above fixing structure has a problem in that the cost increases because an expensive special material such as a shape memory material is used or parts such as a spring are separately used.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a tank fixing structure capable of maintaining a good fixing state at low cost.

  To achieve the above object, the tank fixing structure of the present invention is a tank fixing structure in which a tank is fastened and fixed to a part of a vehicle by a fixing band, and the fixing band is an outer peripheral surface of the tank. A tank holding portion that holds the tank in contact with the tank, and the tank holding portion is provided with a convex portion that protrudes away from the outer peripheral surface of the tank.

  According to this configuration, even if the outer shape of the tank is deformed due to the filling of the gas into the tank or the discharge of the gas from the tank, the deformation is deformed so that the convex portion of the tank holding portion approaches the outer peripheral surface of the tank. Therefore, a good fixed state of the tank can be maintained. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a good fixed state at a low cost as compared with a structure that absorbs deformation of the tank using an expensive special material such as a shape memory material or another component such as a spring.

  Both end sides of the convex part in the tank holding part may be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tank.

  The convex portion has a pair of side plate portions that rise from a position separated from each other on the outer peripheral surface of the tank, and the pair of side plate portions are separated from the outer peripheral surface of the tank. You may incline so that it may mutually approach.

  According to this configuration, when the diameter of the tank is expanded due to the expansion of the tank, the both side plates of the convex portion can be favorably deformed with a small resistance according to the deformation of the tank, and the deformation of the tank due to the convex portion can be absorbed well. Can be done.

  The tank fixing structure of the present invention is a tank fixing structure in which a tank is fastened and fixed to a part of a vehicle by a fixing band, and the fixing band is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tank and holds the tank. The tank holding portion may be provided with a suppressing portion that suppresses an increase in tension when the tank expands in diameter, and thus suppresses plastic deformation due to extension.

  The tank fixing structure of the present invention is a case where the tank expands or contracts after the tank is fixed to the vehicle, such as when a high-pressure tank filled with fuel gas at a predetermined pressure or more is fixed to the vehicle with a fixing band. Is particularly effective.

  In addition, the tank of the present invention preferably has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axis (in the embodiment described later, a perfect circle), and more preferably, the convex portion of the present invention has a circular shape. The tank is configured to have a cross-sectional shape that is line-symmetric with respect to a line segment along the radial direction of the tank cross-section (in the embodiment described later, isosceles trapezoid). According to these configurations, the tank holding portion can be smoothly extended (deformed).

  According to the tank mounting structure of the present invention, a good fixed state of the tank can be maintained at low cost.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a tank fixing structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell that generates electric power upon receiving a reaction gas will be described as an example.

(First embodiment)
1 is a schematic side view of the vehicle, FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the vehicle, FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view at a fixed portion of the tank, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle S includes a chassis 1 constituting a bottom surface and a body 2 provided above the chassis 1. The vehicle S is on the front side in the traveling direction. A fuel cell 3, a PCU (Power Control Unit) 4 and a traction motor 5 are installed on the front side of the vehicle S.

  The fuel cell 3 has a fuel cell stack that constitutes a power generation unit by stacking a required number of cells that generate power upon receiving the supply of fuel gas and oxidizing gas as reaction gases. The cell is composed of an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides thereof, and a pair of separators that sandwich the MEA.

  In the fuel cell stack constituting the fuel cell 3, hydrogen gas that is a fuel gas and air as an oxidizing gas are caused to flow on both sides via the MEA, and the hydrogen gas and oxygen in the air pass through the MEA. It generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction.

  The electric power generated by the fuel cell 3 is supplied to the traction motor 5 via the PCU 4. The PCU 4 includes an inverter, a DC-DC converter, and the like that are disposed between the fuel cell 3 and the traction motor 5. When the traction motor 5 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the wheels 6 and the vehicle S travels.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a high-pressure tank 10 filled with hydrogen gas, which is a fuel gas, at a high pressure (for example, 35 MPa, 70 MPa) is disposed at the bottom of the vehicle S on the rear side. It is arranged along the width direction and is fixed to the vehicle S by the fixing bands 11 at two places in the axial direction.

  The high-pressure tank 10 is connected to the fuel cell 3 by a supply pipe 12 for supplying fuel gas, and hydrogen gas in the high-pressure tank 10 is supplied to the fuel cell 3 through the supply pipe 12.

