Dual Fuel Cell Mounting Layout for Reduced Bracket Swing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-vehicle fuel cell systems face challenges with increased weight and reduced vibration damping performance and steering stability due to the need for larger brackets to accommodate height discrepancies between the fuel cell system and the vehicle skeleton.

Innovation Solution

The in-vehicle fuel cell system is designed with a dual-fuel cell configuration, where a first fuel cell is fixed to the upper surface and a second fuel cell to the lower surface of an auxiliary machine structure, which is positioned at the same height as the vehicle skeleton, reducing the size and weight of the brackets and minimizing swing amplitude.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the fuel cell system is mounted with a fixed bracket to the vehicle skeleton, then the structure is stable, but the bracket size and weight increase due to height discrepancy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidbracket weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the height parameter of the auxiliary machine structure to match the vehicle skeleton height, eliminating the height discrepancy that caused the bracket size and weight increase. By adjusting the mounting height parameter, the system achieves both structural stability and weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a larger bracket is used to accommodate the height difference, then the fuel cell system can be mounted, but the amplitude of swing increases during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting adaptabilityVSAvoidvibration damping performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mounting height parameter of the auxiliary machine structure to align with the vehicle skeleton, which reduces the bracket size and consequently decreases the amplitude of swing during operation, improving vibration damping performance while maintaining mounting adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the bracket size is increased to fix the height mismatch, then the fuel cell system can be installed, but steering stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidsteering stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the height parameter of the auxiliary machine structure to match the vehicle skeleton, which reduces the bracket size and weight. This parameter change maintains installation ease while improving steering stability by reducing the swing amplitude and weight that could affect vehicle handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4261960B1In-vehicle fuel cell system for mountain in a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4261960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4261960B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4261960B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An in-vehicle fuel cell system, including a fuel cell, and an auxiliary machine configured to exchange a gas with the fuel cell, the in-vehicle fuel system including an auxiliary machine structure configured to accommodate the auxiliary machine, wherein the fuel cell includes a first fuel cell fixed to an upper surface of the auxiliary machine structure and a second fuel cell fixed to a lower surface of the auxiliary machine structure, the auxiliary machine structure is disposed at substantially the same position in a height direction as a skeleton member of a vehicle body, and the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell are fixed to the skeleton member via the auxiliary machine structure.