Vehicle

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of introducing an appropriate amount of air to a radiator.SOLUTION: A vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a fuel cell that is mounted inside the vehicle body; a radiator that is mounted inside the vehicle body and in which a cooling medium circulates between the radiator and the fuel cell; an air introduction port that is provided in a front portion of the vehicle body and introduces outside air into the radiator; and a control device that adjusts an angle in a vertical direction of an air introduction direction of the air introduction port according to a pitch angle of the vehicle body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a vehicle that includes a body, a fuel cell mounted inside the body, a radiator mounted inside the body and through which a cooling medium circulates between the fuel cell and the radiator, and an air inlet provided at the front of the body and which introduces outside air into the radiator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-140126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the vehicle of Patent Document 1, external air is introduced into the interior of the vehicle body, specifically the radiator, through an air inlet provided in the front of the vehicle body. The vertical angle of the air inlet's air introduction direction is often set based on the state in which the vehicle body is parallel to the road surface. However, as cargo is loaded onto the vehicle body, the vehicle body tilts in the fore-and-aft direction. That is, the vehicle body's pitch angle changes. When the vehicle body's pitch angle changes, the air introduction direction of the air inlet also changes. As a result, the amount of air introduced from the air inlet to the radiator also changes. Here, the air introduction direction of the air inlet means the direction in which the area of ​​the opening of the air inlet is greatest when the air inlet is projected onto a plane perpendicular to that direction.

[0005] The present specification provides a technique that can introduce an appropriate amount of air into a radiator even when the pitch angle of the vehicle body changes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In a first aspect disclosed in this specification, a vehicle may include a vehicle body, a fuel cell mounted inside the vehicle body, a radiator mounted inside the vehicle body and through which a cooling medium circulates between the fuel cell and the radiator, an air inlet provided at the front of the vehicle body for introducing external air into the radiator, and a control device for adjusting the angle of the air inlet in the vertical direction in accordance with the pitch angle of the vehicle body.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the control device adjusts the vertical angle of the air introduction direction in accordance with the pitch angle of the vehicle body, so that an appropriate amount of air can be introduced into the radiator even if the pitch angle of the vehicle body changes, for example, depending on the load on the vehicle body.

[0008] In a second aspect, in the first aspect, the control device may adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction in at least two stages according to the pitch angle.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the vertical angle of the air introduction direction is adjusted in stages in response to the pitch angle, which changes continuously in accordance with the weight of the load, and therefore the mechanism required for the adjustment can be configured simply. However, in another aspect, the control device may continuously adjust the vertical angle of the air introduction direction in accordance with the pitch angle of the vehicle body.

[0010] In a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the control device may identify the pitch angle while the vehicle is stopped, and adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction by using the pitch angle identified while the vehicle is stopped.

[0011] While the vehicle is traveling, the pitch angle of the vehicle body may temporarily change depending on the traveling state and / or road surface condition, etc. With the above configuration, the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction can be adjusted without being affected by such temporary changes in the pitch angle.

[0012] In a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, the vehicle may further include an inclination sensor that detects a pitch angle. The control device may adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction based on the pitch angle detected by the inclination sensor.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the vertical angle of the air introduction direction can be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the actual pitch angle of the vehicle body. However, in another aspect, the pitch angle of the vehicle body may be calculated or estimated using one or more other indicators (for example, the weight of the load).

[0014] In a fifth aspect, a vehicle may include a body on which cargo is carried at the rear, a fuel cell mounted inside the body, a radiator mounted inside the body and through which a cooling medium circulates between the fuel cell and the radiator, an air inlet provided at the front of the body for introducing external air into the radiator, and a control device for adjusting the angle of the air inlet in the vertical direction according to the load of cargo carried on the body.

