vehicle

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of easily increasing the number of loaded fuel tanks on a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle includes: a plurality of fuel tanks each storing a fuel; and a fuel consuming unit which is connected to the plurality of fuel tanks, and which consumes the fuel supplied from the plurality of fuel tanks to obtain the drive force for the vehicle. The plurality of fuel tanks is placed in a posture in such a way that the lengthwise direction of the fuel tank is arranged along the height direction of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicles are equipped with fuel tanks that store fuel consumed by the vehicle. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a truck equipped with a fuel tank that stores compressed natural gas as fuel. In the truck of Patent Document 1, the fuel tanks are stacked one above the other with their longitudinal direction aligned with the width direction of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-35388 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such vehicles, it is desirable to increase the number of fuel tanks mounted in order to extend the cruising distance. However, increasing the number of fuel tanks mounted may lead to an increase in the vehicle's dimensions in the front-rear and width directions, depending on how they are arranged. Furthermore, when multiple fuel tanks are mounted in a vertically stacked manner as in Patent Document 1, the number of fuel tanks that can be stably stacked upwards may be limited. Thus, with the conventional method of mounting fuel tanks, it was not easy to increase the number of fuel tanks mounted in the limited space inside the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The technology of the present disclosure can be realized in the following forms. [Mode 1] A vehicle comprising: a plurality of fuel tanks in which fuel is stored; and a fuel consuming unit connected to the plurality of fuel tanks and consuming the fuel supplied from the plurality of fuel tanks to obtain driving force for the vehicle, the plurality of fuel tanks being arranged such that a longitudinal direction of the fuel tanks is aligned along a height direction of the vehicle; and a tractor head having a chassis on which the plurality of fuel tanks are mounted, a passenger compartment for occupants to ride in, and a coupled part provided at a position rearward of the passenger compartment and at a center position on the chassis in a width direction of the vehicle; and a coupling part coupled to the coupled part at a front end thereof. and a trailer which is towed by being connected to the tractor head in a state where it can rotate in a width direction of the vehicle around the connecting part, the multiple fuel tanks are arranged between the passenger compartment and a rotation area of ​​the trailer, the multiple fuel tanks include two or more fuel tanks which are arranged in a position facing the rotation area, and when viewed in a height direction of the vehicle, an end of each of the fuel tanks which is arranged in a position facing the rotation area and is closest to the rotation area is located further forward than the end of the fuel tank which is closer to the center of the width direction of the vehicle.

