Storage case for fuel containers, and vehicle

Abstract

Provided are: a storage case for storing a plurality of relatively small fuel containers, the storage case being capable of sufficiently protecting the fuel containers against impact; and a vehicle provided with said storage case. The storage case for fuel containers according to the present disclosure stores a plurality of cylindrical fuel containers spaced apart from each other with a gap therebetween, and supports the fuel containers at three or more points. The storage case includes: a first case having a top surface whose shape has repeated raises and recesses; a second case having a bottom surface whose shape has repeated raises and recesses; and a connection part that is a portion of the storage case in which a recess of the raises and recesses of the first case and a recess of the raises and recesses of the second case are close to each other in the vertical direction. The connection part is disposed vertically below the outer edge of the storage case.

Description

Fuel container storage case and vehicle

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel container case and a vehicle equipped with the case.

[0002] In recent years, fuel cell vehicles equipped with fuel cells have become known as vehicles whose primary purpose is to reduce emissions of environmentally hazardous gases such as carbon dioxide in order to achieve environmental goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Such vehicles are equipped with multiple fuel containers that store fuel gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) under high pressure, and the fuel gas filled in the multiple fuel containers is supplied to fuel cells to generate electrical energy, which is then used to drive a drive source. Here, the multiple fuel containers installed in such fuel cell vehicles are often housed in a storage case in consideration of collision safety.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a box-shaped storage case that houses a plurality of arranged fuel containers that are cylindrical and have an opening at at least one end in the axial direction, and a connecting member that is connected to each opening of the fuel containers to connect the plurality of fuel containers and has a flow path that interconnects the interiors of the fuel containers.

[0004] JP 2012-081807 A

[0005] Generally, large fuel containers with relatively large diameters, such as those installed in mass-produced fuel cell vehicles, are designed to be strong enough to withstand high internal pressures, thereby providing sufficient strength against external impacts, such as those that occur during a vehicle collision. On the other hand, small fuel containers with relatively small diameters, such as those described in Patent Document 1, are designed to be thinner than large fuel containers because they experience smaller hoop stresses (stresses acting in the circumferential direction) when internal pressure is applied compared to large fuel containers. For this reason, small fuel containers may lack sufficient strength against external impacts, such as those that occur during a vehicle collision. Therefore, in recent years, there has been a demand for storage cases that can adequately protect small fuel containers against external impacts.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a storage case that can store multiple relatively small fuel containers and can adequately protect the fuel containers from impact, and a vehicle equipped with the storage case.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a fuel container storage case that stores a plurality of cylindrical fuel containers spaced apart from each other and supports the fuel containers at three or more points, the case comprising: a first case having a top surface with a shape of repeated unevenness; a second case having a bottom surface with a shape of repeated unevenness; and a connecting portion that is a portion of the storage case where the concave portions of the concave portions of the first case and the concave portions of the concave portions of the second case approach each other in the vertical direction, and the connecting portion is arranged vertically below the outer edge of the storage case.

[0008] As described above, the present disclosure makes it possible to provide a storage case that can store multiple relatively small fuel containers and that can adequately protect the fuel containers from impact, and a vehicle equipped with the storage case.

[0009] 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell vehicle. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell vehicle. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a casing, and is a cross-sectional view of line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing only the first case in the cross-section of line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing only the second case in the cross-section of line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining a manner in which the casing deforms. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining a manner in which the casing deforms. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of region E in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a simplified example of the configuration of a casing according to a second embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a casing according to a second embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a simplified example of the configuration of a casing according to a third embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of a casing according to a modified embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of a casing according to a modified embodiment.

[0010] 1. Embodiments A preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the dimensions and scale of each part in the drawings may differ from the actual dimensions. The drawings may be shown schematically to facilitate understanding. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments unless otherwise specified to limit the present disclosure.

[0011] In the following description, mutually orthogonal X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are common to all figures (FIGS. 1 to 14) exemplified in the following description. As exemplified in FIG. 1, one direction along the X-axis as viewed from an arbitrary point is referred to as the X1 direction, and the opposite direction to the X1 direction is referred to as the X2 direction. Similarly, mutually opposite directions along the Y-axis from an arbitrary point are referred to as the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction, and mutually opposite directions along the Z-axis from an arbitrary point are referred to as the Z1 direction and the Z2 direction. The X-Y plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis corresponds to a horizontal plane. The X-axis is an axis along the vehicle length direction of the fuel cell vehicle, and the Y-axis is an axis along the vehicle width direction of the fuel cell vehicle. The Z-axis is an axis along the vertical direction (vehicle height direction). The Z1 direction corresponds to the upward vertical direction (vertically upward), and the Z2 direction corresponds to the downward vertical direction (vertically downward).