  Although not shown in the figure, the vehicle S is connected to the fuel cell 3 to discharge an oxidizing off-gas generated after power generation, a hydrogen pump that circulates the hydrogen off-gas from the fuel cell 3, and an oxidation to the fuel cell 3. It is also equipped with an air compressor that sends in air as a gas and a humidifier that humidifies the air that is sent in.

  Next, the fixing structure of the high-pressure tank 10 mounted on the vehicle S will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a housing recess 21 is formed in the chassis 1 of the vehicle S along the width direction of the vehicle S, and a part of the high-pressure tank 10 is fitted in the housing recess 21. . A fixed band 11 is hung on the lower side of the high-pressure tank 10 disposed in the storage recess 21, and both ends of the fixed band 11 are fastened and fixed to the chassis 1 of the vehicle S. .

  The fixed band 11 is formed of, for example, a metal plate such as a steel plate or a stainless steel plate, and has an arcuate tank holding portion 22 that holds the high-pressure tank 10 and flat plates provided at both ends of the tank holding portion 22. And a fixed portion 23 having a shape.

  Then, in a state where the tank holding portion 22 of the fixed band 11 is disposed along the outer periphery of the high-pressure tank 10, the bolts 24 are inserted into bolt insertion holes (not shown) formed in the fixing portions 23 at both ends thereof, and the chassis The high-pressure tank 10 is fastened and fixed to the vehicle S by screwing the bolt 24 into the fastening nut 25 provided in 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the tank holding portion 22 constituting a part of the fixed band 11 is formed with a convex portion 31 over the entire length thereof. The convex portion 31 has a central portion in the width direction of the tank holding portion 22 that is recessed from one surface side in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10 and protrudes toward the other surface side. (Hat-shaped cross section) and functions as an absorbing portion that absorbs the expanded diameter of the high-pressure tank 10, and also functions as a suppressing portion that suppresses an increase in the tension of the fixed band 11 when the high-pressure tank 10 expands in diameter. To do.

  The convex portion 31 includes a bottom plate portion 31 a that is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and side plate portions 31 b that are provided on both sides of the bottom plate portion 31 a, and these side plate portions 31 b are the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10. It inclines so that it may mutually space apart toward the side. In other words, the pair of side plate portions 31b rises away from the outer peripheral surface starting from positions separated from each other on the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and further, as the distance from each other increases, the pair of side plate portions 31b are inclined to approach each other. Yes.

  In the fixing structure of the high-pressure tank 10 using the above-described fixing band 11, when the high-pressure tank 10 is slightly expanded and expanded in diameter by filling the high-pressure tank 10 with hydrogen gas, the diameter of the high-pressure tank 10 is adjusted. The tank holding part 22 of the fixed band 11 is elastically deformed.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the convex portion 31 is expanded so that the bottom plate portion 31 a of the convex portion 31 approaches the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and the side plate portion 31 b of the convex portion 31. However, it is elastically deformed to further incline. As a result, the fixed band 11 absorbs deformation (expansion) due to expansion of the high-pressure tank 10, and further, the fixed band 11 itself is restrained from increasing in tension due to the expansion, and thus in a state where plastic deformation is suppressed. Hold the tank 10 well.

  Thereafter, when the internal hydrogen gas is consumed by traveling and the high-pressure tank 10 contracts and contracts, the bottom plate portion 31a is elastically deformed so as to approach the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and the side plate portion 31b of the convex portion 31 is deformed. However, the bottom plate portion 31 a is restored so as to be separated from the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and the tank holding portion 22 is reduced in diameter while being in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10. Thereby, the fixed band 11 keeps the high-pressure tank 10 satisfactorily while following the deformation due to the contraction of the high-pressure tank 10.

  As described above, according to the tank fixing structure of the first embodiment, even if the outer shape of the high-pressure tank 10 is deformed by filling the high-pressure tank 10 with hydrogen gas or releasing the hydrogen gas from the high-pressure tank 10, The deformation can be absorbed by the convex portion 31 of the tank holding portion 22 of the fixed band 11, and a good fixed state of the high-pressure tank 10 can be maintained.