[0006] (1) One form is provided as a vehicle comprising a plurality of fuel tanks in which fuel is stored, and a fuel consumption unit connected to the plurality of fuel tanks and consuming the fuel supplied from the plurality of fuel tanks to obtain driving force for the vehicle, wherein the plurality of fuel tanks are arranged in a position such that the longitudinal direction of the fuel tanks is along the height direction of the vehicle. According to this type of vehicle, it is possible to increase the number of fuel tanks that can be mounted, while suppressing increases in the vehicle's longitudinal and widthwise dimensions, using a method other than stacking fuel tanks one above the other. (2) The vehicle of the above-mentioned form further includes a chassis on which the multiple fuel tanks are mounted, a passenger compartment for occupants, and a tractor head having a connectable part provided rearward of the passenger compartment and at a position in the center of the chassis in the width direction of the vehicle, and a trailer having a connecting part that is rearward of the front end and connects to the connectable part, and is connected to the tractor head in a state where it can rotate in the width direction of the vehicle around the connecting part, and the multiple fuel tanks may be arranged between the passenger compartment and the rotation area of ​​the trailer. According to this type of vehicle, it becomes possible to mount a large number of fuel tanks in the limited narrow space between the tractor head and the trailer. (3) In the vehicle of the above-described form, the fuel tank has a cylindrical main body with the longitudinal direction being along a central axis, and the multiple fuel tanks form multiple tank rows arranged in a width direction of the vehicle, the multiple tank rows are arranged in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the multiple tank rows may include a front tank row and a rear tank row adjacent in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the rear tank row may include the fuel tank arranged in a position diagonally rearward and adjacent to the fuel tank included in the front tank row. According to the vehicle of this configuration, the gap between the fuel tanks can be reduced, and therefore the mounting space for the fuel tanks can be further prevented from becoming large in the front-rear and width directions of the vehicle. (4) In the vehicle of the above configuration, the rear tank row may include a fuel tank that is included in the front tank row and is positioned diagonally rearward and in close proximity to each of two fuel tanks that are adjacent to each other in the width direction of the vehicle. According to this type of vehicle, the fuel tanks can be arranged more closely together. (5) In the vehicle of the above-described configuration, in the rearmost row of the plurality of tank rows, the fuel tanks may be arranged on both ends of the width of the vehicle, sandwiching a space in which the fuel tanks are not arranged. With this type of vehicle, the space between the fuel tanks at both ends of the rear row makes it easy to secure space for turning the trailer. Also, in order to secure the turning area for the trailer, the areas at both ends of the width of the vehicle in front of the turning area can be prevented from becoming dead space, making it possible to effectively utilize the limited space inside the vehicle. (6) In a vehicle of the above-described configuration, the multiple fuel tanks may include two or more fuel tanks arranged in a position facing the rotation area, and when viewed in the height direction of the vehicle, the end closest to the rotation area of ​​each of the fuel tanks arranged in a position facing the rotation area may be located closer to the front of the vehicle, the closer the end is to the center of the width of the vehicle. With this type of vehicle, the fuel tanks can be arranged along the outer edge of the trailer's rotation area, thereby reducing the distance between the fuel tank mounting space and the trailer's rotation area and suppressing an increase in the vehicle's fore-and-aft dimensions. (7) In a vehicle of the above configuration, the multiple fuel tanks are arranged such that, when viewed in the width direction of the vehicle, adjacent fuel tanks in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle partially overlap each other, and may also be arranged such that, when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, adjacent fuel tanks in the width direction of the vehicle partially overlap each other. According to this configuration of the vehicle, the plurality of fuel tanks can be arranged more closely together, which makes it possible to prevent the mounting space for the fuel tanks from increasing in size in the front-rear and width directions of the vehicle. The technology of the present disclosure may be realized in various forms other than a vehicle, for example, in a mounting method or structure of a fuel tank in a vehicle, a storage unit for a fuel tank in a vehicle, etc. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a vehicle according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] 1. First embodiment: FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle 10 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, arrows indicating the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, which are orthogonal to each other, are shown. The X direction corresponds to the width direction of the vehicle 10, the Y direction corresponds to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, and the Z direction corresponds to the height direction of the vehicle 10. The height direction of the vehicle 10 is a direction parallel to the vertical direction when the vehicle 10 is in a position where the width direction and the front-rear direction are horizontal. The arrows indicating the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are also shown in the drawings to be referred to later so as to correspond to FIG. 1.

[0009] The vehicle 10 is configured as a cargo vehicle. In this specification, a "cargo vehicle" refers to a vehicle whose main purpose is to transport cargo, and which has a cargo loading space behind the passenger compartment, the area of ​​which, when viewed in the height direction, is larger than that of the passenger compartment. In this specification, a configuration in which "has a loading space" includes a configuration in which a luggage compartment or a loading platform can be added so that a loading space is formed.

[0010] In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes a tractor head 11, which is a towing vehicle having a passenger compartment 13 in which passengers including a driver board, and a trailer 20, which is a towed vehicle on which cargo is loaded. In the vehicle 10, the trailer 20 is coupled to the rear of the tractor head 11, thereby forming a cargo loading space MS behind the passenger compartment 13. In this embodiment, a cargo compartment in a container 22, which will be described later, constitutes the cargo loading space MS. In this way, the tractor head 11 is configured so that a cargo compartment or a cargo bed can be added so that a loading space MS is formed behind the passenger compartment 13. Therefore, according to the definition of "cargo vehicle" in the above specification, the tractor head 11 alone without the trailer 20 coupled thereto also corresponds to a cargo vehicle.

[0011] The tractor head 11 includes a body portion 11b and a chassis 15. The body portion 11b has therein the above-mentioned passenger compartment 13 and an engine room 14 provided below the passenger compartment 13. The body portion 11b is supported at the front end of the chassis 15. The chassis 15 is composed of a pair of vehicle frames 15f arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10. The pair of vehicle frames 15f are also called side frames, and are arranged in parallel and spaced apart in the width direction. The vehicle frames 15f extend from the engine room 14 in the body portion 11b to the rear of the body portion 11b along the Y direction.

