JP2004168259A - Mounting structure for air feeding instrument of fuel cell vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mounting structure for an air feeding instrument of a fuel cell vehicle protecting an instrument or the like installed behind a resonator and a regulator case by placing the resonator and the regulator case on a power control unit such that they are not moved to a rear side in collision. <P>SOLUTION: In the power control unit 4 mounted on the fuel cell vehicle 1, a heat sink 13 is provided therebelow. The resonator 16 is placed on the power control unit 4 and reduces intake sound of air fed to the fuel cell. The regulator case 17a is placed on the power control unit 4 and stores an air regulator for regulating the state of air in the fuel cell vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mounting structure of an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a fuel cell has been developed in which a plurality of fuel cells, each having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode opposed to each other with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, are sandwiched by a separator and a plurality of fuel cells are stacked. Are being used as power source batteries for automobiles (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
This type of fuel cell supplies, for example, hydrogen gas (fuel gas) generated by steam reforming of methanol or hydrogen stored in a high-pressure tank to an anode side electrode, and oxidant gas (air) to a cathode side. By supplying the hydrogen gas to the electrode, the hydrogen gas is ionized and moves in the solid polymer electrolyte, whereby electric energy is obtained outside the fuel cell.
[0004]
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional fuel cell vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 6, a fuel cell vehicle 100 on which a fuel cell 108 is mounted has its main components housed in a motor room 102 below a hood 101. A cooling fan 104 and a radiator 105 are provided in front of a motor room 102 of the fuel cell vehicle 100.
[0005]
A partition 107 that separates the motor room 102 from the passenger compartment 106 is provided behind the motor room 102. A wiper motor 119 for rotating a wiper blade 120 via a link mechanism 121 is provided on the inner wall of the motor room 102 above the partition 107. On the motor room 102 side of the wiper motor 119, main components for operating the electrochemical engine 103 are arranged.
[0006]
The fuel cell vehicle 100 includes an electrochemical engine 103 between a partition 107 and a radiator 105. By operating the electrochemical engine 103, an electric current is generated by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell.
[0007]
A hydrogen generator (not shown) including a combustor 110 that distributes the fuel to the electrochemical engine 103 to generate heat, and a reformer 111 that reforms the fuel to generate a gas containing hydrogen. Will be distributed to An air cooler 117 is provided adjacent to the combustor 110.
[0008]
To supply oxygen to the fuel cell 108, the electrochemical engine 103 includes, for example, an air compressor 112 and a cathode humidifier 113 to provide a humidified oxidizing feed to the cathode of the fuel cell 108.
[0009]
Current and heat are generated in the fuel cell 108 by processing hydrogen and oxygen. The generated current can, for example, power an electric drive motor 114 operatively connected to a pair of front wheels by a front axle. The electric drive motor 114 is elastically supported by a body frame (not shown) via a mount member (not shown) and the like.
[0010]
The voltage converter 115 operates between the fuel cell 108 and the electric drive motor 114 to adjust the voltage of the generated current. Engine controller 116 monitors and controls the distribution of fuel.
[0011]
[Patent Document 1]
US Pat. No. 6,223,843 (page 1, FIG. 2)
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the fuel cell vehicle 100 collides in the forward direction, the motor room 102 may be crushed in the front-rear direction and deformed. When a collision occurs, first, the bumper is pushed, and then the cooling fan 104 and the radiator 105 in the motor room 102 are pushed and destroyed. Further, the electrochemical engine 103 is pushed, and the electrochemical engine 103 pushes the wiper motor 119 and the like installed above the partition 107. As described above, the wiper motor 119 may be broken by being pushed by a component installed above the motor room 102, breaking through the partition 107 and being pushed into the passenger compartment 106.
[0013]
Therefore, there is a problem that the wiper motor 119 and the like installed above the partition 107 are destroyed to the extent that they cannot be repaired. Therefore, in consideration of repair and reuse after the collision, it is desirable that the load at the time of the collision is not applied to the upper part of the partition 107 on which the wiper motor 119 and the like are installed so that the partition 107 is not broken.
