Hydrogen Tank Tray Shock Absorber for Lateral Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen tanks in vehicles are vulnerable to damage and risk of explosion due to lateral shocks, especially when configured in certain vehicle layouts, which can compromise the safety and integrity of the high-pressure gas circuit.
Innovation Solution
A shock damping device is integrated between the lateral flanges of the gas tank reception bin and the gas tanks, or between the lateral faces of adjacent gas tanks, to absorb and distribute the shock energy through deformation, thereby protecting the gas tanks and high-pressure components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen tanks are mounted under the vehicle body to optimize space and safety, then the luggage compartment volume is maintained and gas diffusion is facilitated, but the tanks become vulnerable to side impacts when certain vehicle configurations are used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by installing a shock-absorbing device between the hydrogen tank and the vehicle body before any impact occurs. This device includes a deformable element that is pre-positioned to absorb impact energy, protecting the tank from side collisions even when mounted in vulnerable underbody locations for space optimization and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If reinforcing crosspieces are added to the battery tray to protect against lateral impacts, then the protection against side impacts is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the shock absorption function from the main battery tray structure by adding a separate, dedicated shock-absorbing device. This deformable element is installed between the tank and tray, taking out the impact protection function as an independent component rather than complicating the tray's crosspiece structure, thus maintaining simplicity while providing effective lateral impact resistance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the battery tray is designed to accommodate both gas tanks and Range Extender battery, then the adaptability to different vehicle configurations is improved, but the number of reinforcing crosspieces must be reduced in certain areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary shock-absorbing device that mediates between the battery tray and the hydrogen tank. This deformable element acts as a buffer zone, allowing the tray to be designed with fewer crosspieces for adaptability to different configurations (accommodating both gas tanks and Range Extender battery), while the intermediary device compensates for the reduced structural reinforcement by absorbing lateral impact energy before it reaches the tank.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The shock damping device effectively mitigates the risk of damage to hydrogen tanks and high-pressure gas circuit components by absorbing lateral shock energy, ensuring safety and integrity regardless of the tank's location within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorbing device arranged at least between a side plate of the gas tank receiving tray and at least one portion of a side face of a gas tank and/or between at least two portions of two side faces of two adjacent gas tanks, so as to be able to absorb by deformation at least in part a shock suffered by the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising: - gas tanks (12), such as hydrogen tanks, and - a tray (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12) comprising a frame (15) formed by side members (16) and side flanges (17), - the vehicle further comprising a shock-absorbing device (21) arranged at least between one side flange (17) of the tray (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12) and at least one portion of a side face of a gas tank (12) and/or between at least two portions of two side faces of two adjacent gas tanks (12), so as to be able to at least partially absorb by buckling an impact of the vehicle.