[0012] The storage case of the present disclosure is applied to, for example, a fuel cell vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the storage case of the present disclosure stores multiple high-pressure hydrogen tanks filled with hydrogen fuel will be described. The high-pressure hydrogen tanks (hereinafter referred to as "hydrogen tanks") are small fuel tanks with diameters that are relatively smaller than the large fuel containers installed in mass-produced fuel cell vehicles, for example. Such small fuel tanks need to be stored in a storage case to be adequately protected against external impacts, for example, during a vehicle collision.

[0013] 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell vehicle 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 1 is a side view showing a simplified example of the configuration of the fuel cell vehicle 1, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing part of an example of the body frame of the fuel cell vehicle 1. The fuel cell vehicle 1 is an example of a "vehicle."

[0014] The fuel cell vehicle 1 has side frames 2, a floor panel 3, a storage case 10, and a storage space 25. As shown in Figure 2, the side frames 2 are a pair of frames extending from the front to the rear of the fuel cell vehicle 1, and are made up of a front side frame 21, a floor side frame 22, and a rear side frame 23.

[0015] The storage case 10 houses a plurality of cylindrical hydrogen tanks F extending in the X-axis direction, and is attached to the fuel cell vehicle 1. Specifically, the storage case 10 is fastened to the floor side frames 22 of the side frames 2. The storage space 25 will be described later.

[0016] [Configuration of the storage case] Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example configuration of the storage case 10 according to this embodiment, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 3. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the storage case 10 stores and seals each of the multiple hydrogen tanks F. This prevents the hydrogen tanks F from colliding with each other even if an impact is applied to the storage case 10.

[0017] The storage case 10 has a storage case main body 11, an outer edge 12, and protrusions 13 and 14. The storage case main body 11 is made up of a plurality of storage sections 111 and 112 and a plurality of connecting sections 15. The plurality of storage sections 111 and 112 will be described later.

[0018] 4, the multiple connecting portions 15 are disposed vertically below the outer edge 12 when the housing case 10 is viewed in the X1 direction. As shown in the figure, it is preferable that the vertical distance between each of the multiple connecting portions 15 and the outer edge 12 increases stepwise from the outer edge 12 side toward the center in the Y-axis direction. However, the vertical position of each of the multiple connecting portions 15 is not particularly limited as long as it is vertically below the outer edge 12.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting portion 15 has a plurality of fastening holes 15H. The plurality of fastening holes 15H are provided at intervals in the X-axis direction as shown in the figure. The connecting portion 15 is a portion of the housing case 10 where a recess 116R (indicated by a thick solid line in Fig. 5) of a first case 110 (described later) and a recess 126R (indicated by a thick solid line in Fig. 6) of a second case 120 (described later) approach each other in the Z-axis direction.

[0020] 3, the outer edge 12 is a rib that surrounds the periphery of the housing case body 11 around the X axis and protrudes from the periphery. The outer edge 12 has a plurality of fastening holes 12H. As shown in the figure, the plurality of fastening holes 12H are provided at intervals in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0021] 3 and 4, the protrusion 13 is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer edge 12 in the Y1 direction and has a fastening hole 13H. Similarly, the protrusion 14 is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer edge 12 in the Y2 direction and has a fastening hole 14H.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the protrusions 13, 14 according to this embodiment are fastened to the floor side frame 22 of the fuel cell vehicle 1 with bolts B. Here, in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, a plurality of storage spaces 25 are formed by fastening the storage case 10 to the floor side frame 22. The storage spaces 25 are spaces defined by the floor panel 3 and the recess 116R (see Fig. 5) of the first case 110 that faces the floor panel 3.

[0023] The formation of a storage space 25 between the floor panel 3 and the storage case 10 allows, for example, piping or harnesses to be passed through the storage space 25. This allows the storage case 10 to protect the piping or harnesses (not shown) passing through the storage space 25. In other words, the storage case 10 according to this embodiment not only protects the hydrogen tank F from impact, but also protects the piping or harnesses.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, multiple elastic members 20 are interposed between the housing case 10 and each hydrogen tank F. The housing case 10 supports each hydrogen tank F at three or more points via the elastic members 20. This prevents each hydrogen tank F from moving when an external impact is applied to the housing case 10, preventing damage to the hydrogen tanks F. The number of elastic members 20 interposed between the housing case 10 and each hydrogen tank F is not limited to the five shown in Figure 4, and is not particularly limited as long as it is three or more. In other words, the support points at which the housing case 10 supports each hydrogen tank F via the elastic members 20 are not limited to the five points shown in Figure 4, and are not particularly limited as long as it is three or more.

