Industrial truck having a hydrogen energy system

Abstract

Described is an industrial truck provided with a hydrogen energy system (6) which comprises at least one tank (7) for containing hydrogen, a plurality of membrane units (8) for hydrogen / air exchange and an energy converter (9) connected to the membrane units (8); the hydrogen energy system (6) comprises a ventilation unit (13) facing a respective membranes unit (8) in order to transfer the air through each membrane unit (8) defining for each membrane unit (8) an air inlet section (8a) and an air outlet section (8b); the outlet section (8b) faces towards the ventilation unit (13); at least one air expulsion duct (12) is in fluid communication with the ventilation unit (13) and has an air outlet opening (11); each air inlet section (8a) of a respective membrane unit (8) and the air outlet opening (11) are positioned at a same side of the hydrogen energy system (6).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] INDUSTRIAL TRUCK HAVING A HYDROGEN ENERGY SYSTEM Technical field

[0003] This invention relates to an industrial truck having a hydrogen energy system.

[0004] The term industrial truck means a vehicle for moving goods in spaces inside and / or outside company premises.

[0005] An example of an industrial truck is a lift truck.

[0006] Background art

[0007] Typically, a hydrogen energy system comprises a tank for containing hydrogen, a set of cells in which the generation of energy occurs, a transformer which regulates the voltage to be sent to a motor and also a battery which is used for storing energy.

[0008] In each cell, the hydrogen combines with the air and their encounter generates an electrical current and, as a waste product, a certain quantity of heat and water vapour.

[0009] The heat generated in the cells is dissipated by means of a cooling system which may be water or air-based.

[0010] The management of the water cooling is rather complex from a plant engineering point of view; on the other hand, the air cooling is easier to manage.

[0011] The air is conveyed through the cells in such a way that they are passed through from one side to the other.

[0012] However, the arrangement of the air inlet and outlet which passes through the cells may adversely affect some needs which arise in the installation of the energy system in an industrial truck, since the driver of the truck accesses or leaves the driving position from a side of the vehicle.

[0013] With reference to the prior art system described, the side of the vehicle may be intended for the inlet of the air for cooling the modules or the outlet of the hot air, a circumstance to be rejected if the side of the vehicle is the one for access to the driving position.

[0014] Aim of the invention

[0015] In order to satisfy this need, a lift truck has been made which is provided with a hydrogen energy system with the technical features described in independent claim 1 .

[0016] Further features of the invention are described in the accompanying dependent claims.

[0017] Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a non-exclusive embodiment of an industrial truck provided with the system as illustrated by way of example only and, therefore, without limiting the scope of the invention, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an industrial truck provided with a hydrogen energy system according to this invention;

[0020] - Figure 2 is a view of the hydrogen energy system installed in the industrial truck of Figure 1 ;

[0021] - Figure 3 is a schematic detail of the industrial truck of Figure 1 .

[0022] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0023] With reference 1 is indicated an industrial truck comprises a frame 2 and a driver's cab 17.

[0024] The frame 2 has a first side wall 3 and a second side wall 4.

[0025] The frame 2 has a housing 5 for at least one hydrogen energy system 6.

[0026] The housing 5 is delimited at least partly by the first side wall 3 and by the second side wall 4.

[0027] The first side wall 3 has a plurality of openings 10 for the passage of air from the outside to the inside of the housing 5, and vice versa.

[0028] The second side wall 4 defines a side panel of the lift truck. Preferably, the second side wall 4 is free of openings.

[0029] Preferably, the second side wall 4 allows access to the driver's cab 17.

[0030] The hydrogen energy system 6 comprises at least one tank 7 for containing hydrogen, a plurality of membrane units 8 for hydrogen / air exchange and an energy converter 9 connected to the membrane units 8.

[0031] The hydrogen energy system 6 comprises an air ventilation unit 13 facing a respective membrane unit 8 in order to transfer the air through each membrane unit 8 defining for each membrane unit 8 an air inlet section 8a and an air outlet section 8b.

[0032] According to the embodiment illustrated, the hydrogen energy system 6 comprises four membrane units 8 to be cooled; a ventilation unit 13 is dedicated to each unit.

[0033] The outlet section 8b of a respective membrane unit 8 faces towards a respective ventilation unit 13.

[0034] The ventilation unit 13 comprises a plurality of fans 18, each of which rotates about its axis of rotation.