[0015] According to the above configuration, the control device adjusts the vertical angle of the air inlet port in accordance with the weight of the load on the vehicle body. The pitch angle of the vehicle body changes depending on the weight of the load. Therefore, even if the pitch angle of the vehicle body changes depending on the weight of the load on the vehicle body, an appropriate amount of air can be introduced into the radiator. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 2 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a cooling system 20 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the vehicle 2 is tilting in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the cooling system 20 when the vehicle 2 is tilted in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 102 according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] (First Example) The vehicle 2 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The vehicle 2 is a truck-type fuel cell vehicle. The vehicle 2 includes a vehicle body 10, a cargo bed 12, front wheels 14, rear wheels 16, a fuel cell stack 18 (see Figure 2), a cooling system 20 (see Figure 2), an inclination sensor 22, and a control device 24. The front wheels 14 and rear wheels 16 are attached to the vehicle body 10. The cargo bed 12 is attached to the vehicle body 10 rearward of the front wheels 14. The inclination sensor 22 is mounted on the vehicle body 10 and detects the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10. The pitch angle is the angle of inclination of the vehicle body 10 relative to the fore-and-aft direction.

[0018] An air introduction section 26 (FIG. 2) is provided at the front lower portion of the vehicle body 10. The air introduction section 26 introduces external air into the interior of the vehicle body 10. The air introduction section 26 includes a frame 28 and a plurality of fins 30. The frame 28 defines an air introduction port 32. The plurality of fins 30 are rotatably supported by the frame 28. The plurality of fins 30 are arranged at equal intervals in the vertical direction. The plurality of fins 30 can rotate around an axis A extending in the left-right direction as the rotation axis. The plurality of fins 30 determine the air introduction direction of the air introduction port 32.

[0019] Here, the air introduction direction of the air inlet 32 ​​means the direction in which the area of ​​the opening portion of the air inlet 32 ​​(excluding the portion of the fins 30) is maximized when the air inlet 32 ​​(including the fins 30) is projected onto a plane perpendicular to that direction. In other words, the air introduction direction of the air inlet 32 ​​means the direction in which the area of ​​the range in which the interior of the vehicle body 10 can be seen through the air inlet 32 ​​is maximized when the air inlet 32 ​​is viewed along that direction.

[0020] The fuel cell stack 18 and the cooling system 20 are mounted inside the vehicle body 10. The fuel cell stack 18 is a device that generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell stack 18 includes a plurality of unit cells (not shown). The electricity generated by the fuel cell stack 18 is supplied to, for example, a traction motor (not shown) of the vehicle 2.

[0021] The cooling system 20 is a system for cooling the fuel cell stack 18 using a cooling medium flowing through the cooling system 20. For example, the cooling medium is coolant. The cooling system 20 includes a radiator 40, a fan 42 provided near the radiator 40, a pump 44, an ion exchanger 46, a valve 48, a supply pipe 50, a return pipe 52, and a bypass pipe 54. The fan 42 blows air toward the radiator 40. The upstream end of the supply pipe 50 is connected to the downstream end of the refrigerant flow path of the radiator 40, and the downstream end of the supply pipe 50 is connected to the upstream end of the refrigerant flow path of the fuel cell stack 18. The upstream end of the return pipe 52 is connected to the downstream end of the refrigerant flow path of the fuel cell stack 18, and the downstream end of the return pipe 52 is connected to the upstream end of the refrigerant flow path of the radiator 40. The bypass pipe 54 connects the supply pipe 50 to the return pipe 52. The pump 44 is provided on the supply pipe 50. The pump 44 is provided on the fuel cell stack 18 side of the connection between the supply pipe 50 and the bypass pipe 54. The ion exchanger 46 is provided on the bypass pipe 54. The valve 48 is provided at the connection between the return pipe 52 and the bypass pipe 54. The valve 48 adjusts the ratio between the amount of cooling medium flowing from the return pipe 52 to the radiator 40 and the amount of cooling medium flowing from the return pipe 52 to the ion exchanger 46.

[0022] The control device 24 in FIG. 1 includes a CPU and memories such as ROM and RAM. The control device 24 controls the operation of each component of the vehicle 2. The control device 24 is configured to be able to control the operation of the cooling system 20 to perform a cooling operation to cool the fuel cell stack 18. The memory of the control device 24 stores the pitch angle of the vehicle 2 while stopped and a first angle determination table for determining the vertical angle of the fins 30 of the air introduction section 26 based on the pitch angle. Hereinafter, the vertical angle of the fins 30 will be simply referred to as the "angle of the fins 30." The first angle determination table is a table for adjusting the angle of the fins 30 in stages. For example, in the first angle determination table, the angles of the fins 30 corresponding to the pitch angle being equal to or greater than 0° and less than a first predetermined angle, the pitch angle being equal to or greater than the first predetermined angle and less than a second predetermined angle, and the pitch angle being equal to or greater than the second predetermined angle and less than a third predetermined angle are a first angle a1 (see FIG. 2), a second angle a2 (see FIG. 4), and a third angle, respectively. The second predetermined angle is greater than the first predetermined angle. The second angle a2 is greater than the first angle a1, and the third angle is greater than the second angle a2. Thus, in this embodiment, the angle of the fins 30 (i.e., the air introduction direction) is adjusted in three stages. In a modified example, the angle of the fins 30 may be adjustable in two stages, or four or more stages. The first angle determination table is set so that the introduction efficiency of the running wind when the pitch angle is 0° is approximately the same as the introduction efficiency of the running wind when the pitch angle is greater than 0°.

