vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle which allows an automatic vending machine to be utilized in a stable manner.SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 mounts a fuel cell and an automatic vending machine 1. The fuel cell generates a first power generation amount during non-utilization time of the automatic vending machine 1, and during movement of the vehicle 10. The fuel cell generates a second power generation amount during utilization time of the automatic vending machine 1. The second power generation amount is large in comparison to the first power generation amount. The vehicle 10 may include a plurality of FC tanks 21 and a plurality of FC stacks 31 connected in parallel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a service providing mobile object equipped with a fuel cell and a vending machine. The vending machine operates using power generated by the fuel cell. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-056874 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present inventors have discovered the following technical problems. The inventors of the present application envisioned a vehicle equipped with a vending machine. In many cases, a vehicle can easily travel to multiple locations where a vending machine is needed, compared to a service provider. Also, a vending machine can sell a larger amount and a wider variety of products, compared to a service provider. However, a vending machine consumes more power, compared to a service provider and a vehicle. A separate power source is required to supply electricity to the vending machine at each location where the vehicle travels. As a result, there was a risk that the vending machine would not operate stably.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a vehicle that enables a vending machine to operate stably. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle according to the present disclosure is a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a vending machine, the fuel cell generating a first amount of power when the vending machine is not in operation and the vehicle is moving, The fuel cell generates a second amount of power during operation of the vending machine; The second amount of generated electricity is greater than the first amount of generated electricity. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, vending machines can operate stably. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a vehicle according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an example of a configuration of a vehicle according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a modified example of the vehicle according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified for clarity of explanation.

[0010] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a vehicle according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the configuration example of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a modified example of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] 1 is a convenience for explaining the positional relationship of the components of the vehicle 10. Normally, the positive direction of the UP axis is the vertically upward direction of the vehicle 10, the positive direction of the FORWARD axis is the front of the vehicle 10, and the positive direction of the RIGHT axis is the right side of the vehicle 10.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle 10 has a back door 10a, which is attached to a rear opening 10b. The vehicle 10 is equipped with a vending machine 1. The vending machine 1 is disposed in the rear opening 10b. When the back door 10a is opened, the front surface of the vending machine 1 is exposed from the rear opening 10b.

[0013] The vending machine 1 includes a product example display shelf 1a, a money insertion unit 1b, a product outlet 1c, and a change outlet 1d. The product example display shelf 1a allows a person wishing to purchase a product to view product examples and acquires an input of the product example desired to be purchased from the person wishing to purchase a product. The money insertion unit 1b receives the money required to purchase the product from the person wishing to purchase a product. The product outlet 1c then receives the product indicated by the product input acquired by the product example display shelf 1a. This allows the person wishing to purchase the product to obtain the product from the product outlet 1c. Additionally, the person wishing to purchase the product may obtain change for the product from the change outlet 1d as appropriate.

[0014] An example of a commodity displayed on an example of a commodity display shelf 1a shown in Fig. 1 is a beverage. The commodity sold by the vending machine 1 is not limited to this, and a wide variety of products can be selected. The commodity sold by the vending machine 1 is, for example, a beverage, a food, a ticket, etc. The food is, for example, a snack, ice cream, frozen dessert, instant noodles, etc.

[0015] The vehicle 10 may be equipped with a product inventory as appropriate. The product inventory is disposed between the driver's seat of the vehicle 10 and the vending machine 1. In addition to the product inventory, a space for an operator to work may be provided between the driver's seat of the vehicle 10 and the vending machine 1. In the space, the operator can remove products from the product inventory and replenish the vending machine 1. This allows the vending machine 1 to continue selling products without impeding the operation of the vending machine 1 by those wishing to purchase products.

[0016] In addition, the vending machine 1 may be enlarged as appropriate. For example, the vending machine 1 may be large enough to fill the space from the driver's seat to the rear opening 10b of the vehicle 10. In such a case, the vehicle 10 does not have a space for an operator to work or a product inventory. In addition, if a sliding door is provided on the right side of the vehicle 10, the vending machine 1 may be disposed on the right side of the space within the vehicle 10. When the right sliding door of the vehicle 10 is opened, the vending machine 1 is exposed from the outside right side of the vehicle 10 and can sell products. Here, the product inventory may be disposed on the left side of the space within the vehicle 10. In addition, a space for an operator to work may be provided between the vending machine 1 and the product inventory.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 includes a vending machine 1, an FC (Fuel Cell) tank 2, an FC (Fuel Cell) stack 3, a storage battery 4, an inverter 51, an inverter 52, a motor 6, a transaxle 7, and wheels 8.