[0025] The storage case 10 according to this embodiment is made up of a first case 110 and a second case 120. The first case 110 and the second case 120 are separate bodies. The first case 110 and the second case 120 are fastened together by fastening members (not shown) that pass through the fastening holes 15H of the connecting portion 15 and the fastening holes 12H of the outer edge 12. This prevents the first case 110 and the second case 120 from separating when an impact is applied to the storage case 10 from the outside, preventing the hydrogen tank F from slipping out of the storage case 10. The fastening members are not particularly limited and are typically bolts.

[0026] Next, the first case 110 and the second case 120 will be described in detail.

[0027] (First Case) Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 3, showing only the first case 110. The first case 110 has a plurality of storage sections 111, a rib 121, a plurality of connecting sections 151, protrusions 131 and 141, and a top surface 116.

[0028] The multiple storage sections 111 extend in the X-axis direction and are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. The cross-sectional shape of the storage section 111 as viewed in the X1 direction has a curved shape that is convex in the Z1 direction, as shown in Figure 5. Each of the multiple storage sections 111 covers a corresponding one of the multiple hydrogen tanks F in the Z2 direction, as shown in the same figure.

[0029] The housing portion 111 has a plurality of elastic members 20. As shown in Fig. 5, the elastic members 20 are provided on the inner surface of the housing portion 111. The elastic members 20 extend in the X-axis direction and are configured in a plate shape. The elastic members 20 are not particularly limited, but may be made of rubber, for example.

[0030] The multiple connecting portions 151 extend in the X-axis direction and are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. The connecting portions 151 are provided between adjacent storage portions 111 in the Y-axis direction and are configured integrally with these storage portions 111. The connecting portions 151 have multiple fastening holes 151H. The multiple fastening holes 151H are spaced apart in the X-axis direction.

[0031] 5, the multiple connecting portions 151 are arranged in the Z2 direction relative to the rib 121. As shown in the figure, it is preferable that the vertical distance between each of the multiple connecting portions 151 and the rib 121 increases stepwise from the rib 121 side toward the center in the Y-axis direction. However, the vertical position of each of the multiple connecting portions 151 is not particularly limited as long as it is vertically below the rib 121.

[0032] The rib 121 surrounds the periphery of the integrated assembly of the multiple accommodating portions 111 and the multiple connecting portions 151 and protrudes from the periphery. The rib 121 has multiple fastening holes 121H. The multiple fastening holes 121H are provided at intervals in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The rib 121 is configured integrally with the integrated assembly of the multiple accommodating portions 111 and the multiple connecting portions 151. In other words, the first case 110 is an integrated assembly of the multiple accommodating portions 111, the multiple connecting portions 151, and the rib 121.

[0033] 5, the protrusion 131 is a protrusion that protrudes from the rib 121 in the Y1 direction and has a fastening hole 131H. Similarly, the protrusion 141 is a protrusion that protrudes from the rib 121 in the Y2 direction and has a fastening hole 141H.

[0034] The top surface 116 is the surface of the first case 110 facing the Z1 direction. The top surface 116 is made up of surfaces of the multiple storage sections 111 facing the Z1 direction and surfaces of the multiple connecting sections 151 facing the Z1 direction. When the first case 110 is viewed in the X1 direction, the shape of the top surface 116 has repeated concave and convex portions in the Y-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 5 . For this reason, recesses 116R are formed on the top surface 116 at intervals in the Y-axis direction. The recesses 116R are the surfaces of the top surface 116 indicated by thick solid lines in FIG. 5 .

[0035] The material constituting first case 110 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, aluminum. Alternatively, first case 110 may be formed by welding together steel plates that have been processed into a predetermined shape.

[0036] (Second Case) Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 3, showing only the second case 120. The second case 120 has a plurality of storage sections 112, a rib 122, a plurality of connecting sections 152, protrusions 132 and 142, and a bottom surface 126.

[0037] The multiple storage sections 112 extend in the X-axis direction and are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. The cross-sectional shape of the storage section 112 when viewed in the X1 direction has a curved shape that is convex in the Z2 direction, as shown in Figure 6. As shown in the figure, each of the multiple storage sections 112 covers a corresponding one of the multiple hydrogen tanks F in the Z1 direction.

