JP2008094146A - Fuel cell mounting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell mounting structure capable of suppressing a floor height to a low degree and arranging a fuel cell without narrowing an occupant space in a vehicle for mounting the fuel cell below a vehicle body floor. <P>SOLUTION: An opening 23 is formed at a floor tunnel 22 of a floor panel 1, a cover 25 of a carbon fiber-reinforced resin having a swelling part for closing the opening 23 and upwardly projected is provided at the opening 23, and a fuel cell stack 12 is stored in the cover 25 through a sub-frame 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell mounting structure.

Conventionally, when a fuel cell or the like is mounted below a vehicle body floor, the fuel cell is stored in a fuel cell box and then fastened to the lower portion of the vehicle body floor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-291857 A

  By the way, when the fuel cell box is arranged below the vehicle body floor as in Patent Document 1 described above, the floor height becomes high. In order not to raise the floor height, the problem can be solved by storing the fuel cell box vertically in the floor tunnel portion. However, in that case, the double width structure of the floor panel and the fuel cell box increases the lateral width of the floor tunnel portion, which causes a new problem of narrowing the passenger space in the vehicle width direction. Further, since the floor tunnel portion becomes high, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform the breath molding.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a vehicle in which the fuel cell is mounted below the vehicle body floor, the floor height can be kept low, and the fuel cell can be easily installed without narrowing the passenger space. A fuel cell mounting structure that can be arranged is provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to an opening (for example, implementation) in a floor tunnel (for example, the floor tunnel 22 in the embodiment) of a floor panel (for example, the floor panel 1 in the embodiment). A cover of carbon fiber reinforced resin (for example, a cover 25 in the embodiment) having a bulging portion that closes the opening and projects upward is provided in the opening, and fuel is provided in the cover. A battery (for example, the fuel cell stack 12 in the embodiment) is housed via a subframe (for example, the subframe 40 in the embodiment).

  In the invention described in claim 2, in the cover, fibers are oriented along the periphery of the opening, and a rib (for example, the rib 32L in the embodiment) is provided in a portion corresponding to the periphery of the opening in the vehicle width direction. ) Is formed.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the fuel cell is fixed to the sub-frame, the fuel cell is covered with the cover, inserted into the opening, and the fuel cell is mounted on a vehicle body.

  In the invention described in claim 4, the rib is connected to a cross member (for example, the cross member 37 in the embodiment) via a reinforcement (for example, the reinforcement 26 in the embodiment) at the left and right ends thereof. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the fuel cell box is not necessary, the passenger space in the vehicle width direction is not narrowed. Also, the floor height can be kept low. Further, since the cover forms a floor tunnel portion, it can be easily molded even when it is raised in the vertical direction, and the fuel cell can be easily arranged.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the strength and rigidity in the vehicle width direction of the cover that constitutes a part of the floor tunnel can be improved, so that the fuel cell can be protected without being covered with the floor tunnel. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the fuel cell can be mounted by a simple method, and the sealing of the opening of the vehicle body is facilitated. Therefore, there is an effect that can be realized without complicating the manufacturing process. is there.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the side collision energy can be dispersed, the collision safety can be ensured.

(First embodiment)
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In addition, the definition which shows the attachment direction and position of each apparatus in this embodiment shall define a right direction and a left direction toward a vehicle advancing direction by making a vehicle advancing direction ahead. In the drawing, FR indicates the front in the vehicle traveling direction. (The same applies to the following embodiments.)
A fuel cell vehicle is a vehicle in which a fuel cell stack that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen is mounted under the floor of a vehicle body, and travels by driving a drive motor with electric power generated by the fuel cell. The fuel cell is a well-known polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) in which a large number of unit cells (unit fuel cells) are stacked, supplying hydrogen gas as a fuel gas to the anode side, and oxidizing agent on the cathode side By supplying air containing oxygen as a gas, electric power is generated by an electrochemical reaction and water is generated.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a fuel cell vehicle is provided with a pair of left and right side frames 2 that form a vehicle body skeleton member under a floor panel 1 from the front of the vehicle body to the rear of the vehicle body. Side sills 5 are joined to the outer walls 3 of the left and right side frames 2 via outriggers 4. The rear end portion of the side sill 5 is connected to the rear portion of the side frame 2 via an extension 6.
Cross members 7, 8, 9 that are vehicle body skeleton members are connected to the side frame 2 in the vehicle width direction.