[0014]
An object of the present invention is to mount the resonator and the adjuster case on the power control unit so as not to move rearward during such a collision, and protect devices and the like installed behind the resonator and the adjuster case. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for mounting an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a mounting structure of an air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 is a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell. A regulator case that contains a resonator mounted on the control unit and reduces the intake noise of air supplied to the fuel cell, and an air conditioner mounted on the power control unit and adjusts the air condition in the fuel cell vehicle And characterized in that:
[0016]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat sink is provided below the power control unit, so that the heat sink has rigidity. Therefore, the rigidity of the power control at the time of a collision is improved to prevent deformation and the like. Can be. Since the resonator and the adjuster case are mounted on the power control unit, the heat sink and the power control unit receive the impact load at the time of a collision in the forward direction. For this reason, the resonator and the adjuster case mounted thereon are prevented from moving backward by the power control unit, and the devices and the like installed behind the resonator and the adjuster case receive a large impact. It is not received and wreck is prevented.
[0017]
The mounting structure for an air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2 is the mounting structure for an air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor room and the passenger compartment of the fuel cell vehicle are connected to each other. At least a part of the rear part of the resonator or the adjuster case is locked to the partition wall that separates the two.
[0018]
According to the second aspect of the invention, the rear part of the resonator and the adjuster case is locked to the partition wall, so that the resonator and the adjuster case can easily move upward. For this reason, when the resonator and the adjuster case are pushed rearward at the time of a collision, it is possible to prevent the resonator and the adjuster case from turning upward and moving rearward about the locked position. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the device and the like installed above the partition from being broken by being pressed by the resonator and the adjuster case.
[0019]
In the mounting structure of the air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle according to the present invention, it is preferable that a mounting portion for locking the resonator, the regulator case, and the partition wall is formed obliquely vertically upward.
With this configuration, the collision load from the front can be released upward, and the resonator and the adjuster case that have received the collision load can be smoothly rotated upward. It is possible to protect equipment and the like installed on the rear side of the container case.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a mounting structure of an air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the embodiments of the present invention, “front” is a front side of the vehicle, “rear” is a rear side of the vehicle, “upper” is a vertically upper side, and “lower” is a vertically lower side.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic side view showing a state in a motor room.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell vehicle 1 has a hood 2 above and forward (in the direction of arrow F). In a motor room 3 inside the hood 2, a power control unit 4, an air supply device 5, an air cleaner 6, an air pump 7, a traveling motor 8, a radiator 9, a wiper motor 10, and the like.
[0023]
The hood 2 is a lid that opens and closes the motor room 3, and is made of, for example, a rolled steel plate. In the motor room 3, the fuel cell vehicle 1 is separated from the passenger compartment 1a by a partition wall 11 formed of a steel plate material. The partition 11 which forms the inner wall behind (in the direction of arrow R) the motor room 3 is disposed behind the motor room 3 (in the direction of arrow R), and the radiator 9 is disposed in front (in the direction of arrow F). Have been. A power control unit 4 is arranged in the center of the motor room 3, a body side frame 12, an air pump 7 and a traveling motor 8 are arranged below, and an air supply device 5 and an air cleaner 6 are arranged above. is set up.
[0024]
The power control unit 4 is a control device that adjusts a large current, and generates heat. The power control unit 4 has a flat box-shaped waterproof unit box 4a having a lower height than its width and depth.
[0025]
The unit box 4a incorporates a VCU (Voltage Control Unit) for the fuel cell 15, a drive unit for the traveling motor 8, an inverter for circulating cooling water, an inverter for driving the air pump 7, and the like (not shown). The power control unit 4 is configured. A heat sink 13 that dissipates heat generated by the power control unit 4 is provided below the unit box 4a. The heat sink 13 is firmly fixed to a body frame (not shown) via brackets (not shown) at a plurality of peripheral locations.
[0026]
In the power control unit 4, the heat sink 13 in which the cooling water is circulated and cooled by the water supply pipe 14 is disposed on the entire lower surface, and the generated heat is cooled. Since the power control unit 4 is a component having an important function for the fuel cell vehicle 1, the unit box 4a has rigidity so that the function of the power control unit 4 can be maintained even in a collision. . The rigidity of the unit box 4a is improved by arranging the heat sink 13 below, so that the unit box 4a is hardly deformed even in the case of collision.