[0038] The housing portion 112 has a plurality of elastic members 20. As shown in Fig. 6, the elastic members 20 are provided on the inner surface of the housing portion 112. The elastic members 20 extend in the X-axis direction and are configured in a plate shape. The elastic members 20 are not particularly limited, but may be made of rubber, for example.

[0039] The multiple connecting portions 152 extend in the X-axis direction and are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. The connecting portions 152 are provided between adjacent storage portions 112 in the Y-axis direction and are configured integrally with these storage portions 112. The connecting portions 152 have multiple fastening holes 152H. The multiple fastening holes 152H are spaced apart in the X-axis direction.

[0040] The fastening hole 152H communicates with the fastening hole 151H provided in the connecting portion 151 of the first case 110. The fastening hole 152H constitutes the fastening hole 15H together with the fastening hole 151H. That is, the fastening hole 15H is made up of the fastening hole 151H and the fastening hole 152H.

[0041] 6, the multiple connecting portions 152 are disposed in the Z2 direction relative to the rib 122. As shown in the figure, it is preferable that the vertical distance between each of the multiple connecting portions 152 and the rib 122 increases stepwise from the rib 122 side toward the center in the Y-axis direction. However, the vertical position of each of the multiple connecting portions 152 is not particularly limited as long as it is vertically below the rib 122.

[0042] The connecting portion 152 constitutes the connecting portion 15 together with the connecting portion 151 of the first case 110. That is, the connecting portion 15 of the storage case 10 is made up of the connecting portion 151 of the first case 110 and the connecting portion 152 of the second case 120.

[0043] The rib 122 surrounds and projects from the periphery of the integrated assembly of the plurality of accommodating portions 112 and the plurality of connecting portions 152. The rib 122 has a plurality of fastening holes 122H. The plurality of fastening holes 122H are provided at intervals in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0044] The fastening hole 122H communicates with the fastening hole 121H provided in the rib 121 of the first case 110. The fastening hole 122H constitutes the fastening hole 12H together with the fastening hole 121H. That is, the fastening hole 12H is made up of the fastening hole 121H and the fastening hole 122H.

[0045] The rib 122 is formed integrally with the integrated body of the multiple storage sections 112 and the multiple connecting sections 152. In other words, the second case 120 is an integrated body of the multiple storage sections 112, the multiple connecting sections 152, and the rib 122. The rib 122 forms the outer edge 12 together with the rib 121 of the second case 120. In other words, the outer edge 12 of the storage case 10 is made up of the rib 121 of the first case 110 and the rib 122 of the second case 120.

[0046] 6, the protrusion 132 is a projection that protrudes in the Y1 direction from the rib 122 and has a fastening hole 132H. The fastening hole 132H communicates with the fastening hole 131H of the protrusion 131 provided in the first case 110. The fastening hole 132H and the fastening hole 131H constitute the fastening hole 13H. That is, the fastening hole 13H is made up of the fastening hole 131H and the fastening hole 132H.

[0047] The protrusion 132 constitutes the protrusion 13 together with the protrusion 131 provided on the first case 110. In other words, the protrusion 13 of the storage case 10 is made up of the protrusion 131 of the first case 110 and the protrusion 132 of the second case 120.

[0048] 6, the protrusion 142 is a projection that protrudes in the Y2 direction from the rib 122 and has a fastening hole 142H. The fastening hole 142H communicates with the fastening hole 141H of the protrusion 141 provided in the first case 110. The fastening hole 142H and the fastening hole 141H constitute the fastening hole 14H. That is, the fastening hole 14H is made up of the fastening hole 141H and the fastening hole 142H.

[0049] The protrusion 142 constitutes the protrusion 14 together with the protrusion 141 provided on the first case 110. In other words, the protrusion 14 of the storage case 10 is made up of the protrusion 141 of the first case 110 and the protrusion 142 of the second case 120.

[0050] The bottom surface 126 is the surface of the second case 120 facing the Z2 direction. The bottom surface 126 is made up of the surfaces of the multiple storage sections 112 facing the Z2 direction and the surfaces of the multiple connecting sections 152 facing the Z2 direction. When the second case 120 is viewed in the X1 direction, the shape of the bottom surface 126 has a shape with repeated concaves and convexes in the Y-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 6 . Therefore, recesses 126R are formed on the bottom surface 126 at intervals in the Y-axis direction. The recesses 126R are the surfaces of the bottom surface 126 indicated by thick solid lines in FIG. 6 .

