VEHICLE WITH A SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR A GAS TANK

Description

[0001] The invention relates generally to the field of vehicles having a gas such as hydrogen as fuel, and in particular fuel cell electric vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, provided with a shock-absorbing device for a gas tank, such as a hydrogen tank.

[0002] Hydrogen tanks found in vehicles are most often cylindrical cylinders. Inside a cylinder, hydrogen is stored in gaseous form at high pressure, typically at a pressure of 700 to 800 bars. This technology can store enough hydrogen to give a fuel cell-powered car a range of 500 to 600 km.

[0003] Generally speaking, the use of hydrogen as fuel in a vehicle poses a safety issue related to the risk of leaks and explosions that can occur in the event of impacts or fires. Thus, hydrogen tanks on board vehicles are subject to standards that address, in particular, their lifespan, sealing, protection against impacts and other safety-related aspects.

[0004] Impact protection, particularly against side impacts, requires special attention given the potential consequences. Locating hydrogen tanks in a central area of ​​the vehicle promotes the presence of deformation zones capable of absorbing part of the impact energy. Mounting hydrogen tanks under the vehicle body is an interesting solution that allows for maintaining comfortable volumes in the luggage compartment and passenger compartment. Underbody mounting offers greater space availability, which facilitates better optimization of the installation in relation to the various constraints. In addition, in the event of overpressure in the hydrogen tanks, installation under the body facilitates the escape and rapid diffusion of the gas into the open air, thus reducing the risk of deflagration.

[0005] Furthermore, to meet the needs of standardization in the automotive industry, it is desirable that the gas tank mounting solution can be easily integrated into an existing vehicle platform. It may therefore be advantageous to reuse an electric energy storage battery tray to receive the gas tanks.

[0006] As illustrated in the figure 1 , such a battery tray 1 comprises a frame 2 formed by a plurality of side members 3 and side plates 4. The gas tanks 5 arranged inside the tray 1 extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The tray 1 also comprises reinforcing cross members 6 which make it possible to distribute a lateral impact force.

[0007] However, depending on certain vehicle configurations illustrated in figure 2 , a battery 7 of electric energy for extending autonomy, called a "Range Extender" battery in English, is provided. The constraints of installing such a battery 7 limit the number of crosspieces 6 in an area of ​​the tray 1 opposite which the battery 7 is arranged.

[0008] As can be seen on the figure 3 , in the event of a side impact occurring against a post 8 outside the area of ​​the crosspieces 6, the side plates 4 will flex. This creates a risk of damage to the tanks 5 and to the components of a high-pressure gas circuit, such as pipes and regulators.

[0009] Furthermore, the state of the art is known from document CN212604496U.

[0010] The invention aims to effectively remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising: gas tanks, such as hydrogen tanks, and a gas tank receiving tray comprising a frame formed by side members and side plates, said vehicle further comprising a shock absorbing device arranged at least between a side plate of the gas tank receiving tray and at least one portion of a side face of a gas tank and / or between at least two portions of two side faces of two adjacent gas tanks, so as to be able to absorb by deformation at least in part a shock suffered by the vehicle.

[0011] The invention thus makes it possible, thanks to the integration of the shock absorption device, to avoid a risk of damage to the gas tanks and components of a high-pressure gas circuit regardless of the area of ​​the tank in which a side impact occurs. It is thus possible to reuse an existing battery tank without any safety risk.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the gas tank receiving tray comprising reinforcing crosspieces, the damping device is located in an area of ​​the gas tank receiving tray without reinforcing crosspieces.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shock absorption device comprises at least one added lateral element arranged between a lateral flange of the tank and at least one portion of a lateral face of a gas tank and / or at least one added intermediate element arranged between at least two portions of two lateral faces of two adjacent gas tanks, the added lateral element and the added intermediate element being elements distinct from one another.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the attached lateral element has an internal face in the form of a portion of a cylinder cooperating with a portion of a cylindrical lateral face of a tank and a face bearing against at least one portion of a lateral flange of the frame of the gas tank receiving tray.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the added intermediate element has two internal faces in the form of a portion of a cylinder, each cooperating with a portion of a lateral face of a corresponding gas reservoir.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the added lateral element and / or the added intermediate element comprises at least one orifice for passage of a pipe.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shock absorbing device is configured to convert a concentrated force of the lateral shock into a uniform pressure field applied by the shock absorbing device to a lateral face of a gas tank.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shock absorbing device comprises a hollow body in which ribs are formed forming a plurality of hollow cells.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shock absorbing device comprises a hollow body in which a plurality of spheres having a lattice structure are arranged.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shock absorbing device comprises a hollow body in which a plurality of cylinders having a lattice structure are arranged.