[0027]
The flow path wall (not shown) of the flow path provided inside the heat sink 13 has a wall surface extending in the front-rear direction (arrows F and R directions) of the fuel cell vehicle 1 in the front-rear direction (arrows F and R directions). It is formed so that it may become more than the wall surface orthogonal to. The flow path is provided so that the straight portion of the flow path increases in the front-rear direction (the directions of arrows F and R) of the fuel cell vehicle 1. As a result, even if a force in the front-rear direction (directions of arrows F and R) in the unit box 4a is applied, as compared with the case where the straight portion of the flow path is increased in the vehicle width direction of the fuel cell vehicle 1. Since the flow path wall functions to prevent deformation similarly to the rib, the rigidity of the unit box 4a is improved, and the unit box 4a is hardly deformed. An air supply device 5 is placed above the unit box 4a.
[0028]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic plan view showing a state in a motor room. FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view showing a mounting structure of the air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in a motor room.
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air supply device 5 includes a resonator 16 for reducing intake noise when air as an oxidant is sent to a fuel cell 15 (see FIG. 1) via an air pump. The air conditioner 17 (for example, may include a humidity controller, a pressure gauge, a blower, etc.) for adjusting various states of air related to a vehicle on which the fuel cell 15 is mounted. The resonator case 16a containing the resonator 16 and the regulator case 17a containing the air regulator 17 are made of heat-resistant resin or aluminum or the like, and are placed side by side on the unit box 4a of the power control unit 4. The wiper motor 10 is installed on the rear side (in the direction of the arrow R) of either the resonator case 16a or the adjuster case 17a.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 3, the resonator 16 suppresses the noise at the time of intake by utilizing the resonance of a specific frequency by using the resonance of a specific frequency, and is housed in the resonator case 16a. Have been.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 2, the resonator case 16a is formed by integrally forming rib-shaped or protruding piece-shaped mounting portions 16b, 16c, 16d for fixing the resonator case 16a to the brackets 24, 25 at a plurality of surrounding locations. I have. The air cleaner 6 is installed outside the resonator case 16a in the vehicle width direction. The resonator 16 and the air cleaner 6 are connected by an air supply pipe 20, and the air in the resonator 16 is sent to the air cleaner 6 by the air supply pipe 20 to be purified.
[0032]
The mounting portion 16b is formed integrally with the rear end of the adjuster case 17a, and has a through hole (not shown) for inserting a fastener 18 such as a bolt and a nut. The mounting portion 16b is firmly fixed to the bracket 24 by the fastener 18 via a washer 26 made of an elastic material such as a spring washer. The mounting portion 16b (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is formed to be inclined forward (in the direction of arrow F).
[0033]
The mounting portion 16c is formed integrally with the front end on the adjuster case 17a side, and has a through hole (not shown) for inserting a fastener 28 such as a bolt. The mounting portion 16 c is fixed to a nut portion of a bracket 25 fixed to the heat sink 13 via a washer 31 by a fastener 28. The mounting portion 16c has a horizontal mounting surface for the washer 30 and the fastener 28.
[0034]
The mounting portion 16d and other mounting portions (not shown) are integrally formed at the front and rear ends on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and are separated from each other by bolts and nuts via a bracket (not shown) or a partition 11 or a body frame (not shown). ).
[0035]
The air conditioner 17 is for sending ventilation air around the fuel cell 15 (see FIG. 1), and is housed in an adjuster case 17a. The adjuster case 17a is formed of, for example, a heat-resistant resin, and has fixing portions 22, 23 for fixing the adjuster case 17a to the brackets 24, 25 at front and rear ends. The adjuster case 17a has a mounting portion 22 at least at the rear end of the resonator case 16a side, facing the mounting portion 16b of the resonator case 16a. The mounting portion 22 is more firmly attached to the front side and the other mounting portions 23. Has been concluded. A ventilation air supply pipe 21 (see FIG. 2) for sending the air in the adjuster case 17 to the periphery of the fuel cell 15 (see FIG. 1) is provided outside the adjuster case 17a in the vehicle width direction. ing.
[0036]
The mounting portion 22 is made of, for example, a thick and strong long metal plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section, and is firmly fixed to the left and right rear end portions of the adjuster case 17 with screws or the like. At the right and left ends of the mounting surface 22a (see FIG. 5) of the mounting portion 22, through holes (not shown) for inserting fasteners 19 and 29, such as bolts and nuts, are formed.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged side view of a main part showing an installation state of a wiper motor.