[0051] The material constituting the second case 120 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, aluminum. Alternatively, the second case 120 may be formed by welding together steel plates that have been processed into a predetermined shape.

[0052] [Regarding deformation of the housing case] Figures 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the manner in which the housing case 10 deforms, and are diagrams that simply show a cross section of the housing case 10. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the housing case 10 before deformation, and Figure 8 is a diagram showing the housing case 10 after deformation. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of area E in Figure 8. Note that in Figures 7 to 9, the elastic member 20, protrusions 13 and 14, and hydrogen tank F are not shown.

[0053] As described above, in the housing case 10 according to this embodiment, each of the multiple connecting portions 15 is positioned vertically below the outer edge 12 (see FIG. 4 ). Therefore, when an impact is applied to the housing case 10 in the Y-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 9 , the spacing between the recesses 116R becomes narrower than before deformation, and the spacing between the recesses 126R becomes wider than before deformation, becoming a spacing W1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8 , the entire housing case 10 bends, and the impact applied to the housing case 10 is dissipated in the Z2 direction. That is, because each connecting portion 15 is positioned vertically below the outer edge 12, the housing case 10 can dissipate the impact in the Z2 direction even when an impact is applied in the Y-axis direction. This prevents the impact applied to the housing case 10 from propagating to each hydrogen tank F, thereby adequately protecting each hydrogen tank F from the impact.

[0054] Second Embodiment Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a simplified configuration example of a storage case 100 according to a second embodiment. Fig. 11 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the storage case 100. In the following description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted or simplified.

[0055] The storage case 100 has the same configuration as the storage case 10 according to the first embodiment, except that the first case 110 and the second case 120 are integrally formed, an integral body 230 of these is open in the X1 direction and the X2 direction, and the openings are closed by first and second sealing members 231, 232. Note that the outer edge 12 and the protruding portions 13 and 14 are not shown in Fig. 10, and the protruding portions 13 and 14 are not shown in Fig. 11.

[0056] 10 and 11 , the housing 100 has a one-piece body 230, a first sealing member 231, and a second sealing member 232, and is configured to be separable into three parts. The first sealing member 231 is a columnar body extending in the Y-axis direction and covers one longitudinal end of the one-piece body 230. The first sealing member 231 is provided on an end surface 230S of the one-piece body 230 facing the X1 direction, and closes the opening O1. There are no particular limitations on the means for connecting the first sealing member 231 and the one-piece body 230, and welding, for example, may be used.

[0057] As shown in Figure 11, the first sealing member 231 has multiple elastic members 231E corresponding to each of the multiple hydrogen tanks F. The elastic members 231E bias the hydrogen tank F in the X2 direction so that the end face FS of the hydrogen tank F is always in contact with the wall portion 233. This restricts movement of each hydrogen tank F in the X-axis direction. The wall portion 233 is a plate member that fills the gap between the hydrogen tank F and the second sealing member 232, but may be omitted if necessary. There are no particular restrictions on the elastic members 231E, but they are typically springs.

[0058] The second sealing member 232 is a columnar body extending in the Y-axis direction, and covers the other longitudinal end of the integrated body 230. The second sealing member 232 closes the opening O2 of the integrated body 230. There are no particular limitations on the means for connecting the second sealing member 232 and the integrated body 230, and welding, for example, may be used.

[0059] The first sealing member 231 and the second sealing member 232 cover the integrated body 230 from both the X1 direction and the X2 direction, thereby sealing the space in the integrated body 230 that houses each hydrogen tank F.

[0060] The first and second sealing members 231, 232 are preferably made of a flexible material such as hard rubber, so that when an impact is applied to the housing case 100 in the Y-axis direction, the first and second sealing members 231, 232 can bend in response to the bending of the integrated body 230 as shown in FIG.

[0061] Similar to the storage case 10 of the first embodiment, the storage case 100 of the second embodiment has each of the multiple connecting portions 15 positioned vertically below the outer edge 12. Therefore, if the first and second sealing members 231, 232 are capable of deforming in accordance with the deformation of the integrated body 230, the same effect as the storage case 10 (adequate protection of each hydrogen tank F from impact by bending vertically downward when an impact is applied) can be obtained.

