Pressure Vessel Neck Mount Structure for Impact-Guided Tank Suspension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current chassis mounting arrangements for pressurized fuel tanks in hydrogen vehicles are over-constrained, leading to internal stresses, reduced hydrogen storage capacity, and vulnerability to rupture during collisions, as they restrict radial expansion and torsional flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A vessel mount structure with deformable coupling arrangements, such as a four-bar mechanism or flex plate assembly, that suspends the pressure vessel by neck mounts at axial ends, allowing for axial and radial expansion while guiding the vessel along a predefined trajectory during impacts, reducing peak forces on the neck mounts and maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strap mounting is used to avoid rupture during collision, then safety is improved, but the tank becomes over-constrained leading to internal stresses and reduced hydrogen storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a static rigid strap mounting to a dynamic system with compliant elements that allow controlled movement. The coupling arrangement includes deformable components and guide members that enable the neck mount to follow a predefined trajectory during impact, converting the static constraint into a dynamic response that absorbs impact energy while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters of the mounting arrangement by introducing compliance through deformable coupling arrangements. The coupling arrangement allows radial expansion and torsional flex modes that were previously constrained, changing the stiffness characteristics from rigid to compliant while maintaining the safety function
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid mounting is used to secure the tank, then stability is improved, but radial expansion and torsional flexibility are constrained causing internal stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates dynamic compliance through deformable coupling arrangements that allow controlled radial expansion and torsional flex modes. The guide members constrain movement to a predefined trajectory, providing stability in the longitudinal direction while allowing flexibility in radial and torsional directions, thus reducing internal stresses
3Reliability
If strap mounting is used to protect the tank, then collision resistance is improved, but radial space is consumed reducing maximum tank diameter and hydrogen storage
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into distinct functional components: neck mounts at the axial ends, deformable coupling arrangements, guide members, and end stops. This segmentation allows the tank to be mounted at its axial ends rather than requiring radial space for strap mounting, maximizing the usable radial space and enabling larger tank diameters while maintaining collision resistance through the distributed mounting arrangement
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 solution minimizes internal stresses, maximizes hydrogen storage, and enhances safety by absorbing impact energy, reducing the risk of rupture and maintaining leakage-free integrity during collisions, while optimizing packaging space.
Implementation Method 1
The or each support arm is coupled to the respective neck mount by a coupling arrangement, said coupling arrangement deformable (e.g. collapsible) in the lateral direction towards the vehicle, for guiding a movement of the respective neck mount relative to the support arm along a predefined trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
A truck comprises a vessel mount structure providing at least one neck mount that is mounted to an axial end of an elongated pressure vessel. The vessel mount structure comprises a support arm that is coupled to the or each neck mount by a coupling arrangement that is deformable in a lateral direction for guiding a movement of the respective neck mount relative to the support arm along a predefined trajectory. An end stop is provided on the chassis and spaced from the elongated pressure vessel. In case of an impact on the elongated pressure vessel, the coupling arrangement guides the elongated pressure vessel along the predefined trajectory towards the end stop, for thereby reducing a peak force on the neck mounts.