[0018] <Flow 1> Next, a flow of electricity and the like will be described when the vehicle 10 is moving. Note that in this flow, the vending machine 1 is not in operation.

[0019] The FC tank 2 stores hydrogen. The FC tank 2 appropriately supplies hydrogen to the FC stack 3. The FC tank 2 should have storage capacity and operating pressure that enable it to supply the amount of hydrogen required for the travel of the vehicle 10 and the operation of the vending machine 1 to the FC stack 3.

[0020] The FC stack 3 is supplied with hydrogen from the FC tank 2. The FC stack 3 is supplied with air that has passed through an air cleaner and an air compressor (not shown). The FC stack 3 generates a direct current using the supplied hydrogen and air. The FC stack 3 generates a first amount of electricity. The FC stack 3 includes a plurality of fuel cell cells connected in series. The FC stack 3 may include a greater number of fuel cell cells connected in series than a commercially available FC stack. The volumetric power density of the FC stack 3 may be large enough to operate the vending machine 1 and move the vehicle 10. The volumetric power density of the FC stack 3 tends to be higher than the volumetric power density of a commercially available FC stack. The volumetric power density of the FC stack 3 may be, for example, 390 kW / L. The power density of the FC stack 3 may be, for example, 1.2 W / cm 2 It is preferable that the FC stack 3 be a single fuel cell.

[0021] The storage battery 4 generates a direct current by utilizing a chemical reaction of a substance, etc. The storage battery 4 supplies the generated direct current to the inverter 51 as appropriate.

[0022] The inverter 51 converts the direct current supplied from the FC stack 3 and the storage battery 4 into an alternating current. The inverter 51 supplies the converted alternating current to the motor 6.

[0023] The motor 6 generates driving force using the AC current supplied from the inverter 51. The voltage of the AC current used is, for example, 400 V. The power consumption of the motor 6 is, for example, 200 kW. The transaxle 7 adjusts the rotation speed and rotation direction of the driving force supplied from the motor 6 so that the rotation speed of the wheels 8 is appropriate, and transmits it to the wheels 8. This causes the wheels 8 to rotate, enabling the vehicle 10 to move.

[0024] As described above, the vending machine 1 can be moved from place to place where it is needed in response to spot demand. Places where a vending machine is needed include, for example, in front of a station, a park, an office district, a service area on a highway, a baseball field, a stadium, an event venue, a riverbed, and the like. For example, the vehicle 10 can move to a station or a park in the morning on a weekday, and move to an office district in the afternoon on a weekday. The vehicle 10 can also move to an office district, a park, or a station in the afternoon or evening on a weekday, and move to a service area on a highway from the evening of a weekday to the morning of the next day. The vehicle 10 can also move to a baseball field or a riverbed on a holiday. Since spot demand is high at the places where the vehicle 10 has moved, the vending machine 1 can sell a large amount of products. Therefore, the operating rate of the vending machine 1 can be increased, and the profit rate can be improved.

[0025] <Flow 2> Next, a description will be given of the flow of electricity and other operations when the vending machine 1 is in operation. Note that in this flow, the vehicle 10 is stopped.

[0026] The FC tank 2, FC stack 3, and storage battery 4 operate in the same manner as the flow of electricity and the like when the vehicle 10 moves, except for the amount of power generated by the FC stack 3. The FC stack 3 generates a second amount of power. The second amount of power generation is greater than the above-mentioned first amount of power generation.

[0027] The inverter 51 converts the direct current supplied from the FC stack 3 and the storage battery 4 into an alternating current. The inverter 51 supplies the converted alternating current to the inverter 52.

[0028] Inverter 52 drops the voltage of the AC current supplied from inverter 51. This dropped voltage of the AC current is the same as the rated voltage of vending machine 1. For example, the voltage of the AC current drops from 400 V to 100 V. Inverter 52 supplies the AC current to vending machine 1.

