Fuel tank system for vehicle

Abstract

To prevent vibration of a fuel supply pipe in a system for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel cell.SOLUTION: An attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 with respect to the main check valve 5 and an attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 with respect to the rear side lateral member 32a are at different height positions in the vehicle up-down direction. That is, in the fuel tank system 2, the attachment position of the fuel supply piping 6 with respect to the main stop valve 5 and the attachment position of the fuel supply piping 6 with respect to the subframe 9, which is a vehicle structural member, are different positions in the vehicle vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel tank system for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which hydrogen tanks as fuel tanks are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at both ends of the vehicle width direction of the cabin floor of an automobile body.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, a hydrogen tank is connected to an FC stack (fuel cell stack) by a pipeline. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-26117 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a system in which hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank to an FC stack via a pipeline, there is a risk that the pipeline will vibrate due to pulsation when hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the FC stack.

[0006] However, Patent Document 1 merely discloses a pipeline that simply connects the hydrogen tank and the FC stack, and does not take into consideration the vibration of the pipeline caused by pulsation when hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to the FC stack.

[0007] That is, in a system in which fuel is supplied from a fuel tank to a fuel cell via a fuel supply pipe such as a pipeline, there is room for further improvement in preventing vibration of the fuel supply pipe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The vehicle fuel tank system of the present invention includes: a plurality of fuel tanks each storing fuel; The fuel tank includes a main stop valve connected to the fuel tank and a fuel supply pipe connected to the fuel tank via the main stop valve. The fuel tanks are arranged under the floor of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are arranged side by side along the width direction of the vehicle. The fuel supply pipe is fixed to a vehicle structural member extending along the width direction of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, by fixing the fuel supply pipe to a vehicle structural member, the vibration of the fuel supply pipe caused by pulsation when fuel is supplied from the fuel tank to the fuel cell is prevented from being transmitted into the vehicle cabin, thereby reducing the vibration and noise felt inside the vehicle cabin due to the vibration of the fuel supply pipe caused by the pulsation of fuel supplied to the fuel cell, and improving the ride comfort for vehicle occupants. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic outline of a fuel tank system for a vehicle according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a fuel tank system of a vehicle according to the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a fuel tank system for a vehicle according to the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the main stop valve and a rear width direction member of a subframe, which is a vehicle structural member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows an outline of a fuel tank system 2 of a vehicle 1 according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram that shows an enlarged view of the fuel tank system 2.

[0013] The fuel tank system 2 supplies fuel to a fuel cell 3 mounted on a vehicle 1, and includes a plurality of cylindrical fuel tanks 4, a plurality of main stop valves 5 individually connected to each fuel tank 4, a fuel supply pipe 6 connected to the fuel tanks 4 via the main stop valves 5, a pressure reducing valve 7 that reduces the pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel cell 3, a desulfurizer 8 that removes sulfur from the fuel that has been pressure reduced by the pressure reducing valve 7, and a subframe 9 for the fuel tanks 4 that surrounds the plurality of fuel tanks 4.

[0014] The fuel cell 3 uses the supplied fuel to generate electric power that is supplied to a drive motor and the like that drives the vehicle 1. The electric power generated by the fuel cell 3 is charged into a battery 11 via a voltage conversion device 10.

[0015] The vehicle 1 uses the electric power generated by the battery 11 or the fuel cell 3 to drive a traction motor (not shown), which drives the drive wheels of the vehicle 1 (for example, the left and right front wheels 12 in FIG. 1).

[0016] The fuel tank 4 is filled with high-pressure fuel gas, such as natural gas, as the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell 3.

[0017] The fuel tank 4 is a so-called pressure tank (pressure vessel) that is roughly composed of a cylindrical central portion 21 and one end portion 22 and the other end portion 23 formed by hemispherical end plates that close the ends of the central portion 21, and is capable of storing high-pressure fuel.

[0018] The fuel tank 4 is disposed such that one end 22, of both axial ends to which the main stop valve 5 is connected, is located rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The other end 23 of the fuel tank 4 is located forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The fuel tank 4 is disposed such that its central axis is aligned with the vehicle longitudinal direction. The one end 22 and the other end 23 of the fuel tank 4 are each supported or fixed to, for example, the subframe 9 via brackets 24.

