JP6500367B2 - Gas tank fixed structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixed structure of a gas tank.

  As a fixing structure of a gas tank, for example, a fixing structure in which a resin gas tank is fixed by two bands is known (see Patent Document 1). The two bands allow for deformation due to expansion of the gas tank.

JP, 2008-024258, A

  However, in the fixed structure of this type of gas tank, the gas tank expands in the axial direction when the gas is filled. Then, the position of the valve disposed at one end of the gas tank may be shifted. Therefore, for example, when piping for gas circulation is connected to a valve, there is a possibility that piping may be distorted with position shift of a valve. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technology capable of suppressing the displacement of the valve due to the expansion of the gas tank. Such a problem is not limited to the structure in which the gas tank is fixed by the band, but is a problem common to various structures for fixing the gas tank.

The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following modes.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a gas tank fixing structure is provided. The fixing structure of the gas tank includes a gas tank having a valve at one end, a base for fixing the gas tank, a band disposed on the surface of the gas tank, and a support for connecting the band and the base And a fixing portion for fixing the gas tank to the base. The gas tank is fixed on the lower side in the vertical direction of the base material via the fixing portion so as to provide a space between the gas tank and the base material, and the fixing portion is the gas tank opposite to the one end The expansion amount of the gas tank in the direction from the fixed portion to the one end when the gas tank is filled with the gas is disposed closer to the one end than the other end, and the expansion amount from the fixed portion to the other end It is smaller than the expansion amount of the gas tank.
The present invention can also be realized as the following embodiment.

(1) According to one aspect of the present invention, a fixed structure for a gas tank is provided. The fixing structure of the gas tank comprises: a gas tank having a valve at one end; a base for fixing the gas tank; and a fixing part at least a part of which is disposed on the surface of the gas tank and fixing the gas tank to the base And the fixed portion is disposed at a position closer to the one end than the other end of the gas tank opposite the one end; from the fixed portion when the gas tank is filled with a gas, in a direction from the fixed portion to the one end The expansion amount of the gas tank is smaller than the expansion amount of the gas tank in the direction from the fixed portion to the other end. According to the fixed structure of the gas tank of such a form, the expansion amount of the gas tank from the fixed portion toward the one end of the gas tank may be smaller than the expansion amount of the gas tank from the fixed portion toward the other end of the gas tank it can. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation of the valve provided at one end of the gas tank, as compared to the fixed structure of the gas tank consisting of only the band that allows deformation due to expansion of the gas tank.

(2) In the gas tank fixing structure of the above embodiment, there is provided a holding portion which is disposed between the fixing portion and the other end, fixed to the base material, and slidably holding the gas tank. It may be done. According to the gas tank fixing structure of such a form, the gas tank can be held also by the holding portion, so that the gas tank can be stably fixed to the base material.

(3) In the gas tank fixing structure of the above embodiment, the fixing portion is a first tank band; the holding portion is a second tank band; and the first tank band and the second tank band are on the surface of the gas tank. The maximum friction force that the first tank band acts on the gas tank may be greater than the maximum friction force that the second tank band acts on the gas tank. According to this type of gas tank fixing structure, for example, it is possible to use a valve as compared to the gas tank fixing structure consisting of only the band that allows deformation due to expansion of the gas tank simply by changing the material and fastening force of each band. Misalignment can be suppressed.

(4) In the gas tank fixing structure of the above aspect, the fixing portion may further include a buffer member disposed between the gas tank and the base material. According to the gas tank fixing structure of such a configuration, the positional deviation of the valve is suppressed by the shock absorbing member in addition to the tank band as compared with the gas tank fixing structure consisting of only the band allowing deformation due to expansion of the gas tank. Can.

  The present invention is not limited to the form as the fixed structure of the gas tank described above, and can be realized in various forms. For example, the present invention can be realized in the form of a gas tank fixing device, a gas tank fixing method, or the like.