[0012] Front wheels 16 and rear wheels 17, which are the wheels of the tractor head 11, are attached to both outer sides in the X direction of the chassis 15. The front wheels 16 are located below the passenger compartment 13, and the rear wheels 17 are located near the rear end of the chassis 15. The front wheels 16 are connected to a driving force source 18 housed in the engine room 14, and are driving wheels that rotate by driving force transmitted from the driving force source 18. In this embodiment, the driving force source 18 is configured by a motor that is driven by electric power output by a fuel cell unit 40, which will be described later. The rear wheels 17 are provided in a position close to the rear end of the chassis 15.

[0013] A coupled part 19 is provided near the rear wheels 17. As shown in Fig. 2, which will be referred to later, the coupled part 19 is provided in the widthwise center of the vehicle 10 between a pair of vehicle frames 15f. The coupled part 19 is fixed to the chassis 15. A connecting part 24 of the trailer 20 is connected to the coupled part 19. The coupled part 19 is constituted by a so-called coupler.

[0014] The trailer 20 has a trailer chassis 21 to which driven wheels 23 are attached, and a container 22 supported on the trailer chassis 21. The container 22 is configured as a rectangular hollow box. The container 22 forms the loading space MS of the vehicle 10, and has an interior luggage compartment in which cargo is stored. The container 22 is configured from, for example, iron or an aluminum alloy.

[0015] A coupling part 24 is provided on the bottom surface of the container 22 to couple to the coupled part 19 of the tractor head 11 described above. The coupling part 24 is configured by a so-called kingpin. The coupling part 24 protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the container 22 behind the front end of the container 22, and is inserted from above into the center of the coupled part 19 to engage with it. As a result, the trailer 20 is towed by the tractor head 11 while being allowed to rotate in the width direction about the coupling part 24 relative to the tractor head 11. Note that in other embodiments, the container 22 may be omitted. The trailer 20 may have a loading platform that is provided with the coupled part 19 and a fastener for fastening cargo, instead of the container 22, and is placed on the trailer chassis 21.

[0016] The vehicle 10 is equipped with a plurality of fuel tanks 30 on the chassis 15, which store fuel consumed to obtain driving force for the vehicle 10. In the vehicle 10, each fuel tank 30 is equipped between the passenger compartment 13 and the trailer 20. Each fuel tank 30 has a cylindrical main body with a longitudinal direction along the central axis CX. Each fuel tank 30 is disposed in a position in which the longitudinal direction is along the height direction of the vehicle 10. In this embodiment, each fuel tank 30 has the same dimensions. However, in other embodiments, the dimensions of each fuel tank 30 may not be uniform. Each fuel tank 30 may have a different diameter or length.

[0017] In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is configured as a fuel cell vehicle, and the fuel tank 30 stores fuel gas consumed in power generation by the fuel cell described later. In this embodiment, the fuel tank 30 stores hydrogen as the fuel gas. Each fuel tank 30 is configured as a high-pressure tank having a pressure resistance of, for example, 70 MPa or more, and can store fuel gas compressed to a high pressure. Each fuel tank 30 has a configuration in which the surface of a liner, which is a resin container, is covered with a fiber-reinforced resin layer as a reinforcing layer. The liner may be made of a light metal such as aluminum instead of a resin member. The fiber-reinforced resin layer is formed by a filament winding method. The fiber-reinforced resin layer is made of reinforcing fibers such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) wound around the outer surface of the liner, and a thermosetting resin that bonds the reinforcing fibers together.

[0018] A nozzle 31 is provided at an end in the longitudinal direction of each fuel tank 30. A pipe for circulating fuel is connected to the nozzle 31. Illustration and detailed description of the pipe are omitted. The nozzle 31 is also provided with an on-off valve (not shown) that controls the inflow / outflow of fuel gas to the fuel tank 30, and a fusible plug valve (not shown) that melts when the temperature reaches or exceeds a certain level to allow gas to leak out of the fuel tank 30.

[0019] In the vehicle 10, the fuel tank 30 is stored in a storage section 32. The storage section 32 is formed of a hollow box. The storage section 32 is fixed on the chassis 15 between the body section 11b and the container 22, that is, between the passenger compartment 13 and the loading space MS. The storage section 32 is formed of, for example, ABS resin or fiber reinforced plastic. In other embodiments, the storage section 32 may be omitted.