[0019] In this embodiment, the multiple fuel tanks 4 include two fuel tanks: a first high-pressure fuel tank 4a located at approximately the center of the vehicle 1 in the width direction, and a second high-pressure fuel tank 4b adjacent to the first fuel tank 4a. The second fuel tank 4b is a fuel tank with a smaller diameter than the first fuel tank 4a. That is, the central portion 21b of the second fuel tank 4b has a smaller diameter than the central portion 21a of the first fuel tank 4a. One end portion 22b and the other end portion 23b of the second fuel tank 4b have smaller diameters than the one end portion 22a and the other end portion 23a of the first fuel tank 4a.

[0020] The first fuel tank 4a and the second fuel tank 4b are arranged under the floor of the vehicle 1 in a direction along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle 1 (the up-and-down direction in Figure 1), and are arranged side by side (parallel) in the width direction of the vehicle 1.

[0021] The first fuel tank 4a and the second fuel tank 4b are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other. The first fuel tank 4a and the second fuel tank 4b are arranged so that their respective tank central axes are at different heights in the vehicle vertical direction (see FIG. 4, described later). The tank central axes are the central axes of the fuel tank 4 that are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank 4.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first fuel tank 4a is connected in series to the second fuel tank 4b via a fuel supply pipe 6. In this embodiment, the first fuel tank 4a is located downstream of the second fuel tank 4b in the direction of fuel flow toward the fuel cell 3. Fuel is filled into the fuel tank 4 from a fill port 13 provided on the side (left side) of the vehicle 1 via a first fuel supply pipe 6a (details of which will be described later).

[0023] The main stop valve 5 has the function of opening and closing the fuel tank 4, and enables filling of the fuel tank 4 with fuel and supply (discharge) of fuel from the fuel tank 4 to the fuel cell 3. The main stop valve 5 also has a first connection port 25 and a second connection port 26 to which a fuel supply pipe 6 can be connected. The first and second connection ports 25, 26 are so-called joint mounting portions, and the pipes are attached using threaded joints. In this embodiment, the first connection port 25 is located 180 degrees opposite the second connection port 26 with respect to the central axis of the main stop valve 5, which is aligned with the axial direction of the fuel tank 4. The main stop valve 5 has a communication passage (not shown) therein that connects the first connection port 25 and the second connection port 26.

[0024] The main stop valves 5 in this embodiment include a first main stop valve 5a attached to the first fuel tank 4a and a second main stop valve 5b attached to the second fuel tank 4b.

[0025] The fuel supply pipe 6 allows fuel to pass through it, and includes a first fuel supply pipe 6a connecting the filling port 13 and the second main stop valve 5b, a second fuel supply pipe 6b connecting the second main stop valve 5b and the first main stop valve 5a, a third fuel supply pipe 6c connecting the first main stop valve 5a and the pressure reducing valve 7, a fourth fuel supply pipe 6d connecting the pressure reducing valve 7 and the desulfurizer 8, and a fifth fuel supply pipe 6e connecting the desulfurizer 8 and the fuel cell 3. The fuel supply pipe 6 is a fuel supply path that supplies fuel to the fuel cell 3.

[0026] One end of the first fuel supply pipe 6a is connected to the first connection port 25b of the second main stop valve 5b, and the other end is connected to the filling port 13. In other words, one end of the first fuel supply pipe 6a is attached and fixed to the first connection port 25b of the second main stop valve 5b, and the other end is attached and fixed to the filling port 13. The first fuel supply pipe 6a is a high-pressure pipe that is located upstream of the pressure reducing valve 7 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3, and through which high-pressure fuel that is not reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing valve 7 flows.

[0027] One end of the second fuel supply pipe 6b is connected to the second connection port 26a of the first main stop valve 5a, and the other end is connected to the second connection port 26b of the second main stop valve 5b. In other words, one end of the second fuel supply pipe 6b is attached and fixed to the second connection port 26a of the first main stop valve 5a, and the other end is attached and fixed to the second connection port 26b of the second main stop valve 5b. The second fuel supply pipe 6b is a high-pressure pipe that is located upstream of the pressure reducing valve 7 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3, and through which high-pressure fuel that is not reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing valve 7 flows.

