JP2011005997A - Fuel cell automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell automobile in which a damage to a fuel cell at a side collision is restrained.SOLUTION: The fuel cell automobile 10 has: a pair of side members 54; a pair of cross members 56 coupling the side members 54; a pair of locker members 58 arranged outside of the respective side members 54 in a vehicular width direction, and extending in a vehicular front and back direction; a fuel cell unit 52 arranged between the pair of side members 54 and the pair of cross members 56, and supported by the pair of side members 54; an energy transfer suppressing members 64 arranged between the side members 54 and the locker members 58, and connecting these members. Since these members 64 restrain energy at the time of side collision from being transferred to the fuel cell unit 52, the damage of the fuel cell unit 52 is restrained.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle, and more particularly to modification of a vehicle body structure on which a fuel cell unit including a fuel cell is mounted.

  A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by causing an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas (hydrogen), which is a reaction gas, and an oxidizing gas (oxygen). In recent years, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a solid polymer as an electrolyte between two electrodes has been developed, and is expected as a power supply source for vehicles such as automobiles because of its excellent in-vehicle property.

  An example of a conventional vehicle body structure on which a fuel cell is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. The automobile 110 is disposed on both the left and right sides of the automobile 110, and is disposed with a pair of side members 112 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction (up and down direction of the paper) and spaced from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. A pair of cross members 114 extending in the left-right direction) and connecting the pair of side members 112.

  Further, the automobile 110 is disposed on the outer side of each side member 112 in the vehicle width direction, and is a cross member between a pair of rocker members 116 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and between the side members 112 and the rocker members 116 on both left and right sides of the vehicle. 114 is disposed at a position extending in the vehicle width direction, and includes a side member 112 and a sub cross member 118 that connects the rocker member 116.

  In the vehicle body structure of the automobile 110 configured as described above, the fuel cell unit 120 including the fuel cell is disposed between the pair of side members 112 and the pair of cross members 116. The fuel cell unit 120 is supported by the pair of side members 112 via the support member 122 and mounted on the automobile 110.

  Patent Document 1 listed below describes a fuel cell vehicle in which a fuel cell stack is disposed in a center console that is formed to bulge upward between front seats of a passenger compartment. This fuel cell vehicle has a cross member that connects the side walls of the center console. By this cross member, the impact force acting on one front seat is transmitted to the other front seat via the cross member at the time of a side collision, so that the fuel cell stack arranged in the center console is protected from the impact. can do.

  Patent Document 2 listed below describes a fuel cell stack vehicle mounting structure in which a fuel cell stack disposed between a pair of side members is attached to the side member by a mount with a force limiter. According to this configuration, when the acceleration reaches a predetermined value at the time of a vehicle collision, the force limiter is activated and the fuel cell stack slides due to the inertia at the time of the collision. Therefore, the fuel cell stack and an intruder entering the vehicle Clash with can be prevented.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707 describes a fuel cell vehicle-mounted structure in which a fuel cell and its auxiliary devices are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction across a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction. According to this in-vehicle structure, the fuel cell and its auxiliary equipment are arranged at a predetermined interval with respect to the cross member. By forming the gap in this way, even if the cross member enters the vehicle width direction inside due to the impact at the side collision, the interference between the cross member and the fuel cell and its auxiliary equipment is avoided. And damage to the fuel cell and its auxiliary equipment can be suppressed.

JP 2007-15588 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-123779 JP 2007-106361 A

  In the conventional vehicle body structure described above, when energy is input to the rocker member 116 from the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 5 at the time of a side collision, the rocker member 116 is deformed toward the side member 112 side and becomes the side member 112. The side member 112 is deformed toward the fuel cell unit 120 side and collides with the side surface of the fuel cell unit 120, and the fuel cell unit 120 may be damaged.

  As a measure for suppressing damage to the fuel cell unit 120 at the time of a side collision, it is conceivable to increase the strength and rigidity of the members 112 and 116. However, when the strength and rigidity are increased, there is a problem that the vehicle weight and cost are significantly increased. As another measure, it is conceivable to increase the distance between the rocker member 116 and the side member 112 or the distance between the side member 112 and the fuel cell unit 120. However, if the distance between them is increased, the vehicle width increases, and as a result, a significant increase in vehicle weight and cost is inevitable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell vehicle capable of suppressing damage to a fuel cell unit at the time of a vehicle collision with a simple structure, space saving, and low cost.