[0020] Each fuel tank 30 is supported by a support member 33 provided at the lower end within the storage section 32 and receiving the lower end of the fuel tank 30. Furthermore, each fuel tank 30 is fixed within the storage section 32 in a state in which the fuel tanks 30 are connected to each other by fastening members 34. The support members 33 and the fastening members 34 increase the stability of the arrangement of the fuel tanks 30 within the storage section 32. In another embodiment, each fuel tank 30 may be supported within the storage section 32 by a frame formed by assembling frame members. The arrangement of the fuel tanks 30 within the storage section 32 will be described later.

[0021] The vehicle 10 includes a fuel cell unit 40 including a fuel cell as a power source. The fuel cell unit 40 is a unit that includes a fuel cell and devices that are integrally attached to the fuel cell body. The "devices that are integrally connected to the fuel cell body" include, for example, a case that houses the fuel cell, a frame that supports the fuel cell, sensors, valves, a pump, and piping connection members. The fuel cell unit 40 is mounted in an engine room 14. The fuel cell unit 40 is supported on a chassis 15 via a mount. In the vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the power output by the fuel cell unit 40 is mainly supplied to a driving force source 18 and used for running the vehicle 10. In addition to the driving force source 18, the vehicle 10 may be configured to include an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force for the vehicle 10, and to obtain a driving force to supplement the driving force generated by the internal combustion engine from the driving force source 18. In addition, the power output by the fuel cell unit 40 may be used for electrical equipment in the vehicle 10, or for external power supply, in addition to running the vehicle 10.

[0022] In this embodiment, the fuel cell in the fuel cell unit 40 is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, configured as a fuel cell stack in which multiple single cells are stacked. Each single cell has a membrane electrode assembly in which electrodes are arranged on both sides of an electrolyte membrane, and is an element capable of generating electricity by itself. The fuel cell mounted on the vehicle 10 is not limited to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. In other embodiments, various types of fuel cells, such as a solid oxide fuel cell, can be used as the fuel cell.

[0023] A fuel cell generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. As described above, in this embodiment, hydrogen stored in each fuel tank 30 is used as the fuel gas. In addition, oxygen contained in air taken in by a compressor (not shown) installed in the engine room 14 is used as the oxidant gas. In the vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the fuel cell of the fuel cell unit 40 functions as a fuel consuming section that consumes the fuel stored in the fuel tank 30 to obtain driving force for the vehicle 10. Note that in other embodiments, at least a portion of the fuel tank 30 may store an oxidant gas instead of a fuel gas.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle 10 as viewed from above. For convenience, in Fig. 2, the outer peripheral contours of the storage section 32 and the trailer 20 are shown by dashed lines, and the fuel tank 30 in the storage section 32 is shown by solid lines. Also, in Fig. 2, the support members 33 and fastening members 34 are omitted from illustration.

[0025] As described above, the container 22 of the trailer 20 can rotate in the width direction of the vehicle 10 around the coupling part 24 with respect to the tractor head 11. In FIG. 2, the movement trajectory MT of the tip part of the container 22 when the container 22 rotates is illustrated by a two-dot chain line. The area on the coupling part 24 side from the movement trajectory MT corresponds to the rotation area RA indicating the area in which the trailer 20 rotates. In the vehicle 10, as described above, the fuel tank 30 is mounted in a position in which its longitudinal direction is aligned with the height direction of the vehicle 10. This makes it possible to arrange multiple fuel tanks 30 in a limited narrow space between the body part 11b having the passenger compartment 13 and the rotation area RA of the trailer 20. In addition, it is possible to easily increase the number of fuel tanks 30 mounted while suppressing an increase in the dimensions of the vehicle 10 in the front-rear direction and the width direction.

[0026] In the vehicle 10, the multiple fuel tanks 30 are arranged such that, when viewed in the width direction of the vehicle 10, adjacent fuel tanks 30 partially overlap each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10. Also, when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, adjacent fuel tanks 30 partially overlap each other in the width direction of the vehicle 10. This allows the multiple fuel tanks 30 to be arranged more closely together, and prevents the mounting space for the fuel tanks 30 from becoming larger in the front-rear and width directions of the vehicle 10.

