JP7639653B2 - Fuel Gas Tank Unit - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a fuel gas tank unit.

Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel gas tank unit mounted on a vehicle. This fuel gas tank unit has a band that extends along the outer circumferential surface of the fuel gas tank, and a spring that presses the band against a vehicle body member. The fuel gas tank expands and contracts according to the pressure of the fuel gas inside. When the fuel gas tank expands and contracts, the change in diameter of the fuel gas tank is absorbed by the expansion and contraction of the spring. This makes it possible to fix the fuel gas tank to the vehicle body member while preventing gaps from occurring between the band and the fuel gas tank.

JP 2021-091410 A

The technology in Patent Document 1 requires a spring to secure the fuel gas tank to the vehicle body member. This poses the problem that the mounting structure for the fuel gas tank is large and takes up a lot of space.

There is also an attachment structure that connects the nozzle of the fuel gas tank to a vehicle body member to avoid the effects of expansion and contraction of the fuel gas tank. However, this attachment structure requires an attachment portion to be provided on the nozzle, which increases the size of the nozzle. As a result, the fuel gas tank increases in size in the axial direction.

This specification proposes technology that allows fuel gas tanks to be installed in a space-saving manner.

The fuel gas tank unit disclosed in this specification is mounted on a vehicle. This fuel gas tank unit has a fuel gas tank, a protector that covers the outer peripheral surface of the fuel gas tank and is made of an elastic body, and a frame that is fixed in contact with the protector and is fixed in contact with a body member of the vehicle.

In this fuel gas tank unit, the outer peripheral surface of the fuel gas tank is covered with a protector, and the protector is connected to the vehicle body member by a frame. That is, the fuel gas tank is connected to the vehicle body member via the protector and the frame. Because the protector is made of an elastic body, the protector can absorb the expansion and contraction of the fuel gas tank. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a gap from occurring between the protector and the fuel gas tank, and the fuel gas tank can be suitably fixed to the vehicle body member. Also, by connecting the fuel gas tank to the vehicle body member via the protector in this manner, a spring is not required. Furthermore, because the fuel gas tank is fixed to the vehicle body member using the outer peripheral surface of the fuel gas tank, it is possible to prevent the nozzle of the fuel gas tank from becoming large. Therefore, with this fuel gas tank unit, the fuel gas tank can be fixed to the vehicle body member in a space-saving manner.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel gas tank unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the fuel gas tank unit as viewed along the central axis 14a. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fuel gas tank unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a side view of a fuel gas tank unit according to a modified example.

In the above fuel gas tank unit, the fuel gas tank may have a cylindrical portion and a dome portion provided at an end of the cylindrical portion. The protector may cover the outer peripheral surface of the dome portion.

When a fuel gas tank has a dome portion, the area around the dome portion tends to become dead space in the vehicle. If the protector covers the outer surface of the dome portion, the space around the dome portion can be used to secure the fuel gas tank to a vehicle member.

In the above fuel gas tank unit, the frame may have an attachment portion extending from the protector in the axial direction of the fuel gas tank. The attachment portion may be fixed in contact with the vehicle body member.

This configuration allows the fuel gas tank to be secured to the vehicle member by utilizing the space around the dome portion.

In the above fuel gas tank unit, the fuel gas tank may have a tank body and a nozzle protruding from the tank body along the central axis of the tank body. In a direction parallel to the central axis of the tank body, the distance by which the mounting portion protrudes from the position of the base end of the nozzle may be shorter than the distance by which the nozzle protrudes from the position of the base end of the nozzle.

This configuration prevents the attachment portion from protruding axially from the base.

In the fuel gas tank unit, the frame may have a ring portion. The inner peripheral surface of the ring portion may be fixed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the protector.

This configuration allows the fuel gas tank to be fixed more stably.

In the fuel gas tank unit described above, the frame may have a support portion extending from the ring portion toward the center of the ring portion. The support portion may be fixed in contact with the end face of the protector.

This configuration allows the fuel gas tank to be fixed more stably.

Figures 1 to 4 show a fuel gas tank unit 10 according to an embodiment. In Figures 1 to 4, the z direction indicates the upward direction, the x direction indicates one horizontal direction, and the y direction indicates a horizontal direction perpendicular to the x direction. The fuel gas tank unit 10 is mounted on a vehicle. Reference numeral 90 in Figure 3 indicates a vehicle body member that constitutes part of the body of the vehicle. The fuel gas tank unit 10 is fixed to the vehicle body member 90.