[0023] The cooling operation performed by the control device 24 will be described. The control device 24 performs the cooling operation while the vehicle is traveling. First, the control device 24 drives the pump 44. This causes the coolant to circulate between the fuel cell stack 18 and the radiator 40. The control device 24 also drives the fan 42 and tilts the fins 30 relative to the vertical direction. The control device 24 sets the angle of the fins 30 using the pitch angle stored in memory and a first angle determination table. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the pitch angle stored in memory is 0°, the control device 24 determines the angle of the fins 30 as a first angle a1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the control device 24 operates the fins 30 so that the angle of the fins 30 becomes the first angle a1. Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the pitch angle stored in memory is equal to or greater than a first predetermined angle and less than a second predetermined angle, the control device 24 determines the angle of the fins 30 as a second angle a2. 4, the control device 24 operates the fins 30 so that the angle of the fins 30 becomes the second angle a2. As a result, external air is introduced into the interior of the vehicle body 10, specifically into the radiator 40, through the air inlet 32 ​​of the air introduction section 26. Air is also supplied to the radiator 40 by driving the fan 42. As the air is introduced into the radiator 40, the cooling medium flowing through the radiator 40 is cooled. The cooled cooling medium is then supplied to the fuel cell stack 18, thereby cooling the fuel cell stack 18.

[0024] As a load is loaded onto the vehicle body 10, the vehicle body 10 tilts in the longitudinal direction, changing the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10. When the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10 changes, the air introduction direction of the air inlet 32 ​​also changes. As a result, the introduction efficiency of the traveling wind into the interior of the vehicle body 10, i.e., the amount of air introduced from the air inlet 32 ​​to the radiator 40, also changes. Therefore, in this embodiment, the angle of the fins 30 (i.e., the angle of the air introduction direction) is adjusted according to the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10. Therefore, even when the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10 changes, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the introduction efficiency of the traveling wind into the interior of the vehicle body 10.

[0025] As described above, the vehicle 2 comprises a vehicle body 10, a fuel cell stack 18 (an example of a "fuel cell") mounted inside the vehicle body 10, a radiator 40 mounted inside the vehicle body 10 and through which a cooling medium circulates between the radiator 40 and the fuel cell stack 18, an air inlet 32 ​​provided at the front of the vehicle body 10 for introducing external air into the radiator 40, and a control device 24 for adjusting the angle of the air inlet direction of the air inlet 32 ​​in the vertical direction according to the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10.

[0026] According to the above configuration, the control device 24 adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction in accordance with the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10. Therefore, even if the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10 changes depending on the load on the vehicle body 10, for example, an appropriate amount of air can be introduced into the radiator 40.

[0027] Furthermore, the control device 24 adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction in three stages according to the pitch angle.

[0028] According to the above configuration, the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction is adjusted in stages in response to the pitch angle, which changes continuously depending on the weight of the load, so the mechanism required for this adjustment can be configured simply.

[0029] Furthermore, the control device 24 identifies the pitch angle while the vehicle 2 is stopped, and adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction using the pitch angle identified while the vehicle 2 is stopped.

[0030] While the vehicle 2 is traveling, the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10 may temporarily change depending on the traveling state and / or road surface condition, etc. With the above configuration, the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction can be adjusted without being affected by such temporary changes in the pitch angle.

[0031] The vehicle 2 further includes an inclination sensor 22 that detects a pitch angle. The control device 24 adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction based on the pitch angle detected by the inclination sensor 22.

[0032] According to the above configuration, the air introduction direction can be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the actual pitch angle of the vehicle body 10.

