Mobile vehicle tank mounting structure

Abstract

This improves the reliability of tank mounting by suppressing vibrations in the tanks that are mounted on mobile vehicles. [Solution] A tank mounting structure 20 for mounting a tank 10 for storing fluid on a mobile body 1, comprising a frame 2 provided on the mobile body 1, a mounting section 30 attached to the frame 2 on which the tank 10 is mounted, and a support section 50 attached to the frame 2 for supporting the driver's cab 5 of the mobile body 1, wherein the mounting section 30 is connected to the support section 50.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tank mounting structure for a moving body such as a vehicle for mounting a tank such as a fuel tank.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a moving body such as a truck, there is one that has a tank between the cab and the cargo bed. Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a plurality of hydrogen tanks are mounted between the cab and the cargo compartment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, a tank mounted on a moving body such as a truck and its mounting structure may be subjected to vibrations during travel. In this case, for example, depending on the natural frequency of the tank or the mounting structure, resonance vibrations may be induced during the movement of the moving body, and it is conceivable that the tank or the mounting structure will sway beyond the allowable range. In particular, in order to mount the tank with high space efficiency, when the tanks are arranged vertically and placed high in a tower shape, for example, the weight increases, and in addition, if the rigidity of the tank mounting structure is low, the above-mentioned natural frequency decreases and low-frequency resonance vibrations are easily induced, and the sway is likely to increase.

[0005] The present invention was devised by paying attention to such problems, and provides a tank mounting structure for a moving body that can improve the mounting reliability of the tank by suppressing the vibration of the tank mounted on the moving body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This project was undertaken to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems and can be implemented in the following forms or applications. (1) The tank mounting structure for a mobile body according to this application example is a tank mounting structure for mounting a tank for storing fluid on a mobile body, comprising a frame provided on the mobile body, a mounting section attached to the frame on which the tank is mounted, and a support section attached to the frame on which the driver's cab of the mobile body is supported, wherein the mounting section is connected to the support section.

[0007] According to this application example, when a moving body is moved, vibrations occur in the moving body, and these vibrations are transmitted to the mounting section, causing the mounting section to vibrate. However, since the mounting section is connected to the support section that supports the driver's cab of the moving body, the support rigidity of the mounting section is increased, and therefore the vibration of the mounting section due to the excitation force is suppressed.

[0008] (2) Preferably, the mounting portion and the support portion are connected by fastening. This configuration allows for easy connection between the mounting section and the support section.

[0009] (3) Preferably, the support portion comprises a straight leg portion erected on the frame, and one end of the connecting member is fastened to the leg portion. This configuration allows one end of the connecting member to be easily fastened to the support.

[0010] (4) Preferably, the mounting section is equipped with multiple tanks arranged in the height direction of the moving body. This configuration allows multiple tanks to be mounted on a mobile vehicle while making effective use of limited space. On the other hand, the center of gravity of the mounted section becomes higher, making it more susceptible to vibration. However, since the mounted section is connected to a support, vibration of the mounted section is suppressed.

[0011] (5) Preferably, the mobile body is a truck having a tiltable cab, and the support part is a cab bridge that supports the tiltable cab. This configuration makes it possible to suppress vibrations caused by vibrations generated during truck operation, even when applied to the mounting area.

[0012] (6) Preferably the truck is equipped with a body behind the tilt cab, and the tank is positioned between the tilt cab and the body. Because the space between the truck cab and the bodywork is limited, if the mounting unit is placed there, there is a risk that the mounting unit may interfere with the cab or bodywork if the vibration of the mounting unit becomes large. However, even if vibrations generated during truck operation are applied to the mounting unit, the resulting vibrations can be suppressed, thus reducing this risk. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this invention, it will be possible to suppress vibrations of tanks mounted on mobile vehicles, thereby improving the reliability of tank mounting. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the main parts of a vehicle (truck) as a mobile body according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the tank mounting structure of the mobile body according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the tank mounting structure of the mobile body according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a plan view of the tank mounting structure of the mobile body according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely illustrative examples, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly shown in these embodiments. Each configuration of the embodiments described below can be modified in various ways without departing from their spirit. Furthermore, they can be selected or combined as needed.