[0027] In the vehicle 10, a plurality of tank rows TR, in which a plurality of fuel tanks 30 are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle 10, are arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10. Of two tank rows TR adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, the fuel tank 30 included in the rear tank row TR is arranged in a position close to the diagonal rear of the fuel tank 30 included in the front tank row TR. More specifically, the fuel tank 30 included in the rear tank row TR is arranged in a position close to the diagonal rear of each of the two fuel tanks 30 arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction of the vehicle 10 in the front tank row TR. Note that the concept of "close position" includes not only a position where the fuel tanks 30 are actually in contact, but also a position that is close enough to be in contact. This arrangement reduces the gap between the fuel tanks 30, and further prevents the mounting space for the fuel tanks 30 from becoming large in the front-rear direction and width direction of the vehicle 10.

[0028] The multiple fuel tanks 30 mounted on the vehicle 10 include two or more fuel tanks 30 arranged at a position facing the rotation area RA. Here, "a position facing the rotation area RA" means a position that is not blocked by other fuel tanks 30 from the rotation area RA. Therefore, even if it is blocked by the wall of the storage section 32, it corresponds to "a position facing the rotation area RA". In the vehicle 10, when viewed in the height direction of the vehicle 10, the end P closest to the rotation area RA of each of the fuel tanks 30 arranged at a position facing the rotation area RA is located closer to the center of the vehicle 10 in the width direction. The end P is a part located at the intersection of a virtual straight line VL connecting the central axis CX and the connecting portion 24 of the fuel tank 30 arranged to face the rotation area RA and the outer circumferential contour of the fuel tank 30.

[0029] According to the arrangement of the fuel tanks 30 in which the end P is located as described above, the mounting space of the fuel tanks 30 when viewed in the height direction of the vehicle 10 is formed so that the rear end of the mounting space of the fuel tanks 30 is recessed toward the front of the vehicle 10 at the center of the width direction of the vehicle 10. The rear wall of the storage section 32 is formed with a curved surface 32s that curves so that the portion closer to the center of the width direction of the vehicle 10 is positioned further forward of the vehicle 10 in accordance with the shape of the mounting space of the fuel tanks 30. In this way, in the vehicle 10, the fuel tanks 30 are arranged along the rotation area RA of the trailer 20, so that the distance between the mounting space of the fuel tanks 30 and the rotation area RA of the trailer 20 can be reduced. Therefore, the mounting space of the fuel tanks 30 is prevented from increasing the dimension of the vehicle 10 in the front-rear direction.

[0030] In addition, in the vehicle 10, in the rear end row TRe located at the rearmost position of the tank rows TR, two fuel tanks 30 are arranged at both ends in the width direction of the vehicle 10, sandwiching a space where no fuel tanks 30 are arranged. By having a space sandwiched between the fuel tanks 30 at both ends of the rear end row TRe, it is easy to secure a space for turning the trailer 20. Therefore, by mounting the fuel tank 30 between the passenger compartment 13 and the turning area RA, the turning of the trailer 20 is prevented from being hindered. In addition, in order to secure the turning area RA of the trailer 20, it is possible to prevent the areas at both ends in the width direction of the vehicle 10 in front of the turning area RA from becoming dead spaces, and the limited space in the vehicle 10 can be effectively utilized.

[0031] As described above, according to the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment, the fuel tank 30 is mounted in a position in which its longitudinal direction is aligned with the height direction of the vehicle 10. Therefore, it is possible to easily increase the number of fuel tanks 30 mounted in a limited space within the vehicle 10 while suppressing an increase in the dimensions of the vehicle 10 in the front-rear and width directions.

