JP2018073605A - Support structure of fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a support structure of a fuel cell, capable of enhancing the airtightness of an exhaust path.SOLUTION: A support structure of a fuel cell includes: a fuel cell 20; an exhaust section 30 in which an exhaust path 30A for discharging exhaust gas from the fuel cell 20 is formed; a support frame for supporting the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust section 30; a first support member for supporting the fuel cell 20 to the support frame; and a second support member for supporting the exhaust section 30 to the support frame. In addition, the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust section 30 are separately fixed to the support frame by the first support member and the second support member, respectively, and are connected to each other via an elastic member 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a support structure for a fuel cell.

  In recent years, a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell and a motor has been developed for vehicles such as motorcycles and automobiles. A fuel cell vehicle travels by driving a motor using electric energy generated by a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell.

  In a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, a gas containing hydrogen is purged from the fuel cell and discharged into the atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to make the hydrogen concentration of the discharged gas as low as possible.

  However, even if the hydrogen concentration of the exhausted gas is reduced, if the gas leaks in the middle of the gas discharge path and stays in the interior space of the vehicle, the hydrogen concentration may increase. There is a need to increase the airtightness of the discharge channel.

  In Patent Document 1, an exhaust duct is connected to the rear of the fuel cell unit, and the exhaust duct is composed of a first exhaust duct and a second exhaust duct, and the first exhaust duct and the second exhaust duct are connected via a ceiling. To connect.

Japanese Patent No. 5382325

  Here, as a method for improving the airtightness of the exhaust path of the fuel cell, it is conceivable to mechanically fix the fuel cell unit and the exhaust duct.

  However, since the fuel cell and the exhaust duct are different in weight and shape, their vibration characteristics are different from each other. For this reason, when the fuel cell and the exhaust duct are directly connected, the load generated by the vibration of the vehicle is concentrated on the connection part between the fuel cell and the exhaust duct, and a gap is formed in the connection part to maintain the airtightness of the exhaust path. May disappear.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell support structure capable of enhancing the airtightness of the exhaust path.

  The present invention provides a fuel cell, an exhaust part in which an exhaust path for discharging exhaust gas from the fuel cell is formed, a support frame that supports the fuel cell and the exhaust part, and the support for the fuel cell. A first support member for supporting the exhaust unit, and a second support member for supporting the exhaust unit on the support frame, wherein the fuel cell and the exhaust unit include the first support member. The support member and the second support member are separately fixed to the support frame and connected to each other via an elastic member.

  According to the present invention, the airtightness of the exhaust path can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a vehicle including a fuel cell support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rear portion of a vehicle including a fuel cell support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the connecting portion of the fuel cell, the exhaust portion, and the elastic member of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification in which the fitting shape of the second connection surface and the fourth connection surface is reversed from that in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification in which the fitting shape of the first connection surface and the third connection surface is reversed from that in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification in which an engagement portion is provided in the fitting portion on the fuel cell side in FIG. 3.

  A fuel cell support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel cell, an exhaust portion in which an exhaust path for discharging exhaust gas from the fuel cell is formed, and a support that supports the fuel cell and the exhaust portion. A frame, a first support member for supporting the fuel cell on the support frame, and a second support member for supporting the exhaust unit on the support frame. The fuel cell and the exhaust unit include: The first support member and the second support member are separately fixed to the support frame and connected to each other through an elastic member. Thereby, the fuel cell support structure according to the embodiment of the present invention can improve the airtightness of the exhaust path.

  A fuel cell support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing a fuel cell support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, directions indicated by up, down, right, and left are directions seen from the driver.

  First, the configuration will be described. In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 is a scooter type motorcycle that rides in a posture in which a driver sits down. A support frame 10 made of a steel pipe or the like is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle 1.

  The support frame 10 has an overall shape extending rearward from below a floor (not shown) on which a driver puts his / her foot, and constitutes a part of a so-called underbone type frame. The support frame 10 includes main frames 10A and 10B arranged on the front side and the lower side, and seat frames 10C and 10D arranged on the rear side and the upper side. The support frame 10 is integrated by fixing the main frames 10A and 10B and the seat frames 10C and 10D by fastening or the like. A seat (not shown) is disposed above the seat frame 10 </ b> C of the support frame 10. A rear wheel and a suspension device (not shown) are disposed below the main frame 10 </ b> B of the support frame 10.