[0021] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only for illustrative purposes but in no way limit the invention. [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 , already described, is a view of a tray of a motor vehicle containing gas tanks; [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 , already described, illustrates the integration of an electric energy battery near the gas tank receiving tank; [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 , already described, is a side view illustrating the deformation of a flange of the gas tank receiving tray in the event of a side impact in an area without a reinforcing crosspiece; [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 is a bottom view of a motor vehicle according to the invention incorporating a gas tank receiving tray according to the invention; [ Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 is a perspective view of a gas tank receiving tray incorporating a shock absorbing device according to the invention; [ Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 is a front view of a gas tank receiving tray incorporating a shock absorbing device according to the invention; [ Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 is a front view of a side element of a shock absorbing device integrated into a gas tank receiving tray according to the invention; [ Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 is a perspective view of the side element of the figure 7 ; [ Fig. 9 ] There figure 9 is a side view of a lateral element of a shock absorbing device according to the invention illustrating a distribution of a force generated by a shock on an internal face cooperating with a gas reservoir; [ Fig. 10 ] There figure 10 is a front view of an intermediate element of a shock absorbing device according to the invention integrated into a gas tank receiving tank; [ Fig. 11 ] There figure 11 is a perspective view of the intermediate element of the figure 10 ; [ Fig. 12a ] There figure 12a is a perspective view showing through transparency spheres with a lattice structure arranged inside a hollow body of a lateral element or an intermediate element according to the invention; [ Fig. 12b ] There figure 12b is a perspective view of a lattice-structured sphere used in the embodiment of the figure 12a ; [ Fig. 13a ] There figure 13a is a perspective view showing through lattice structure cylinders arranged inside a hollow body of a lateral element or an intermediate element according to the invention; [ Fig. 13b ] There figure 13b is a perspective view of a lattice-structured cylinder used in the embodiment of the figure 13a .

[0022] On the figures 4 and following, identical, similar, or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

[0023] There figure 4 shows a motor vehicle 10 comprising a floor 11 having a direction D1 of longitudinal extension. Gas tanks 12, such as hydrogen tanks, are arranged inside a tray 13. The gas tanks 12 extend longitudinally along the direction D1 of longitudinal extension of the floor 11. The gas tanks 12 advantageously take the form of cylindrical bottles.

[0024] As can be seen on the figure 5 , the tank 13 for receiving the gas tanks 12 comprises a frame 15 formed by a plurality of side members 16 extending longitudinally along the direction D1 of longitudinal extension of the floor 11 and lateral flanges 17 extending along the direction D1 of longitudinal extension of the floor 11. The tank 13 also comprises reinforcing crosspieces 19 which make it possible to distribute a lateral impact force. The reinforcing crosspieces 19 extend along a direction perpendicular to the direction D1 in order to absorb lateral impacts.

[0025] Furthermore, a shock absorbing device 21 is arranged at least between a lateral flange 17 of the tank 13 and a lateral face of a gas tank 12 and between two lateral faces of two adjacent gas tanks 12, so as to be able to absorb by deformation at least in part a lateral impact suffered by the vehicle 10. The shock absorbing device is advantageously located in a zone of the tank 13 for receiving the gas tanks 12 without a reinforcing crosspiece 19 to allow integration of an electric energy battery.

[0026] The damping device 21 comprises at least one added lateral element 24 arranged at least between a lateral flange 17 of the tank 13 and a lateral face of a gas tank 12 and at least one added intermediate element 25 arranged between two lateral faces of two adjacent gas tanks 12.

[0027] The added lateral element 24 and the added intermediate element 25 are elements distinct from each other in order to facilitate their assembly inside the tray 13. Advantageously, as illustrated in the figure 6 , two lateral elements 24 and enough intermediate elements 25 are provided so that an intermediate element is arranged between two adjacent gas tanks 12. In the example shown with three gas tanks 12, two intermediate elements 25 are provided. More generally, for N tanks, two lateral elements 24 are provided at each end of the arrangement of gas tanks and N-1 intermediate elements 25, so that all the gas tanks 12 have at least a portion of their cylindrical lateral face protected by the damping device 21. Alternatively, the damping device 21 may comprise only a single type of element, namely only one or more added lateral elements 24 or one or more added intermediate elements 25.

[0028] More precisely, as can be seen on the figure 7 , the attached lateral element 24 has an internal face 27 in the form of a portion of a cylinder cooperating with a portion of the cylindrical lateral face of a gas tank 12. The lateral element 24 comprises a vertical wall 28 arranged between a face of the lateral flange 17 and a portion of the lateral face of a gas tank 12, as well as two horns 30.1, 30.2 coming from the vertical wall 28, as can be seen in the figures 8 And 9 The vertical wall 28 has a vertical face on the side of the lateral flange 17 of the tank 13 and an opposite face having the shape of a portion of a cylinder complementary to the reservoir 12.

[0029] The internal face 27 cooperating with the portion of the cylindrical lateral face of the gas tank 12 is formed by the internal face of the vertical wall 28 having the shape of a portion of a cylinder and the two internal faces of the two horns 30.1, 30.2.

[0030] The horns 30.1, 30.2 are directed towards a gas tank 12. An internal face of the horns 30.1, 30.2 in the form of a portion of a cylinder is located in the extension of the face of the vertical wall 28 in the form of a portion of a cylinder. The horns 30.1, 30.2 have a thickness which decreases when moving from the vertical wall 28 towards the free end of the horns 30.1, 30.2. The lateral element 24 comprises a recess 31 to allow the passage of a longitudinal member 16 of the tank 13 for receiving the gas tanks 12. The lateral element 24 may also comprise at least one orifice 32 for the passage of a gas pipe, in particular two through orifices 32 for the passage of a gas pipe or more than two through orifices 32.