A front subframe 11 is provided in the motor room 10 at the front of the vehicle body, and a pump motor unit 15 including a compressor 13 for supplying air to the fuel cell stack 12 and a driving motor 14 for traveling is disposed. .
A rear subframe 16 integrally provided with a wheel and a suspension (not shown) from the lower side is attached to the side frame 2 from the lower side of the vehicle body, and a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen as fuel of the fuel cell stack 12 is attached to the rear subframe 16. 17 and a storage battery 18 are attached.

  On the side frame 2 configured as described above, the floor panel 1 is joined to a portion extending between the side sills 5 and 5. The front end portion of the floor panel 1 rises to the front side and continues to the dash lower 1a, and the rear end portion of the floor panel 1 extends to a position covering the upper portion of the hydrogen tank 17 of the rear subframe 16.

A floor tunnel 22 that bulges upward is formed between the left and right front seats 20 and rear seats 21 from the lower end of the dash lower 1a toward the rear of the vehicle body. A subframe 40 is attached below the floor tunnel 22, and the fuel cell stack 12, the auxiliary machinery 19, and the like are installed on the subframe 40.
In the present embodiment, an opening 23 is formed in the floor tunnel 22 between the left and right front seats 20, 20 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A cover 25 that covers the opening 23 and further bulges upward is attached. The cover 25 is made of carbon fiber reinforced resin (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics, hereinafter referred to as CFRP). In addition, the cover 25 is configured to cover the fuel cell stack 12 and the auxiliary machinery 19 installed on the subframe 40.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the sub-frame 40 includes a front sub-cross frame 41 and a rear sub-cross frame 42 that are arranged at positions corresponding to the outriggers 4 and extend in the vehicle width direction. Between the front and rear sub-cross frames 41 and 42, there are provided sub-side frames 43 and 43 that join the left and right ends of the front and rear sub-cross frames 41 and 42. It is arrange | positioned under the reinforcement frame 28 along an inner wall. In FIG. 3, FR indicates the front side.

  Inside each sub-side frame 43, a sub-center frame 44 positioned below the center frame 27 is disposed along the vehicle body longitudinal direction. The front end portion of the sub center frame 44 is connected to the front sub cross frame 41, the rear end portion of the sub center frame 44 is joined to the rear sub cross frame 42, and the sub center frame 44 is further rearward of the rear sub cross frame 42. It extends to. The rear end portions of the left and right sub-center frames 44 are connected by end pipes 45 disposed in the vehicle width direction, and the left and right end portions of the end pipe 45 and the left and right end portions of the rear sub-cross frame 42 are disposed obliquely. It is joined by a gusset pipe 46.

Between each sub center frame 44 and the sub side frame 43, intermediate pipes 47, 47 are connected to the front side and the rear side with a predetermined interval.
The fuel cell stack 12 is disposed between the front and rear sub cross frames 41 and 42 of the sub frame 40 and between the left and right sub center frames 44. The fuel cell stack 12 is fixed to the subframe 40 via brackets 48 and 49 fixed to the front and rear subcross frames 41 and 42. Further, the auxiliary machinery 19 of the fuel cell stack 12 is arranged between the sub-center frame 44 between the end pipe 45 and the rear sub-cross frame 42. Further, a DC-DC converter 51 is placed between the left front and rear intermediate pipes 47 and 47, and a heater 50 is placed between the right front and rear intermediate pipes 47 and 47.

  An attachment point P with respect to the reinforcing frame 28 of the side frame 2 of the vehicle body is set at an attachment portion between the sub side frame 43 and the front and rear sub cross frames 41 and 42, and the sub center frame 44 and the front and rear sub cross frames 41 and 42. An attachment point P with respect to the center frame 27 of the vehicle body is set at the attachment portion of the vehicle body, and an attachment point P with respect to the center frame 27 of the vehicle body is set at the attachment portion of the end pipe 45, the gusset pipe 46 and the sub center frame 44 Yes. At these ten attachment points P, the sub-frame 40 is fastened and fixed to the center frame 27 and the reinforcing frame 28 of the vehicle body by bolts and nuts from below so as to fit within the vertical width dimension of the side frame 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rain force 26 forming a substantially triangular cross section is joined to the lower surface portion of the left and right rising portions 24 of the floor tunnel 22 to reinforce the floor tunnel 22. A center frame 27 having a closed cross-section structure is joined to the lower surface of the vehicle body 26 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. 28 is joined. A sub frame 40 is attached to the lower surfaces of the center frame 27 and the reinforcement frame 28, and the fuel cell stack 12 and the auxiliary machinery 19 are mounted on the sub frame 40.

