JP2021115942A - Vehicular tank fixation device, and vehicular tank fixation method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular tank fixation device and a vehicular tank fixation method, adaptive to variation in shape of a fuel tank more flexibly in comparison with a band system.SOLUTION: A tank fixation device 30 has: a top plate 48 arranged above a fuel tank 20; a coil spring 49 arranged below the top plate 48 and compressed in the direction in which the top plate approaches the coil spring top plate 48; and an elastic member 55 sandwiching the coil spring 49 between the elastic member 55 and the top plate 48 above the fuel tank 20. The tank fixation device 30 has a holding mechanism 60 which holds the coil spring 49 in a first compressed state until the elastic member 55 is away from an upper end surface of the fuel tank 20. The tank fixation device 30 fixes the fuel tank 20 to a base weight 21 by releasing holding of the first compressed state by the holding mechanism 60 and pressing the elastic member 55 against the fuel tank 20 by compression reaction of the coil spring 49 in a second compressed state expanded more than the first compressed state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a tank fixing device for a vehicle that presses and fixes a fuel tank for storing fuel gas used for a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle body against a tank mounting portion provided on the vehicle body, and a tank fixing method for the vehicle.

In recent years, the development of automobiles and industrial vehicles equipped with fuel cells and running on the electric power generated by the fuel cells has been promoted. This type of vehicle is equipped with a fuel tank in addition to the fuel cell. The fuel tank stores the fuel gas used when the fuel cell generates electricity. The fuel tank is filled with high pressure fuel gas. Therefore, when the fuel tank is mounted on the vehicle, the fuel tank is fixed by a tank fixing device so that the fuel tank does not move while the vehicle is running.

As a tank fixing device for a vehicle, a method of wrapping a band around the outer peripheral surface of the fuel tank and fixing the fuel tank to the vehicle body by tightening the band (hereinafter, "band method") is known. In the band method, the core metal of the band is made of thin metal so as to cope with the variation in the shape of the fuel tank during tank manufacturing or the expansion and contraction of the tank itself that occurs when the fuel tank is filled with fuel gas. Or, rubber is wrapped around the core of the band. When the core metal of the band is made of thin metal, the band can be deformed according to the outer peripheral shape of the fuel tank. Further, when rubber is wrapped around the core metal of the band, the above-mentioned variation in the shape of the fuel tank and expansion / contraction can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the rubber. As a technique for fixing the fuel tank by the band method, for example, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 5 are known.

International Publication No. 2011/055652 Japanese Patent No. 6120017 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-175001 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-240448 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-70468

However, the band type tank fixing device has a drawback that even if rubber is wrapped around the core metal of the band, the range that can cope with the variation in the shape of the fuel tank at the time of manufacturing the tank is narrow.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tank fixing device for a vehicle capable of flexibly responding to variations in the shape of a fuel tank as compared with a band method, and a tank fixing method for a vehicle.

The tank fixing device for a vehicle for solving the above problems is for a vehicle in which a fuel tank for storing fuel gas used for a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle body is pressed against a tank mounting portion provided on the vehicle body to be fixed. A tank fixing device, a top plate arranged above the fuel tank, an urging member arranged below the top plate and compressing in a direction approaching the top plate, and above the fuel tank. An elastic member that sandwiches the urging member together with the top plate, and a holding mechanism that holds the urging member in a first compressed state in which the urging member is compressed until the elastic member is separated from the upper end surface of the fuel tank. The elastic member is held by the compression reaction force of the urging member in the second compressed state, which is released from the holding of the first compressed state by the holding mechanism and is extended from the first compressed state. The gist is to fix the fuel tank to the tank mounting portion by pressing it against the fuel tank.

According to this, by releasing the holding of the urging member in the first compressed state by the holding mechanism, the urging member extends to the second compressed state, and the elastic member is generated by the compression reaction force generated in the second compressed state. Can be pressed against the fuel tank. Even if the shape of the fuel tank varies during manufacturing of the tank, the elastic member can be pressed against the upper end surface of the fuel tank by absorbing the variation by the deformation of the urging member. As a result, it is possible to more flexibly deal with variations in the shape of the fuel tank during tank manufacturing as compared with the band method.

