Fuel cell unit

Abstract

To prevent water from reaching electrical components. [Solution] A water receiving member 40 having a receiving plate 41 is provided on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. With this, even if water enters the inside of the housing 22 from the outside of the housing 22 through the bolt insertion hole 30, the receiving plate 41 will receive the water dripping from the bolt insertion hole 30. The water received by the receiving plate 41 is then discharged from the drain hole 47. At this time, since the drain hole 47 is demarcated by the hole-forming edge 46 of the receiving plate 41 and the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24, the water discharged from the drain hole 47 can easily flow along the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24.Therefore, the water dripping from the bolt insertion hole 30 will not collide with parts other than the water receiving member 40 and scatter, thus avoiding the problem of scattered water getting on electrical components.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell unit.

Background Art

[0002] For example, as described in Patent Document 1, a fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell stack, a housing, and electrical components. The housing houses the fuel cell stack. The electrical components are disposed inside the housing. The housing has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall, and a top wall. The peripheral wall stands up from the bottom wall. The top wall closes an opening located on the opposite side of the bottom wall in the peripheral wall. In some cases, a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted is formed in the top wall.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the fuel cell unit having the above configuration, water may enter the inside of the housing through the bolt insertion hole from the outside of the housing. When water enters the inside of the housing through the bolt insertion hole, water drips from the bolt insertion hole into the inside of the housing. Then, the dripped water may collide with components around the electrical components and scatter. When water collides with components around the electrical components and scatters inside the housing, there is a risk that the scattered water will hit the electrical components. Thus, if the electrical components get wet, it may adversely affect the performance of the electrical components. Therefore, it is desired to suppress water getting on the electrical components.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A fuel cell unit that solves the above problems comprises a fuel cell stack, a housing that houses the fuel cell stack, and electrical components arranged inside the housing, wherein the housing has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall rising from the bottom wall, and a top wall that closes an opening in the peripheral wall located on the opposite side from the bottom wall, and bolt holes formed in the top wall through which bolts are inserted, and a water receiving member having a receiving plate for receiving water dripping from the bolt holes is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall, the water receiving member is provided so as to overlap the bolt holes in a vertical direction, extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and is arranged between the bolt holes and the electrical components, the receiving plate has a connecting edge connected to the inner surface of the peripheral wall, the connecting edge includes a hole-forming edge, and a drain hole is defined by the hole-forming edge and the inner surface of the peripheral wall.

[0006] According to this design, even if water enters the enclosure from the outside through the bolt holes, the receiving plate will catch the water dripping from the bolt holes. The water caught by the receiving plate is then discharged through the drain holes. At this time, since the drain holes are demarcated by the hole-forming edge of the receiving plate and the inner surface of the peripheral wall, the water discharged from the drain holes can easily flow along the inner surface of the peripheral wall. Therefore, the water dripping from the bolt holes will not collide with other components around the electrical components other than the water receiving member and scatter, thus avoiding the problem of scattered water getting on the electrical components. As a result, water exposure to electrical components can be suppressed.

[0007] In the fuel cell unit described above, the support plate is elongated, the connecting edge extends in the longitudinal direction of the support plate, the support plate is inclined in a direction that moves away from the top wall from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate, and the drain hole is preferably located closer to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate.

[0008] According to this design, the support plate is inclined to move away from the ceiling wall as it progresses from the first end to the second end along its longitudinal direction. As a result, water dripping from the bolt insertion holes and received by the support plate flows along the support plate from the first end to the second end along its longitudinal direction. At this time, since the drainage holes are located closer to the second end along the support plate, the water that has flowed along the support plate from the first end to the second end along its longitudinal direction is easily discharged through the drainage holes. Therefore, the water received by the support plate can be efficiently discharged through the drainage holes.

[0009] In the fuel cell unit described above, the water receiving member may have an upright plate that rises from the second end of the receiving plate in the longitudinal direction toward the top wall. According to this design, water flowing across the receiving plate from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate can be caught by the upright plate. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water flowing across the receiving plate from the second end without being discharged through the drainage holes.