It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the gas tank was fixed to the vehicle in 1st Embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing a fixing structure of a gas tank in a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the XX cross section in FIG. 2 of a 1st tank band. It is a figure which shows typically the YY cross section in FIG. 2 of a 2nd tank band. It is an explanatory view showing a situation of a gas tank before and behind expansion in a 1st embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing a situation of a gas tank before and behind expansion in a comparative example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fixation structure of the gas tank in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fixation structure of the gas tank in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the XX cross section in FIG. 8 of a 1st tank band. It is a figure which shows typically the YY cross section in FIG. 8 of a 2nd tank band.

A. First Embodiment In the first embodiment, as one embodiment, a structure for fixing a gas tank to a vehicle will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing how a gas tank is fixed to a vehicle in the first embodiment. The vehicle 1 includes a body 10, a gas tank 20, a fuel cell 30, a valve 40, gas pipes 41 and 42, and mounting members 50 and 51. The body 10 corresponds to a base material. The base material is not limited to the body 10, and may be appropriately changed in accordance with the target to which the gas tank 20 is fixed. The gas tank 20 is fixed vertically below the body 10 so that the axial direction of the gas tank 20 is parallel to the vehicle width direction. The axial direction of the gas tank 20 is a direction along the central axis of the gas tank 20.

  The gas tank 20 is formed of resin. The gas tank 20 has a long cylindrical shape whose both ends are formed hemispherically. For example, the length of the gas tank 20 is 1 m to 2 m, and the relationship between the length L of the gas tank 20 and the diameter D of the gas tank 20 is L / D> 2.

  In the gas tank 20, hydrogen gas which is a fuel gas is stored at high pressure (for example, 70 MPa). The hydrogen gas stored in the gas tank 20 is supplied to the fuel cell 30 fixed to the body 10 through the gas pipe 42 via a valve 40 provided at one axial end of the gas tank 20. When hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 30, the pressure is reduced by a pressure reducing valve (not shown). In addition, the gas tank 20 is filled with hydrogen gas from the outside through the supply port 43 and the gas pipe 41. For example, the gas pipes 41 and 42 have a diameter of about 6 to 10 mm and are made of steel. The gas pipes 41, 42 are fixed to the body 10 by the mounting members 50, 51. For example, a clamp can be used as the attachment members 50 and 51.

  The fuel cell 30 has a fuel cell stack that constitutes a power generation unit by stacking a plurality of cells that receive supply of a fuel gas and an oxidation gas that are reaction gases and generate power. Each cell constituting the fuel cell stack is composed of an electrolyte membrane and a MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) composed of a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides thereof, and a pair of separators sandwiching the MEA. The electric power generated by the fuel cell 30 is supplied to a motor (not shown). And by driving this motor, driving force is transmitted to a wheel and vehicles 1 run.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a fixing structure of the gas tank in the first embodiment. The fixing structure of the gas tank 20 includes a fixing portion 610 and a holding portion 620. The fixing portion 610 has a first tank band 611 and a first support portion 612. One end of the first support portion 612 is fixed to the first tank band 611, and the other end of the first support portion 612 is fixed to the body 10. The holder 620 has a second tank band 621 and a second support 622. One end of the second support portion 622 is fixed to the second tank band 621, and the other end of the second support portion 622 is fixed to the body 10. The first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621 are made of, for example, steel. The first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621 are disposed in the circumferential direction of the gas tank 20 and clamp the gas tank 20.

  Here, assuming that a portion of the gas tank 20 having an equal distance from the one end 21 of the gas tank 20 and the other end 22 of the gas tank 20 is the central portion 23 of the gas tank 20, the first tank band 611 comprises the one end 21 of the gas tank 20 and the gas tank Located on the surface of the gas tank 20 between the central portion 23 of 20. That is, the first tank band 611 (fixed portion 610) is disposed at a position closer to the one end 21 of the gas tank 20 than the other end 22 opposite to the one end 21 of the gas tank 20. The first tank band 611 fixes the gas tank 20 so that the position where the first tank band 611 and the gas tank 20 are in contact does not shift when the gas tank 20 expands. Therefore, even when the gas tank 20 is expanded, the positions of the surface portion of the gas tank 20 in contact with the fixing portion 610 and the portion of the fixing portion 610 in contact with the body 10 do not relatively change.

