Modular Tank Mounting Frame for Low-Height Hydrogen Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-pressure tank systems for vehicles, particularly buses, face challenges in achieving flexible design, minimizing costs, and reducing lead time, especially for small production runs, while ensuring low weight, low center of gravity, and adequate hydrogen storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
A tank system with interchangeable brackets and supports that allow for slidably and fixably mounted pressure vessels, utilizing standardized components and a base frame with a standard vehicle interface, enabling customizable mounting configurations and simplified assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple pressure tanks are mounted on a vehicle to achieve required hydrogen storage capacity, then the hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but the vehicle height increases and the system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional longitudinal tank arrangement to a transverse mounting configuration where tanks are positioned perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of travel. This dimensional change allows the tanks to be mounted lower on the vehicle body, reducing overall vehicle height while maintaining adequate hydrogen storage capacity through optimized transverse placement
2Quantity of substance
If multiple pressure tanks are mounted on a vehicle to achieve required hydrogen storage capacity, then the hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but the system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal mounting system with standardized supports, brackets, and bearing assemblies that can accommodate multiple tank configurations. This multi-functional mounting structure reduces overall system weight by eliminating the need for application-specific custom mounting hardware, while still providing adequate support for multiple pressure tanks required for hydrogen storage
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom-made metal frames are used for tank systems to meet individual customer requirements, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and lead time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mounting system into modular segments including standardized supports, interchangeable brackets, and configurable bearing assemblies. This segmentation allows the system to be adapted to different customer requirements by simply reconfiguring existing modular components rather than manufacturing custom frames, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and lead time while maintaining adaptability
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom-made metal frames are used for tank systems to meet individual customer requirements, then the adaptability is improved, but the lead time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-configuring standardized mounting components and supports that can be quickly adapted to different applications. The interchangeable brackets and modular bearing assemblies are prepared in advance, allowing rapid system assembly and customization without requiring time-consuming custom frame manufacturing for each customer requirement
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tank system (100), in particular for pressure tanks and especially for high-pressure tanks for storing a gaseous fuel for powering a vehicle. The invention further relates to a system for accommodating such a tank system. According to a first aspect, the invention solves a tank system (100) for mounting on a vehicle, which has a first and a second support (110, 120), wherein the first and the second support (110, 120) have brackets (131, 132) for a tank (150), wherein the brackets (131, 132) are each configured in pairs, with a first bracket (131) of each pair of brackets being located on the first support (110) and a second bracket (132) of each pair of brackets being located on the second support (120), wherein each pair of brackets has a floating bearing (135) and a fixed bearing (136).The brackets (131, 132) are designed to be interchangeable, wherein the first support (110) and the second support (120) each have a device (111, 121) in which the first support (131) and the second support (132) are slidably and fixably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the respective support (110, 120).