1 and 2, the fuel gas tank unit 10 has a fuel gas tank 12. The fuel gas tank 12 has a tank body 14 and two nozzles 19. The tank body 14 has a rotating body shape centered on a central axis 14a, and stores fuel gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) therein. The tank body 14 is fixed to a vehicle body member 90 so that the central axis 14a extends along the y direction. The tank body 14 has a cylindrical portion 16 having a cylindrical shape and two dome portions 18. The cylindrical portion 16 has a cylindrical shape coaxial with the central axis 14a. The two dome portions 18 are connected to both ends of the cylindrical portion 16. As shown in FIG. 2, each dome portion 18 has a shape in which the radius r in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 14a decreases from the cylindrical portion 16 toward the end portion 14b of the tank body 14. Each dome portion 18 has a hemispherical shape. Fuel gas is stored in the space surrounded by the cylindrical portion 16 and the two dome portions 18. Each nozzle 19 is provided at the end 14b of the tank body 14. Each nozzle 19 protrudes from the end 14b in the y direction. Each nozzle 19 has a built-in valve. Fuel gas can be introduced into and discharged from the tank body 14 via the nozzle 19. When fuel gas is filled into the tank body 14, the pressure inside the tank body 14 increases, causing the tank body 14 to expand. When fuel gas is released from the tank body 14 to the outside, the pressure inside the tank body 14 decreases, causing the tank body 14 to contract.

1 and 2, the fuel gas tank unit 10 has two protectors 20. Each protector 20 covers the outer peripheral surface of the tank body 14. More specifically, each protector 20 covers the outer peripheral surface of the corresponding dome portion 18. There is a gap between the two protectors 20. Therefore, the protector 20 is not provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 16. Each protector 20 has a ring shape that goes around the central axis 14a. Each protector 20 is in contact with the dome portion 18 on its entire inner peripheral surface. Each protector 20 is fixed in a state of contact with the outer peripheral surface of the dome portion 18. Each protector 20 is made of an elastic body. For example, the protector 20 may be made of a resin with a low elastic modulus, may be made of rubber, or may be made of a sponge-like foam material. In this embodiment, each protector 20 is made of polyurethane. Each protector 20 functions as a protective member that protects the fuel gas tank 12 when the fuel gas tank 12 is transported before being fixed. Each protector 20 also functions as part of the mounting structure that mounts the fuel gas tank 12 to the vehicle body member 90.

The fuel gas tank unit 10 has two frames 30. Each frame 30 is made of a material having higher rigidity (i.e., a material having a higher elasticity) than the protector 20. In this embodiment, each frame 30 is made of metal. Each frame 30 is fixed to the corresponding protector 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the frame 30 has a ring portion 30a, a support portion 30b, and two mounting portions 30c and 30d. The ring portion 30a has a ring shape that goes around the central axis 14a. The inner peripheral surface of the ring portion 30a is fixed in contact with the outer peripheral surface 20a of the corresponding protector 20. The support portion 30b is a plate-shaped portion that extends from the ring portion 30a toward the inner peripheral side (i.e., the side closer to the central axis 14a). The support portion 30b is fixed in contact with the end surface 20b of the corresponding protector 20 (i.e., the surface closer to the end 14b of the fuel gas tank 12). In this way, the frame 30 is fixed to both the outer peripheral surface 20a and the end surface 20b of the protector 20. Therefore, the frame 30 is firmly fixed to the protector 20. The protector 20 may be manufactured separately from the frame 30 and fixed to the frame 30 by adhesion or the like. The protector 20 may also be manufactured in a state where it is integrated with the frame 30 by insert molding. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the two mounting parts 30c and 30d extend from the end surface of the frame 30 (i.e., the surface on the side closer to the end 14b of the fuel gas tank 12) along the central axis 14a. That is, the mounting parts 30c and 30d protrude from the end surface of the frame 30. The mounting part 30c has a through hole 30h extending in the vertical direction, and the mounting part 30d has a through hole 30i extending in the vertical direction.

Each frame 30 is connected to the vehicle body member 90 by a connection structure shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle body member 90 has two protrusions 92a, 92b that protrude downward relative to the surroundings. The lower surface of the protrusion 92a contacts the upper surface of the mounting portion 30c, and the lower surface of the protrusion 92b contacts the upper surface of the mounting portion 30d. The mounting portion 30c is fastened to the protrusion 92a by a bolt 34a inserted into the through hole 30h. The mounting portion 30d is fastened to the protrusion 92b by a bolt 34b inserted into the through hole 30i. In this way, the mounting portions 30c, 30d are fixed in contact with the vehicle body member 90.