[0031] Moreover, as can be seen from the figures 10 And 11, the intermediate element 25 comprises two internal faces 34.1, 34.2 in the form of a portion of a cylinder, each cooperating with a portion of a lateral face of a corresponding gas reservoir 12.

[0032] More specifically, the intermediate element 25 comprises a vertical wall 35 arranged between two cylindrical portions of two lateral faces of two gas tanks 12, as well as horns 36.1-36.4 extending on either side of the vertical wall 35. The intermediate element 25 thus comprises two horns 36.1, 36.2 directed towards a gas tank 12 as well as two opposite horns 36.3, 36.4 directed in an opposite direction towards an adjacent gas tank 12. The horns 36.1-36.4 have a thickness which decreases when moving from the vertical wall 35 towards the free end of the horns 36.1-36.4.

[0033] An internal face 34.1, 34.2 cooperating with a portion of a cylindrical lateral face of a gas tank 12 is formed by an internal face of the vertical wall 35 and the two internal faces of two associated horns 36.1 and 36.2 or 36.3 and 36.4.

[0034] The horns 36.1-36.4 have a thickness which decreases when moving from the vertical wall 35 towards the free end of the horns 36.1-36.4. The intermediate element 25 may comprise a groove 37 formed in an upper face and / or in a lower face for the passage of a spar 16 of the tank 13 for receiving the gas tanks 12. The intermediate element 25 may also comprise at least one through-orifice 32 for the passage of a gas pipe, in particular two through-orifices 32 or more than two through-orifices 32.

[0035] Advantageously, as illustrated by the figure 9 , the shock absorbing device 21, i.e. the lateral element 24 and / or the intermediate element 25, is configured so as to convert a concentrated force F of a lateral shock into a uniform pressure field P applied by the shock absorbing device 21 on the lateral face of the tank 12.

[0036] To this end, as can be seen from the figures 8 And 11 , the lateral element 24 or the intermediate element 25 comprises a hollow body 39 in which ribs 40 are formed forming a plurality of cells 41. A "honeycomb" type structure is thus obtained. Advantageously, at least certain cells 41 may each have an axis X1 oriented radially relative to an axis X2 of the gas reservoir 12.

[0037] Alternatively, as illustrated in the figure 12a , the lateral element 24 and / or the intermediate element 25 comprises a hollow body 39 in which a plurality of spheres 44 having a lattice structure are arranged. As can be seen in the figure 12b , such spheres 44 are formed by a combination of solid areas 45 and void areas 46.

[0038] Alternatively, as illustrated by the figure 13a , the side element and / or the intermediate element 25 comprises a hollow body 39 in which a plurality of cylinders 48 having a lattice structure are arranged. As can be seen in the figure 13b , such cylinders 48 are formed by a combination of solid zones 45 and empty zones 46.

[0039] The lateral element 24 and / or the intermediate element 25 may be made of a plastic material, such as polypropylene or of a composite material comprising fibers coated with resin, in particular thermosetting. The lateral element 24 and / or the intermediate element 25 may be made by molding or by 3D printing in particular to obtain the lattice structures.

Claims

1. Vehicle (10), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising: - gas tanks (12), such as hydrogen tanks, and - a tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12) comprising a frame (15) formed by side members (16) and side plates (17), characterized in that said vehicle (10) further comprises a shock absorbing device (21) arranged at least between a side plate (17) of the tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12) and at least one portion of a side face of a gas tank (12) and / or between at least two portions of two side faces of two adjacent gas tanks (12), so as to be able to absorb by deformation at least in part a shock suffered by the vehicle (10).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12) comprises reinforcing crosspieces (19), the damping device is located in an area of the tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12) without a reinforcing crosspiece (19).

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shock absorbing device (21) comprises at least one added lateral element (24) arranged between a lateral flange (17) of the tank (13) and at least one portion of a lateral face of a gas tank (12) and at least one added intermediate element (25) arranged between at least two portions of two lateral faces of two adjacent gas tanks (12), the added lateral element (24) and the added intermediate element (25) being elements distinct from each other.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the attached lateral element (24) has an internal face (27) in the form of a portion of a cylinder cooperating with a portion of a cylindrical lateral face of a tank (12) and a face bearing against at least a portion of a lateral flange (17) of the frame (15) of the tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12).

5. Vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the attached intermediate element (25) has two internal faces (34.1, 34.2) in the form of a portion of a cylinder, each cooperating with a portion of a lateral face of a corresponding gas tank (12).

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the added lateral element (24) and / or the added intermediate element (25) comprises at least one orifice (32) for passage of a pipe.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shock absorbing device (21) comprises a hollow body (39) in which ribs (40) are formed forming a plurality of hollow cells (41).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shock absorbing device (21) comprises a hollow body (39) in which are arranged a plurality of spheres (44) having a lattice structure .

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shock absorbing device (21) comprises a hollow body (39) in which are arranged a plurality of cylinders (48) having a lattice structure .