[0035] An air passage duct 19 is interposed between a respective membrane unit 8 and the respective ventilation unit 13.

[0036] The duct 19 has a convergent trend with reference to the direction of feeding the air from the membrane unit 8 towards the ventilation unit 13.

[0037] A duct 12 for expelling air coming out from the ventilation unit 13 has at least one inlet opening 16 directed towards the ventilation unit 13 and at least one air outlet opening 11 .

[0038] According to the invention, each air inlet section 8a of a respective membrane unit 8 and the outlet opening 11 of the duct 12 for the expulsion of the air coming out from the ventilation unit 13 are positioned at a same side of the hydrogen energy system 6.

[0039] Advantageously, the hydrogen energy system 6 positioned in the housing 5 has the air outlet opening 11 and each air inlet section 8a facing the same first side wall of the lift truck, the first side wall 3. A further advantage is due to the fact that the side wall 4 without air outlet openings 11 is the driver access side in the driver’s cab 17 of the lift truck 1.

[0040] This arrangement can be achieved because each duct 12 for expelling air coming out from the ventilation unit 13 has the shape of an “L”.

[0041] The air expulsion duct 12 has a first portion 12a which extends along a direction parallel to the vertical and a second portion 12b which extends along a direction at right angles to the vertical direction, that is, parallel to a horizontal direction.

[0042] The one or more inlet openings 16 are located along the first portion 12a.

[0043] The outlet openings 11 of the air expulsion duct 12 are positioned at the end of the second portion 12b.

[0044] According to the embodiment illustrated there are two ducts 12 for expelling air, each with a respective outlet opening 11 .

[0045] Each first portion 12a of a conveying duct 12 has two inlet openings 16, each facing a respective ventilation unit 13 of a respective membrane unit 8.

[0046] The inlet openings 16 are located along the first portion 12a.

[0047] In order to maximise the cooling of each membrane unit 8, cooling means 14 are positioned at each inlet section 8a.

[0048] The cooling means 14 are in the form of a coil in which a refrigerated fluid circulates.

[0049] The hydrogen energy system 6 comprises an energy storage battery 15 connected to an energy converter 9.

[0050] The battery 15 is positioned in the lift truck 1 facing the second side wall 4.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An industrial truck comprising a frame (2) and a driver’s cab (17); the frame (2) has a first side wall (3) and a second side wall (4) and a housing (5) for at least one hydrogen energy system (6) delimited at least partly by the first side wall (3) and by the second side wall (4); the first side wall (3) has a plurality of openings (10) for the passage of air from the outside to the inside of the housing (5), and vice versa; the second side wall (4) defines a side panel of the lift truck (1 ) providing access to the driver's cab (17); the hydrogen energy system (6) positioned in the housing (5) has the air outlet opening (11 ) and each air inlet section (8a) facing the first side wall (3).

2. The industrial truck according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the hydrogen energy system comprising at least one tank (7) for containing hydrogen, a plurality of membrane units (8) for hydrogen / air exchange and an energy converter (9) connected to the membrane units (8); the hydrogen energy system (6) comprises a ventilation unit (13) facing a respective membranes unit (8) in order to transfer the air through each membrane unit (8) defining for each membrane unit (8) an air inlet section (8a) and an air outlet section (8b); the outlet section (8b) faces towards the ventilation unit (13); at least one air expulsion duct (12) is in fluid communication with the ventilation unit (13) and has an air outlet opening (11 ); each air inlet section (8a) of a respective membrane unit (8) and the air outlet opening (11 ) are positioned at a same side of the hydrogen energy system (6).

3. The industrial truck according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ventilation unit (13) comprises a plurality of fans (18), each of which rotates about its axis of rotation.

4. The industrial truck according to any one of the preceding claims,characterised in that each air expulsion duct (12) has an “L” shape, having a first portion (12a) which extends along a direction parallel to the vertical and a second portion (12b) which extends along a direction at right angles to the vertical direction, that is, parallel to a horizontal direction.

5. The industrial truck according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the one or more inlet openings (16) are positioned along the first portion (12a) and the outlet opening (11 ) of the air expulsion duct (12) is positioned at the end of the second portion (12b).

6. The industrial truck according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises cooling means (14) located at each inlet section (8a) of a respective membrane unit (8).

7. The industrial truck according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an energy storage battery (15) connected to an energy converter (9).

8. The industrial truck according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the battery (15) is positioned in the housing (5) facing the second side wall (4).

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