  Thereby, compared with the structure which absorbs the deformation | transformation of the high pressure tank 10 using expensive special materials, such as a shape memory material, and another components, such as a spring, a favorable fixed state can be maintained at low cost.

  Moreover, since the both side plate portions 31b constituting a part of the convex portion 31 are inclined so as to be separated from each other toward the outer peripheral surface side of the high-pressure tank 10, at the time of diameter expansion due to expansion of the high-pressure tank 10, In accordance with the deformation of the high-pressure tank 10, both side plate portions 31b of the convex portion 31 can be favorably deformed with a small resistance, and the deformation of the high-pressure tank 10 by the convex portion 31 can be absorbed well.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a tank fixing structure according to the second embodiment will be described. In addition, the same structure part as the said 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits description.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the fixing band 40 used in this fixing structure has trapezoidal convex portions 41 in a side view as viewed from the side at a plurality of locations (two locations in FIG. 5) in the circumferential direction of the flat tank holding portion 22. Is formed. This convex portion 41 is formed in a trapezoidal shape (substantially hat-shaped) by making a predetermined portion in the circumferential direction of the tank holding portion 22 concave from one surface side contacting the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10 and projecting to the other surface side. (Shaped cross section).

  The convex portion 41 includes a bottom plate portion 41 a that is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and side plate portions 41 b that are provided on both sides of the bottom plate portion 41 a, and these side plate portions 41 b are the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10. It inclines so that it may mutually space apart toward the side. In other words, the pair of side plate portions 41b rises away from the outer peripheral surface starting from positions separated from each other on the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10, and further, as the distance from each other increases, the pair of side plate portions 41b are inclined to approach each other. Yes.

  Even if the external structure of the high-pressure tank 10 is deformed by filling the hydrogen gas into the high-pressure tank 10 or releasing the hydrogen gas from the high-pressure tank 10 even by the fixing structure of the high-pressure tank 10 using the fixing band 11 described above, the deformation Can be absorbed by the convex part 41 of the tank holding part 22 of the fixed band 11 and compared with a structure that absorbs deformation of the high-pressure tank 10 using an expensive special material such as a shape memory material or another part such as a spring. Thus, a good fixed state of the high-pressure tank 10 can be maintained at a low cost.

  In the above embodiment, a fuel cell vehicle that supplies hydrogen gas from the high-pressure tank 10 to the fuel cell 3 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle that supplies fuel gas from a high-pressure tank to a driving source such as a gas engine. Of course.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the convex portion having the trapezoidal shape in the sectional view is formed on the fixed band has been described. However, the sectional shape of the convex portion is not limited to the trapezoidal shape in the sectional view. Any cross-sectional shape can be employed.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a cushion material made of an elastic material such as rubber may be interposed in the tank holding portion 22 that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank 10. The deformation due to the internal pressure of 10 can be absorbed more effectively.

1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle in which a tank fixing structure according to a first embodiment is adopted. It is a schematic back view of a vehicle. It is a schematic sectional drawing in the fixed location of a tank. It is IV-IV sectional drawing in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing in the fixing location of the tank which shows the fixing structure of the tank which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... High pressure tank (tank), 11, 40 ... Fixed band, 22 ... Tank holding part, 31, 41 ... Projection part (suppression part), 31b, 41b ... Side plate part, S ... Vehicle.

Claims (5)

A tank fixing structure in which a tank is fastened and fixed to a part of a vehicle by a fixing band,
The fixed band has a tank holding portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the tank and holds the tank, and the tank holding portion is provided with a convex portion that protrudes away from the outer peripheral surface of the tank. The tank fixing structure.   The tank fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein both end sides of the convex portion in the tank holding portion are in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tank. The convex part has a pair of side plate parts that stand up from the outer peripheral surface starting from positions separated from each other on the outer peripheral surface of the tank,
The tank fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the pair of side plate portions are inclined so as to approach each other as the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the tank increases. A tank fixing structure in which a tank is fastened and fixed to a part of a vehicle by a fixing band,
The fixed band has a tank holding portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the tank and holds the tank, and the tank holding portion is provided with a suppressing portion that suppresses an increase in tension when the tank is expanded in diameter. The fixed structure of the tank.   The tank fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the tank is a high-pressure tank filled with fuel gas at a predetermined pressure or higher.

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