As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting portions 16b and 22 are formed so that the surface in the front direction (the direction of the arrow F) is inclined slightly upward.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a mounting structure of the air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing an installation state of the wiper motor when the adjuster case is detached.
As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting portion 16b and the mounting portion 22 are firmly fixed to the case fixing surface 24a of the same bracket 24, for example, arranged in the vehicle width direction.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4, the case fixing surface 24a of the bracket 24 is inclined so as to face a slightly upward direction on the front side (the direction of arrow F). The partition wall fixing surface 24b for fixing the bracket 24 to the partition wall 11 is inclined so as to face a slightly upward direction on the rear side (the direction of arrow R).
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting portion 23 is made of, for example, a metal plate, is screwed to the left and right front ends of the adjuster case 17, and the adjuster case 17 is fixed to the bracket 25 or the like by the fastener 32. . The bracket 25 and the like are fixed to the heat sink 13 and the like installed below the adjuster case 17. The attachment portion 23 is attached so as to be relatively easily detached as compared with the attachment portion 22 at the rear (in the direction of arrow R).
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 1, a wiper motor 10 of a wiper motor device W is provided adjacent to the rear of the air supply device 5 (in the direction of arrow R). The wiper motor 10 is installed on the front inner cowl 11a constituting the upper end portion of the partition 11, and rotates the wiper link 33 installed on the front outer cowl 11b. By rotating, the wiper link 33 swings the wiper arm 35 on which the left and right wiper blades 34 mounted on the windshield 36 are installed, and wipes the raindrops adhered to the windshield 36.
[0042]
A dashboard panel 44 is provided behind (in the direction of arrow R) the front outer cowl 11b, and a windshield 36 is provided above the front outer cowl 11b.
[0043]
In addition, the air supply device 5 may be such that at least a part of the air supply device 5 (in the direction of the arrow R) is locked to the partition 11 that separates the motor room 3 and the passenger compartment 1a.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 3, the air cleaner 6 is fixed to a vehicle body (not shown) by an air cleaner support 37 (see FIG. 2), and an air flow pipe 38 for sending purified air to the air pump 7 is provided below. Connected. An air flow meter 39 is provided at an intermediate position of the air flow pipe 38.
[0045]
Below the air pump 7, a traveling motor 8 that supports the mount portion 8a elastically on the body side frame 12 is provided. The rotation of the traveling motor 8 rotates wheels (not shown), and the fuel cell vehicle 1 travels.
[0046]
The air pump 7 is connected to the system box 15a via joint members 40 and 41 made of a material arbitrarily selected from synthetic rubber, natural rubber, metal bellows and the like, and a compressed air supply pipe 42 made of aluminum. The compressed air supply pipe 42 is arranged to be inclined at about 45 degrees, and is suspended by a pipe support 43 in which one point at an intermediate portion is fixed to the partition 11.
[0047]
Next, the operation of the structure for mounting the air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the fuel cell vehicle 1 collides with an obstacle, the bumper is first pressed and crushed, and then the left and right body side frames 12 are crushed. The radiator 9 pushes the air supply device 5, the power control unit 4, the heat sink 13, and the traveling motor 8 backward (in the direction of the arrow R) while moving toward the partition 11 while being attached to the body side frame 12.
[0048]
Then, a load at the time of collision is applied to the mount member of the mount portion 8a of the traveling motor 8, and the mount member is broken. Then, the traveling motor 8 separates from the mount member and falls by its own weight. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the traveling motor 8 presses the partition wall 11 and gives an impact to the passenger compartment 1a.
[0049]
The unit box 4a of the power control unit 4 has high rigidity, is slightly larger than the unit box 4a, is firmly fixed to a body frame (not shown), and is firmly mounted on a heat sink 13 made of a rigid material. ing. For this reason, the unit box 4a and the heat sink 13 move slightly to the partition 11 side without being deformed and stop.