As described above, the fuel gas tank 12 is fixed to the vehicle body member 90 via the protector 20 and the frame 30. As described above, each protector 20 is made of an elastic material. Therefore, when the tank body 14 expands and contracts, each protector 20 elastically deforms in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the tank body 14. For example, when the radius r of the dome portion 18 expands due to the expansion of the tank body 14, each protector 20 elastically deforms so that the inner diameter of each protector 20 expands with the expansion of the radius r. Also, when the radius r of the dome portion 18 decreases due to the contraction of the tank body 14, each protector 20 elastically deforms so that the inner diameter of each protector 20 decreases with the reduction of the radius r. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between each protector 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the tank body 14 (more specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the dome portion 18). Therefore, the fuel gas tank unit 10 allows the fuel gas tank 12 to be properly fixed to the vehicle body member 90.

Furthermore, in the fuel gas tank unit 10, the fuel gas tank 12 can be fixed to the vehicle body member 90 without using a spring to absorb deformation of the tank body 14. Furthermore, in the fuel gas tank unit 10, the fuel gas tank 12 is fixed to the vehicle body member 90 by utilizing the outer peripheral surface of the tank body 14. Therefore, there is no need to provide an attachment portion on the nozzle 19 for fixing the nozzle 19 to the vehicle body member 90. Therefore, in this fuel gas tank unit 10, the fuel gas tank 12 can be fixed to the vehicle body member 90 in a small space.

In addition, in the fuel gas tank unit 10, the protector 20 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the dome portion 18. Therefore, the protector 20 and the frame 30 are arranged around the dome portion 18. When the fuel gas tank 12 is mounted on the vehicle 10, the space around the dome portion 18 tends to become dead space. By providing the protector 20 and the frame 30 around the dome portion 18, the space around the dome portion 18 can be effectively utilized to fix the fuel gas tank 12 to the vehicle body member 90. Therefore, the fuel gas tank 12 can be fixed to the vehicle body member 90 in a more space-saving manner.

As shown in FIG. 5, the protruding amount L30 of the mounting parts 30c, 30d may be shorter than the protruding amount L19 of the nozzle 19. The protruding amount L30 is the distance that the mounting parts 30c, 30d protrude from the base end of the nozzle 19 (i.e., the end 14b of the tank body 14) in a direction parallel to the central axis 14a. The protruding amount L19 is the distance that the nozzle 19 protrudes from the base end of the nozzle 19 in a direction parallel to the central axis 14a. This configuration can reduce the axial size of the fuel gas tank unit 10. This configuration can also place almost the entire frame 30 in the space around the dome portion 18, making more effective use of the space inside the vehicle.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples given above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings demonstrate technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings achieves multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives is itself technically useful.

10: Fuel gas tank unit 12: Fuel gas tank 14: Tank body 16: Cylindrical portion 18: Dome portion 19: Cap 20: Protector 30: Frame 90: Vehicle body member

Claims (3)

A fuel gas tank unit mounted on a vehicle,
A fuel gas tank;
a protector that covers an outer circumferential surface of the fuel gas tank and is made of an elastic material;
a frame fixed in contact with the protector and fixed in contact with a body member of the vehicle;
having
The fuel gas tank,
A cylindrical portion;
A dome portion provided at an end of the cylindrical portion;
The tank body,
a nozzle protruding from the tank body along a central axis of the tank body;
having
The protector covers an outer circumferential surface of the dome portion,
the frame has an attachment portion extending from the protector in an axial direction of the fuel gas tank and away from the tank body,
The mounting portion is fixed in contact with the vehicle body member,
a distance by which the mounting portion protrudes from a base end position of the nozzle in a direction parallel to the central axis of the tank body is shorter than a distance by which the nozzle protrudes from the base end position of the nozzle;
Fuel gas tank unit. The frame has a ring portion,
The inner peripheral surface of the ring portion is fixed in a state of contact with the outer peripheral surface of the protector.
2. The fuel gas tank unit according to claim 1 . the frame has a support portion extending from the ring portion toward the center of the ring portion,
The support portion is fixed in contact with the end surface of the protector.
3. A fuel gas tank unit according to claim 2 .

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