[0016] Note that the moving body according to the embodiment described below is a vehicle, specifically a truck, and more specifically, a fuel cell electric truck equipped with a fuel cell. Further, the moving body includes a support portion that supports the cab of the moving body. In the case of this embodiment, the fuel cell electric truck has a tilt cab in which the cab as the driver's cab tilts, and a cab bridge is provided as a support portion that supports the cab when the cab is in the normal state (non-tilt state). However, the moving body according to the present case is not limited to a vehicle, and any moving body equipped with a tank and a support portion that supports the cab can be applied. Also, even if it is a vehicle, it is not limited to an electric truck, and it can be widely applied to electric vehicles and non-electric vehicles.

[0017] The tank according to the embodiment is a hydrogen tank (H2 tank) that stores hydrogen gas, which is the fuel of the fuel cell. In this case, the fuel cell corresponds to the fuel-using device for moving (traveling) the moving body. However, the tank according to the present case is not limited to a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen gas. For example, a tank that stores a fluid fuel (such as gaseous fuel like natural gas or liquid fuel like gasoline, light oil, and liquid hydrogen) for a fuel-using device such as an engine for moving (traveling) the moving body, etc., and any tank mounted on the moving body and storing or filling a fluid can be widely applied. Also, the hydrogen in the H2 tank may be used not only as the fuel gas of the fuel cell but also as the fuel gas of a traveling engine (internal combustion engine) that operates using hydrogen as fuel.

[0018] Also, in FIGS. 1 to 4 for reference, the vehicle is assumed to be on a horizontal plane, and the front of the vehicle is designated as "FR", the rear of the vehicle as "RR", the right side in the vehicle width direction as "RH", the left side in the vehicle width direction as "LH", vertically upward as "UP", and vertically downward as "DW", and are indicated by arrows. Also, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is also referred to as the "vehicle length direction" or the "length direction", the vehicle width direction of the vehicle as the "left-right direction", and the vertical up-down direction as the "up-down direction".

[0019] [1. Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of a truck equipped with a tank mounting structure of a moving body according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a truck 1 according to this embodiment includes a pair of left and right side rails 3L and 3R (for the right side rail 3R, refer to FIG. 3), and a plurality of cross members (omitted in the figure) provided between these side rails 3L and 3R, and has a frame 2. The side rails 3L and 3R of the frame 2 are formed in a U-shaped cross section having a web portion 3a and flanges 3b and 3c protruding in one direction (inside the vehicle width direction) from the upper and lower edges of the web portion 3a.

[0020] Above the front part of the frame 2, a tilt cab (driver's cab) 5 is installed. Above the frame 2 behind the cab 5, a cargo compartment 6, which is an example of a mounted object, is installed. Below the cab 5 (below the front part of the frame 2), left and right front wheels 7 are supported by the frame 2. Below the rear part of the frame 2, left and right rear wheels (not shown) are supported by the frame 2. The cab 5 can tilt and rotate around the tilt rotation center S, and in FIG. 1, the state of the cab 5 during tilting is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0021] As described above, the truck (vehicle) 1 is a fuel cell electric vehicle driven by hydrogen gas as fuel, specifically, a fuel cell electric truck. Therefore, this vehicle 1 includes a fuel cell system that generates electric power by the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, a drive motor that operates by the electric power generated by the fuel cell system and rotates and drives drive wheels (for example, rear wheels), and a hydrogen tank (H2 tank, simply referred to as "tank") 10 that stores hydrogen used in the fuel cell system. In FIG. 1, only the main part configuration of the vehicle is shown, and the description of other components is omitted.

[0022] In this embodiment, a plurality of (six in this example) hydrogen tanks 10 are arranged vertically between the cab 5 and the cargo compartment 6 above the frame 2. These hydrogen tanks 10 are mounted on a tank mounting structure 20. The tank mounting structure 20 will be described later. Each hydrogen tank 10 has an aluminum alloy body, and the tank body is reinforced with CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic).

[0023] Each hydrogen tank 10 is formed by connecting a cylindrical intermediate section (cylindrical section) 10a with both end sections 10b that are formed in a shape such as a roughly circular disc (or a convex curved surface such as a roughly hemispherical shape), and is elongated along the central axis direction of the cylindrical section 10a.

[0024] [2. Tank mounting structure] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the tank mounting structure 20 includes a mounting section 30 for mounting the hydrogen tank 10. In this embodiment, the tank mounting structure 20 further includes plate-shaped auxiliary members 70 interposed between the support sections that support the mounting section 30 on each side rail 3L, 3R of the frame 2.

