fuel cell system

Abstract

To provide a fuel cell system that can specify the position of an operating member in the circumferential direction of a connection end and can position it with high accuracy even if there is no reference near the connection end. [Solution] The fuel cell system has a fastening member (50) that fastens the connection end (S) of the flow path forming member (24) from the outer periphery at a connection point (T) between the connection end (S) and an insertion connection part (36). The connection end (S) has a position designation part (62) that displays and designates the position of an operating member (53) in the circumferential direction of the connection end (S).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell system. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a forklift truck is equipped with a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system houses many components, such as a fuel cell stack, inside a housing. The many components housed inside the housing include components into which fluids such as air and refrigerant flow, such as a silencer and an intercooler, as well as flow path forming members, such as hoses, connected to the components into which the fluid flows. An insertion connector protruding from the component into which the fluid flows is inserted into the axial end of the flow path forming member, and the end of the flow path forming member is fastened from the outer periphery toward the insertion connector by a fastening member.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a hose band as an example of a fastening member. The hose band has a ring-shaped body as a band portion, a housing integral with the ring-shaped body, a nut provided on the housing, and a bolt as an operating member. When the bolt of the hose band is screwed into the nut, the ring-shaped body contracts in diameter, fastening the hose as a flow path forming member from the outer periphery. In Patent Document 1, a positioning portion against which one end of the nut of the hose band can come into contact is provided on the hose. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-96418 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a fuel cell system, the position of the bolt of the hose band in the circumferential direction of the hose is predetermined. The bolt's position in the circumferential direction of the hose is determined by using a surface of a structure near the hose band as a reference plane and determining the bolt's axis to be perpendicular or horizontal to that reference plane. However, in a narrow space such as the inside of a fuel cell system housing, if the bolt's axis is determined to be perpendicular or horizontal to the reference plane, the tip of the bolt or the tip of the hose band may interfere with surrounding components. For this reason, the hose band requires precise positioning of the bolt in the circumferential direction of the hose, and there is room for improvement in the hose band positioning process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A fuel cell system for solving the above problems comprises a housing that houses a fuel cell stack, a fluid component that is housed inside the housing and into which a fluid flows, a flow path forming member that has a connection end at its axial end into which an insertion connection portion protruding from the fluid component is inserted, and that forms a flow path for the fluid, and a fastening member that fastens the connection end from the outer periphery at the connection point between the connection end and the insertion connection portion, the fastening member comprising a band portion that can be deformed into an annular shape along the outer periphery of the connection end, a housing through which the band portion is inserted, and an operating member that is rotatably provided relative to the housing and has a shaft portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the band portion, the operating member expanding and contracting the band portion by rotation of the shaft portion in response to operation of the operating member, and a position designation portion is displayed on the outer periphery of the connection end to display and designate the position of the operating member in the circumferential direction of the connection end.

[0007] According to this, when a worker tightens the connection end with a tightening member, he or she can visually see the position designation portion on the outer peripheral surface of the connection end when visually checking the connection end. The visible position designation portion indicates the position of the operating member in the circumferential direction of the connection end. By determining the position of the operating member according to the designation by the position designation portion, the worker can accurately position the operating member at the desired position in the circumferential direction of the connection end. Therefore, even if there is no reference near the connection end to be tightened with the tightening member, the fuel cell system can use the position designation portion to designate the position of the operating member in the circumferential direction of the connection end, and can accurately position the operating member at that position. As a result, the fuel cell system can improve the operability of the operation of positioning the operating member.

[0008] In a fuel cell system, the flow path forming member may have a connection end surface at the tip on the connection end side that surrounds the insertion connection portion, and the position designation portion may extend from the outer peripheral edge of the connection end surface in the axial direction of the connection end.

[0009] According to this, the fastening member is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the connection end, away from the connection end surface, to prevent it from falling off beyond the connection end surface of the connection end. Therefore, if the position designation portion extends from the outer peripheral edge of the connection end surface, the position designation portion will not be hidden by the fastening member even if the fastening member is disposed on the connection end, away from the connection end surface. As a result, the operator can perform the positioning work of the operating member while visually checking the designation by the position designation portion.

[0010] In the fuel cell system, the connection end may be provided with a designated location indicator that indicates that the connection end has been designated by the position designation unit. According to this, since a plurality of flow path forming members are housed inside the housing, a plurality of connection end portions are also present. By visually checking the designated location indicator, the worker can find the connection end portion whose position has been designated by the position designator from among the numerous connection end portions. Therefore, it is easier to find the connection end portion whose position has been designated by the position designator than when checking the connection end portion whose position has been designated by the position designator in, for example, a work instruction manual for a fuel cell system.