[0029] The vending machine 1 operates using alternating current supplied from the inverter 52. The power consumption of the vending machine 1 is, for example, 300 to 600 kW. The power consumption of the vending machine 1 tends to be higher than the power consumption of the motor 6, which will be described later.

[0030] As a result, the FC stack 3 generates the second amount of power when the vending machine 1 is operating. The second amount of power generated is greater than the first amount of power generated. In addition, because the vending machine 1 uses AC power from the FC tank 2 and the FC stack 3 mounted on the vehicle 10, the vending machine 1 can operate without needing an external power source at locations to which the vehicle 10 has traveled. This allows the vending machine 1 to operate stably.

[0031] The above-mentioned two flows of electricity and the like may be performed simultaneously in parallel. This allows the vending machine 1 to operate while the vehicle 10 is moving. That is, the vehicle 10 can move to a destination while the vending machine 1 cools a product, for example, a beverage. Also, after the vehicle 10 reaches the destination, the vending machine 1 can immediately sell the cooled beverage.

[0032] <One variation> A vehicle 10A shown in Fig. 3 is a modified example of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10A has the same configuration as the vehicle 10, except that the vehicle 10A is equipped with FC tanks 21, 22, and 23, FC stacks 31, 32, and 33, and a changeover switch 9 instead of the FC tank 2 and FC stack 3 shown in Fig. 2.

[0033] 3, the FC tanks 21, 22, 23 and the FC stacks 31, 32, 33 are connected in parallel to the changeover switch 9. Note that the vehicle 10A may be equipped with a plurality of FC tanks 21 and a plurality of FC stacks 31 connected in parallel.

[0034] The FC tanks 21, 22, 23 may have a smaller storage capacity and operating pressure that can be supplied to the FC stack 3 than the FC tank 2. The FC tanks 21, 22, 23 may be configured using commercially available FC tanks.

[0035] The FC stacks 31, 32, and 33 may have a lower volumetric power density than the FC stack 3. The volumetric power density of the FC stacks 31, 32, and 33 may be, for example, 130 kW / L. The power density of the FC stacks 31, 32, and 33 may be, for example, 1.20 W / cm 2 The FC stacks 31, 32, and 33 may be configured using commercially available FC stacks.

[0036] The changeover switch 9 switches the destination of the AC current supply from the FC stacks 31, 32, 33 to at least one of the inverters 51 and 52. When the changeover switch 9 switches the destination of the AC current supply from the FC stacks 31, 32, 33 to the inverter 51, the motor 6 generates driving force, and the transaxle 7 transmits this generated driving force to the wheels 8. As a result, the wheels 8 rotate and the vehicle 10 moves. On the other hand, when the changeover switch 9 switches the destination of the AC current supply from the FC stacks 31, 32, 33 to the inverter 52, the vending machine 1 operates.

[0037] As described above, vehicle 10A, like vehicle 10, can move from place to place where vending machine 1 is needed in response to spot demand. Because vending machine 1 uses AC power from FC tanks 21, 22, 23 and FC stacks 31, 32, 33 mounted on vehicle 10A, it can operate without needing an external power source at the places where vehicle 10A has moved. Therefore, vending machine 1 can operate stably.

[0038] In addition, the FC tanks 21, 22, and 23 and the FC stacks 31, 32, and 33 can be configured using commercially available products. Therefore, compared to the vehicle 10, the vehicle 10A is superior in terms of ease of procurement and cost reduction.

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be implemented by appropriately combining the above-described embodiment and examples thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10, 10A Vehicles 10a Backdoor 10b Rear opening 1. Vending Machines 1a Product example display shelf 1b Money insertion section 1c Product outlet 1d Change outlet 2, 21, 22, 23 FC Tank 3, 31, 32, 33 FC Stack 4. Storage battery 51, 52 Inverter 6 Motor 7 Trans Axle 8 wheels 9. Changeover switch

Claims

[Claim 1] A vehicle equipped with a fuel cell and a vending machine, the fuel cell generates a first amount of power when the vending machine is not in operation and the vehicle is moving; the fuel cell generates a second amount of power during operation of the vending machine; The second amount of power generation is greater than the first amount of power generation.

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