[0025] The mounting section 30 comprises a roughly box-shaped frame 40 that houses the tank 10, brackets 47 and 48 that fix the frame 40 to the frame 2, and connecting members 51 and 52 that connect the frame 40 of the mounting section 30 to the cab bridge 50, which serves as a support for the cab (driver's compartment) 5. Here, the brackets 47 and 48 are made of cast iron, but some or all of the brackets 47 and 48 may be made of sheet metal or other materials.

[0026] The skeletal section 40 is formed as a whole in a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the front-rear direction, is located vertically above the frame, and its lower part is attached to the frame 2. In Figures 3 and 4, the hydrogen tank 10 is shown in gray for ease of identification. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the skeletal section 40 comprises first skeletal members (corner skeletal members) 41 located at the four corners and extending in the vertical direction, second skeletal members 42 connecting the left and right first skeletal members 41, 41 to each other, third skeletal members 43 connecting the front and rear first skeletal members 41, 41 to each other, and fourth skeletal members 44 located on the left and right sides at the very bottom and connecting the lower ends of the front and rear first skeletal members 41, 41 to each other. Each skeletal member 41 to 44 may be made of hollow or solid columnar steel, or other materials such as angle steel may be used as appropriate.

[0027] Multiple second and third skeletal members 42 and 43 (six of each in this case) are arranged parallel to each other vertically. The tanks 10 are stored in the space between the fourth skeletal member 44 and the lowest second and third skeletal members 42 and 43, and in the spaces above that between the upper and lower second and third skeletal members 42 and 43. In this embodiment, six tanks 10 are stored vertically in the mounting section 30, and six second and six third skeletal members 42 and 43 are also arranged vertically.

[0028] Furthermore, the lowermost fourth skeletal members 44, 44 of the skeletal section 40 are fixed to the respective side rails 3L, 3R of the frame 2 via the front bracket 47 and the rear bracket 48. Upper outer stiffeners 45 and lower outer stiffeners 46 are attached to the side rails 3L and 3R to which the front brackets 47 and rear brackets 48 are attached.

[0029] The upper outer stiffener 45 is attached and fixed to the outer surface of the web portion 3a of the side rails 3L and 3R and the upper flange 3b that protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from its upper edge, while the lower outer stiffener 46 is attached and fixed to the outer surface of the web portion 3a of the side rails 3L and 3R and the lower flange 3c that protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from its lower edge. The front bracket 47 and the rear bracket 48 are mainly attached to the web portion 3a of the side rails 3L and 3R via their outer stiffeners 45 and 46.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the cab bridge 50, which is connected to the connecting members 51 and 52, has legs 50a on both the left and right sides that are fixed to the frame 2 (side rails 3L and 3R) and erected vertically, and an arched section 50b provided above the legs 50a. The central part of the arched section 50b has a straight shape along the horizontal direction. Rubber cab mounts 50d are attached to the curved sections on both sides of the central part via mounting brackets 50c. The rear end of the cab 5 rests on and is locked onto these cab mounts 50d when not tilted (normal).

[0031] In this embodiment, a first connecting member 51 is provided above and a second connecting member 52 is provided below between the left and right leg portions 50a and the left and right first and second skeletal members 41 and second skeletal members 42. Both connecting members 51 and 52 are formed by bending sheet metal, with one end of each fastened to the left and right leg portions 50a with a fastening member, and the other end of each fastened to the left and right first and second skeletal members 41 and second skeletal members 42 with a fastening member. Note that the connecting members 51 and 52 only need to connect the cab bridge 50 and the skeletal portion 40, and it is preferable to have one that connects the left leg portion 50a to the left first skeletal member 41 and second skeletal member 42, and one that connects the right leg portion 50a to the right first skeletal member 41 and second skeletal member 42.Therefore, only one of the connecting members 51 or 52 may be equipped on both the left and right sides, or only one of the connecting members 51 or 52 may be equipped on either the left or right side.

[0032] Each tank 10 mounted on the mounting section 30 is the same or nearly the same size. Furthermore, the frame 40 of the mounting section 30 is arranged utilizing the entire area in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the mounting section 30 is formed to be as large as possible in the vehicle width direction, to the extent that it does not interfere with other components. Furthermore, the plate-shaped auxiliary members 70 interposed between each side rail 3L, 3R extend in the width direction (left-right direction) and vertical direction of the track 1, and are formed to be longer in the width direction.