[0050]
The air supply device 5 is guided by the unit box 4a when pushed to the upper end of the radiator 9 because the unit box 4a having rigidity is disposed adjacent to the lower side, and is rearward (in the direction of arrow R). Pushed up to the side.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 2, the resonator case 16a and the adjuster case 17a have relatively low loads on the bracket 25 and the like for screwing the mounting portions 16c and 23 disposed at the front (in the direction of arrow F). Moreover, the separation is stable.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 4, the rear (in the direction of arrow R) end of the resonator case 16a and the adjuster case 17a (see FIG. 3) has the mounting portions 16b, 22 and the case fixing surface 24a of the bracket 24 inclined upward. And it is more firmly fixed than the other fixing parts of the air supply equipment 5.
[0053]
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the resonator case 16a and the adjuster case 17a (see FIG. 2) pressed by the radiator 9 move upwards of the arrow A about the mounting portions 16b and 22 (see FIG. 4). The hood 2 is rotated to push up the hood 2 made of a thin rolled steel plate or the like to bend.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 5, at this time, the resonator case 16a and the adjuster case 17a (see FIG. 2) are supported before and after the mounting portions 16b and 22 via washers 26 and 27 made of an elastic material such as rubber. Due to the structure, when the washers 26 and 27 are bent, the mounting portions 16b and 22 can be rotated.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 1, when the resonator case 16a and the adjuster case 17a, which are the air supply devices 5, are rotated in the upward direction of the arrow A, the wiper motor 10 installed behind (in the direction of the arrow R). In addition, it is possible to prevent the wiper motor device W from being pushed in and receiving an impact. As a result, the wiper motor 10 and the wiper motor device W are not deformed by being pressed by the resonator case 16a and the adjuster case 17a, and it is possible to omit repair or the like after a collision, thereby improving maintainability. Can be.
[0056]
Further, since the air supply device 5 installed at the uppermost portion in the motor room 3 is rotated upward (in the direction of arrow A) at the time of a collision, the air supply device 5 is pressed against the windshield 36 and the windshield 36 is pressed. 36 can be prevented from breaking.
[0057]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the technical idea, and the present invention extends to these modified and changed inventions. Of course.
For example, the traveling motor 8 may be any other power source that drives an automobile.
In addition, the air supply device 5 only needs to be at least partially locked to the partition 11 that separates the motor room 3 and the passenger compartment 1a of the fuel cell vehicle 1, and the other portion is connected to the power control unit 4. It does not need to be fixed in the state of being placed.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the mounting structure of the air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat sink is provided with rigidity by installing the heat sink below the power control unit. Therefore, the rigidity of the power control at the time of a collision can be improved to prevent deformation and the like. Since the resonator and the adjuster case are mounted on the power control unit, the heat sink and the power control unit receive the impact load when a collision occurs in the forward direction (the direction of arrow F). For this reason, the resonator and the adjuster case mounted thereon are prevented from moving backward by the power control unit, and the devices and the like installed behind the resonator and the adjuster case receive a large impact. It is not received and wreck is prevented.
[0059]
According to the mounting structure of the air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2, at least a part of the rear of the resonator and the adjuster case (in the direction of arrow R) is locked to the partition wall, so that the resonator and the adjuster are provided. The case is easy to move upward. For this reason, when the resonator and the adjuster case are pushed rearward (in the direction of the arrow R) during a collision, the resonator and the adjuster case are prevented from pivoting upward and moving rearward about the locked position. can do. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the device and the like installed above the partition from being broken by being pressed by the resonator and the adjuster case.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in a motor room.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state inside a motor room, showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of the fuel cell vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in a motor room.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of an essential part showing an installation state of a wiper motor, showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a mounting state of a wiper motor when an adjuster case is detached, showing a mounting structure of an air supply device of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional fuel cell vehicle.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 fuel cell vehicle 1a passenger compartment 3 motor room 4 power control unit 5 air supply device 11 partition 13 heat sink 15 fuel cell 15a system box 16 resonator 16a resonator cases 16b, 16c, 16d, 22, 23 mounting part 17 air conditioner 17a Adjuster case 24, 25 Bracket

Claims (2)

In a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell,
A power control unit with a heat sink below,
A resonator mounted on the power control unit to reduce intake noise of air supplied to the fuel cell;
An adjuster case mounted on the power control unit and containing an air adjuster for adjusting an air condition in the fuel cell vehicle;
A mounting structure for an air supply device for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising: 2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the rear of the resonator or the regulator case is locked to a partition separating a motor room and a passenger compartment of the fuel cell vehicle. 3. Mounting structure for air supply equipment.

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