JP2003213728A - Working machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen storage means suited for a working machine. <P>SOLUTION: A revolving super structure 14 is installed rotatably on a substructure 12 through a slewing bearing section 13, and a working device 16 and a counter weight 31 corresponding to the working device 16 are mounted on the revolving superstructure 14. In the counter weight 31, a hydrogen storage metal 33 for a fuel cell is secured into a vessel body 32 formed in a hollow shape, and the weight of the hydrogen storage metal 33 is utilized effectively as weight for balancing weight to the working device 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a working machine equipped with a counterweight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a power source for a working machine such as a hydraulic excavator, a diesel engine using light oil as a fuel is generally used.

On the other hand, recently, much research has been conducted on the use of a fuel cell as the power source energy of a vehicle. In the case of a hydrogen-oxygen battery, for example, this fuel cell is a cell in which hydrogen and oxygen as fuels are chemically reacted to generate electricity, and the electric power drives a motor to drive a vehicle.

When the technology relating to the fuel cell is applied to a power source of a working machine such as a hydraulic excavator, a motor driven by electric power generated by a fuel cell using hydrogen as a fuel is used as a power source of the hydraulic excavator. Become.

[0005]

In this case, the storage of hydrogen as a fuel becomes a problem. That is, normally, compressed hydrogen gas is compressed and stored in a pressure-resistant tank at a high pressure, or liquid hydrogen is cooled to a cryogenic temperature and stored in an adiabatic tank. Since such a reaction may occur, storage in these tanks requires caution, and since equipment for pressurization and cooling is required, there is a problem that the cost is high.

In particular, in a work machine, it is difficult to store it in the form of compressed hydrogen gas or liquid hydrogen as in the conventional case, because of the problems of poor working environment and restrictions on installation space.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a hydrogen storage means suitable for a working machine.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine body, a working device provided on the machine body,
The counterweight comprises a counterweight provided in the machine body corresponding to the working device, and the counterweight includes a hollow container body and a hydrogen adsorbing metal for a fuel cell provided in the container body. It is a working machine equipped with, and the hydrogen adsorbing metal becomes a metal hydride in which hydrogen atoms are adsorbed at high density between metal atoms, and even at room temperature and near atmospheric pressure,
A large amount of hydrogen can be stored in a compact and stable form in the container body, it can be stored at low cost, it can cope with poor working environment, and the weight of hydrogen adsorbing metal is balanced with the working device. It can be effectively used as the weight of the counterweight for, and since it is not necessary to separately install the hydrogen adsorbing metal and the counterweight, the problem of the installation space constraint can be solved.
A hydrogen storage means suitable for a work machine can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the machine body according to the first aspect includes a lower traveling body and an upper revolving body provided on the lower traveling body so as to be pivotable via a revolving bearing portion. However, it is a working machine in which a working device and a counterweight are provided on the upper revolving structure, and the weight of the hydrogen adsorbing metal is effectively used as a weight for balancing the weight of the working device, and work involving a turning motion by the working device Since it is useful for ensuring the stability of the machine body during the operation, it is possible to provide a hydrogen storage means suitable for working machines such as hydraulic excavators and crane work vehicles.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a hydraulic excavator as a working machine, and a machine main body 11 of this hydraulic excavator has a lower traveling body 12
And an upper swing body 14 rotatably provided on the lower traveling body 12 via a swing bearing portion 13.

The lower traveling body 12 is provided with a traveling hydraulic motor for driving the crawler belt, and the revolving bearing portion 13 is provided with a revolving hydraulic motor for revolving the upper revolving body 14. There is.

The front side portion of the upper swing body 14 and the swing bearing portion
A working device 16 is provided on the cab 13, together with a cab 15 that forms a working space for the operator.

In the working device 16, the base end of the boom 21 is rotatably supported in the vertical direction by a pin on a bracket on the upper swing body 14, and an arm is attached to the tip of the boom 21 by a pin 22.
The base of 23 is rotatably supported in the front-rear direction.
A bucket 25 is rotatably supported by a pin 24 at the tip of the.