[0033] (Second Example) A vehicle 2 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, a vehicle 102 according to the second embodiment includes a weight sensor 122 instead of the inclination sensor 22. The weight sensor 122 is mounted on the vehicle body 10 and detects the weight of an object loaded on the loading platform 12.

[0034] A second angle determination table for determining the angle of the fins 30 based on the weight detected by the weight sensor 122 is stored in the memory of the control device 24 of this embodiment. Similar to the angle determination table of the first embodiment, the second angle determination table is configured to determine the angle of the fins 30 in three stages. The second angle determination table is set so that the angle of the fins 30 increases as the weight increases. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the weight is 0 kg, the angle of the fins 30 is set to a first angle a1 (see FIG. 2), and when the weight is a predetermined weight greater than 0 kg, the angle of the fins 30 is set to a second angle a2 (see FIG. 4).

[0035] As described above, the vehicle 2 comprises a vehicle body 10, a fuel cell stack 18 (an example of a "fuel cell") mounted inside the vehicle body 10, a radiator 40 mounted inside the vehicle body 10 and through which a cooling medium circulates between the radiator 40 and the fuel cell stack 18, an air inlet 32 ​​provided at the front of the vehicle body 10 for introducing external air into the radiator 40, and a control device 24 for adjusting the angle of the air inlet direction in the vertical direction of the air inlet 32 ​​according to the amount of cargo carried on the vehicle body 10.

[0036] According to the above configuration, the control device 24 adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction in accordance with the load amount of the cargo mounted on the vehicle body 10. The pitch angle of the vehicle body 10 changes in accordance with the weight of the cargo. Therefore, even if the pitch angle of the vehicle body 10 changes in accordance with the loading portion on the vehicle body 10, an appropriate amount of air can be introduced into the radiator 40.

[0037] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and alterations of the specific examples exemplified above.

[0038] (First Modification) The control device 24 may adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction by adjusting the angle of the frame 28 of the air introduction section 26 in the vertical direction.

[0039] (Second Modification) The control device 24 may continuously adjust the angle of the fins 30 in accordance with the pitch angle.

[0040] (Third Modification) The control device 24 may adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction according to the pitch angle of the vehicle 2 while it is traveling. Alternatively, the control device 24 may identify the time-averaged pitch angle of the vehicle 2 while it is traveling, and adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction according to the pitch angle.

[0041] (Fourth Modification) The control device 24 may detect the pitch angle of the vehicle 2 using a weight sensor, a distance sensor, or the like.

[0042] (Fifth Modification) The "vehicle" is not limited to a truck, but may be a passenger car, a bus, or the like.

[0043] The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit 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 technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of those objectives is itself technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 2: vehicle, 10: body, 12: loading platform, 14: front wheels, 16: rear wheels, 18: fuel cell stack, 20: cooling system, 22: tilt sensor, 24: control device, 26: air intake section, 28: frame, 30: fin, 32: air intake port, 40: radiator, 42: fan, 44: pump, 46: ion exchanger, 48: valve, 50: forward piping, 52: return piping, 54: bypass piping, 102: vehicle, 122: weight sensor

Claims

1. A vehicle, The car body and a fuel cell mounted inside the vehicle body; a radiator mounted inside the vehicle body, through which a cooling medium circulates between the radiator and the fuel cell; an air inlet provided at a front portion of the vehicle body for introducing external air into the radiator; a control device that adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction of the air introduction port in the vertical direction in accordance with the pitch angle of the vehicle body; Equipped with vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control device adjusts an angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction in at least two stages according to the pitch angle.

3. The control device determining the pitch angle while the vehicle is stopped; The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the pitch angle determined while the vehicle is stopped is used to adjust the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction.

4. further comprising an inclination sensor for detecting the pitch angle; The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control device adjusts the angle of the air introduction direction in the vertical direction based on the pitch angle detected by the inclination sensor.

5. A vehicle, A vehicle body on which a load is mounted at the rear, a fuel cell mounted inside the vehicle body; a radiator mounted inside the vehicle body, through which a cooling medium circulates between the radiator and the fuel cell; an air inlet provided at a front portion of the vehicle body for introducing external air into the radiator; a control device that adjusts the angle of the air inlet in the vertical direction in accordance with the load amount of cargo mounted on the vehicle body; Equipped with vehicle.

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