[0011] In the fuel cell system, the designated position indicator may be provided over the entire circumferential direction of the connection end. This makes it easier to find the connection end provided with the position designation section than when, for example, the designation point designation section is provided on only a portion of the circumference of the connection end, and also makes it possible to find the connection end provided with the position designation section from various directions.

[0012] In the fuel cell system, the position designation portion may be provided on both the connection tip surface and the outer peripheral surface of the connection end portion. In this way, since the connection tip surface is a surface that intersects with the outer circumferential surface of the connection end, the position designation portion can be seen not only from the radial outside of the connection end but also from the axial direction of the connection end, making the position designation portion more easily visible.

[0013] Regarding a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system has an oxidant gas supply system that supplies oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack, and an intercooler as the fluid component that cools the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, and the flow path forming member forms a flow path through which the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell stack in the oxidant gas supply system flows, and also forms a flow path through which a refrigerant that cools the oxidant gas flows, and each of the multiple insertion connection parts provided on the connection part forming surface of the intercooler is connected to the flow path forming member that forms the flow path for the refrigerant, or the flow path forming member that forms the flow path for the oxidant gas.

[0014] According to this, in a connection portion forming surface where multiple flow path forming members are concentrated, even if the connection portion forming surface serves as a reference surface, there is a high possibility that the shaft portion of the operating member will interfere with the reference surface. For this reason, the connection point between the insertion connection portion protruding from the connection portion forming surface and the flow path forming member needs to be designated by a position designation portion. Therefore, it is effective to apply the position designation portion to the location where the flow path forming members are concentrated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, even if there is no reference near the connection end, the position of the operating member in the circumferential direction of the connection end can be specified and positioned with high precision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a forklift. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fuel cell system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the vicinity of the silencer. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a position designation portion and a designation location designation portion at the connection end portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection end portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fastening member is fastened. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of being fastened by the fastening member. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state before fastening by the fastening members. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the surface of the intercooler where the connection portion is formed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of a fuel cell system will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell system 10 is mounted on a forklift 100.

[0018] <Forklift> The forklift 100 has a vehicle body 110, a cargo handling motor 130, a travel motor 131, and a fuel cell system 10. The cargo handling motor 130 operates the cargo handling device of the forklift 100. The travel motor 131 drives the forklift 100. The cargo handling motor 130 and the travel motor 131 are mounted on the vehicle body 110. The fuel cell system 10 generates electricity to be supplied to the cargo handling motor 130 and the travel motor 131.

[0019] <Fuel cell system> The fuel cell system 10 is housed inside a vehicle body 110. Specifically, the fuel cell system 10 is housed in a housing portion 115 defined in the vehicle body 110.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell system 10 includes a fuel cell stack 11, a housing 12, an oxidizing gas supply system 21, and a cooling system 31. The housing 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a housing body 13 that opens upward and houses the fuel cell stack 11, and an upper wall 14 that closes the opening of the housing body 13. The housing 12 houses the fuel cell stack 11.

[0021] <Fuel cell stack> The fuel cell stack 11 is housed inside the housing 12. The fuel cell stack 11 is made up of a plurality of stacked fuel cell units. The fuel cell units are solid molecular fuel cells. The fuel cell stack 11 generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen as a fuel gas and oxygen in the air as an oxidant gas. The cargo handling motor 130 and the travel motor 131 of the forklift 100 are driven by the electricity generated by the fuel cell stack 11.

[0022] <Oxidant gas supply system> The oxidant gas supply system 21 supplies air as an oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack 11. The oxidant gas supply system 21 includes an air cleaner 22, a compressor 23, a first flow path forming member 24a, a second flow path forming member 24b, a third flow path forming member 24c shown in FIG. 9, and a silencer 26 shown in FIG. 3. The first flow path forming member 24a, the second flow path forming member 24b, and the third flow path forming member 24c are each a long, flexible cylinder. The first flow path forming member 24a, the second flow path forming member 24b, the third flow path forming member 24c, a fourth flow path forming member 24d (described later), an inlet-side flow path forming member 351, and an outlet-side flow path forming member 352 are all flow path forming members that form a flow path for a fluid. In the following description, the first flow path forming member 24a, the second flow path forming member 24b, the third flow path forming member 24c, the fourth flow path forming member 24d, the inlet-side flow path forming member 351, and the outlet-side flow path forming member 352 may be collectively referred to as the flow path forming member 24. The flow path forming member 24 is housed inside the housing 12.