The boom 21 is rotated by a boom rotating hydraulic cylinder 26 provided between the upper swing body 14 and the boom 21, and the arm 23 is arranged between the rear surface of the boom 21 and the base end of the arm 23. Is rotated by a hydraulic cylinder 27 for arm rotation provided on the. The bucket 25 is rotated by a hydraulic cylinder 28 and linkage 29 for bucket rotation provided between the arm 23 and the bucket 25.

A counterweight 31 corresponding to the working device 16 is provided at the rear end of the upper revolving structure 14, and the counterweight 31 ensures a weight balance necessary for preventing the machine body 11 from falling.

The counterweight 31 comprises a hollow container body 32 and a hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 for the fuel cell, which is filled in the container body 32, and stores hydrogen as fuel for the fuel cell. The hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 is adsorbed and stored.

That is, the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 is installed in place of a normal counterweight filling material, and the counterweight 31 is used as a hydrogen fuel storage location.

This hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 is made of palladium or white.
A large amount of hydrogen is deposited on the surface of metals such as gold, nickel and titanium.
It utilizes the property of being adsorbed. For example, LaNi
₅System, Mg _TwoHydrogen absorption of Ni-based, FeTi-based, VTiCr-based, etc.
A fine powder of the Kura alloy is suitable.

When the hydrogen molecules come into contact with and are adsorbed on the surface of the above-mentioned finely divided hydrogen storage alloy, the hydrogen-adsorbing metal 33 breaks the bonds between the adsorbed hydrogen molecules to form hydrogen atoms. When decomposed, these hydrogen atoms enter the gaps between the metal atoms of the hydrogen storage alloy and diffuse inside until they fit into a stable position in the crystal lattice of the metal. It is a metal hydride in which atoms are densely packed.

The hydrogen-adsorbing metal 33 can store a volume of hydrogen of 1000 times or more in the metal in a more stable and compact form than liquid hydrogen even at room temperature and near normal pressure.

The storage of hydrogen in the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 and the release of hydrogen from the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 can be controlled by heating or cooling, or by increasing or decreasing the hydrogen pressure within a relatively low pressure range. When releasing the stored hydrogen, heat it or lower the pressure.

FIG. 2 shows a fuel cell 41 used as an oxyhydrogen cell (hydrogen-oxygen cell). The fuel adsorbed on the upper revolving structure 14 from the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 contained in the counterweight 31 of the hydraulic excavator. Hydrogen supplied to the battery main body 42 and oxygen supplied to the fuel cell main body 42 from an oxygen supply source 43 such as a device for extracting oxygen from air or water mounted on the upper revolving structure 14 or a liquid oxygen tank, Fuel cell body 42
The chemical reaction in the interior generates electricity, and the water generated as a by-product at this time is drained.

Furthermore, the electric power output from the fuel cell main body 42 charges the battery 44 mounted on the upper revolving structure 14 and drives the motor 45 mounted on the upper revolving structure 14 as a hydraulic power source. It is something that is done.

An input shaft of a hydraulic pump 46 is connected to a rotation output shaft of the motor 45, and the hydraulic pump 46 is connected to a hydraulic control circuit 47 mounted on a hydraulic excavator. Hydraulic motors 48 for traveling and turning, and hydraulic cylinders for boom, arm, and bucket
26, 27, 28 are connected.

FIG. 3 shows the container body 32 of the counterweight 31.
1 shows a fuel cell 51 that can be housed inside, for example, a strip-shaped positive electrode 52 formed of a nickel compound and a strip-shaped negative electrode 53 formed of a hydrogen adsorbing metal (hydrogen storage alloy) are separated so as not to contact each other. By inserting the spirally wound electrode group into the battery case (not shown) through the membrane 54, a sealed nickel-hydrogen secondary battery is constructed, which is housed in the container body 32 of the counterweight 31. Just do it.

Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described.