  1, 2, and 3, a fuel cell 20 and an exhaust unit 30 are provided at the rear of the vehicle 1. The fuel cell 20 generates electricity by reacting hydrogen stored in a hydrogen tank (not shown) with oxygen in the air. The fuel cell 20 is formed in a box shape as a whole. The electricity generated by the fuel cell 20 is supplied to a running motor (not shown) to drive the motor. Thus, the vehicle 1 is configured as a fuel cell vehicle.

  The exhaust part 30 is provided behind the fuel cell 20. An exhaust path 30 </ b> A for discharging exhaust gas from the fuel cell 20 is formed in the exhaust unit 30.

  The support frame 10 is formed so as to surround the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 from the side surface, and supports the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30.

  The vehicle 1 includes first support members 51A, 51B, and 51C for supporting the fuel cell 20 on the support frame 10, and second support members 52A and 52B for supporting the exhaust portion 30 on the support frame 10. It has.

  The first support members 51A, 51B, 51C are disposed on the side of the fuel cell 20, are fixed to the support frame 10, and support the fuel cell 20 from the side. More specifically, the first support member 51A is fixed to the main frame 10B, and the first support members 51B and 51C are fixed to the seat frame 10C.

  The second support members 52A and 52B are disposed above the exhaust part 30, are fixed to the support frame 10, and support the exhaust part 30 from above. More specifically, the second support members 52A and 52B are fixed to the seat frame 10C.

  As described above, the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 are separately fixed to the support frame 10 by the first support members 51A, 51B, 51C and the second support members 52A, 52B. Is responsible for the load due to the weight of the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30.

  The first support members 51A, 51B, 51C and the second support members 52A, 52B may be integrally formed as a part of the support frame 10, or may be formed as separate members from the support frame 10. Then, it may be fixed to the support frame 10 by welding or the like. That is, the first support members 51A, 51B, 51C and the second support members 52A, 52B are integrally formed on the support frame 10, or separate first support members 51A, 51B, 51C and The second support members 52A and 52B are fixed.

  The vehicle 1 includes an elastic member 40 made of rubber or the like between the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30. The fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 are connected to each other elastically and airtightly via an elastic member 40. The elastic member 40 is formed in a rectangular shape so that it can be connected to both the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30.

  In FIG. 4, the elastic member 40 is formed with a first connection surface 41 connected to the fuel cell 20 and a second connection surface 42 connected to the exhaust part 30.

  The fuel cell 20 has a third connection surface 21 that is connected to the first connection surface 41. The exhaust part 30 has a fourth connection surface 31 that is connected to the second connection surface 42. Here, the 1st connection surface 41, the 2nd connection surface 42, the 3rd connection surface 21, and the 4th connection surface 31 are contact surfaces which contact the other party member.

  In the elastic member 40, a concave recess 44 is formed on the first connection surface 41, and a concave recess 45 is formed on the second connection surface 42.

  The third connection surface 21 of the fuel cell 20 is formed with a fitting portion 23 that fits into the recess 44 of the first connection surface 41. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the fitting portion 23 has a clear convex shape, and the thickness of the fitting portion 23 of the fuel cell 20 is smaller than the thickness of the portion other than the fitting portion 23 of the fuel cell 20. . On the fourth connection surface 31 of the exhaust part 30, a fitting part 33 that fits into the concave part 45 of the second connection surface 42 is formed. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the fitting part 33 and the part other than the fitting part 33 of the exhaust part 30 are continuous with the same thickness. Here, the fitting part 33 is an end part of the exhaust part 30 on the elastic member 40 side and is a part to be fitted with the concave part 45.

  Thus, the elastic member 40 and the fuel cell 20 are connected by fitting the recess 44 and the fitting portion 23 together. Further, the elastic member 40 and the exhaust part 30 are connected by fitting the recess 45 and the fitting part 33 together. In addition, the contact surface of the recessed part 44 and the fitting part 23 and the contact surface of the recessed part 45 and the fitting part 33 are firmly fixed and reliable airtightness is ensured by apply | coating an adhesive material.

  The fitting part 33 has an engaging part 33A at its tip. The engaging portion 33A protrudes from the tip of the fitting portion 33 toward the outside of the exhaust path 30A. The recess 45 has a groove 45C with which the engaging portion 33A is engaged.

  A curved surface 33B having a predetermined radius of curvature is formed at the corner between the end surface and the side surface on the distal end side in the engaging portion 33A. In other words, the end surface and the side surface at the distal end side in the insertion direction in the engaging portion 33A are not orthogonal to each other but are continuous by the curved surface 33B.