[0010] In the fuel cell unit described above, the receiving plate has a first extending portion that has a connecting edge and extends in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the peripheral wall, and a second extending portion that is continuous with the end of the first extending portion located on the opposite side from the connecting edge in the short direction of the receiving plate, wherein the second extending portion extends while inclining toward the top wall as it moves away from the first extending portion.

[0011] According to this design, even if water dripped onto the first extended section from the bolt insertion hole splashes onto the first extended section, the splashed water is also caught by the second extended section. At this time, the second extended section is inclined towards the ceiling wall as it moves away from the first extended section. Therefore, water adhering to the second extended section flows towards the first extended section. Also, water dripped onto the second extended section from the bolt insertion hole flows towards the first extended section. The water that flows from the second extended section to the first extended section is then discharged through the drain hole. Therefore, the water caught by the receiving plate can be efficiently discharged through the drain hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to this invention, water exposure to electrical components can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side view showing a forklift in an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the fuel cell unit. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the fuel cell unit. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the fuel cell unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The following describes one embodiment of the fuel cell unit with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The fuel cell unit of this embodiment is mounted on a forklift, which is an industrial vehicle. In the following description, front, back, up, down, and left and right refer to the front, up, down, and left and right directions relative to the state in which the operator driving the forklift is facing forward (in the direction of travel) of the forklift.

[0015] <Forklift> As shown in Figure 1, the forklift 10 comprises a body 11, a travel motor 12, a cargo handling motor 13, and a fuel cell unit 20. The forklift 10 also comprises drive wheels 14 and a cargo handling device 15. The travel motor 12 drives the drive wheels 14. The cargo handling motor 13 drives the cargo handling device 15. The fuel cell unit 20 is housed inside the body 11.

[0016] <Fuel cell unit> As shown in Figure 2, the fuel cell unit 20 includes a fuel cell stack 21. The fuel cell stack 21 is composed of multiple battery cells stacked on top of each other. The battery cells are of the solid molecular type. The fuel cell stack 21 generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen as a fuel gas and oxygen from the air as an oxidizing gas. The travel motor 12 and the load handling motor 13 of the forklift 10 are driven by the electricity generated by the fuel cell stack 21. The electricity generated by the fuel cell stack 21 is also used to charge a battery (not shown).

[0017] The fuel cell unit 20 comprises a housing 22. The housing 22 has a bottom wall 23, a peripheral wall 24, and a top wall 25. The bottom wall 23 is a rectangular flat plate. The peripheral wall 24 rises from the outer periphery of the bottom wall 23 in a rectangular cylindrical shape. Therefore, the peripheral wall 24 rises from the bottom wall 23. The top wall 25 closes the opening in the peripheral wall 24 that is located on the opposite side of the bottom wall 23. The housing space 26 is partitioned by the bottom wall 23, the peripheral wall 24, and the top wall 25. The fuel cell stack 21 is arranged in the housing space 26. Therefore, the housing 22 houses the fuel cell stack 21.

[0018] The fuel cell unit 20 is equipped with electrical components 27. The electrical components 27 are located inside the housing 22. The electrical components 27 are, for example, current sensors and voltage sensors configured to detect the current flowing through the fuel cell unit 20.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a bracket 28 is provided on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. The bracket 28 has a bracket support portion 28a and a bracket fixing portion 28b. The bracket support portion 28a is an elongated plate shape extending along the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. The bracket fixing portion 28b is an elongated plate shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. The bracket fixing portion 28b is bent from the first end portion in the longitudinal direction of the bracket support portion 28a and extends in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the bracket support portion 28a. The bracket 28 is supported on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24 in a state where the longitudinal direction of the bracket support portion 28a coincides with the vertical direction and the first end portion of the bracket support portion 28a is located on the side of the top wall 25. The bracket support portion 28a is supported on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24 by welding. A female screw hole 28h is formed in the bracket fixing portion 28b. The female screw hole 28h penetrates the bracket fixing portion 28b in the thickness direction of the bracket fixing portion 28b.

[0020] A bolt insertion hole 30 is formed in the top wall 25. The bolt insertion hole 30 is, for example, an elongated hole. The bolt insertion hole 30 penetrates the top wall 25 in the thickness direction of the top wall 25. A bolt 31 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 30. Then, the top wall 25 is fixed to the peripheral wall 24 via the bracket 28 by screwing the bolt 31 inserted into the bolt insertion hole 30 into the female screw hole 28h.