[0028] One end of the third fuel supply pipe 6c is connected to the pressure reducing valve 7, and the other end is connected to the first connection port 25a of the first main stop valve 5a. In other words, one end of the third fuel supply pipe 6c is attached and fixed to the pressure reducing valve 7, and the other end is attached and fixed to the first connection port 25a of the first main stop valve 5a. The third fuel supply pipe 6c is a high-pressure pipe that is located upstream of the pressure reducing valve 7 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3, and through which high-pressure fuel that is not reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing valve 7 flows.

[0029] One end of the fourth fuel supply pipe 6d is connected to the desulfurizer 8, and the other end is connected to the pressure reducing valve 7. In other words, one end of the fourth fuel supply pipe 6d is attached and fixed to the desulfurizer 8, and the other end is attached and fixed to the pressure reducing valve 7. The fourth fuel supply pipe 6d is a low-pressure pipe that is located downstream of the pressure reducing valve 7 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3, and through which low-pressure fuel reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing valve 7 flows.

[0030] The fifth fuel supply pipe 6e has one end connected to the fuel cell 3 and the other end connected to the desulfurizer 8. In other words, the fifth fuel supply pipe 6e has one end attached and fixed to the fuel cell 3 and the other end attached and fixed to the desulfurizer 8. The fifth fuel supply pipe 6e is a low-pressure pipe located downstream of the desulfurizer 8 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3, and through which low-pressure fuel reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing valve 7 flows.

[0031] The pressure reducing valve 7 reduces (adjusts) the pressure of the fuel from the fuel tank 4 to a predetermined pressure and supplies it to the downstream side (fuel cell side), and is located downstream of the fuel tank 4 and upstream of the desulfurizer 8 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3.

[0032] The desulfurizer 8 is disposed adjacent to the first fuel tank 4a on the opposite side of the second fuel tank 4b with the first fuel tank 4a in between. The desulfurizer 8 is located downstream of the pressure reducing valve 7 and upstream of the fuel cell 3 in the fuel flow direction toward the fuel cell 3. Note that the desulfurizer 8 can be omitted if the fuel supplied to the fuel cell 3 does not contain sulfur.

[0033] The subframe 9 is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction between the pair of side frames 14a, 14b, and is one of the components of the body frame of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, the subframe 9 corresponds to a vehicle structural member of the vehicle 1.

[0034] Here, the side frames 14 are one of the components of the body frame, and are vehicle structural members located on both sides of the vehicle 1 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1. The left and right side frames 14a, 14b are connected by a plurality of cross members 15 extending in the vehicle width direction. The cross members 15 correspond to vehicle structural members. The pair of side frames 14a, 14b and the plurality of cross members 15 are connected to each other, forming an overall ladder shape.

[0035] The subframe 9 has a plurality of longitudinal members 31 that extend in an elongated manner along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a plurality of widthwise members 32 that extend in an elongated manner along the vehicle width direction, and a plurality of vertical members 33 that extend in an elongated manner along the vehicle up-down direction. By connecting the plurality of longitudinal members 31, the plurality of widthwise members 32, and the plurality of vertical members 33 to one another, the subframe 9 has an overall shape of a rectangular box without a lid that surrounds the periphery of the first and second fuel tanks 4a, 4b, the pressure reducing valve 7, and the desulfurizer 8.

[0036] The multiple longitudinal members 31 include at least a one-side longitudinal member 31a located between the second fuel tank 4b and the side frame 14a located on one side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above the vehicle, and an other-side longitudinal member 31b located between the desulfurizer 8 and the side frame 14b located on the other side in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] The multiple width direction members 32 include at least a rear width direction member 32a positioned so as to face the main stop valve 5 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Both ends of the multiple width direction members 32 are connected to one side longitudinal direction member 31a and the other side longitudinal direction member 31b on both sides, respectively.

[0038] The vertical members 33 are located at least at the four corners of the subframe 9, for example.

[0039] 2 and 3, the fuel supply pipe 6 of the fuel tank system 2 is fixed to a rear width direction member 32a extending along the width direction of the vehicle 1 via a clip member 16. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a main part of the fuel tank system 2.

[0040] 3 and 4, the rear width direction member 32a is two rear width direction members 32aa and 32ab arranged side by side at different heights in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. The rear width direction member 32aa is located higher than the rear width direction member 32ab in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the main stop valve 5 and the rear width direction member 32a of the subframe 9, which is a vehicle structural member.

