FR3123265A1 - VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH PROTECTIVE CAPSULES FOR GAS CIRCUIT COMPONENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising: - gas tanks (12), such as hydrogen tanks, - a container (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12), and - organs of a high-pressure gas circuit, - at least one protective capsule (27.1-27.5) comprising a housing for receiving at least a portion of at least one organ of the high-pressure gas circuit so as to cover said member at least in part to ensure its protection during an impact, - a tubular frame (28) being mechanically linked to the tank (13) for receiving the gas reservoirs (12), said tubular frame (28) ensuring a protective cap support (27.1-27.5). Figure 5

Description

VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH PROTECTIVE CAPSULES FOR GAS CIRCUIT COMPONENTS

The invention generally relates to the field of vehicles having a gas such as hydrogen as fuel, and in particular fuel cell electric vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, provided with protective caps for components of a gas circuit.

Hydrogen tanks on board vehicles are most often cylinder-shaped bottles. In a cylinder, the hydrogen is stored in gaseous form at high pressure, typically at a pressure of 700 to 800 bars. This technology makes it possible to store enough hydrogen to grant a range of 500 km to 600 km to a car equipped with a fuel cell.

In general, the use of hydrogen as a fuel in a vehicle poses a safety problem linked to the risk of leaks and explosion which may occur in the event of shocks or fires. Thus, the hydrogen tanks on board vehicles are subject to standards which deal in particular with their lifespan, sealing, protection against shocks and other aspects related to safety.

Protection against shocks requires special attention given the possible consequences. The installation of hydrogen tanks in a central zone of the vehicle promotes the presence of deformation zones capable of absorbing part of the impact energy. Mounting the hydrogen tanks under the body of the vehicle is an interesting solution and makes it possible to maintain comfort volumes in the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment. Mounting under the body offers greater availability of space which facilitates better optimization of the installation in relation to the various constraints. In addition, in the event of overpressure in the hydrogen tanks, the installation under the body facilitates escape and rapid diffusion of the gas into the open air, thus reducing the risk of deflagration.

Furthermore, to meet the standardization needs in the automotive industry, it is desirable that the gas tank mounting solution can be easily integrated into an existing vehicle platform. It may thus be advantageous to reuse an electrical energy storage battery box for receiving the gas tanks.

As illustrated in the , such a battery tray 1 comprises a frame 2 formed in particular by a plurality of longerons 3 and side plates 4. The gas reservoirs 5 arranged inside the tray 1 extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The tray 1 also includes reinforcing crosspieces 6 which make it possible to distribute a lateral impact force.

As can be seen on the , in the event of a frontal impact, there is a recoil and a slight tilting of the cradle 7 of the front axle 8 of the vehicle following the arrow F. This creates a risk of impact of the cradle 7 with the organs 9 of a high gas circuit pressure that could then be damaged by the impact.

The invention aims to effectively remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:

- gas tanks, such as hydrogen tanks,

- a receiving tank for the gas tanks, and

- components of a high pressure gas circuit,

- at least one protective capsule comprising a housing for receiving at least a portion of at least one member of the high-pressure gas circuit so as to at least partially cover said member to ensure its protection during an impact ,

- A tubular frame being mechanically linked to the receiving tank of the gas reservoirs, said tubular frame providing support for the protective capsule.

The invention thus makes it possible to avoid a risk of damage to the components of the high pressure circuit during a frontal impact of the vehicle. The protective cap(s) as well as the tubular frame are elements added during assembly of the vehicle, which makes it possible to reuse an existing battery tray as well as an existing platform to convert an electric vehicle into a low-cost vehicle. Fuel cell.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the protective cap comprises an outer shell made of a rigid material and an inner portion made of a flexible material.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer shell is made of a plastic material of the polypropylene type or a composite material.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the internal portion is made of a foam material, such as a polypropylene foam having a density of between 60 g/L and 80 g/L.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tubular frame is arranged in the upper part of the tank for receiving the gas tanks.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the protective cap comprises lugs intended to cooperate with holes made in the tubular frame.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said vehicle comprises at least one front protective capsule having an axis extending parallel to or merging with a direction of longitudinal extension of the gas tank receiving tray.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said vehicle comprises at least one lateral protection capsule having an axis extending perpendicularly to a direction of longitudinal extension of the receiving tank for the gas tanks.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the organs of the gas circuit consist of at least one safety and drain valve, a mixer, and an injection manifold.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said vehicle comprises a floor having a longitudinal direction of extension, the gas reservoirs extending longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of extension of the floor.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description and on examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only by way of illustration but in no way limit the invention.