[0023] The flow path forming member 24 is a resin hose. The flow path forming member 24 has connection ends S at both axial ends. The flow path forming member 24 also has a connection end surface Sa at the end on the connection end S side. The connection end surface Sa is an annular surface that is perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface Sc of the connection end S. It is sufficient that at least the connection end S of the flow path forming member 24 is flexible, and the entire flow path forming member 24 may be flexible, or the connection end S and a portion other than that may be flexible.

[0024] The air cleaner 22 is provided on the upper wall 14. The compressor 23 is disposed inside the housing 12. The compressor 23 compresses the air to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 11. The silencer 26 is disposed inside the housing 12. The silencer 26 is provided to reduce the intake noise of the compressor 23. The silencer 26 is housed inside the housing 12 and is a fluid component into which air flows as a fluid.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the silencer 26 has a muffler case 26a. A sound-absorbing structure (not shown) is provided inside the muffler case 26a. The muffler case 26a has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Of the six faces of the muffler case 26a, four faces excluding the two faces with the largest areas are defined as side faces. The muffler case 26a has a first face 261 on one of the four side faces, and a second face 262 on one of the side faces adjacent to the first face 261.

[0026] The silencer 26 has an intake side insertion connection portion 27 protruding from a first surface 261, and has a discharge side insertion connection portion 28 protruding from a second surface 262. Each of the intake side insertion connection portion 27 and the discharge side insertion connection portion 28 is cylindrical.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the first flow path forming member 24a has connection ends S at both axial ends. Although not shown in detail, one connection end S of the first flow path forming member 24a is connected to the air cleaner 22, and an suction-side insertion connector 27 is inserted into the other connection end S of the first flow path forming member 24a. The other connection end S of the first flow path forming member 24a is fastened from the outer periphery by a fastening member 50. Therefore, the fuel cell system 10 has a fastening member 50 that fastens the connection end S from the outer periphery at a connection point T between the first flow path forming member 24a and the suction-side insertion connector 27. The first flow path forming member 24a included in the fuel cell system 10 has a connection end S at its axial end, into which the suction-side insertion connector 27 protruding from the silencer 26 is inserted, thereby forming an air flow path.

[0028] The second flow path forming member 24b has connection ends S at both axial ends. The discharge-side insertion connector 28 is inserted into one of the connection ends S of the second flow path forming member 24b, and the other connection end S of the second flow path forming member 24b is connected to the compressor 23, although not shown in detail. One of the connection ends S of the second flow path forming member 24b is fastened from the outer periphery by a fastening member 50. Therefore, the fuel cell system 10 has the fastening member 50 that fastens the connection end S from the outer periphery at the connection point T between the second flow path forming member 24b and the discharge-side insertion connector 28. The second flow path forming member 24b included in the fuel cell system 10 has the connection end S at its axial end, into which the discharge-side insertion connector 28 protruding from the silencer 26 is inserted, and forms an air flow path.

[0029] Although only one connection end portion S is shown in FIG. 9 , the third flow path forming member 24c has connection end portions S at both axial ends. One connection end portion S of the third flow path forming member 24c is connected to the compressor 23, although not shown, and a first insertion connection portion 33a of the intercooler 33, which will be described later, is inserted into the other connection end portion S of the third flow path forming member 24c. The connection end portion S of the third flow path forming member 24c is fastened from the outer periphery by a fastening member 50. Therefore, the fuel cell system 10 has a fastening member 50 that fastens the connection end portion S from the outer periphery at a connection point T between the third flow path forming member 24c and the first insertion connection portion 33a. The third flow path forming member 24c included in the fuel cell system 10 has a connection end portion S at its axial end, into which the first insertion connection portion 33a protruding from the intercooler 33 is inserted, thereby forming an air flow path.

[0030] The fourth flow path forming member 24d has connection ends S at both axial ends. The second insertion connection portion 33b of the intercooler 33 is inserted into one connection end S of the fourth flow path forming member 24d, and the other connection end S of the fourth flow path forming member 24d is connected to the fuel cell stack 11, although not shown. Therefore, the fuel cell system 10 has a fastening member 50 that fastens the connection end S from the outer periphery at the connection point T between the fourth flow path forming member 24d and the second insertion connection portion 33b. Furthermore, the fourth flow path forming member 24d included in the fuel cell system 10 has the connection end S at its axial end, into which the second insertion connection portion 33b protruding from the intercooler 33 is inserted, and forms an air flow path.

[0031] The air that is drawn into the air cleaner 22 and purified by the air cleaner 22 passes through the first flow path forming member 24a, the silencer 26, and the second flow path forming member 24b, and is then compressed by the compressor 23. The air compressed by the compressor 23 passes through the third flow path forming member 24c, and is then supplied to the intercooler 33.

[0032] <Cooling system> As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling system 31 includes a heat exchanger 32, an intercooler 33, and a refrigerant circulation path 34 shown in FIG.