Regarding the tank fixing device for a vehicle, the holding mechanism is projected from the elastic member toward the top plate and penetrates a female screw pole having a female screw on the inner circumference and a through hole of the top plate. It has a bolt that is screwed into the female screw of the female screw pole, and the bolt has a male screw that is inserted into the through hole and a head that is integrated with the male screw, and the through hole has the said head. When the male screw is inserted and screwed into the female screw of the female screw pole, the head may come into contact with the periphery of the through hole in the top plate.

According to this, when the bolt is rotated with the head of the bolt in contact with the top plate, the female screw of the female screw pole screwes the male screw of the bolt, and the female screw pole approaches the top plate. Then, the elastic member integrated with the female screw pole also approaches the top plate, and the urging member sandwiched between the top plate and the elastic member is compressed to enter the first compressed state. As a result, the state in which the elastic member is close to the top plate is maintained by the screwing of the female screw pole and the bolt, and the urging member is held in the first compressed state between the top plate and the elastic member. Therefore, the first compressed state of the urging member can be maintained with a simple configuration of screwing the female screw pole and the bolt.

Regarding the tank fixing device for a vehicle, the urging member is a coil spring, and the coil spring is arranged so that an axis extends in the vertical direction between the top plate and the elastic member, and the coil spring is compressed and compressed. The first is provided with a guide member for vertically extending the extension due to the release of the above, and the guide member is integrated with the top plate and is projected toward the elastic member so that the axis extends in the vertical direction. It has a spring guide and a second spring guide that is integrated with the elastic member and projects toward the top plate so that the axis extends in the vertical direction, and either the first spring guide or the second spring guide. May be tubular and the other may be a columnar shape inserted into the inside of the one.

According to this, when the coil spring is compressed and when it is expanded with the release of the compression, the elastic member can be guided to move in the vertical direction by sliding the second spring guide with respect to the first spring guide. As a result, the coil spring can be compressed and expanded in a state where the axis of the coil spring extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the coil spring from bending and being compressed without being along the vertical direction, and it becomes easy to maintain the compressed state by the holding mechanism. Further, when the coil spring is extended, it is possible to prevent the elastic member from bending toward the fuel tank, and the elastic member can be suitably pressed against the fuel tank.

Regarding the tank fixing device for a vehicle, a mounting plate may be suspended and supported by the urging member, and the elastic member may be arranged below the mounting plate.
According to this, when the elastic member is pressed against the fuel tank, the mounting plate is sandwiched between the elastic member and the urging member. Therefore, the compression reaction force of the urging member can be received by the mounting plate, and the elastic member can be suppressed from being deformed by the compression reaction force.

The tank fixing method for vehicles for solving the above problems is a tank fixing device for fixing a fuel tank for storing fuel gas used in a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle body by pressing it against a tank mounting portion provided on the vehicle body. The tank fixing device is a method of fixing a tank for a vehicle according to the above method, wherein the tank fixing device is arranged above the fuel tank and below the top plate, and is compressed in a direction approaching the top plate. A first compressed state in which the urging member, the elastic member that sandwiches the urging member together with the top plate above the fuel tank, and the urging member until the elastic member is separated from the upper end surface of the fuel tank. Has a holding mechanism for holding the urging member, and the elastic member is positioned above the upper end surface of the fuel tank in a state where the urging member is held in the first compressed state by the holding mechanism. The arrangement step of arranging the tank fixing device and the arrangement step of arranging the tank fixing device so as to be performed are performed, and the holding of the first compressed state of the urging member by the holding mechanism is released, and the tank fixing device is extended from the first compressed state. It is a gist to have a pressing step of fixing the fuel tank to the tank mounting portion by pressing the elastic member against the upper end surface of the fuel tank by the compression reaction force of the urging member in the second compressed state. ..