[0021] A clip hole 32 is formed in the top wall 25. The clip hole 32 is circular. The clip hole 32 penetrates the top wall 25 in the thickness direction of the top wall 25. A clip 33 is inserted into the clip hole 32. Then, the fixing member 34 is fixed to the top wall 25 by the clip 33 inserted into the clip hole 32. The fixing member 34 is, for example, a plate-like member.

[0022] <Water receiving member> A water receiving member 40 is provided on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. The water receiving member 40 has a receiving plate 41. The receiving plate 41 has a first extending portion 42 and a second extending portion 43. The first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 43 are each elongated plate-shaped. The longitudinal direction of the first extending portion 42 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the second extending portion 43. The length of the first extending portion 42 in the longitudinal direction is the same as the length of the second extending portion 43 in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the receiving plate 41 is elongated plate-shaped. The longitudinal directions of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 43 are also the longitudinal directions of the receiving plate 41.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the first extension portion 42 is inclined in a direction that moves away from the ceiling wall 25 as it moves from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the first extension portion 42. Therefore, the support plate 41 is inclined in a direction that moves away from the ceiling wall 25 as it moves from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 41. The support plate 41 is inclined upward by an angle θ1 with respect to the horizontal line L10 passing through the first end of the support plate 41, so that it is inclined downward as it moves from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 41.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first extended portion 42 extends in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. The first extended portion 42 has a connecting edge 44 that is connected to the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. Therefore, the receiving plate 41 has a connecting edge 44. The connecting edge 44 extends in the longitudinal direction of the first extended portion 42. Therefore, the connecting edge 44 extends in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41.

[0025] The connecting edge 44 has a contact edge 45 and a hole-forming edge 46. Therefore, the connecting edge 44 includes the hole-forming edges 46. The connecting edge 44 has two hole-forming edges 46. The contact edge 45 is the portion of the connecting edge 44 that is in contact with the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. Each hole-forming edge 46 is the portion of the connecting edge 44 that is spaced apart from the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. Each hole-forming edge 46 is recessed from the contact edge 45. Each hole-forming edge 46 is located on the connecting edge 44 near the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41. The contact edge 45 is the portion of the connecting edge 44 excluding each hole-forming edge 46.

[0026] The connecting edge 44 is joined to the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24 by welding. Specifically, the contact edges 45 of the connecting edge 44, excluding the hole-forming edges 46, are joined to the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24 by welding. In this way, the water receiving member 40 is fixed to the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24 by welding. The drainage holes 47 are then demarcated by the hole-forming edges 46 and the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. Each drainage hole 47 is located near the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41.

[0027] The first extending portion 42 extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction while overlapping the bolt insertion hole 30 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the receiving plate 41 is positioned overlapping the bolt insertion hole 30 in the vertical direction and extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. Furthermore, the first extending portion 42 is positioned overlapping the clip hole 32 in the vertical direction and extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. Therefore, the receiving plate 41 overlaps the clip hole 32 in the vertical direction. The receiving plate 41 is provided on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24 such that the portion of the receiving plate 41 near the first end overlaps the clip hole 32 in the vertical direction, and the portion of the receiving plate 41 near the second end overlaps the bolt insertion hole 30 in the vertical direction.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the second extension 43 is continuous with the end of the first extension 42 located on the side opposite to the connecting edge 44 in the short direction of the receiving plate 41. The second extension 43 extends while inclining toward the ceiling wall 25 as it moves away from the first extension 42.

[0029] The water receiving member 40 has an upright plate 48. The upright plate 48 stands upright from the second longitudinal end of the receiving plate 41 toward the top wall 25. Specifically, the upright plate 48 stands upright from the second longitudinal end of the first extending portion 42 toward the top wall 25. The upright plate 48 extends along the second longitudinal end of the second extending portion 43.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the receiving plate 41 is positioned between the bolt insertion hole 30 and the electrical component 27 to receive water dripping from the bolt insertion hole 30. The receiving plate 41 is also positioned between the clip hole 32 and the electrical component 27 to receive water dripping from the clip hole 32.