  The present invention is arranged on the left and right sides of a vehicle, and is connected to a pair of side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and spaced apart in the vehicle front-rear direction and extending in the vehicle width direction. A fuel cell vehicle having a pair of cross members and a fuel cell unit disposed between the pair of side members and the pair of cross members and supported by the pair of side members via a support member. A pair of rocker members that are arranged on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the members and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and are arranged between the side members and rocker members on both the left and right sides of the vehicle. And an energy transmission suppressing member that suppresses transmission to the fuel cell unit.

  In addition, the energy transmission suppressing member connects a connecting portion where a pair of cross members are connected to one side member, and a part of the region of the rocker member corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit, so that the rocker member is in a side collision. By dispersing the energy input to the side member and the cross member, the deformation amount of the side member corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit caused by the collision can be reduced.

  Further, it is preferable that a part of the region of the rocker member is a portion where the center position of the fuel cell unit in the vehicle front-rear direction extends in the vehicle width direction and intersects with the rocker member.

  Further, it is preferable that the energy transmission suppressing member has a substantially V-shaped plane that linearly connects a part of the region of the rocker member and each of the connecting portions.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the energy transmission suppressing member has a substantially plane U shape that connects the other connecting portion in a curved shape from one of the connecting portions through a part of the region of the rocker member.

  The energy transmission suppressing member connects a part of the side member region corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit and a part of the rocker member region, absorbs energy input to the rocker member at the time of a side collision, and collides The deformation amount of the side member corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit caused by the above can be reduced.

  Further, a part of the region of the side member is a portion where the center position of the fuel cell unit in the vehicle front-rear direction extends in the vehicle width direction and the side member intersects, and a part of the region of the rocker member is It is preferable that the center position of the fuel cell unit in the vehicle front-rear direction extends in the vehicle width direction and is a portion where the rocker member intersects.

  Further, the energy transmission suppressing member is preferably a brake member that absorbs energy input to the rocker member at the time of a side collision by friction generated inside the energy transmission suppressing member and suppresses the movement of the rocker member.

  According to the fuel cell automobile of the present invention, damage to the fuel cell unit at the time of a vehicle collision can be suppressed with a simple structure, space saving, and low cost.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the fuel cell vehicle of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle body structure of the fuel cell vehicle of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle body structure of the fuel cell vehicle of another embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle body structure of the fuel cell vehicle of another embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle body structure of the conventional fuel cell vehicle.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a fuel cell vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel cell vehicle 10 of the present embodiment.

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 includes a fuel cell 12 that generates electricity by causing an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas. The fuel gas used in the fuel cell 12 is hydrogen, and the oxidizing gas is air.

  The fuel cell 12 includes a fuel gas line 14 that supplies fuel gas to an anode (not shown) of the fuel cell 12, and an oxidant gas line 16 that supplies oxidant gas to the cathode (not shown) of the fuel cell 12. Is connected.

  Further, in the fuel cell 12, the exhaust fuel gas exhausted from the anode is returned to the fuel gas conduit 14, and the exhaust fuel gas exhausted from the cathode is connected to the circulation conduit 18 for circulating the exhaust fuel gas to the fuel cell 12. Is connected to the discharge pipe 20.

  The fuel cell 12 is a solid polymer fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane which is a proton conductive membrane formed of a polymer material such as a fluororesin. A unit cell (not shown) of the battery is configured by further sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) formed by sandwiching an electrolyte membrane between an anode and a cathode between two separators. The fuel cell 12 is configured by stacking a plurality of the unit cells.

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 has a tank 22 as a supply source for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell 12. The tank 22 stores the fuel gas in a high pressure state. The tank 22 and the fuel cell 12 are connected by a fuel gas pipe 14.

  A main stop valve 24 and a pressure reducing valve 26 are sequentially attached to the fuel gas pipe 14 from the tank 22 toward the fuel cell 12.