  Note that the position and number of the curved surface 33B are not limited to the corner portions between the end surface and the side surface on the distal end side of the engaging portion 33A. A curved surface 33B can be provided on at least a part of the engaging portion 33A.

  Further, in this embodiment, the recess 45 has a side wall portion 45F that forms an insertion path 45E into which the fitting portion 33 is inserted. An inlet 45D is formed in the side wall portion 45F. And the space | interval of the two inner surface 45G which faces the fitting part 33 side of the side wall part 45F is gradually widened toward the entrance 45D of the insertion path 45E from the predetermined position P. As shown in FIG. Accordingly, the width of the insertion path 45E gradually increases from the predetermined position P toward the inlet 45D.

  As described above, the fuel cell support structure of this embodiment includes the fuel cell 20, the exhaust part 30 in which the exhaust passage 30 </ b> A for discharging exhaust gas from the fuel cell 20 is formed, the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust gas. A support frame 10 that supports the portion 30, a first support member 51A, 51B, 51C for supporting the fuel cell 20 on the support frame 10, and a second for supporting the exhaust portion 30 on the support frame 10. And supporting members 52A and 52B.

  In addition, the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 are separately fixed to the support frame 10 by the first support members 51A, 51B, 51C and the second support members 52A, 52B, respectively, and via the elastic member 40 Are connected to each other.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the fuel cell 20 is fixed to the support frame 10 by the first support members 51A, 51B, and 51C, and the exhaust part 30 is fixed to the support frame 10 by the second support members 52A and 52B. Is done.

  Therefore, the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 are fixed to the support frame 10 separately via the first support members 51A, 51B, 51C and the second support members 52A, 52B, respectively. The exhaust part 30 is connected. Therefore, the load due to the weight of the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 does not act between the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30, but only the load caused by the difference in vibration characteristics between the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30 acts. .

  Therefore, the elastic member 40 can absorb the load caused by the difference in vibration characteristics between the fuel cell 20 and the exhaust part 30. Thereby, it is possible to prevent hydrogen contained in the exhaust fluid from leaking due to the load being concentrated on the connection surface between the fuel tank and the exhaust unit 30 and the connection surface being displaced or damaged. As a result, the airtightness of the exhaust path can be improved.

  Further, in the fuel cell support structure of this embodiment, the first connection surface 41 and the second connection surface 42 of the elastic member 40 have recesses 44 and 45.

  Further, the third connection surface 21 of the fuel cell 20 and the fourth connection surface 31 of the exhaust part 30 have fitting parts 23 and 33 that fit into the concave parts 44 and 45 of the elastic member 40.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first connection surface 41 of the elastic member 40 and the third connection surface 21 of the fuel cell 20 can be fitted to each other and connected. The connection surface 42 and the fourth connection surface 31 of the exhaust part 30 can be fitted together and connected.

  For this reason, the contact area between the connection surfaces can be increased, and the airtightness between the fuel cell 20 and the elastic member 40 and between the exhaust part 30 and the elastic member 40 can be enhanced.

  Here, the fitting shape of the elastic member 40 and the fuel cell 20 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and the concave portion and the fitting portion may be reversed. Moreover, the fitting shape of the elastic member 40 and the exhaust part 30 is not limited to the aspect shown in FIG. 4, A recessed part and a fitting part may be reverse.

  For example, as in the modification shown in FIG. 5, the fitting portion 46 is provided on the second connection surface 42 of the elastic member 40, and the recess 34 is provided on the fourth connection surface 31 of the exhaust portion 30. You may make it connect the elastic member 40 and the exhaust part 30 by fitting the fitting part 46 and the recessed part 34. FIG.

  Alternatively, as in the modification shown in FIG. 6, the fitting portion 43 is provided on the first connection surface 41 of the elastic member 40, and the recess 24 is provided on the third connection surface 21 of the fuel cell 20. The elastic member 40 and the fuel cell 20 may be connected by fitting the fitting portion 43 and the concave portion 24 together.

  Thus, at least one of the first connection surface 41 or the second connection surface 42 of the elastic member 40 has a fitting portion or a recess. Thereby, the contact area of the connection surfaces fitted together can be increased, and the airtightness of the connection surfaces can be improved.