  The second tank band 621 is located on the surface of the gas tank 20 between the first tank band 611 and the other end 22 of the gas tank 20. The second tank band 621 slidably holds the gas tank 20. That is, when the gas tank 20 expands to a predetermined amount or more, the second tank band 621 allows the position where the second tank band 621 and the gas tank 20 are in contact to shift. Note that, in order to fix the gas tank 20 to the body 10 in a well-balanced manner, the second tank band 621 (the holding portion 620) is located between the other end 22 of the gas tank 20 and the central portion 23 of the gas tank 20; It is preferable to be disposed at a position closer to the other end 22 of the gas tank 20 than the one end 21.

  The fixed structure of the gas tank 20 has a storage space 70 which is a space that allows the other end 22 of the gas tank to move in the axial direction of the gas tank 20 when the gas tank 20 expands. The housing space 70 is, for example, the position of the other end 22 of the gas tank when the gas tank 20 is fixed in a state where the gas tank 20 is not filled with gas, and thereafter the gas tank in a state where the gas tank 20 is filled with the maximum amount of gas. This space is larger than the difference between the position of the other end 22 and The accommodation space 70 is provided between the other end 22 of the gas tank and the body 10.

  FIG. 3: is a figure which shows typically the XX cross section in FIG. 2 of a 1st tank band. FIG. 4: is a figure which shows typically the YY cross section in FIG. 2 of a 2nd tank band. The first tank band 611 has a first buffer member 613 which is a buffer member between the first tank band 611 and the gas tank 20. The second tank band 621 has a second buffer member 623 between the gas tank 20 and the buffer member.

  In the first embodiment, when the fastening forces of the first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621 are equal, the friction coefficient of the first buffer member 613 with respect to the surface of the gas tank 20 is the same as that of the second buffer member 623 with respect to the surface of the gas tank 20. Greater than the coefficient of friction. Therefore, the maximum frictional force that the first tank band 611 acts on the gas tank 20 is larger than the maximum frictional force that the second tank band 621 acts on the gas tank 20. The maximum frictional force is a force immediately before the gas tank 20 starts to move when a force is applied to the gas tank 20 in the direction of the one end 21 or the other end 22 of the gas tank 20. The maximum frictional force is proportional to the coefficient of friction of the tank bands 611 and 621 against the surface of the gas tank 20 and the fastening force of the tank bands 611 and 621.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the material of the first buffer member 613 can be rubber, and the material of the second buffer member 623 can be acrylic. In this case, the coefficient of friction between the rubber of the first buffer member 613 and the gas tank 20 is about 0.70, and the coefficient of friction between the acrylic of the second buffer member 623 and the gas tank 20 is about 0.35. The difference between the coefficient of friction of the first buffer member 613 and the coefficient of friction of the second buffer member 623 is preferably 0.2 or more. Further, by making the surface of the first buffer member 613 rougher than the surface of the second buffer member 623, the coefficient of friction of the first buffer member 613 can be made larger than the coefficient of friction of the second buffer member 623. Also, by making the surface of the gas tank in contact with the first buffer member 613 rougher than the above, the coefficient of friction between the first buffer member 613 and the gas tank 20 is larger than the coefficient of friction between the second buffer member 623 and the gas tank 20. can do.