  The main stop valve 24 is an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes the valve by driving an electromagnet with an electric signal. The main stop valve 24 is closed when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is stopped, specifically when the ignition switch is off, and when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is operated, specifically when the ignition switch is on, It is controlled to be in the open state.

  The pressure reducing valve 26 functions as a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the tank 22 to the fuel cell 12, and when the pressure of the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell 12 rises abnormally, A valve device having a function of a safety valve that discharges to the outside.

  Further, a circulation pipe 18 is connected to the fuel gas pipe 14 on the downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 26. In the circulation line 18, a gas-liquid separation device 30 and a pump 32 are sequentially provided between the fuel cell 12 and the portion connected to the fuel gas line 14. The exhaust fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell 12 includes unreacted fuel gas and water (including water vapor) generated by an electrochemical reaction. The gas-liquid separator 30 separates water contained in the exhaust fuel gas. A drain valve 34 is connected to the gas-liquid separator 30, and the water separated by the gas-liquid separator 30 is drained to the outside by the operation of the discharge valve 34. The pump 20 sends the exhaust fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell 12 to the fuel gas conduit 14.

  An end portion of the oxidizing gas pipe 16 connected to the cathode of the fuel cell 12 is opened to the outside. A filter 36 and an air pump 38 are provided in this order from the end of the oxidizing gas pipe 16 toward the fuel cell 12. By the operation of the air pump 38, external air is purified by the filter 36 and supplied to the fuel cell 12. Supplied.

  In addition, a DC / DC converter 42 and an inverter 44 are connected to the fuel cell 12 via a cable 40.

  The DC / DC converter 42 is a voltage converter that boosts and steps down DC power. A battery 46 is connected to the DC / DC converter 42. The DC / DC converter 42 adjusts the DC voltage input from the battery 46 and outputs it to the inverter 44, and adjusts the DC voltage input from the fuel cell 12 or the inverter 44 and outputs it to the battery 46. Have With these functions, charging / discharging of the battery 46 is realized. Further, the output voltage of the fuel cell 12 is controlled by the DC / DC converter 42.

  The battery 46 is configured by a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery, such as a nickel hydride secondary battery or a lithium ion secondary battery. The battery 46 has a plurality of modules configured by connecting a plurality of cells in series, and these modules are further connected in series. That is, the battery 46 has all the cells included in the modules connected in series connected in series. Thereby, the battery 46 secures a high voltage necessary for driving the fuel cell vehicle 10. The battery 46 can be a large-capacity capacitor.

  The inverter 44 is a device that converts DC power into AC power or AC power into DC power. A motor 48 is connected to the inverter 44. The power generated by the fuel cell 12 or the power discharged from the battery 46 is converted from DC power to AC power by the inverter 44 and then supplied to the motor 48 to drive the motor 48. Drive wheels 50 are connected to the motor 48, and the output of the motor 48 is transmitted to the drive wheels 50 so that the fuel cell vehicle 10 travels. On the other hand, when the fuel cell vehicle 10 is braked, the electric power generated by the motor 48 is converted from AC power to DC power by the inverter 44 and then sent to the battery 46 and stored.

  Next, the vehicle body structure of the fuel cell vehicle 10 on which the fuel cell unit 52 including the fuel cell 12 is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. The fuel cell unit 52 can further include a DC / DC converter 42 and an inverter 44.

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 is disposed on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 10, and is disposed with a pair of side members 54 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction (the vertical direction of the paper surface), with a space in the vehicle front-rear direction, and in the vehicle width direction. A pair of cross members 56 extending in the left-right direction of the drawing and connecting the pair of side members 54 are provided.

  Further, the fuel cell vehicle 10 is disposed outside the side members 54 in the vehicle width direction, and extends between the pair of rocker members 58 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and between the side members 54 and the rocker members 58 on both the left and right sides of the vehicle. Each of the cross members 56 is disposed at a position extending in the vehicle width direction, and has a sub cross member 60 that connects the side member 54 and the rocker member 58.