  In the present embodiment, the floor tunnel 22 is formed with a rectangular opening 23 that is long in the front-rear direction. A cover 25 that covers the opening 23 and bulges upward from the floor tunnel 22 is attached. The fuel cell stack 12 and the accessories 19 are configured to be accommodated in a space 30 formed by the floor tunnel 22 and the cover 25.

Further, the cover 25 is provided with a reinforcing portion for improving the strength and rigidity of the cover 25 at a joint portion between the floor tunnel 22 and the cover 25, specifically, at a position corresponding to both side edges of the periphery of the opening 23. 31 is formed. The reinforcing portion 31 extends from the front end to the rear end of the cover 25. Further, the reinforcing portion 31 is integrally formed with the cover 25 and is formed of CFRP. The reinforcing portion 31 is fiber-oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Moreover, the reinforcement part 31 is formed thickly in the location where the cover 25 bends. Thereby, the strength in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body can be further improved.
The floor tunnel 22 and the cover 25 are joined together by mating surface sealers and bolts or rivet caulking at the joints.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 25 has a strength of the cover 25 in the left-right direction of the vehicle body at a joint portion between the floor tunnel 22 and the cover 25, specifically, a position corresponding to the front and rear edges of the periphery of the opening 23. A reinforcing portion 32 for improving rigidity is formed. The reinforcing portion 32 is integrally formed with the cover 25 and is made of CFRP. Moreover, the reinforcement part 32 has the rib 32L, and can further improve the intensity | strength of the vehicle body left-right direction. Further, the reinforcing portion 32 extends from the left end to the right end of the cover 25 and is connected to the reinforcing portion 31. And the reinforcement part 32 is fiber-oriented in the vehicle body left-right direction. Therefore, the reinforcing portion 31 and the reinforcing portion 32 are formed in an annular shape along the periphery of the opening 23 and reinforce the cover 25.

Further, the reinforcing portion 32 in front of the cover 25, in particular the rib 32L, is connected to the left and right cross members 37 (see FIG. 5) via the reinforcement 26 at the left and right ends thereof, so that the side collision energy can be dispersed. It is configured. That is, the input load from one side sill 5 is transmitted from one cross member 37 and the reinforcement 26 to the other reinforcement 26 via the rib 32L of the reinforcing portion 32, and the load is shared by the other cross member 37. It is.
Further, a stiffener 33 is sandwiched between the floor tunnel 22 and the cover 25 to improve the strength and rigidity of the joint between the floor tunnel 22 and the cover 25.

As shown in FIG. 7, the floor tunnel 22 includes a first horizontal portion 39 in the vicinity of the feet of a passenger sitting on the front seat 20, and an opening 23 is formed at the rear end of the first horizontal portion 39. A cover 25 is attached to the opening 23. The cover 25 forms a center console 53. The center console 53 includes a first inclined surface 34 that rises from the first horizontal portion 39 toward the rear upper portion, and extends horizontally at the upper edge position of the seat cushion 20C of the front seat 20. The first upper wall portion 35 is formed continuously with the first inclined surface 34.
Here, the height of the first upper wall portion 35 is set to substantially the same height as the upper edge of the seat cushion 20C. The center console 53 is lowered rearward through the seat back 20B and continues to the second horizontal portion 55 of the floor tunnel 22.

Here, the seat cushion 20 </ b> C of the front seat 20 is arranged so as to overlap with the arrangement position of the fuel cell stack 12 in a side view.
The fuel cell stack 12 is disposed below the first upper wall portion 35 of the center console 53, and the fuel cell stack is located below a portion extending from the rear portion of the remaining first upper wall portion 35 to the second horizontal portion 55 of the floor tunnel 22. Twelve auxiliary machines 19 are arranged.
Here, a space 57 is formed immediately below the rear portion of the first upper wall 35 and behind the fuel cell stack 12 and above the accessories 19, and an ECU and a hydrogen sensor (not shown) of the fuel cell stack 12 are disposed here. Has been. Note that an armrest 54 is disposed on the center console 53 at a position above the rear portion of the first upper wall portion 35 so as to cover them.