  When the friction coefficient of the first buffer member 613 and the friction coefficient of the second buffer member 623 are equal to each other, the fastening force of the first tank band 611 is made higher than the fastening force of the second tank band 621. The maximum frictional force that the first tank band 611 acts on the gas tank 20 can be made larger than the maximum frictional force that the second tank band 621 acts on the gas tank 20.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the gas tank before and after expansion in the first embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 6 is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the gas tank before and behind expansion | swelling in a comparative example. 5 (A) and 6 (A) show the state of the gas tank before expansion, and FIGS. 5 (B) and 6 (B) show the state of the gas tank after expansion. From the state shown in FIG. 5A, when the gas tank 20 is filled with gas and the gas tank 20 is expanded, the first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621 maintain the fixation of the gas tank 20 up to a predetermined expansion amount. . However, when the force from the central portion 23 of the gas tank to the one end 21 and the other end 22 of the gas tank due to expansion exceeds the maximum frictional force of the second tank band 621, the second tank band 621 maintains the gas tank 20 fixed. And the gas tank 20 slides against the second tank band 621. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas tank 20 expands toward the one end 21 and the other end 22 of the gas tank with the first tank band 611 (fixed portion 610) as a reference position. Then, since the expansion amount of the gas tank 20 is constant per surface area, the moving distance L1 of one end 21 of the gas tank 20 provided with the valve 40 becomes smaller than the moving distance L2 of the other end 22 of the gas tank 20. That is, according to the present embodiment, when the gas tank 20 is filled with gas, the expansion amount of the gas tank 20 in the direction from the fixed part 610 to one end 21 of the gas tank 20 is from the fixed part 610 to the other end 22 of the gas tank 20 Since the expansion amount of the gas tank 20 can be made smaller, the positional deviation of the valve 40 provided at the one end 21 of the gas tank 20 can be suppressed. As a result, as in the comparative example in which the maximum friction forces of the first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621 shown in FIGS. According to the present embodiment, the occurrence of can be suppressed. Further, according to the first embodiment, since the gas tank 20 is fixed to the body 10 by the fixing portion 610 and the holding portion 620, the gas tank 20 can be stably disposed relative to the body 10. In addition, the positional deviation of the valve 40 can be suppressed only by changing the material and the fastening force of the tank bands 611 and 621 (or the buffer members 613 and 623 provided on the inner surface thereof), so a simple structure and low cost. Position of the valve 40 can be suppressed.

B. Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a fixing structure of a gas tank in a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, only the first tank band 611 and the first support portion 612 corresponding to the fixed portion 610 of the first embodiment are placed between the one end 21 of the gas tank and the central portion 23 of the gas tank, ie, other than the gas tank 20 It is disposed at a position closer to one end 21 of the gas tank 20 than the end 22. Thus, even if there is only one band, when the gas tank 20 is expanded as in the first embodiment, the moving distance of the one end 21 of the gas tank can be made smaller than the moving distance of the other end 22 of the gas tank . Therefore, the displacement of the valve 40 can be suppressed with a simpler structure and at lower cost.

C. Third Embodiment FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a fixing structure of a gas tank in a third embodiment. As compared with the first embodiment, in the third embodiment, both ends of the respective tank bands 611 and 621 are fixed to the body 10 by bolts without interposing the first support portion 612 and the second support portion 622. The gas tank 20 is tightened with the body 10. The fixed positions of the respective tank bands 611, 621 with respect to the body 10 are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a view schematically showing an XX cross section in FIG. 8 of the first tank band. FIG. 10 is a view schematically showing a Y-Y cross section in FIG. 8 of the second tank band. A first buffer member 613 is disposed on the inner surface of the first tank band 611. A third buffer member 614 is disposed between the body 10 and the gas tank 20 at a position corresponding to the first tank band 611 when the gas tank 20 is viewed from above. A second buffer member 623 is disposed on the inner surface of the second tank band 621. A fourth buffer member 624 is disposed between the body 10 and the gas tank 20 at a position corresponding to the second tank band 621 when the gas tank 20 is viewed from above.

  In the third embodiment, the coefficient of friction of the first buffer member 613 and the third buffer member 614 is larger than the coefficient of friction of the second buffer member 623 and the fourth buffer member. Therefore, the sum of the maximum friction forces that the first buffer member 613 and the third buffer member 614 act on the gas tank 20 is the maximum friction force that the second buffer member 623 and the fourth buffer member 624 act on the gas tank 20. Greater than the sum of Also in such a configuration, when the gas tank 20 is expanded, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation of the valve 40 provided at the one end 21 of the gas tank 20. Further, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621, the valve is also provided by the third buffer member 614 and the fourth buffer member 624 disposed between the body 10 and the gas tank 20. The positional deviation of 40 can be suppressed.

D. Modification <Modification 1>
In the first embodiment, the gas tank 20 is fixed to the body 10 of the vehicle 1 as the base material. However, the substrate is not limited to the body 10 of the vehicle 1. For example, the substrate may be a body such as an aircraft or a vessel. In addition, the base material may be a frame or foundation of a building. For example, in the case of fixing a stationary fuel cell gas tank to a building, the base material may be a building skeleton.