  In the vehicle body structure of the fuel cell vehicle 10 configured as described above, the fuel cell unit 52 is disposed between the pair of side members 54 and the pair of cross members 56. The fuel cell unit 52 is mounted on the fuel cell vehicle 10 by being supported by, for example, a pair of side members 54 via a support member 62. In the present embodiment, the case where the fuel cell unit 52 is supported by the side member 54 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the fuel cell unit 52 may be supported by the pair of cross members 56 via the support member 62. .

  The fuel cell vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed between a side member 54 and a rocker member 58 on both the left and right sides of the vehicle, and these 54 and 58 are connected to transmit energy to the fuel cell unit 52 when a side collision occurs. It has the energy transmission suppression member 64 which suppresses this. With this configuration, even when energy is input to the rocker member 58 from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2 at the time of a side collision, the energy transmission suppressing member 64 transmits the energy to the fuel cell unit 52. Therefore, damage to the fuel cell unit 52 can be suppressed. Hereinafter, the structure of the energy transmission suppressing member 64 will be specifically described.

  The energy transmission suppressing member 64 extends the center position of the fuel cell unit 52 in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vehicle width direction, and a portion 58 a where the rocker member 58 intersects, and a pair of cross members for one side member 54. The plane 56 has a substantially V-shaped plane that linearly connects the two connecting portions 66 to be connected to each other.

  With such a simple configuration, when energy is input to the rocker member 58 from the direction of the arrow A at the time of a side collision, the energy transmission suppressing member 64 specifically transmits the energy to the side member 54 and the cross member 56. It can be dispersed in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. Therefore, since the amount of deformation of the side member 54 corresponding to the side surface 52a of the fuel cell unit 52 caused by the collision is reduced at the time of the side surface collision, the side member 54 becomes difficult to contact the side surface 52 of the fuel cell unit 52, and the fuel Damage to the battery unit 52 can be suppressed. Further, since the deformation amount of the side member 54 at the time of a side collision is reduced by this configuration, in order to prevent the side member 54 from coming into contact with the side surface 52 of the fuel cell unit 52, the rocker member 58, the side member 54, There is no need to increase the vehicle width by increasing the distance between the side members 54 and the fuel cell unit 52. Therefore, a significant increase in vehicle weight and cost can be avoided. The energy transmission suppressing member 64 is made of the same material as each member, for example, iron. For this reason, even if the energy transmission suppressing member 64 is added to the vehicle body structure, the vehicle weight and cost are not significantly increased.

  Next, another aspect of the energy transmission suppressing member 68 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle body structure of a fuel cell vehicle 10 according to another embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component as the said embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The energy transmission suppressing member 68 has a substantially U-shape in a plane connecting the one connecting portion 66 to the other connecting portion 66 in a curved shape via a portion 58a of the rocker member 58.

  With such a configuration, as in the above embodiment, when energy is input to the rocker member 58 from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. The cross member 56 can be dispersed in the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. Therefore, since the amount of deformation of the side member 54 corresponding to the side surface 52a of the fuel cell unit 52 caused by the collision is reduced at the time of the side surface collision, the side member 54 becomes difficult to contact the side surface 52 of the fuel cell unit 52, and the fuel Damage to the battery unit 52 can be suppressed. In addition, since the energy transmission suppressing member 64 of the above embodiment is substantially V-shaped in a plane, stress concentrates on the bent portion of the V shape, that is, the portion connected to the portion 58a of the rocker member 58 at the time of a side collision. The suppression member 64 may be damaged. On the other hand, since the energy transmission suppressing member 68 of the present embodiment is substantially U-shaped in a plane, there is no portion where stress is concentrated, so that damage to the energy transmission suppressing member 64 at the time of a side collision can be suppressed. .