[0031] [Effect of the Embodiment] Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. Incidentally, in the fuel cell unit 20, water may enter the inside of the housing 22 from the outside of the housing 22 through the bolt insertion holes 30. In particular, when the fuel cell unit 20 is housed in a forklift 10, water may splash onto the housing 22 of the fuel cell unit 20 through drainage holes (not shown) of the forklift 10. Also, in the fuel cell unit 20, water may enter the inside of the housing 22 from the outside of the housing 22 through the clip holes 32. Even if water enters the inside of the housing 22 from the outside of the housing 22 through the bolt insertion holes 30, the receiving plate 41 will catch the water dripping from the bolt insertion holes 30.

[0032] The water received by the receiving plate 41 is then discharged from each drain hole 47. At this time, each drain hole 47 is demarcated by the hole-forming edge 46 of the receiving plate 41 and the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. Therefore, the water discharged from each drain hole 47 flows easily along the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. In Figures 3 and 4, the flow of water is indicated by dashed arrows.

[0033] Therefore, water dripping from the bolt insertion hole 30 will not collide with other components surrounding the electrical component 27 other than the water receiving member 40 and scatter, and water dripping from the clip hole 32 will not collide with other components surrounding the electrical component 27 other than the water receiving member 40 and scatter. As a result, the problem of scattered water getting on the electrical component 27 is avoided. Consequently, water exposure to the electrical component 27 is suppressed.

[0034] Furthermore, the receiving plate 41 is inclined to move away from the top wall 25 as it moves from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41. As a result, water received by the receiving plate 41 flows along the receiving plate 41 from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41. At this time, since each drain hole 47 is located closer to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41, the water that has flowed along the receiving plate 41 from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41 is easily discharged from each drain hole 47.

[0035] Furthermore, even if water dripped onto the first extension 42 from the bolt insertion hole 30 splashes on the first extension 42, the splashed water is also caught by the second extension 43. Similarly, even if water dripped onto the first extension 42 from the clip hole 32 splashes on the first extension 42, the splashed water is also caught by the second extension 43. At this time, the second extension 43 is inclined towards the top wall 25 as it moves away from the first extension 42. Therefore, water adhering to the second extension 43 flows towards the first extension 42. Furthermore, water dripped onto the second extension 43 from the bolt insertion hole 30 also flows towards the first extension 42. Similarly, water dripped onto the second extension 43 from the clip hole 32 also flows towards the first extension 42. Then, the water that flows from the second extension 43 to the first extension 42 is discharged from each drain hole 47. Therefore, the water received by the receiving plate 41 is efficiently discharged from each drain hole 47.

[0036] [Effects of the Embodiment] The above embodiment can be achieved to obtain the following effects. (1) A water receiving member 40 having a receiving plate 41 is provided on the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. With this, even if water enters the inside of the housing 22 from the outside of the housing 22 through the bolt insertion holes 30, the receiving plate 41 will receive the water dripping from the bolt insertion holes 30. The water received by the receiving plate 41 will then be discharged from the drain hole 47. At this time, since the drain hole 47 is demarcated by the hole-forming edge 46 of the receiving plate 41 and the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24, the water discharged from the drain hole 47 will easily flow along the inner surface 24a of the peripheral wall 24. As a result, the water dripping from the bolt insertion holes 30 will not collide with parts other than the water receiving member 40 and scatter around the electrical components 27, thus avoiding the problem of scattered water getting on the electrical components 27. As a result, water exposure to the electrical components 27 can be suppressed.

[0037] (2) The receiving plate 41 is inclined in a direction that moves away from the top wall 25 as it moves from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41. As a result, water dripping from the bolt insertion holes 30 and received by the receiving plate 41 flows along the receiving plate 41 from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41. At this time, since the drainage holes 47 are located closer to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41, the water that has flowed along the receiving plate 41 from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41 is easily discharged from the drainage holes 47. Therefore, the water received by the receiving plate 41 can be efficiently discharged from the drainage holes 47.

[0038] (3) The water receiving member 40 has an upright plate 48 that rises from the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41 toward the top wall 25. With this, water that flows on the receiving plate 41 from the first end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41 toward the second end can be received by the upright plate 48.Therefore, it is possible to prevent water that flows on the receiving plate 41 from the first end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate 41 from dripping from the second end side of the receiving plate 41 without being discharged from the drain hole 47.