[0033] The tank 10 has bosses (not shown) protruding from both ends, and these bosses are fixed to the frame 40 by support brackets (not shown). However, the tank 10 may also be mounted on brackets that extend in the left-right direction attached to, for example, the front and rear first frame members 41, and then the bosses at both ends may be fixed. Furthermore, it may be fastened and secured using belts.

[0034] [3. Action and Effects] Since the tank mounting structure of the mobile body according to this embodiment is configured as described above, the following functions and effects can be obtained. According to this tank mounting structure 20, the skeletal section 40 of the mounting section 30 is located vertically above the frame 2 (side rails 3L, 3R) of the track 1, and its lower part is attached to the side rails 3L, 3R of the frame 2. Therefore, the skeletal section 40 is subjected to vibrations as the track 1 moves. The skeletal section 40, which houses the heavy hydrogen tank 10, is greatly excited in the longitudinal or lateral direction by this vibration input, and there is a risk that it may induce relatively low-frequency resonant vibrations.

[0035] In contrast, in this tank mounting structure, the frame 40 of the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 are connected, so the support rigidity of the mounting section 30 is improved and vibration of the mounting section 30 is suppressed. This will suppress vibrations in the tank 10 mounted on track 1, thereby improving the reliability of the tank's mounting.

[0036] In particular, in this embodiment, the connecting members 51 and 52 are connected to the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 by fastening using fastening members, so the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 can be easily connected using an existing cab bridge 50. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 are connected at two locations, upper and lower, on both the left and right sides of the mounting section 30 by connecting members 51 and 52, which further improves the support rigidity of the mounting section 30.

[0037] In particular, since one end of the connecting members 51 and 52 is fastened to the straight legs 50a of the cab bridge 50 erected on the frame 2, there is also the advantage of good assembly workability when easily connecting the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 using the cab bridge 50.

[0038] Furthermore, the tanks 10 are all oriented in the vehicle width direction and arranged in a row in the height direction within the mounting section 30 (six in this embodiment). The more tanks 10 are arranged vertically within the mounting section 30, the further the center of gravity moves vertically upward from the support portion of the frame 2, and the larger the mass, resulting in a lower natural frequency and making it easier to induce low-frequency resonant vibrations. However, the structure connecting the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 improves the support rigidity of the mounting section 30, suppressing low-frequency resonant vibrations. This allows for an increase in the amount of hydrogen gas fuel carried on the truck 1 while suppressing resonant vibrations, thereby increasing the driving range of the truck 1.

[0039] Since the tanks mounted in the mounting section 30 are all positioned to utilize the entire area in the width direction of the vehicle, a large capacity can be secured for the tank 10, and a large amount of fluid can be stored in the tank 10. Furthermore, since the mounting section 30 has a roughly box-shaped frame 40 in which the tank 10 is arranged, it can be configured to cover the tank 10 with the frame 40, and can be mounted on the truck 1 in a way that protects the tank 10.

[0040] As in this embodiment, when the moving body is a truck 1, even if vibrations generated when the truck 1 is traveling are applied to the frame 40 of the mounting section 30, the resulting resonant vibrations can be suppressed by the increased rigidity provided by the structure connecting the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50.

[0041] When the mounting section 30 is positioned between the driver's cab 5 and the cargo compartment 6 of truck 1, the space between the driver's cab 5 and the cargo compartment 6 is limited. Therefore, if the vibration of the frame 40 becomes large, there is a risk that the frame 40 may interfere with the driver's cab 5 or the cargo compartment 6. However, even if vibrations generated when truck 1 is running are applied to the frame 40, the resulting vibrations due to resonance can be suppressed by the structure connecting the mounting section 30 and the cab bridge 50 as described above, thus reducing this risk.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plate-shaped auxiliary member 70 is interposed between each side rail 3L, 3R, extending in the vehicle width direction and vertically, and formed to be longer in the width direction. This contributes to suppressing the occurrence of resonant vibrations while suppressing an increase in the rigidity related to torsion of the frame 2. By suppressing an increase in the rigidity related to torsion of the frame 2, a good rigidity balance of the entire track 1 can be maintained.