  Next, another embodiment of the energy transmission suppressing member 70 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing a vehicle body structure of a fuel cell vehicle 10 of still another embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component as said each embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The energy transmission suppressing member 70 extends the center position of the fuel cell unit 52 in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vehicle width direction, and connects the portion 54 a where the side member 54 intersects with the portion 58 a of the rocker member 58. It is. The brake member includes a first brake member 72 connected to the portion 58a of the rocker member 58, and a second brake member connected to the portion 54a of the side member 54 by holding the first brake member 72 slidably in the vehicle width direction. 74. With this configuration, when energy is input to the rocker member 58 from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 4 during a side collision, the first brake member 72 moves in the direction of arrow A. At this time, the energy at the time of collision can be absorbed by the friction generated on the contact surfaces of the first and second brake members 72 and 74. As a result, the movement of the rocker member 58 is suppressed, and the deformation amount of the side member 54 corresponding to the side surface 52a of the fuel cell unit 52 due to the collision is reduced, so that the side member 54 contacts the side surface 52 of the fuel cell unit 52. It becomes difficult and damage to the fuel cell unit 52 can be suppressed.

  In this embodiment, although the case where the energy transmission suppression member 70 is a brake member comprised from the 1st and 2nd brake members 72 and 74 was demonstrated, it is not limited to this structure. A known brake member can be used as long as it can convert the energy at the time of collision into heat energy.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, one end of the energy transmission suppressing member 64, 68 is connected to the portion 58a of the rocker member 58, and both ends of the energy transmission suppressing member 70 are connected to the portion 54a of the side member 54 and the portion 58a of the rocker member 58, respectively. Although the case has been described, it is not limited to this configuration. If the deformation amount of the side member 54 corresponding to the side surface 52a of the fuel cell unit 52 due to the collision can be reduced, it can be connected to another part. The other portion is a region corresponding to the side surface 52a of the fuel cell unit 52, for example, a part of the region 58a of the rocker member 58 shown in FIGS.

  10, 110 Fuel cell vehicle, 12 Fuel cell, 42 DC / DC converter, 44 Inverter, 52, 120 Fuel cell unit, 54, 112 Side member, 56, 114 Cross member, 58, 116 Rocker member, 60, 118 Sub cross member 62, 118 Support member, 64, 68, 70 Energy transmission suppressing member 66 Connecting portion.

Claims (8)

A pair of side members disposed on both left and right sides of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction;
A pair of cross members that are arranged at intervals in the vehicle longitudinal direction and extend in the vehicle width direction to connect the pair of side members;
A fuel cell unit disposed between the pair of side members and the pair of cross members and supported by the pair of side members via a support member;
In a fuel cell vehicle having
A pair of rocker members disposed on the outside in the vehicle width direction of each side member and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction;
An energy transmission suppressing member that is disposed between a side member and a rocker member on both the left and right sides of the vehicle, connects them, and suppresses energy transmitted during a side collision to the fuel cell unit;
A fuel cell vehicle comprising: The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1,
The energy transmission suppressing member connects a connecting portion where a pair of cross members are connected to one side member and a part of a region of the rocker member corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit, and inputs to the rocker member at the time of a side collision. To reduce the amount of deformation of the side member corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit caused by collision,
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2,
A part of the region of the rocker member is a portion where the center position of the fuel cell unit in the vehicle front-rear direction extends in the vehicle width direction, and this intersects with the rocker member.
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that. In the fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2 or 3,
The energy transmission suppressing member has a substantially plane V shape that linearly connects a part of the region of the rocker member and each of the connecting portions.
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that. In the fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2 or 3,
The energy transmission suppressing member has a substantially plane U shape that connects the other connecting portion in a curved shape from one connecting portion through a part of the region of the rocker member.
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1,
The energy transmission suppressing member connects a part of the side member region corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit and a part of the rocker member region, absorbs energy input to the rocker member at the time of a side collision, and is generated by the collision. Reducing the deformation amount of the side member corresponding to the side surface of the fuel cell unit;
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6,
A part of the region of the side member is a portion where the center position of the fuel cell unit in the vehicle front-rear direction extends in the vehicle width direction, and this and the side member intersect,
A part of the region of the rocker member is a portion where the center position of the fuel cell unit in the vehicle front-rear direction extends in the vehicle width direction, and this intersects with the rocker member.
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 or 7,
The energy transmission suppression member is a brake member that absorbs energy input to the rocker member at the time of a side collision by friction generated inside the energy transmission suppression member, and suppresses movement of the rocker member.
A fuel cell vehicle characterized by that.

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