  Here, the fuel cell stack 12 has a structure in which a large number of single cells (unit fuel cells) are stacked along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the front end and the rear end, which are the ends in the stacking direction, are made of metal. End plates 12FE and 12RE are attached, and single cells stacked by the end plates 12FE and 12RE are sandwiched and fastened and fixed. Accordingly, the fuel cell stack 12 is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the seat rail 59 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the seat rail 59 is located in the vicinity of a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the fuel cell stack 12, that is, the fuel cell stack 12. The front side is disposed at a height substantially equal to the position of the center of gravity G, with the front side slightly inclined upward.

  According to the present embodiment, the opening 23 is formed in the floor tunnel 22, the cover 25 having a shape that covers the opening 23 and bulges upward is attached, so that the center console 53 that bulges into the vehicle interior is provided. Only the cover 25 can be used. Therefore, the shape of the center console 53 bulging toward the vehicle interior side can be kept small, and a large vehicle interior space can be secured. In addition, the number of parts may be reduced, the number of seals is reduced, and the production efficiency is improved. Furthermore, by using a resin cover, mass production is facilitated, and the press mold investment can be suppressed.

Further, the cover 25 is formed of CFRP, and the reinforcing portions 31 and 32 are integrally formed in the cover 25. Further, the reinforcing part 31 is formed so that the fibers are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the reinforcing part 32 has a shape having a rib. By comprising in this way, the intensity | strength and rigidity of the front-back direction and the left-right direction of the cover 25 can be improved.
And since the cover 25 was formed in CFRP, since it can be reduced in weight rather than a light metal, it leads to the weight reduction of a vehicle body and contributes also to the improvement of a fuel consumption. Moreover, since the opening 23 of the floor tunnel 22 functions as an air pocket prevention hole during electrodeposition coating, a grommet for closing the hole is not necessary. Further, since the cover 25 does not require electrodeposition coating, an air pocket preventing hole is not required, and the vehicle interior and exterior can be reliably blocked.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the same structure as 1st embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
Here, the difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is a configuration in which the cover 25 and the subframe 40 are individually formed and joined to each other in the first embodiment. The cover and the subframe are integrally formed by CFRP, and the other configurations are substantially the same.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cover member 61 includes a sub frame 40 that can be joined to the vehicle body frame, and a cover 25 that is provided on the upper portion of the sub frame 40. The cover 25 and the subframe 40 are integrally formed of CFRP. The cover 25 is configured to be able to store the fuel cell stack 12 and the like.
As shown in FIG. 9, the state in which the cover member 61 is attached to the floor panel 1 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cover member 61 is formed by integrally forming the cover 25 and the subframe 40. The cover member 61, the center frame 27, and the reinforcement 26 are joined from below the sub center frame 44 by bolting or the like.

  According to this embodiment, since the cover 25 and the subframe 40 are integrally formed by CFRP, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the production efficiency can be further improved.

In addition, this invention is not restricted to embodiment mentioned above, You may employ | adopt the following aspects.
In the above embodiment, the fuel cell stack can be accommodated in the cover, but it may be configured to accommodate other components simultaneously.
In the said embodiment, although the reinforcement part of the cover is formed only in 1st embodiment, you may integrally mold a reinforcement part in 2nd embodiment.

It is side surface explanatory drawing of the vehicle in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view of vehicles in a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the sub-frame in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the floor panel which follows the AA line of FIG. It is a perspective view of the state where the cover was attached to the floor panel in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with the BB line of FIG. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a perspective view of a cover member in a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the state where the cover member was attached to the floor panel in a second embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with CC line of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing which follows the DD line | wire of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Floor panel 12 ... Fuel cell stack (fuel cell) 22 ... Floor tunnel 23 ... Opening 25 ... Cover 32L ... Rib 40 ... Sub-frame

Claims (4)

  An opening is provided in the floor tunnel of the floor panel, and a cover of carbon fiber reinforced resin having a bulging portion that closes the opening and protrudes upward is provided in the opening, and the fuel cell is placed in the cover via a subframe. A fuel cell mounting structure characterized by being housed.   2. The fuel according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured such that fibers are oriented along a periphery of the opening, and a rib is formed in a vehicle width direction at a portion corresponding to the periphery of the opening. Battery mounting structure.   The fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fuel cell is fixed to the subframe, the fuel cell is covered with the cover, inserted into the opening, and the fuel cell is mounted on a vehicle body. Mounting structure.   The fuel cell mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein the rib is connected to a cross member via a reinforcement at left and right end portions thereof.

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