[0032] 2. Second embodiment: FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the vehicle 10A of the second embodiment. The configuration of the vehicle 10A of the second embodiment is almost the same as that of the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment, except that the fuel tank 30 is mounted in a different manner as described below. In the vehicle 10A of the second embodiment, a tank row TRa is stored in a storage section 32. The fuel tanks 30 constituting the tank row TRa include a first fuel tank 30a having a large diameter and a second fuel tank 30b having a small diameter. The first fuel tank 30a is disposed at both ends of the tank row TRa, and the second fuel tank 30b is sandwiched between the first fuel tanks 30a at both ends. When viewed in the height direction of the vehicle 10A, the end P of each of the fuel tanks 30a and 30b closest to the rotation area RA is located closer to the front side of the vehicle 10A as it is closer to the center of the width direction of the vehicle 10A. Therefore, according to the vehicle 10A of the second embodiment, similarly to the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the distance between the mounting space of the fuel tanks 30a, 30b and the turning area RA of the trailer 20. In addition, according to the vehicle 10A of the second embodiment, it is possible to achieve various operational effects similar to those described in the first embodiment.

[0033] 3. Third embodiment: 4 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle 10B according to the third embodiment. The configuration of the vehicle 10B according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that of the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, except for points not specifically described below.

[0034] The vehicle 10B of the third embodiment is configured as a cargo vehicle in which a body portion 11b having a passenger compartment 13 and a loading platform 26 having a loading space MS above are integrated. In the example of Fig. 4, a container 22 having a loading space MS therein is mounted on the loading platform 26. The small container 22s may be omitted.

[0035] In the vehicle 10B, a storage section 32 is provided between the passenger compartment 13 and the loading space MS. In the storage section 32, a plurality of fuel tanks 30 are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle 10B with their longitudinal directions aligned along the height direction of the vehicle 10B. According to the vehicle 10B of the third embodiment, the arrangement of the fuel tanks 30 in this manner makes it easy to increase the number of fuel tanks 30 mounted in the limited space between the passenger compartment 13 and the loading space MS. In addition, according to the vehicle 10B of the third embodiment, it is possible to achieve various operational effects similar to those described in the first embodiment.

[0036] 4. Fourth embodiment: FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle 10C of the fourth embodiment. The vehicle 10C of the fourth embodiment is configured as a fuel cell vehicle of a normal passenger car type that runs by driving the driving power source 18 with the output power of the fuel cell unit 40. In the vehicle 10C, a passenger compartment 13, an engine room 14, and a loading space MS are accommodated in a main body 50. In the vehicle 10C, a plurality of fuel tanks 30 similar to those described in the first embodiment are mounted in the main body 50 with their longitudinal direction aligned with the height direction of the vehicle 10C. The fuel tanks 30 are mounted behind the passenger compartment 13. Each fuel tank 30 is fixed to the main body 50 by a support member 33 and a fastening member 34. The fuel tanks 30 are installed at positions close to both ends in the width direction of the vehicle 10C so as not to obstruct the driver's rear view. However, the fuel tanks 30 may be arranged so as to obstruct the driver's rear view. In this case, it is preferable that the configuration is such that the driver can see the rear using a rear camera or the like. According to the vehicle 10C of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to easily increase the number of fuel tanks 30 mounted in the limited space inside the main body 50. In addition, according to the vehicle 10C of the fourth embodiment, it is possible to achieve various operational effects similar to those described in the first embodiment.

[0037] 5. Other embodiments: The various configurations described in the above embodiment can be modified, for example, as follows. All of the other embodiments described below are positioned as examples of modes for implementing the technology of the present disclosure, similar to the above embodiment.

[0038] Alternative embodiment 1: The vehicle 10 does not have to be configured as a fuel cell vehicle. The vehicle 10 may be configured as, for example, a natural gas vehicle. In this case, natural gas is stored in the fuel tank 30, and the vehicle 10 is equipped with an engine that is driven by burning the natural gas stored in the fuel tank 30 as a fuel consumption unit. The vehicle 10 may also be configured as a hydrogen vehicle in which hydrogen is stored in the fuel tank 30 and a hydrogen engine is installed as a fuel consumption unit. In addition, in such a configuration, the vehicle 10 may not have a fuel cell unit 40. The fuel stored in the fuel tank 30 is not limited to gas. The fuel tank 30 may store liquid fuel such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, and diesel.

[0039] Alternative embodiment 2: Fuel tank 30 is not limited to a configuration having a cylindrical main body with the direction along central axis CX as the longitudinal direction. Fuel tank 30 may be configured in any shape having a longitudinal direction, for example, may be configured in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, or may be configured in a polygonal prism shape with the height direction as the longitudinal direction.