The , already described, is a view of a gas tank receiving tray located on the side of a cradle of a front axle of a motor vehicle;

The , already described, illustrates the decline of the front axle cradle during an impact likely to damage the components of a high pressure gas circuit;

The is a perspective view from below of a motor vehicle according to the invention incorporating a tank for receiving gas tanks;

The is a partial perspective view of a gas tank receiver without protective cap;

The is a partial perspective view of a receiving tank for gas reservoirs with protective caps according to the invention covering the components of a high-pressure gas circuit;

The is a partial top view of a container for receiving gas reservoirs with protective caps according to the invention covering the components of a high-pressure gas circuit;

The is a partial perspective view of a gas tank receiver without the gas tanks and with protective caps according to the invention;

The is a partial perspective view of a set of protective caps according to the invention and of an associated tubular frame ensuring their retention on the gas tank receiving tray.

In FIGS. 3 et seq., identical, similar or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

Furthermore, the relative terms of the "horizontal", "vertical", "upper" or "lower" type are understood by reference to a receiving tank for gas tanks installed inside a vehicle in the position of use. on a horizontal plane.

The shows a motor vehicle 10 comprising a floor 11 having a direction D1 of longitudinal extension. Gas tanks 12, such as hydrogen tanks, are arranged inside a tank 13 having a direction D2 of longitudinal extension. The direction D2 of longitudinal extension of the tank 13 is parallel or coincident with the direction D1 of longitudinal extension of the floor 11. The gas tanks 12 extend longitudinally in the direction D2 of longitudinal extension of the tank 13. gases 12 advantageously take the form of bottles of cylindrical shape. In the example represented, the tank 13 contains three gas tanks 12. Of course, the number of gas tanks 12 can be adapted according to the application and the autonomy of the vehicle sought.

The tray 13 for receiving the gas tanks 12 comprises a frame 15 formed by a plurality of side members 16 extending longitudinally in the direction D1 of longitudinal extension of the floor 11 and side plates 17 extending in the direction D1 of longitudinal extension of the floor 11. The tray 13 also comprises reinforcing crosspieces 19 which make it possible to distribute a lateral impact force. The crosspieces 19 extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction D1 in order to absorb side impacts.

As can be seen on the , members 21, 22, 23 of a high-pressure gas circuit are arranged on the side of a front longitudinal end of tank 13 for receiving gas tanks 12. The members of the gas circuit are constituted by valves 21 safety and emptying each associated with a gas tank 12, a mixer 22, and an injection rail 23. These members 21, 22, 23 are arranged near the cradle 25 of the front axle 26 (cf. ). In order to avoid the deterioration of these organs 21, 22, 23 during an impact, protective caps 27.1-27.5 are provided associated with a tubular frame 28 mechanically linked to the tank 13 for receiving the gas reservoirs 12. tubular framework 28 provides support for the protective caps 27.1-27.5.

More specifically, each protective capsule 27.1-27.5 comprises a housing 30 for receiving at least a portion of at least one member 21-23 of the high-pressure gas circuit so as to at least partially cover said member 21-23 to ensure its protection in the event of an impact. A concave part of the protective capsule 27.1-27.5 constituted by the housing 30 is thus turned towards the organ or organs 21, 22, 23 to be protected, while a convex part of the protective capsule 27.1-27.5 is turned on the opposite side. . The protective capsule 27.1-27.5 will be able to absorb by deformation at least in part a shock generated by a displacement of the cradle 25 at the level of the members 21, 22, 23.

