Hydrogen tank module

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen tank module which can be stacked.SOLUTION: A hydrogen tank module includes a frame in which a hydrogen tank can be placed, a twist lock which is arranged on an upper surface of the frame, and a lock receiver which is arranged on a lower surface of the frame. The twist lock includes an operation lever operated between a lock position and an unlock position, and a lock pin interlocking with the operation lever. The lock receiver includes a lock hole in which the lock pin is received, and a guide groove in which the operation lever is received. When the hydrogen tank modules are stacked and the operation lever is in the unlock position, the lock hole and the guide groove can receive the lock pin and the operation lever, respectively. When the operation lever is in the lock position, the operation lever interferes with a portion different from the guide groove of the lock receiver before the lock pin comes into contact with the lock hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a hydrogen tank module. [Background technology]

[0002] There is growing interest in portable hydrogen tank modules. Hydrogen tank modules can be stacked in several layers to supply more hydrogen. When stacking, a locking structure is required to secure them in place. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for fixing the frame of a module using a part for containers called a twist lock. The two can be fixed together by fitting the lock receiver of the upper hydrogen tank module into the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2009-534278 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When stacking, if the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module is in an unlocked state, the lock pin of the twist lock can be received by the lock hole of the lock receiver. Thus, the lock receiver can be fitted into the twist lock. However, if the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module is in a locked state when stacking, the lock pin interferes with the lock hole, so the lock receiver only partially fits into the twist lock. However, with conventional structures, this partial fit allows the hydrogen tank modules to be stacked. As a result, the hydrogen tank modules are stacked in an unstable state, which poses the risk of the hydrogen tank modules tipping over or falling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the structure described in claim 1, if the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module is in a locked state when stacking, the operating lever interferes with the lock receiver before the lock pin comes into contact with the lock hole. This makes it possible to prevent a partial fit state from occurring. Therefore, a structure can be created in which stacking is not possible if the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module is in a locked state when stacking. This makes it possible to prevent the hydrogen tank modules from being stacked in an unstable state, making it possible to stack the hydrogen tank modules safely. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hydrogen tank module 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the twist lock 20 and the lock receiver 30. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the twist lock 20 and the lock receiver 30. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] (Structure of hydrogen tank module 1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a hydrogen tank module 1 according to this embodiment. The hydrogen tank module 1 is a module for a fuel cell (not shown). The hydrogen tank module 1 is portable and can be transported and loaded by a crane, forklift, or the like. The hydrogen tank module 1 mainly comprises a frame 10, a twist lock 20, a lock receiver 30, and a hydrogen tank 40. The frame 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape formed from steel. The hydrogen tank 40 is placed inside the frame 10. The hydrogen tank 40 may be of various structures and types. In this embodiment, the hydrogen tank 40 is a Type IV (resin liner + CFRP) high-pressure hydrogen tank of 70 MPa.

[0008] Top corner fittings 11 are provided at the four corners of the top surface of frame 10. Bottom corner fittings 12 are provided at the four corners of the bottom surface of frame 10. A total of four twist locks 20 are arranged on each of the top corner fittings 11. A total of four lock receivers 30 are arranged on each of the bottom corner fittings 12. When multiple hydrogen tank modules 1 are stacked, the lock receivers 30 of the upper hydrogen tank module are configured to receive the twist locks 20 of the lower hydrogen tank module 1.

[0009] (Structure of twist lock 20 and lock receiver 30) Figures 2 and 3 show enlarged perspective views of the twistlock 20 and the lock receiver 30. Figure 2 shows the twistlock 20 in an unlocked state, and Figure 3 shows the twistlock 20 in a locked state.

[0010] The twist lock 20 is a component for a container. The twist lock 20 mainly comprises an operating lever 21, a rotating shaft 22, and a lock pin 23. The rotating shaft 22 extends in the vertical direction (z direction). The lock pin 23 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 22. The lock pin 23 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The lock pin 23 is formed from a thick material that has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the side, with one apex being rounded.

[0011] An operating lever 21 is fixed to the lower part of the rotating shaft 22. The operating lever 21 protrudes laterally from the rotating shaft 22. The lock pin 23 rotates around the rotating shaft 22 in conjunction with the operating lever 21. As shown in FIG. 2, when the operating lever 21 is located at the unlocked position P1, the longitudinal direction LD of the lock pin 23 is parallel to the longitudinal direction HD of the lock hole 33. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operating lever 21 is located at the locked position P2, the longitudinal direction LD of the lock pin 23 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction HD of the lock hole 33.

[0012] The lock receiver 30 is a box-shaped member with an open bottom surface. The lock receiver 30 may be formed of, for example, a steel plate. The lock receiver 30 mainly includes a bottom surface 31, a side wall 32, a lock hole 33, and a guide groove 34. The lock hole 33 is formed in the bottom surface 31. The lock hole 33 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The longitudinal direction HD of the lock hole 33 is parallel to the y-axis. The lock hole 33 has a size and shape that allows the lock pin 23 to pass through. Therefore, when the longitudinal direction LD of the lock pin 23 and the longitudinal direction HD of the lock hole 33 coincide with each other, the lock pin 23 can be received.