[0043] [4. Others] The configuration of the above embodiment is merely an example and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the tank mounting structure according to the above embodiment is described using a truck 1 as an example of a moving body, and the longitudinal direction of each tank 10 is oriented along the width direction of the truck 1, and the mounting section 30 is configured accordingly, but it is not limited to this.

[0044] Furthermore, although the above embodiment is configured with a cargo compartment 6 as a bodywork, it is not limited to this, and other bodywork such as a dump truck vessel, a mixer truck drum, or a tank truck tank may also be used. In addition, the truck as a mobile body may be a van body, flatbed truck, dump truck, mixer truck, tank truck, or a tractor to which a trailer is attached, and the present invention can also be applied to mobile bodies other than trucks.

[0045] [5. Addendum] The following additional information is disclosed regarding the embodiments described above. (Note 1) A tank mounting structure for mounting a fluid storage tank on a mobile body, A frame provided on the aforementioned mobile body, A mounting section attached to the frame on which the tank is mounted, It comprises a support portion attached to the frame and supporting the driver's cab of the mobile body, The mounting portion is connected to the support portion. A tank mounting structure for a mobile vehicle, characterized by the following features.

[0046] (Note 2) It includes a connecting member that connects the mounting portion and the support portion by fastening. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body as described in Appendix 1, characterized by the features described above.

[0047] (Note 3) The support portion comprises straight legs erected on the frame, One end of the connecting member is fastened to the leg portion. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body as described in Appendix 2, characterized by the features described in Appendix 2.

[0048] (Note 4) Multiple tanks are mounted in the aforementioned mounting section, arranged in the height direction of the moving body. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3, characterized by the features described herein.

[0049] (Note 5) The mobile unit is a truck having a tiltable cab as the driver's cab, The support portion is a cab bridge that supports the tilt-type cab. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

[0050] (Note 6) The aforementioned truck is equipped with a bodywork behind the tiltable cab, The aforementioned tank is positioned between the tiltable cab and the aforementioned bodywork. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body as described in Appendix 5, characterized by the features described herein. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1. Trucks (vehicles) as mobile devices 2 frames 3L, 3R side rails 3a Web Department 3b, 3c flange 5. Cab (driver's cabin) 6. Cargo area (bodywork) 7 Front wheels 10 tanks (hydrogen tanks) 10a Middle section (cylindrical section) of hydrogen tank 10 10b Both ends of hydrogen tank 10 20 Tank-equipped structure 30 Mounting section 40 Skeletal parts 41 First skeletal member (corner skeletal member) of the skeletal section 40 42 Second skeletal member of skeletal section 40 43 Third skeletal member of skeletal section 40 44 Fourth skeletal member of the skeletal structure 40 45 Upper Outer Stiffener 46 Lower Outer Stifle 47 Front bracket 48 Rear bracket 49 Bracket 50 Cab bridge (support section) 50a Legs of cab bridge 8 50b Arch section of cab bridge 8 50c Mount Bracket 50d Cab Mount 51 Connecting member (first connecting member) 52 Connecting member (second connecting member) 70 Plate-shaped auxiliary member Front of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle RR: Rear of the vehicle RH (Right side in the vehicle width direction) LH (Left side in the vehicle width direction) UP vertically upward DW Vertically downwards S Tilt Rotation Center

Claims

1. A tank mounting structure for mounting a fluid storage tank on a mobile body, A frame provided on the aforementioned mobile body, A mounting section attached to the frame on which the tank is mounted, It comprises a support portion attached to the frame and supporting the driver's cab of the mobile body, The mounting portion is connected to the support portion. A tank mounting structure for a mobile vehicle, characterized by the following features.

2. It includes a connecting member that connects the mounting portion and the support portion by fastening. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body according to claim 1, characterized in that

3. The support portion comprises straight legs erected on the frame, One end of the connecting member is fastened to the leg portion. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body according to claim 2, characterized in that

4. Multiple tanks are mounted in the aforementioned mounting section, arranged in the height direction of the moving body. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body according to claim 1, characterized in that

5. The mobile unit is a truck having a tiltable cab as the driver's cab, The support portion is a cab bridge that supports the tilt-type cab. A tank mounting structure for a mobile body according to claim 1, characterized in that

6. The aforementioned truck is equipped with a bodywork behind the tiltable cab, The aforementioned tank is positioned between the tiltable cab and the aforementioned bodywork. The tank mounting structure for the mobile body according to feature 5.

Images