[0033] Although not shown in detail, a coolant that cools the fuel cell stack 11 circulates through the coolant circulation path 34. A cooling pump (not shown) circulates the coolant between the fuel cell stack 11 and the heat exchanger 32. The coolant, whose temperature has increased due to heat exchange with the fuel cell stack 11, flows through the coolant circulation path 34 toward the heat exchanger 32. The coolant whose temperature has increased is then cooled by heat exchange in the heat exchanger 32. The coolant cooled in the heat exchanger 32 flows through the coolant circulation path 34 toward the fuel cell stack 11.

[0034] The intercooler 33 is housed inside the housing 12 and is a fluid component into which a refrigerant flows as a fluid. 9, the intercooler 33 has the above-mentioned first insertion connection portion 33a, the above-mentioned second insertion connection portion 33b, the third insertion connection portion 33c, and the fourth insertion connection portion 33d. The first to fourth insertion connection portions 33a to 33d protrude from the connection portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33. Therefore, a plurality of (four) insertion connection portions are gathered on the connection portion forming surface 33A. The first to fourth insertion connection portions 33a to 33d are cylindrical. The fourth insertion connection portion 33d protrudes from the connection portion forming surface 33A below the third insertion connection portion 33c.

[0035] The suction-side insertion connection portion 27, the discharge-side insertion connection portion 28, the first insertion connection portion 33a, the second insertion connection portion 33b, the third insertion connection portion 33c, and the fourth insertion connection portion 33d may be collectively referred to as an insertion connection portion 36. As shown in Fig. 5, a protrusion R, which expands in diameter from the inner periphery to the outer periphery, is provided around the entire outer periphery of the outer periphery of the insertion connection portion 36. The protrusion R is provided to prevent the connection end portion S from slipping out of the insertion connection portion 36. The protrusion R is provided at a position spaced from the tip of the insertion connection portion 36 in the axial direction of the insertion connection portion 36.

[0036] As described above, the first insertion connection portion 33a is inserted into and connected to the connection end portion S of the third flow path forming member 24c. Therefore, the third flow path forming member 24c that forms the air flow path is connected to the first insertion connection portion 33a provided on the connection portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33. Furthermore, the second insertion connection portion 33b is inserted into and connected to the connection end portion S of the fourth flow path forming member 24d. Therefore, the fourth flow path forming member 24d that forms the air flow path is connected to the second insertion connection portion 33b provided on the connection portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33.

[0037] The refrigerant circulation path 34 has an inlet-side flow path forming member 351 that allows the refrigerant to flow into the intercooler 33 and an outlet-side flow path forming member 352 that allows the refrigerant to flow out of the intercooler 33.

[0038] The inlet-side flow-path forming member 351 has connection ends S at both axial ends. The third insertion connector 33c is inserted into one connection end S of the inlet-side flow-path forming member 351, and the other connection end S of the inlet-side flow-path forming member 351 is connected to the refrigerant circulation path 34, although not shown. The fuel cell system 10 has a fastening member 50 that fastens the connection end S from the outer periphery at a connection point T between the inlet-side flow-path forming member 351 and the third insertion connector 33c. The inlet-side flow-path forming member 351 of the fuel cell system 10 has the connection end S at its axial end, into which the third insertion connector 33c protruding from the intercooler 33 is inserted, thereby forming a flow path for the refrigerant. Therefore, the inlet-side flow-path forming member 351, which forms a flow path for the refrigerant, is connected to the third insertion connector 33c provided on the connection-portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33.

[0039] The outlet-side flow-path forming member 352 has connection ends S at both axial ends. The fourth insertion connector 33d is inserted into one connection end S of the outlet-side flow-path forming member 352, and the other connection end S of the outlet-side flow-path forming member 352 is connected to the refrigerant circulation path 34, although not shown. The fuel cell system 10 has a fastening member 50 that fastens the connection end S from the outer periphery at a connection point T between the outlet-side flow-path forming member 352 and the fourth insertion connector 33d. The outlet-side flow-path forming member 352 of the fuel cell system 10 has the connection end S at its axial end, into which the fourth insertion connector 33d protruding from the intercooler 33 is inserted, thereby forming a flow path for the refrigerant. Therefore, the outlet-side flow-path forming member 352, which forms a flow path for the refrigerant, is connected to the fourth insertion connector 33d provided on the connection-portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33.