[0041] The rear width direction member 32aa is located higher than the first main stop valve 5a and the second main stop valve 5b in the vehicle vertical direction. The rear width direction member 32ab is located lower than the first main stop valve 5a and the second main stop valve 5b in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0042] The clip member 16 is made of, for example, a resin material, and is fixed to the fuel supply pipe 6 and is also fixed to the rear width direction member 32a.

[0043] In the fuel tank system 2, the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the main stop valve 5 and the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the rear width direction member 32a are at different heights in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In other words, in the fuel tank system 2, the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the main stop valve 5 and the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the subframe 9, which is a vehicle structural member, are at different positions in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0044] The first fuel supply pipe 6a is fixed to the second main stop valve 5b and two rear width direction members 32aa, 32ab at different heights. Furthermore, the height of the fixing point of the first fuel supply pipe 6a, where the first fuel supply pipe 6a is fixed to a vehicle structural member next to the one end of the first fuel supply pipe 6a attached to the second main stop valve 5b in the longitudinal direction, is different from the height of the other end of the first fuel supply pipe 6a.

[0045] The second fuel supply pipe 6b is fixed to the first main stop valve 5a, the second main stop valve 5b, and the rear width direction member 32aa. More specifically, the height position of the fixing point at which the second fuel supply pipe 6b is fixed to a vehicle structural member next to one end thereof attached to the first main stop valve 5a in the longitudinal direction is different from the height position of the one end thereof. Also, the height position of the fixing point at which the second fuel supply pipe 6b is fixed to a vehicle structural member next to the other end thereof attached to the second main stop valve 5b in the longitudinal direction is different from the height position of the other end thereof.

[0046] In other words, the fuel supply pipe 6 fixed to the main stop valve 5 has its fixed point relative to the main stop valve 5 and its fixed point to a vehicle structural member next to the fixed point relative to the main stop valve 5 in its longitudinal direction at different height positions in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0047] In this embodiment, the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the first main stop valve 5a is located higher in the vehicle up-down direction than the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the second main stop valve 5b. In other words, the height positions in the vehicle up-down direction of one end of the second fuel supply pipe 6b and the other end of the third fuel supply pipe 6c attached to the first main stop valve 5a are located higher than the height positions in the vehicle up-down direction of one end of the first fuel supply pipe 6a and the other end of the second fuel supply pipe 6b attached to the second main stop valve 5b.

[0048] In the fuel tank system 2 of the above-described embodiment, the fuel supply pipe 6 is fixed to the subframe 9, which is a vehicle structural member, and therefore vibrations of the fuel supply pipe 6 caused by pulsation when fuel is supplied from the fuel tank 4 to the fuel cell 3 are prevented from being transmitted into the vehicle cabin. Therefore, the fuel tank system 2 reduces vibrations and noise felt inside the vehicle cabin due to vibrations of the fuel supply pipe 6 caused by pulsation of the fuel supplied to the fuel cell 3, and can improve the riding comfort of passengers inside the vehicle 1.

[0049] If the position of the second main stop valve 5b attached to the second fuel tank 4b changes due to some external input, the first fuel supply pipe 6a will be twisted around the position of one end fixed to the second main stop valve 5b. However, since the attachment position relative to the second main stop valve 5b and the attachment position relative to the rear width direction member 32ab, which is a vehicle structural member, are at different positions (heights) in the vehicle up-down direction, it is possible to reduce buckling stress and improve durability and reliability.

[0050] Furthermore, if the position of the first main stop valve 5a attached to the first fuel tank 4a changes due to some external input, the second fuel supply pipe 6b will be twisted around the position of one end fixed to the first main stop valve 5a, but because the attachment position to the first main stop valve 5a and the attachment position to the rear width direction member 32aa, which is a vehicle structural member, are different positions (heights) in the vehicle vertical direction, buckling stress can be reduced and durability reliability can be improved. Furthermore, if the position of the second main stop valve 5b attached to the second fuel tank 4b changes due to some external input, the second fuel supply pipe 6b will be twisted around the position of the other end fixed to the second main stop valve 5b, but because the attachment position to the second main stop valve 5b and the attachment position to the rear width direction member 32aa, which is a vehicle structural member, are different positions (heights) in the vehicle vertical direction, buckling stress can be reduced and durability reliability can be improved.