According to this, in the arrangement stroke, it is possible to suppress the urging member from freely expanding and contracting while the urging member is held in the first compressed state by the holding mechanism, and it is possible to suppress the elastic member from interfering with the fuel tank. can. Then, in the pressing step, the urging member is extended to the second compressed state by releasing the holding of the urging member in the first compressed state by the holding mechanism, and is elastic by the compression reaction force generated in the second compressed state. The member can be pressed against the fuel tank. Even if the shape of the fuel tank varies during manufacturing of the tank, the elastic member can be pressed against the upper end surface of the fuel tank by absorbing the variation by the deformation of the urging member. As a result, it is possible to more flexibly deal with variations in the shape of the fuel tank during tank manufacturing as compared with the band method.

According to the present invention, it is possible to flexibly deal with variations in the shape of the fuel tank as compared with the band method.

The figure which shows the towing tractor of an embodiment. The perspective view which shows the tank fixing device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 showing a tank fixing device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2 excluding bolts in the tank fixing device. The perspective view which shows the tank fixing device. The cross-sectional view which shows the tank fixing device which held the coil spring in the 1st compression state. The figure which shows the state which the fuel tank is mounted on the base weight. The figure which shows the state which fastened the tank fixing mechanism to the 1st and 2nd support arms. The figure of the state where the fuel tank is pressed against the base weight by the coil spring. The figure which shows the tank fixing device of another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the tank fixing device and the tank fixing method for the vehicle are embodied in the tank fixing device and the fixing method for the fuel cell type towing tractor will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up", and "down" mean that the driver of the towing tractor faces the front of the vehicle (forward direction). It means "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", and "bottom" when used as a reference. The front-rear direction coincides with the vehicle front-rear direction, and the left-right direction coincides with the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the towing tractor 10 has a pair of steering wheels 12 at the lower part of the front portion of the vehicle body 11. The pair of steering wheels 12 are arranged on both sides of the vehicle body 11 in the left-right direction. Further, the towing tractor 10 has a pair of drive wheels 13 at the lower part of the rear portion of the vehicle body 11. The pair of drive wheels 13 are arranged on both sides of the vehicle body 11 in the left-right direction.

The towing tractor 10 has a driver's seat 14. The driver's seat 14 is provided with a seat 15 on which the driver sits and a steering wheel column 16 provided in front of the seat 15. The steering wheel column 16 is equipped with a steering wheel 16a operated by the driver to steer the steering wheel 12. In the driver's seat 14, an accelerator pedal 17 is provided in the lower part in front of the seat 15.

The towing tractor 10 includes a fuel cell unit 18 and a traveling motor 19. The fuel cell unit 18 includes a fuel tank 20 and a fuel cell 27. The fuel cell 27 is connected to the fuel tank 20. The fuel tank 20 stores fuel gas necessary for the fuel cell 27 to generate electricity. Examples of the fuel gas stored in the fuel tank 20 include high-pressure hydrogen. The fuel tank 20 is mounted on the base weight 21 as a tank mounting portion included in the vehicle body 11, and is fixed to the base weight 21 by a tank fixing device described later.

The fuel cell unit 18 supplies electric power to the traveling motor 19. Further, the towing tractor 10 includes a control device (not shown) that controls the electric power supplied from the fuel cell unit 18 to the traveling motor 19 to control the driving of the traveling motor 19. The traveling motor 19 drives a pair of drive wheels 13. Then, the towing tractor 10 travels at a vehicle speed corresponding to the accelerator opening degree of the accelerator pedal 17 by controlling the drive of the traveling motor 19 according to the accelerator opening degree of the accelerator pedal 17 by the control device. Therefore, in the towing tractor 10 of the present embodiment, the traveling motor 19 is driven by supplying electric power from the fuel cell unit 18 to the traveling motor 19, and the pair of drive wheels 13 are rotationally driven by the driving of the traveling motor 19. It is a fuel cell type that runs by.

