Under-Cabin Tank Layout for Working Vehicle Weight Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Working vehicles with heavy units such as fuel tanks face challenges in maintaining weight balance due to their large volume and weight, which can disrupt the vehicle's stability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design includes a configuration where the tank is positioned below the cabin, with the drive device components like the fuel cell and battery also located below the cabin, and tanks can be arranged along the front-rear or width direction of the vehicle body, with a valve unit to adjust gas flow rate positioned beside the tanks and lower than the cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a tank with large volume is provided in the working vehicle, then the gas storage capacity is improved, but the weight balance of the vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the tank below the cabin, utilizing the vertical space dimension rather than horizontal arrangement. This dimensional change allows the large-volume tank to be accommodated without disrupting the horizontal weight distribution, thereby maintaining vehicle stability while achieving adequate gas storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent strategically places heavy components (tank, battery, fuel cell) in specific locations below the cabin to create counterbalancing weight distribution. This counterweight arrangement compensates for the mass of large-volume tanks, preventing weight balance deterioration while maintaining adequate storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If heavy units such as tanks are provided in the working vehicle, then the gas storage capacity is improved, but the vehicle stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging tanks vertically below the cabin rather than horizontally in the vehicle body, the patent utilizes the vertical dimension to accommodate heavy units. This dimensional repositioning maintains the center of gravity within acceptable ranges, preserving vehicle stability while achieving required gas storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different arrangement strategies to different heavy components: tanks are positioned below the cabin, battery and fuel cell are arranged in specific locations, and valve units are placed beside the tanks. This localized quality differentiation optimizes weight distribution to maintain vehicle stability while maximizing storage capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple tanks are arranged in the vehicle body, then the gas storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gas storage system into multiple separate tanks arranged in specific patterns (along front-rear direction or width direction). This segmentation allows flexible arrangement to optimize space utilization while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized tank modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple tanks with the valve unit and positions them collectively below the cabin. This merging approach consolidates the gas storage system into a unified arrangement, reducing overall system complexity while achieving increased storage capacity through multiple tanks.
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
This configuration maintains the weight balance of the vehicle by effectively distributing the weight of the tanks and other heavy components, enhancing stability and traction without compromising the vehicle's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell to generate electric power using the gas in the tank
Implementation Method 2
a battery to store electric power generated by the fuel cell
Data Source
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AI summary
To store a heavy unit such as a tank (7) without losing weight balance. A working vehicle (1) according to the present invention includes a vehicle body (2) to which a working device (49) is connectable, a cabin (3) to house an operator's seat (10) provided on the vehicle body (2), a traveling device (4) to support the vehicle body (2) and allow the vehicle body (2) to travel, a drive device (5) to drive the traveling device (4), and a tank (7) to store gas to drive the drive device (5), and the tank (7) is provided below the cabin (3).