[0040] The intercooler 33 is supplied with air discharged from the compressor 23 through the third flow path forming member 24c and the first insertion joint 33a. The refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger 32 is supplied to the intercooler 33 from the refrigerant circulation path 34 through the inlet-side flow path forming member 351 and the third insertion joint 33c. The intercooler 33 cools the air supplied from the compressor 23 with the refrigerant. The air cooled by the intercooler 33 is supplied to the fuel cell stack 11 through the second insertion joint 33b and the fourth flow path forming member 24d. The refrigerant that has cooled the air is discharged through the fourth insertion joint 33d to the outlet-side flow path forming member 352 and returned to the refrigerant circulation path 34.

[0041] <Fastening member> 3 and 6, the fastening member 50 is a so-called hose band. The fastening member 50 has a band portion 51, a housing 52 integral with the band portion 51, and an operating member 53 for reducing or increasing the diameter of the band portion 51.

[0042] The band portion 51 is in the shape of a long, thin strip. A plurality of grooves 51a are formed in the band portion 51. The plurality of grooves 51a are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the band portion 51. The housing 52 is integrated with a first longitudinal end of the band portion 51. The band portion 51 is inserted into the housing 52 from the second end side. This allows the band portion 51 to be shaped into a ring. An operating member 53 is supported on the housing 52. The operating member 53 has a shaft portion 53a with a male thread and a head portion 53b that is operated when rotating the shaft portion 53a.

[0043] The operating member 53 is supported by the housing 52 with its shaft 53a extending in the longitudinal direction of the band portion 51. The operating member 53 is also rotatably provided relative to the housing 52. When the operating member 53 is rotated with respect to the housing 52, the male thread of the shaft 53a engages with the groove 51a of the band portion 51, allowing the band portion 51 to be fed into or out of the housing 52. In other words, the operating member 53 expands or contracts the band portion 51 by rotating the shaft 53a in response to operation of the operating member 53. The band portion 51 is deformable into an annular shape that follows the outer peripheral surface Sc of the connection end S.

[0044] 6 and 7, the housing 52 has a seat 52a. The seat 52a is the outer surface of the housing 52 and is a surface that fits along the outer peripheral surface Sc of the connection end S. The seat 52a is a surface that extends in an arc shape in the longitudinal direction of the band portion 51. Because the extension direction of the arc of the seat 52a is along the longitudinal direction of the band portion 51, the extension direction of the shaft portion 53a is also along the extension direction of the arc of the seat 52a.

[0045] At a connection point T between the connection end S of the flow path forming member 24 and the insertion connection portion 36, the band portion 51 is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface Sc of the connection end S of the flow path forming member 24. When the operating member 53 feeds the band portion 51 into the housing 52, the diameter of the band portion 51 is reduced, and the band portion 51 tightens the connection point T between the connection end S and the insertion connection portion 36 from the outer periphery.

[0046] 5, at each connection point T, the connection tip surface Sa is disposed at a position from the protrusion R that is larger than the width of the band portion 51 so that the fastening member 50 can be disposed between the connection tip surface Sa and the protrusion R. Therefore, the fastening member 50 fastens the connection point T at a position closer to the protrusion R than the connection tip surface Sa of the connection end S and closer to the connection tip surface Sa than the protrusion R. In other words, the fastening member 50 is disposed at a position away from the connection tip surface Sa.

[0047] 9 , at three of the connection points T among the plurality of flow path forming members 24 connected to the intercooler 33, the operation members 53 are disposed in positions that do not face the connection portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33. Specifically, the three connection points T are the connection point T between the second insertion connection portion 33b and the fourth flow path forming member 24d, the connection point T between the third insertion connection portion 33c and the inlet-side flow path forming member 351, and the connection point T between the fourth insertion connection portion 33d and the outlet-side flow path forming member 352. When the connection portion forming surface 33A is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the connection portion forming surface 33A, the operation members 53 at the three connection points T are located outside the connection portion forming surface 33A.

[0048] The three connection points T described above are referred to as non-opposing connection points Ta. At the non-opposing connection points Ta, even if the head 53b of the operating member 53 is operated to screw the shaft 53a into the housing 52, the shaft 53a is positioned outside the connection-portion-forming surface 33A and does not interfere with the connection-portion-forming surface 33A. Considering that the head 53b is operated from the front side of the connection-portion-forming surface 33A at the non-opposing connection points Ta, the circumferential position of the shaft 53a at the connection end S is the lowest point of the connection end S, which is perpendicular to the connection-portion-forming surface 33A, which serves as the reference plane.

[0049] On the other hand, when the connection point T between the first insertion connection portion 33a and the third flow path forming member 24c is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the connection portion forming surface 33A, the connection point T is within the plane of the connection portion forming surface 33A. This connection point T is referred to as the opposing connection point Tb. At the opposing connection point Tb, if the extension direction of the shaft portion 53a is perpendicular to the connection portion forming surface 33A, the shaft portion 53a will interfere with the connection portion forming surface 33A. For this reason, the extension direction of the shaft portion 53a is set to a direction different from the direction perpendicular to the connection portion forming surface 33A.