[0051] In other words, even if the position of the fuel tank 4 changes from its initial fixed position (arrangement position) due to an unintended external input or the like, the fuel tank system 2 can reduce buckling stress and improve durability and reliability because the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 to the main stop valve 5 of the fuel tank 4 and the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 to the subframe 9, which is a vehicle structural member, are different in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0052] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0053] For example, the first fuel supply pipe 6a and the second fuel supply pipe 6b may be fixed to the same rear width direction member 32a as long as the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the main stop valve 5 and the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the rear width direction member 32a can be at different heights in the vehicle up-down direction. In other words, the first fuel supply pipe 6a and the second fuel supply pipe 6b may be fixed to either the rear width direction member 32aa or the rear width direction member 32ab as long as the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the main stop valve 5 and the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the rear width direction member 32a can be at different heights in the vehicle up-down direction. In this case, the rear width direction member 32aa or the rear width direction member 32ab, to which the first fuel supply pipe 6a and the second fuel supply pipe 6b are not fixed, may be omitted. In other words, as long as the mounting position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the main stop valve 5 and the mounting position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the rear width direction member 32a can be at different height positions in the vertical direction of the vehicle, one of the rear width direction members 32aa and 32ab may be omitted.

[0054] For example, the fuel supply pipe 6 of the fuel tank system 2 may be fixed to the cross member 15 via a clip member 16 instead of the subframe 9. Furthermore, in the fuel tank system 2, the fuel supply pipe 6 may be fixed to the cross member 15 as long as the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to the main stop valve 5 and the attachment position of the fuel supply pipe 6 relative to a vehicle structural member are different positions in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0055] For example, the second fuel tank 4b may be disposed in a state inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In other words, the multiple fuel tanks 4 may be disposed horizontally, and at least one fuel tank may be disposed in a state inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in a plan view of the vehicle.

[0056] The fuel tank 4 that is disposed at an angle with respect to the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction in a plan view of the vehicle can increase the length of the fuel tank 4 while maintaining the length of the fuel tank installation space along the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction. In other words, the fuel tank 4 that is disposed at an angle with respect to the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction in a plan view of the vehicle can increase the length that can be placed in the fuel tank installation space, and therefore the capacity of the fuel tank 4 can be increased. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1...Vehicle 2...Fuel tank system 3…Fuel cell 4. Fuel tank 4a...First fuel tank 4b...Second fuel tank 5…Main stop valve 5a...1st main stop valve 5b…Second main stop valve 6…Fuel supply piping 6a...1st fuel supply pipe 6b...Second fuel supply pipe 6c…Third fuel supply pipe 6d…4th fuel supply pipe 6e…5th fuel supply pipe 7...Reducing valve 8…Desulfurizer 9...Subframe 10...Voltage conversion device 11...Battery 12...Front wheel 13...Filling port 14...Side frame 15...Cross member 16...Clip member 31...Front-rear direction member 32...Width direction member 33...Vertical member

Claims

1. a plurality of fuel tanks in which fuel is stored; a main stop valve connected to the fuel tank; a fuel supply pipe connected to the fuel tank via the main stop valve, The plurality of fuel tanks are disposed under the floor of the vehicle in a direction along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle, A fuel tank system for a vehicle, wherein the fuel supply pipe is fixed to a vehicle structural member extending along the width direction of the vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle fuel tank system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle structural member is a subframe that surrounds the periphery of the plurality of fuel tanks.

3. 2. The vehicle fuel tank system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle structural member is a body frame of the vehicle.

4. 2. The vehicle fuel tank system according to claim 1, wherein an attachment position of the fuel supply pipe relative to the main stop valve and an attachment position of the fuel supply pipe relative to the vehicle structural member are different in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

5. the plurality of fuel tanks are a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank having a diameter smaller than that of the first fuel tank, 5. The vehicle fuel tank system according to claim 4, wherein an attachment position of the fuel supply pipe relative to a first main stop valve attached to the first fuel tank is located higher in the vehicle vertical direction than an attachment position of the fuel supply pipe relative to a second main stop valve attached to the second fuel tank.

6. 2. The vehicle fuel tank system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuel tanks are arranged horizontally and parallel to one another, and the tank central axes are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

7. 2. The vehicle fuel tank system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuel tanks are arranged horizontally, and at least one fuel tank is arranged inclined relative to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when viewed from above.

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