<Modification 2>
In the first embodiment, the gas filled in the gas tank 20 is hydrogen, but the gas is not limited to hydrogen, and may be filled with methane, CNG, nitrogen or the like.

<Modification 3>
In the first embodiment, the pressure in the gas tank 20 is a high pressure, but the pressure in the gas tank 20 does not have to be a high pressure, and may be a pressure at which the expansion of the gas tank 20 occurs.

<Modification 4>
In the first embodiment, the valve 40 is disposed at a position coinciding with the central axis of the gas tank 20. However, the valve 40 may be disposed at one end of the gas tank 20 not at a position coincident with the central axis of the gas tank 20. .

<Modification 5>
In the first embodiment, the two tank bands are the first tank band 611 and the second tank band 621, but two or more holding parts are provided between the first tank band 611 and the other end 22 of the gas tank You may provide the tank band which becomes.

<Modification 6>
In the first embodiment, the holding portion 620 is constituted by the second tank band 621. However, the holding portion 620 can be a rod for supporting the gas tank 20 from the lower side in the direction of gravity. Thereby, the gas tank 20 can be fixed by the fixing portion 610 while holding the gas tank 20 on the body 10 by a simple method.

<Modification 7>
In the first embodiment, the buffer members 613 and 623 are disposed between the tank bands 611 and 621 and the gas tank 20. However, the material of the tank bands 611 and 621 is changed without using the buffer members 613 and 623, and the fixing portion 610 is fixed. There may be a difference between the coefficient of friction of and the coefficient of friction of the holding portion 620.

<Modification 8>
In the third embodiment, the buffer members 613, 614, 623, 624 are disposed, but the first buffer member 613 and the second buffer member 623 may be omitted. Also, the third buffer member 614 and the fourth buffer member 624 may be omitted. Also, the maximum frictional force may be differentiated by omitting the respective buffer members 613, 614, 623, 624 to differentiate the fastening forces of the tank bands 611, 621.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, technical features in the embodiments or modifications corresponding to the technical features in the respective forms described in the section of the summary of the invention can be used to solve some or all of the problems described above, or Replacements or combinations can be made as appropriate to achieve part or all of the effects. Also, if the technical features are not described as essential in the present specification, they can be deleted as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle 10 ... Body 20 ... Gas tank 21 ... One end of a gas tank 22 ... Other end of a gas tank 23 ... Central part of a gas tank 30 ... Fuel cell 40 ... Valve 41, 42 ... Gas piping 43 ... Supply port 50, 51 ... Mounting member 70 ... Accommodation space 610 ... Fixed part 611 ... First tank band 612 ... First support part 613 ... First buffer member 614 ... Third buffer member 620 ... Holding part 621 ... Second tank band 622 ... Second support part 623 ... Second 2 Buffer member 624 ... Fourth buffer member L1 ... Movement distance L2 ... Movement distance

Claims (3)

Fixed structure of gas tank,
A gas tank having a valve at one end,
A base for fixing the gas tank;
A fixing portion that has a band disposed on the surface of the gas tank , and a support that connects the band and the base, and fixes the gas tank to the base;
Equipped with
The gas tank is fixed on the lower side of the base material in the vertical direction via the fixing portion so as to provide a space between the base material and the gas tank.
The fixed portion is disposed at a position closer to the one end than the other end of the gas tank opposite to the one end,
A gas tank fixing structure in which an expansion amount of the gas tank from the fixing portion toward the one end when the gas tank is filled with gas is smaller than an expansion amount of the gas tank from the fixing portion toward the other end. The gas tank fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein
It has a holding portion disposed between the fixing portion and the other end, fixed to the base material, and slidably holding the gas tank,
A fixing structure of a gas tank, wherein the maximum friction force acting between the fixing portion and the gas tank is larger than the maximum friction force acting between the holding portion and the gas tank. The gas tank fixing structure according to claim 2, wherein
The fixing portion has a first buffer member on a surface in contact with the gas tank,
The said holding | maintenance part is a fixed structure of the gas tank which has a 2nd buffer member in which a friction coefficient is smaller than a said 1st buffer member in the surface which contacts the said gas tank.

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