[0062] 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a simplified configuration example of a storage case 300 according to a third embodiment. In the following description of the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

[0063] The storage case 300 has the same configuration as the storage case 10 according to the first embodiment, except that the storage case main body 11 has openings in the X1 and X2 directions and has a columnar member 310 that closes one of the openings. Note that the outer edge 12 and the protrusions 13 and 14 are not shown in Figure 12.

[0064] 12 , the storage case 300 has cases 110 and 120 that open in both the X1 and X2 directions, and a columnar member 310, and is configured to be separable into three parts. The columnar member 310 is a columnar body that extends in the Y-axis direction and covers the storage case main body 11 in the X2 direction. The columnar member 310 is provided on the end surface of the storage case main body 11 that faces the X1 direction, and closes the opening on the X1 side. There are no particular limitations on the means for connecting the storage case main body 11 and the columnar member 310, and welding, for example, may be used.

[0065] The columnar members 310 are preferably made of a flexible material such as hard rubber, so that when an impact is applied to the storage case 300 in the Y-axis direction, the columnar members 310 can bend in accordance with the bending of the storage case main body 11 as shown in FIG.

[0066] In the case 300 according to the third embodiment, similar to the case 10 according to the first embodiment, each of the multiple connecting portions 15 is disposed vertically below the outer edge 12. Therefore, if the columnar members 310 are capable of deforming in accordance with the deformation of the case body 11, the same effect as that of the case 10 (adequate protection of each hydrogen tank F from impact by bending vertically downward when an impact is applied) can be obtained.

[0067] 2. Modifications Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications may be made. Specific modifications that can be made to the above-described embodiments are exemplified below. The two exemplary modifications below may be combined as appropriate to the extent that they are not mutually contradictory.

[0068] <Modification 1> Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing case 10 according to a modification. In the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the connecting portion 15 has a flat shape, but this is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in Fig. 13, the connecting portion 151 may be shaped to protrude in the Z1 direction, and the connecting portion 152 may be shaped to protrude in the Z2 direction. In this case, as shown in Fig. 13, grooves 15T extending in the X-axis direction are formed between the fastening holes 15H and the housing portion 111, and between the fastening holes 15H and the housing portion 112. This makes the housing case 10 according to the modification more likely to bend when an impact is applied in the Y-axis direction, and more likely to dissipate the impact in the Z2 direction.

[0069] <Modification 2> Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a housing case 10 according to a modification. In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the connecting portion 15 has a flat shape, but this is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the central portion of the connecting portion 151 in the Y-axis direction may have a convex shape in the Z2 direction. Similarly, the central portion of the connecting portion 152 in the Y-axis direction may have a convex shape in the Z1 direction. In this case, the distance between the hydrogen tank F and the housing portions 111, 112 is larger than when the connecting portion 15 has a flat shape. This prevents excessive load from being applied to each hydrogen tank F from the housing portions 111, 112 when the first case 110 and the second case 120 are fastened to each other.

[0070] 3. Supplementary Note: The fuel container housing exemplified in the above embodiment is applied to a fuel cell vehicle, but the fuel container housing case of the present disclosure may be applied to devices other than fuel cell vehicles, and the use of the present disclosure is not particularly limited.

[0071] Furthermore, the effects described in this specification are merely descriptive or exemplary and are not limiting. In other words, the present invention may exhibit other effects that are apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of this specification and drawings, in addition to or in place of the above-mentioned effects.

[0072] Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. It is clear that a person skilled in the art of the technology to which the present disclosure pertains can conceive of various modified or altered examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0073] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 fuel cell vehicle (vehicle) 2 side frame 3 floor panel 10, 100, 300 storage case 12 outer edge 15, 151, 152 connecting portion 25 storage space 110 first case 120 second case 116R recess in first case 126R recess in second case F hydrogen tank (fuel container)

Claims

1. A storage case for fuel containers which stores a plurality of cylindrical fuel containers spaced apart from one another and supports the fuel containers at three or more points, comprising: a first case having a top surface with a repeating uneven shape; a second case having a bottom surface with a repeating uneven shape; and a connecting portion which is a portion of the storage case where the concave portions of the concave portions of the first case and the concave portions of the concave portions of the second case approach each other in the vertical direction, and which is positioned vertically below the outer edge of the storage case.

2. The fuel container storage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case and the second case are fastened to each other at the connecting portion.

3. The fuel container storage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case and the second case are integrally constructed.

4. A vehicle comprising: a side frame; and a storage case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having a protrusion protruding from the outer edge and fastened to the side frame.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising: a floor panel; and an accommodation space defined by said floor panel and said recess of said first case facing said floor panel.

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