  Further, in the fuel cell support structure of this embodiment, the fitting portion 33 has an engaging portion 33A at the tip thereof, and the concave portion 45 has a groove portion 45C that engages with the engaging portion 33A.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the connection work is performed with the elastic member 40 and the fuel cell 20 or the exhaust part 30 relatively close to each other, the state before the engaging part 33A and the groove part 45C are engaged is as follows. When the state after the engagement is reached, the force of connection work changes.

  For this reason, an operator can recognize this change in force as a response, or the work machine can detect it. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the connection work is completed based on the change in the power of the connection work.

  In the fuel cell support structure of the present embodiment, at least a part of the engaging portion 33A has a curved surface 33B having a predetermined radius of curvature.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the engaging portion 33A of the fitting portion 33 is provided with the curved surface 33B, whereby the fitting portion 33 can be easily inserted into the recess 45. Further, after the fitting portion 33 is inserted into the recess 45, the fitting portion 33 can be hardly removed from the recess 45.

  Therefore, the connection workability between the elastic member 40 and the exhaust part 30 can be improved, and the connection strength can be increased.

  Further, in the fuel cell support structure of this embodiment, the recess 45 has a side wall portion 45F that forms an insertion path 45E into which the fitting portion 33 is inserted, and faces the fitting portion 33 side of the side wall portion 45F 2. The interval between the two inner surfaces 45G gradually increases from the predetermined position P toward the inlet 45D of the insertion path 45E.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the interval between the two inner side surfaces 45G of the side wall portion 45F is gradually increased from the predetermined position P toward the inlet 45D, so that the fitting portion 33 can be easily inserted into the recess 45. .

  The engaging portion 33A and the curved surface 33B are provided in the fitting portion 23 of the fuel cell 20, and the groove portion 45C, the inlet 45D, the insertion path 45E, the side wall portion 45F, and the inner side surface 45G are provided in the concave portion 44 of the elastic member 40. Also good.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 7, the fitting portion 23 has an engaging portion 23A at the tip thereof, and the concave portion 44 has a groove portion 44C that engages with the engaging portion 23A. Further, the engaging portion 23A has a curved surface 23B having a predetermined radius of curvature.

  The concave portion 44 has a side wall portion 44F that forms an insertion path 44E into which the fitting portion 23 is inserted, and the interval between the two inner side surfaces 44G facing the fitting portion 23 side of the side wall portion 44F is set at a predetermined position P. Gradually becomes wider toward the inlet 44D of the insertion path 44E.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the vehicle 1 is a motorcycle is illustrated, but the vehicle 1 may be a four-wheeled automobile. The fuel cell support structure of the present invention can be applied to various types of vehicles.

  While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Support frame 20 Fuel cell 21 3rd connection surface 23 Fitting part 30 Exhaust part 30A Exhaust path 31 4th connection surface 33 Fitting part 33A Engagement part 33B Curved surface 40 Elastic member 41 1st connection surface 42 2nd Connecting surface 44 concave portion 45 concave portion 45C groove portion 45D inlet 45E insertion path 45F side wall portion 45G inner side surfaces 51A, 51B, 51C first support members 52A, 52B second support member P predetermined position

Claims (5)

A fuel cell;
An exhaust section in which an exhaust path for discharging exhaust gas from the fuel cell is formed;
A support frame that supports the fuel cell and the exhaust part;
A first support member for supporting the fuel cell on the support frame;
A second support member for supporting the exhaust part on the support frame,
The fuel cell and the exhaust part are:
Fixed to the support frame separately by the first support member and the second support member, and
A support structure for a fuel cell, which is connected to each other through an elastic member. The elastic member is
A first connection surface connected to the fuel cell;
A second connection surface connected to the exhaust part,
At least one of the first connection surface or the second connection surface has one of a recessed portion or a fitting portion fitted to the recessed portion,
The fuel cell has a third connection surface connected to the first connection surface,
The exhaust part has a fourth connection surface connected to the second connection surface,
2. The fuel cell support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the third connection surface and the fourth connection surface has the other of the concave portion and the fitting portion. The fitting portion has an engaging portion at its tip,
The fuel cell support structure according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion includes a groove portion that engages with the engaging portion.   The fuel cell support structure according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the engaging portion has a curved surface with a predetermined radius of curvature. The concave portion has a side wall portion that forms an insertion path into which the fitting portion is inserted,
3. The fuel cell support according to claim 2, wherein an interval between two inner side surfaces of the side wall portion facing the fitting portion side gradually increases from a predetermined position toward an inlet of the insertion path. Construction.

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