As can be seen on the , a protective cap 27.1-27.5 advantageously comprises an outer shell 32 made of a rigid material and an inner portion 33 made of a flexible material. The internal portion 33 is thus made of a relatively more flexible material than the material from which the external shell 32 is made. Preferably, the external shell 32 is made of a plastic material, for example of the polypropylene type, or a composite material in fibers. It is possible, for example, to choose a material of the BMC type (Bulk Molding Compound) or based on a preimpregnated composite sheet of the SMC type (Sheet Molding Compound). The internal portion 33 may be made of a foam material, such as a polypropylene foam having a density of between 60g/L and 80g/L.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the tubular frame 28 is arranged in the upper part of the tank 13 for receiving the gas reservoirs 12. The tubular frame 28 comprises a plurality of hollow tubes 36. The tubes 36 are advantageously made of a metallic material, in particular steel. The tubes 36 may each have a diameter of between 30mm and 40mm and a thickness of between 2 and 5mm. The tubes 36 may each have an L or U shape. A section of the tubes 36 may be round, rectangular, square, oval or any other shape suitable for the application. Some tubes 36 may be mechanically linked to tray 13 by welding, force fitting, screwing, gluing, or any other fastening technique suitable for the application.

In its upper part, a protective capsule 27.1-27.5 comprises lugs 38 intended to cooperate with holes provided in the tubular frame 28. In its lower part, the protective capsule 27.1-27.5 comprises lugs 39 intended to cooperate with holes made in the frame of the tray 13. The lugs 38, 39 extend vertically projecting from the outer shell 32 of a protective cap 27.1-27.5.

Advantageously, as can be seen in the , it is possible to provide a front protective capsule 27.1 having an axis X1, corresponding to the axis of the housing 30, extending parallel to or coincident with the direction D2 of longitudinal extension of the tank 13 for receiving the gas tanks 12 The front protective cap 27.1 covers a front portion of the organs 21, 22, 23 of the gas circuit located in the central part of the tank 13.

Two side protection capsules 27.2, 27.3 each have an axis X2, X3 corresponding to the axis of their housing 30 extending perpendicular to the direction D2 of longitudinal extension of the tank 13 for receiving the gas reservoirs 12. side protections 27.2, 27.3 at least partially cover a side portion of the members 21, 22, 23 of the gas circuit.

Provision may also be made for two offset front protection caps 27.4, 27.5 with axes X4 and X5, each covering a valve 21 for safety and emptying of the two gas tanks 12 located on either side of the central tank.

Claims (10)

Vehicle (10), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:
- gas tanks (12), such as hydrogen tanks,
- a tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12), and
- components (21, 22, 23) of a high pressure gas circuit,
characterized in that at least one protective capsule (27.1-27.5) comprises a housing (30) for receiving at least a portion of at least one member (21-23) of the high pressure gas circuit so as to at least partially cover said member (21-23) to ensure its protection during an impact,
- a tubular frame (28) being mechanically linked to the tank (13) for receiving the gas reservoirs (12), said tubular frame (28) providing support for the protective capsule (27.1-27.5). Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the protective capsule (27.1-27.5) comprises an outer shell (32) made of a rigid material and an inner portion (33) made of a flexible material. Vehicle according to Claim 2, characterized in that the outer shell (32) is made of a plastic material of the polypropylene type or a composite material. Vehicle according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the internal portion (33) is made of a foam material, such as a polypropylene foam having a density of between 60g/L and 80g/L. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tubular framework (28) is arranged in the upper part of the tank (13) for receiving the gas reservoirs (12). Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the protective cap (27.1-27.5) comprises lugs (38) intended to cooperate with holes provided in the tubular framework (28). Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one front protective cap (27.1) having an axis (X1) extending parallel to or coincident with a direction (D2) d longitudinal extension of the tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12). Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one lateral protective cap (27.2, 27.3) having an axis (X2, X3) extending perpendicularly to a direction (D2) d longitudinal extension of the tank (13) for receiving the gas tanks (12). Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the organs (21, 22, 23) of the gas circuit consist of at least one safety and emptying valve, a mixer, and an injection rail . Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a floor (11) having a direction (D1) of longitudinal extension, the gas reservoirs (12) extending longitudinally in a direction parallel to the direction (D1) of longitudinal extension of the floor (11).