[0050] 3, the upper wall 14 of the housing 12 is disposed directly above the connection point T between the suction-side insertion connector 27 and the first flow path forming member 24a and the connection point T between the discharge-side insertion connector 28 and the second flow path forming member 24b, as shown in FIG. 2. In this arrangement, when the band portion 51 of the fastening member 50 is contracted, it is necessary to prevent the second end of the band portion 51 that has passed through the housing 52 from contacting the inner surface of the upper wall 14. For this reason, the extension direction of the shaft portion 53a of the operating member 53 is inclined relative to the inner surface of the upper wall 14. Considering that the head portion 53b is operated from above the connection point T, the circumferential position of the operating member 53 at the connection end S is preferably lower than the lower half of the circumferential direction of the connection end S. In other words, the extension direction of the shaft portion 53a of the operating member 53 is set to a direction different from the direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the upper wall 14, which serves as the reference plane.

[0051] In this way, when the direction in which the shaft 53a extends, i.e., the position of the operating member 53, is set in a direction different from horizontal or vertical to the reference plane, it is necessary to specify the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S so that the shaft 53a is positioned at a desired position in the circumferential direction of the connection end S. The fuel cell system 10 has a position specifying unit 62 at the connection end S that displays and specifies the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S. That is, in the fuel cell system 10, the position specifying unit 62 is displayed at the connection end S that displays and specifies the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S.

[0052] <Position specification section> The position designation unit 62 will be explained below. However, the position designation unit 62 is not provided at all connection ends S, but as described above, it is provided only at connection ends S where it is necessary to designate the position of the operating member 53.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the position designation portion 62 is formed by applying paint to the connection end S. The color of the paint is different from the outer peripheral edge Sb and outer peripheral surface Sc of the connection end S, and is preferably a lighter color than the outer peripheral edge Sb and outer peripheral surface Sc. The position designation portion 62 is provided on a part of the circumferential direction of the connection end S. The position designation portion 62 extends linearly from the outer peripheral edge Sb of the connection tip surface Sa in the axial direction of the connection end S. The position designation portion 62 is located below the position that divides the connection end S into equal parts above and below in the circumferential direction of the connection end S.

[0054] <Specified location indicator> The connection end S is provided with a designated location indicator 61 that indicates that the connection end S has been designated by the position designation unit 62. The designated location indicator 61 is provided at a position away from the connection tip surface Sa in the axial direction of the connection end S. The designated location indicator 61 is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the connection end S. The position designation unit 62 extends from the outer circumferential edge Sb of the connection tip surface Sa in the axial direction of the connection end S. In detail, the position designation unit 62 extends linearly from the outer circumferential edge Sb of the connection tip surface Sa to the designated location indicator 61.

[0055] <Connection method and work using fastening members> Next, a method for fastening the connection end S with the fastening member 50 based on the specified location indicator 61 and the position indicator 62 at the connection point T of the flow path forming member 24 connected to the silencer 26 will be described together with its operation.

[0056] With the top wall 14 of the housing 12 removed, the worker checks the area around the silencer 26 from above. Since the designated location indicator 61 is provided around the entire circumference of the connection end S, the designated location indicator 61 is also displayed at the top end of the connection end S. This allows the worker to easily find the designated location indicator 61.

[0057] The worker operates the head 53b of the operating member 53 with a tool to remove the band portion 51 from the housing 52, and then positions the band portion 51 along the outer peripheral surface Sc of the connection end S and inserts the band portion 51 into the housing 52 from the second end. Then, the worker operates the head 53b of the operating member 53 with a tool or the like to feed the band portion 51 toward the housing 52. This causes the diameter of the band portion 51 to decrease.

[0058] Once the connection end S has been tightened by the band portion 51 to a certain extent, the worker aligns the circumferential center of the arc of the seat surface 52a with the position designation portion 62. Then, the shaft portion 53a of the operating member 53 is positioned at the designated circumferential position with the axial direction of the shaft portion 53a extending in the longitudinal direction of the band portion 51. Specifically, the shaft portion 53a is positioned so that the shaft portion 53a extends obliquely upward from a position close to the bottom surface of the connection end S. Due to this positioning, the operating member 53 is positioned so that the operating member 53, particularly the second end of the band portion 51, does not interfere with the inner surface of the top wall 14 when the top of the housing main body 13 is closed by the top wall 14.

[0059] Thereafter, the worker further operates the head 53b of the operating member 53 with a tool or the like to feed the band portion 51 into the housing 52. The second end of the band portion 51 fed into the housing 52 faces upward, but the position specified by the position specifying unit 62 prevents the band portion 51 from interfering with the inner surface of the upper wall 14.