[0013] The side wall 32 has a rectangular cylindrical shape that protrudes downward (-z direction) from the bottom surface 31. A cross section of the side wall 32 perpendicular to the z axis is substantially square. A guide groove 34 is formed in the side wall 32. The guide groove 34 has a first groove T1 and a second groove T2. The first groove T1 has an opening AP located at the lower end of the side wall 32. The position of the opening AP corresponds to the unlock position P1 of the operating lever 21 when the twist lock 20 and the lock receiver 30 are fitted together (see imaginary line IL1 in FIG. 2). The first groove T1 extends in the vertical direction from the opening AP. This allows the guide groove 34 to receive the operating lever when the twist lock 20 and the lock receiver 30 are fitted together.

[0014] The second groove T2 extends in the left-right direction. One end of the second groove T2 is connected to the upper end of the first groove T1. The other end of the second groove T2 corresponds to the lock position P2 of the operating lever 21 when the twist lock 20 and the lock receiver 30 are fitted together (see imaginary line IL2 in FIG. 3).

[0015] (operation) The following describes the operation when stacking the hydrogen tank modules 1. For all four twist locks 20 provided on the lower hydrogen tank module 1, the operating levers 21 are set to the unlocked position P1 (see FIG. 2).

[0016] Using a crane or the like, stack the upper hydrogen tank module 1 on top of the lower hydrogen tank module 1. At this time, the position is adjusted so that the four lock receivers 30 of the upper hydrogen tank module 1 can receive the four twist locks 20 of the lower hydrogen tank module 1. Then, the upper hydrogen tank module 1 is gradually lowered.

[0017] 2, the longitudinal direction LD of the lock pin 23 and the longitudinal direction HD of the lock hole 33 coincide with each other, so that the lock pin 23 can pass through the lock hole 33. Then, when the stacking is completed, the lock pin 23 is positioned above the bottom surface 31. Also, when viewed from the z-axis direction, the unlock position P1 and the opening AP of the first groove T1 coincide with each other, so that the operating lever 21 can be received inside the first groove T1. Then, when the stacking is completed, the operating lever 21 is positioned at the entrance portion EP, which is the entrance of the second groove T2.

[0018] After stacking is completed, the operating lever 21 is rotated 90° around the rotation axis 22 for all four twist locks 20 of the lower hydrogen tank module 1. At this time, the operating lever 21 moves from the unlocked position P1 to the locked position P2 while being guided by the second groove T2. As a result, with the lock pin 23 passing through the lock hole 33, the longitudinal direction LD of the lock pin 23 and the longitudinal direction HD of the lock hole 33 are perpendicular to each other (see FIG. 3). Since the lock pin 23 cannot be removed downward from the lock hole 33, the twist locks 20 and the lock receiver 30 can be fixed to each other. This allows the upper hydrogen tank module 1 and the lower hydrogen tank module 1 to be locked to each other.

[0019] (effect) First, the problems with the conventional structure will be described. In the conventional lock receiver 30, as shown in FIG. 3, a notch portion NP is provided instead of the guide groove 34 (see the dashed line). In the area where the notch portion NP is formed, the lower end surface of the side wall 32 does not exist. Therefore, in the conventional structure, the operating lever 21 does not interfere with the side wall 32 regardless of the position of the operating lever 21. Therefore, when stacking the hydrogen tank modules 1, if the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module 1 is in the locked state (see FIG. 3), the lock pin 23 cannot pass through the lock hole 33, and the upper surface of the lock pin 23 comes into contact with the opening edge of the lock hole 33. As a result, the lock receiver 30 only partially fits into the twist lock 20. However, this partial fit means that the hydrogen tank modules 1 can be stacked in an unstable state, which may cause the hydrogen tank module 1 to tip over or fall.

[0020] On the other hand, in the technology of this specification, if the twist lock 20 of the lower hydrogen tank module 1 is in a locked state (see FIG. 3) during stacking, the operating lever 21 is not received in the guide groove 34. Therefore, the operating lever 21 interferes with the lower end of the side wall 32 of the lock receiver 30 at an interference point IP (see imaginary line IL2). This interference between the operating lever 21 and the lower end of the side wall 32 occurs before the lock pin 23 comes into contact with the lock hole 33. This makes it possible to prevent a partial fit state from occurring. Therefore, a structure can be created in which stacking is not possible when the twist lock is in a locked state during stacking. Since it is possible to prevent the hydrogen tank modules 1 from being stacked in an unstable state, it becomes possible to stack the hydrogen tank modules 1 safely. [Explanation of symbols]

[0021] 1: Hydrogen tank module 10: Frame 20: Twist lock 21: Operating lever 23: Lock pin 30: Lock receiver 32: Side wall 33: Lock hole 34: Guide groove

Claims

[Claim 1] A hydrogen tank module, comprising: A frame on which a hydrogen tank can be mounted; a twist lock disposed on an upper surface of the frame; a lock receiver disposed on a lower surface of the frame; Equipped with When a plurality of the hydrogen tank modules are stacked, the lock receiver of the upper hydrogen tank module is configured to receive the twist lock of the lower hydrogen tank module, The twist lock includes an operating lever that is operated between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a lock pin that is linked to the operating lever. The lock receiver includes a lock hole that receives the lock pin and a guide groove that receives the operating lever, when the operating lever is in the unlocked position, when a plurality of the hydrogen tank modules are stacked, the lock hole and the guide groove can receive the lock pin and the operating lever, respectively; When the operating lever is in the locked position, when a plurality of the hydrogen tank modules are stacked, the operating lever interferes with a portion of the lock receiver other than the guide groove before the lock pin comes into contact with the lock hole. Hydrogen tank module.

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