When the fuel cell 41 shown in FIG. 2 is used, the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 built in the counterweight 31 of the hydraulic excavator and the oxygen supplied from the oxygen supply source 43 are A chemical reaction is performed in the fuel cell main body 42, the battery 44 is charged by electricity generated by the chemical reaction, and a motor 45 is driven. The hydraulic pump 46 is operated by the motor 45, and the hydraulic pump 46 controls the hydraulic control circuit 47. By controlling the hydraulic oil supplied under pressure to various hydraulic motors 48 and hydraulic cylinders 26, 27, 28 of the hydraulic excavator.
, The lower traveling body 12 travels, the upper revolving body 14 revolves,
Controls the rotation of the boom 21, the arm 23, and the bucket 25,
Excavation work is performed, or work is performed using an attachment (not shown) attached to the tip of the arm 23 instead of the bucket 25.

The weight of the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 is effectively used as a weight for balancing the weight with respect to the working device 16, and ensures the stability of the machine body when the working device 16 performs excavation work accompanied by turning motion. Therefore, a hydrogen storage means suitable for a hydraulic excavator can be provided.

As described above, the hydrogen-adsorbing metal 33 becomes a metal hydride in which hydrogen atoms are highly densely adsorbed between the metal atoms, and a large amount of hydrogen is stored in the container body 32 even at room temperature and near normal pressure. It can be stored in a compact and stable form. Therefore, it can be stored at low cost and can cope with poor working environment.

In addition, the weight of the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 is determined by the working device.
It can be effectively used as a counterweight to balance the weight with 16, and since it is not necessary to separately install the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 and the counterweight, it is possible to solve the problem of the installation space constraint. A hydrogen storage means suitable for a machine can be provided.

That is, for automobiles and the like, the weight of the hydrogen adsorbing metal is a drawback, but in the hydraulic excavator, the weight of the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 is advantageous by replacing the hydrogen adsorbing metal 33 with a counterweight filling material. Can be used as Further, there is no need for a space for installing the hydrogen fuel tank, which facilitates the layout design of the equipment and the reduction of the turning radius, which is advantageous.

The present invention is useful not only for hydraulic excavators, but also for ensuring the stability of the machine body when performing crane work involving turning motions by means of a crane work device as well, so that it can be used for work machines such as crane work vehicles. A suitable hydrogen storage means can be provided.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the hydrogen adsorbing metal becomes a metal hydride in which hydrogen atoms are adsorbed at a high density between metal atoms, and the container body is maintained even at room temperature and near atmospheric pressure. It can store a large amount of hydrogen in a compact and stable form, can be stored at a low cost, can cope with poor working environment, and can balance the weight of hydrogen adsorbing metal with the working equipment. It can be effectively used as the weight of the counterweight, and since it is not necessary to separately install the hydrogen-adsorbing metal and the counterweight, the problem of restrictions on the installation space can be solved, and these make it possible to store hydrogen suitable for working machines. Can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the weight of the hydrogen adsorbing metal is effectively used as a weight for balancing the weight with respect to the working device, and the stability of the machine body when performing work involving a turning motion by the working device is improved. Because it helps to secure
It is possible to provide hydrogen storage means suitable for work machines such as hydraulic excavators and crane work vehicles.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an essential part of a working machine according to the present invention in a broken state.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a fuel cell system mounted on the same working machine.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of another fuel cell mounted on the above working machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Machine body 12 Undercarriage 13 Slewing bearing 14 Upper revolving structure 16 work equipment 31 counterweight 32 container body 33 Hydrogen adsorbing metal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A machine body, a working device provided on the machine body, and a counterweight provided on the machine body corresponding to the working device. The counterweight is a container body formed in a hollow shape. And a hydrogen adsorbing metal for a fuel cell provided inside the container body. 2. The machine body includes a lower traveling body and an upper revolving body provided on the lower traveling body so as to be rotatable through a revolving bearing portion. The upper revolving body is provided with a working device and a counterweight. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the work machine is provided.