[0060] Then, the connection end S is fastened by the band portion 51, and the connection end S is connected by the fastening member 50. The connection between the first insertion connection portion 33a of the intercooler 33 and the connection end portion S of the third flow path forming member 24c is also performed in a state where the connection is positioned by the position designation portion 62, similarly to the above.

[0061] Furthermore, the fastening member 50 fastens the non-opposing connection point Ta of the intercooler 33 so that the axial direction of the shaft portion 53a is perpendicular to the connection portion forming surface 33A, with the connection portion forming surface 33A serving as a reference surface.

[0062] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The position designation unit 62 designates the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S. Therefore, by following the designation by the position designation unit 62, the operator can position the operating member 53 at a desired position in the circumferential direction when connecting the connection end S and the insertion connection portion 36, without using a reference plane of a structure or the like as a reference. Furthermore, the designation by the position designation unit 62 is a position that prevents the operating member 53 from interfering with the housing 12 or surrounding components, thereby preventing the operating member 53 from interfering with surrounding components, etc. Therefore, the fuel cell system 10 can designate and display the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S using the position designation unit 62. Therefore, even if there is no reference point near the connection end S, the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S can be designated, and the operating member 53 can be accurately positioned at that position. As a result, the fuel cell system 10 can improve the workability of the positioning operation of the operating member 53.

[0063] (2) The position designation portion 62 extends from the outer peripheral edge Sb of the connection end surface Sa toward the designation location indication portion 61. To prevent the fastening member 50 from falling off from the connection end S, the fastening member 50 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface Sc of the connection end S, away from the connection end surface Sa. Therefore, when the position designation portion 62 extends from the outer peripheral edge Sb of the connection end surface Sa, the position designation portion 62 is not hidden by the band portion 51 even when the band portion 51 is disposed on the connection end S. As a result, the operator can position the operating member 53 while visually checking the designation by the position designation portion 62.

[0064] (3) The connection end S is provided with a designated location indicator 61. The designated location indicator 61 indicates that the connection end S on which the designated location indicator 61 is provided is the connection end S on which the position designation unit 62 is provided. Therefore, by visually checking the designated location indicator 61, the worker can find the connection end S whose position has been designated by the position designation unit 62 from among the many connection end parts S. Therefore, it is easier to find the connection end S whose position has been designated by the position designation unit 62 than when checking the connection end S whose position has been designated by the position designation unit 62 on, for example, a work instruction manual for the fuel cell system 10.

[0065] (4) The designated location indicator 61 extends around the entire circumference of the connection end S. For example, compared to when the designated location indicator 61 is provided only on a portion of the circumference of the connection end S, the connection end S where the position indicator 62 is provided can be easily found, and the connection end S where the position indicator 62 is provided can be found from various directions.

[0066] (5) Multiple flow path forming members 24, including a third flow path forming member 24c, a fourth flow path forming member 24d, an inlet-side flow path forming member 351, and an outlet-side flow path forming member 352, are gathered on the connection portion forming surface 33A of the intercooler 33. The connection point T between the first insertion connection portion 33a and the third flow path forming member 24c is the opposing connection point Tb. Therefore, a position designation portion 62 is provided on the connection end S of the third flow path forming member 24c to prevent the shaft portion 53a from interfering with the connection portion forming surface 33A. Therefore, while the connection portion forming surface 33A can be used as a reference surface in areas where multiple flow path forming members 24 are gathered, the shaft portion 53a of the operating member 53 is more likely to interfere. Therefore, it is effective to apply the position designation portion 62 to areas where multiple flow path forming members 24 are gathered.

[0067] (6) The position designation unit 62 displays and designates the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S. Then, by aligning the seating surface 52a with the position designation unit 62, the operating member 53 can be positioned at a desired position in the circumferential direction. For example, the operating member 53 can be positioned more easily than when positioning the operating member 53 at a desired position in the circumferential direction using a jig or other method.

[0068] [Variations] This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0069] As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 4, the position designation portion 62 may also be provided on the connection tip surface Sa of the connection end portion S. That is, the position designation portion 62 may be provided on both the connection tip surface Sa and the outer circumferential surface Sc of the connection end portion S. In this configuration, the connection tip surface Sa is a surface that intersects with the outer circumferential surface Sc of the connection end portion S, and therefore the position designation portion 62 can be seen not only from the radial outside of the connection end portion S but also from the axial direction of the connection end portion S. As a result, the position designation portion 62 becomes easier to see.