[0040] Alternative embodiment 3: The arrangement of the fuel tanks 30 is not limited to the arrangement described in the above embodiment. For example, in the above first embodiment, the multiple fuel tanks 30 may be arranged in a lattice pattern such that the central axes are aligned in a row in the front-rear and width directions of the vehicle 10. Also, the fuel tanks 30 may not be arranged in close proximity to each other, but may be arranged at a distance from each other. In the above first embodiment, the number of tank rows TR is not limited to the three rows shown in FIG. 2. The tank rows TR may be configured with two rows, or four or more rows. When there are four or more tank rows TR, in any two tank rows TR adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, the fuel tank 30 included in the rear tank row TR may be arranged in a close position diagonally rearward of the fuel tank 30 included in the front tank row TR. Also, the rear tank row TR may include only one fuel tank 30 arranged in a close position diagonally rearward of the fuel tank 30 included in the front tank row TR. In the above second embodiment, a fuel tank having a different diameter may be further added to the tank row TRa. In addition, a plurality of tank rows TRa may be provided. In the third and fourth embodiments, the arrangement configurations of the fuel tanks 30 described in the first, second, and other embodiments may be applied.

[0041] 6.Other: The technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. In addition, the technical features are not limited to those described as not essential in this specification, and if the technical features are not described as essential in this specification, they can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10...vehicle, 10A...vehicle, 10B...vehicle, 10C...vehicle, 11...tractor head, 11b...body part, 13...passenger compartment, 14...engine room, 15...chassis, 15f...vehicle frame, 16...front wheels, 17...rear wheels, 18...driving force source, 19...coupled part, 20...trailer, 21...trailer chassis, 22...container, 23...driven wheels, 24...coupling part, 26...cargo bed, 30...fuel tank , 30a...fuel tank, 30a...first fuel tank, 30b...second fuel tank, 31...cap, 32...storage section, 32s...curved surface, 33...support member, 34...fastening member, 40...fuel cell unit, 50...main body, CX...center axis, MS...loading space, MT...movement trajectory, P...end, RA...rotation area, TR...tank row, TRa...tank row, TRe...rear end row, VL...virtual straight line

Claims

1. A vehicle, A plurality of fuel tanks in which fuel is stored; a fuel consumption unit connected to the plurality of fuel tanks and configured to consume the fuel supplied from the plurality of fuel tanks in order to obtain driving force for the vehicle; Equipped with The plurality of fuel tanks are arranged with a longitudinal direction of the fuel tank aligned along a height direction of the vehicle, moreover, a tractor head having a chassis on which the plurality of fuel tanks are mounted, a passenger compartment in which a passenger sits, and a coupled portion provided at a rear position of the passenger compartment and at a central position of the chassis in a width direction of the vehicle; a trailer having a coupling portion that is coupled to the coupled portion and is located rearward of a front end portion, the trailer being coupled to the tractor head and towed in a state in which the trailer can rotate around the coupling portion in a width direction of the vehicle; Equipped with the plurality of fuel tanks are arranged between the passenger compartment and a rotation area of ​​the trailer; The fuel tank has a cylindrical main body portion whose longitudinal direction is along a central axis, The plurality of fuel tanks have a configuration in which a tank row arranged in a width direction of the vehicle is arranged in a plurality of tank rows in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, The rear row of fuel tanks are disposed in close proximity to and obliquely rearward of the adjacent front row of fuel tanks, the plurality of fuel tanks include two or more of the fuel tanks arranged in a position facing the rotation area, a fuel tank disposed in a position facing the rotation area when viewed in a height direction of the vehicle, the end closest to the rotation area of ​​each of the fuel tanks being located closer to a center in a width direction of the vehicle, the more forward the end of the fuel tank is located on the vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, A vehicle, wherein the rear row fuel tank includes a fuel tank disposed in close proximity to and diagonally rearward of each of two adjacent fuel tanks in a front row that are adjacent to each other in a width direction of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, A vehicle, wherein in a rear end row located furthest to the rear among the plurality of tank rows, the fuel tanks are arranged only on both ends in a width direction of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The plurality of fuel tanks are arranged such that, when viewed in the width direction of the vehicle, adjacent fuel tanks in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle partially overlap each other, and when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, adjacent fuel tanks in the width direction of the vehicle partially overlap each other.

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