[0039] (4) Even if water dripped onto the first extension 42 from the bolt insertion hole 30 splashes on the first extension 42, the splashed water is also caught by the second extension 43. At this time, the second extension 43 is inclined toward the top wall 25 as it moves away from the first extension 42. Therefore, water adhering to the second extension 43 flows toward the first extension 42. Also, water dripped onto the second extension 43 from the bolt insertion hole 30 flows toward the first extension 42. Then, the water that has flowed from the second extension 43 to the first extension 42 is discharged from the drain hole 47. Therefore, the water received by the receiving plate 41 can be efficiently discharged from the drain hole 47.

[0040] [Example of changes] The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0041] ○ In this embodiment, the support plate 41 does not have to be inclined in a direction that moves away from the top wall 25 as it moves from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 41. For example, the support plate 41 may extend parallel to the top wall 25. Also, in this case, the drainage hole 47 does not have to be located near the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 41.

[0042] ○ In this embodiment, the water receiving member 40 may be configured without having an upright plate 48. ○ In this embodiment, the second extending portion 43 does not necessarily have to extend in an inclined manner toward the ceiling wall 25 as it moves away from the first extending portion 42. The second extending portion 43 may, for example, stand upright in a direction perpendicular to the first extending portion 42.

[0043] ○ In this embodiment, the receiving plate 41 may be configured without having the second extending portion 43. ○ In this embodiment, the clip holes 32 do not necessarily have to be formed in the top wall 25.

[0044] ○ In this embodiment, the water receiving member 40 may receive water through a path other than the bolt insertion hole 30. The receiving plate 41 of the water receiving member 40 may be configured to receive water that enters the interior of the housing 22 from the outside of the housing 22 through the gap between the top wall 25 and the peripheral wall 24.

[0045] ○ In this embodiment, the number of drainage holes 47 is not particularly limited. ○ In this embodiment, the fuel cell unit 20 is mounted on a forklift 10, but it is not limited to this, and may be mounted on, for example, a towing vehicle used for transporting goods, or an order picker used for picking operations. In short, the fuel cell unit 20 may be mounted on industrial vehicles other than the forklift 10. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 20...Fuel cell unit, 21...Fuel cell stack, 22...Housing, 23...Bottom wall, 24...Surface wall, 24a...Inner surface, 25...Top wall, 27...Electrical components, 30...Bolt insertion hole, 31...Bolt, 40...Water receiving member, 41...Receiving plate, 42...First extension part, 43...Second extension part, 44...Connecting edge, 46...Hole forming edge, 47...Drainage hole, 48...Upright plate.

Claims

1. Fuel cell stack and A housing for the fuel cell stack, The enclosure comprises electrical components arranged inside the enclosure, The housing has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall rising from the bottom wall, and a top wall that closes the opening located on the side of the peripheral wall opposite to the bottom wall. The fuel cell unit has bolt insertion holes formed in the top wall through which bolts are inserted, A water receiving member is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall, having a receiving plate for receiving water dripping from the bolt insertion hole. The water receiving member is provided so as to overlap the bolt insertion hole in a vertical direction, extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and is positioned between the bolt insertion hole and the electrical component. The receiving plate has a connecting edge that is connected to the inner surface of the peripheral wall, The aforementioned connecting edge includes a hole-forming edge, A fuel cell unit characterized in that the drainage hole is partitioned by the hole-forming edge and the inner surface of the peripheral wall.

2. The receiving plate is in the shape of an elongated plate, The aforementioned connecting edge extends in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate, The support plate is inclined in a direction that moves away from the top wall as it progresses from the first end to the second end in the longitudinal direction of the support plate. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the drainage hole is located near the second end in the longitudinal direction of the receiving plate.

3. The fuel cell unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the water receiving member has an upright plate that rises from the second end of the receiving plate in the longitudinal direction toward the top wall.

4. The aforementioned receiving plate is A first extending portion having the aforementioned connecting edge and extending in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the peripheral wall, The first extending portion has a second extending portion that is continuous with the end of the receiving plate located on the opposite side of the connecting edge in the short direction of the receiving plate, The fuel cell unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second extending portion extends while inclining toward the top wall as it moves away from the first extending portion.

Images