[0070] The position designation section 62 does not have to extend in a continuous straight line, and may extend, for example, in a dashed line, a one-dot chain line, or a two-dot chain line. Alternatively, the position designation section 62 may be displayed as a character string instead of a line. In short, as long as the position of the operating member 53 in the circumferential direction of the connection end S, which is designated by the position designation section 62, can be visually recognized, the display mode of the position designation section 62 can be changed as appropriate.

[0071] The position designation portion 62 may be displayed by a method other than applying paint, such as by engraving or a pattern. The designated portion indicator 61 may be omitted.

[0072] The designated location indicator 61 does not have to be provided around the entire circumference of the connection end S, but may be provided only on a portion of the circumference, or only on the upper half of the circumference. When aligning the position designation portion 62 with the seating surface 52a, in order to make it easier to align the position designation portion 62 with the circumferential center of the arcuate surface of the seating surface 52a, a display portion indicating the circumferential center of the seating surface 52a may be provided on the side of the housing 52, etc.

[0073] The position designating portion 62 and the seating surface 52a may be aligned such that the position designating portion 62 is slightly misaligned with the center of the seating surface 52a in the circumferential direction. The circumferential dimension of the position specifying portion 62 of the connecting end S may be increased to match the circumferential dimension of the seating surface 52a. In this configuration, the circumferential dimension of the position specifying portion 62 matches the circumferential dimension of the seating surface 52a, making it easier to align the seating surface 52a with the connecting end S.

[0074] A pair of position specifying portions 62 may be provided on the connection end portion S so as to be aligned with both ends of the seating surface 52a in the circumferential direction. The position designating portion 62 may be provided from a position slightly offset in the axial direction from the outer peripheral edge Sb of the connecting tip surface Sa to the designated location designating portion 61 .

[0075] The position designation section 62 may extend beyond the designated location designation section 61 in the axial direction. The fluid component into which the fluid flows may be the compressor 23, the heat exchanger 32, or another component.

[0076] Although the fuel cell system 10 is mounted on the forklift 100, it may be mounted on other industrial vehicles. The fuel cell system 10 does not have to be mounted on the forklift 100 and may be a stationary type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] S...connection end, Sa...connection tip surface, Sb...outer peripheral edge, Sc...outer peripheral surface, T...connection location, 11...fuel cell stack, 12...casing, 21...oxidizer gas supply system, 24...flow path forming member, 26...muffler as fluid component, 33...intercooler as fluid component, 27...suction side insertion connection portion, 28...discharge side insertion connection portion, 33a-33d...first to fourth insertion connection portions, 36...insertion connection portion, 50...fastening member, 51...band portion, 52...housing, 53...operating member, 53a...shaft portion, 61...designated location indicating portion, 62...position designating portion, 351...inlet side flow path forming member, 352...outlet side flow path forming member.

Claims

1. a housing that houses a fuel cell stack; a fluid component housed inside the housing and into which a fluid flows; a flow path forming member having a connection end portion at an axial end thereof into which an insertion connection portion protruding from the fluid component is inserted, the flow path forming member forming a flow path for the fluid; a fastening member that fastens the connection end from an outer circumferential side at a connection point between the connection end and the insertion connection portion, The fastening member includes a band portion that is annularly deformable along the outer peripheral surface of the connection end portion, a housing through which the band portion is inserted, and an operating member that is rotatably provided with respect to the housing and has a shaft portion that extends in the longitudinal direction of the band portion, and the operating member expands and contracts the band portion by rotation of the shaft portion in response to operation of the operating member, A fuel cell system in which a position designation portion is displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the connection end portion, for displaying and designating the position of the operating member in the circumferential direction of the connection end portion.

2. 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the flow path forming member has a connection tip surface at a tip end on the connection end side that surrounds the insertion connection portion, and the position designation portion extends from an outer peripheral edge of the connection tip surface in the axial direction of the connection end.

3. 3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the connection end is provided with a designated location indicator that indicates that the connection end has been designated by the position designation unit.

4. 4. The fuel cell system according to claim 3, wherein the designated position indicator is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the connection end.

5. 3. The fuel cell system according to claim 2, wherein the position designation portion is provided on both the connection tip surface and the outer peripheral surface of the connection end portion.

6. the fuel cell system includes an oxidant gas supply system that supplies an oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack, and an intercooler that serves as the fluid component and cools the oxidant gas that is supplied to the fuel cell stack, the flow path forming member forms a flow path through which the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell stack flows in the oxidant gas supply system, and also forms a flow path through which a coolant that cools the oxidant gas flows, 3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of insertion connection portions provided on the connection portion forming surface of the intercooler is connected to a flow path forming member that forms a flow path for the refrigerant or a flow path forming member that forms a flow path for the oxidant gas.

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