Next, the tank fixing device will be described.
First, the fuel tank 20 fixed to the vehicle body 11 by the tank fixing device will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the fuel tank 20 has an overall cylindrical shape. The longitudinal direction X of the fuel tank 20 is the direction in which the central axis L of the fuel tank 20 extends. The fuel tank 20 has a circular tank outer peripheral surface 20a when viewed from the end in the longitudinal direction X. Further, the fuel tank 20 has tank end faces 20b that bulge outward in a round shape at both ends in the longitudinal direction X. The outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank and the end surface 20b of the tank each form an outer surface of the fuel tank 20.

The fuel tank 20 is mounted on the base weight 21. The base weight 21 is a weight provided on the vehicle body 11 in order to balance the weight of the towing tractor 10. The first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 are fixed to the base weight 21 by bolts (not shown). The first support arm 22 is arranged at the first end of the base weight 21 in the longitudinal direction X, and the second support arm 23 is arranged at the second end of the base weight 21 in the longitudinal direction X. The first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 each rise vertically from the base weight 21.

The base weight 21 is provided with a plurality of tank cradle 24. Each tank cradle 24 receives and supports the fuel tank 20 mounted on the base weight 21 from below. The plurality of tank cradle 24s are arranged in pairs in the lateral direction Y of the fuel tank 20. Further, three sets of the plurality of tank cradle 24s are provided so as to be displaced in the longitudinal direction X of the fuel tank 20.

Each tank cradle 24 is arranged so as to face the lower peripheral surface of the tank outer peripheral surface 20a. Further, each tank cradle 24 includes a cradle body 25 and a rubber plate 26. The cradle body 25 is a rigid body made of metal or the like. The cradle body 25 is fixed to the base weight 21. The rubber plate 26 is attached to the cradle body 25. The rubber plate 26 has a receiving surface 26a for receiving the fuel tank 20. The receiving surface 26a is arranged so as to face the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20. Further, the receiving surfaces 26a of the tank cradle 24 of each pair paired in the lateral direction Y of the fuel tank 20 are arranged so as to be inclined in a V shape when viewed from one end side in the longitudinal direction X of the fuel tank 20. ..

The tank fixing device 30 is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 described above. The tank fixing device 30 includes a tank fixing mechanism 40 that presses and fixes the fuel tank 20 against the base weight 21, a holding mechanism 60 that holds a pair of coil springs 49 as urging members included in the tank fixing mechanism 40 in a compressed state. To be equipped.

The tank fixing mechanism 40 includes a base 41 arranged above the fuel tank 20, a mounting base 46 erected on the upper surface of the base 41, a pair of coil springs 49 suspended from the mounting base 46, and a pair of coil springs. It has a mounting plate 50 suspended from a mounting base 46 by 49, and an elastic member 55 suspended and supported by a coil spring 49. Further, the tank fixing mechanism 40 has a guide member 51 that guides the displacement of the coil spring 49 when the coil spring 49 is compressed and expanded due to the release of the compression.

The base 41 includes a base plate 42 formed of a long square plate-shaped metal plate, and connecting plates 43 integrated at both ends of the base plate 42 in the longitudinal direction. One surface of the base plate 42 in the plate thickness direction is the upper surface 42a, and the other surface in the plate thickness direction is the lower surface 42b. A rectangular hole 42c is formed in the central portion of the base plate 42 in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction when viewed from the upper surface 42a side. The hole 42c penetrates the base plate 42 in the plate thickness direction. When the tank fixing device 30 is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23, the longitudinal direction of the base plate 42 coincides with the longitudinal direction X of the fuel tank 20, and the lateral direction of the base plate 42 is fuel. It coincides with the lateral direction Y of the tank 20.

Each connecting plate 43 has a main body 44 fixed to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 42, and a connecting piece 45 protruding from the lower end of the main body 44. Assuming that one surface of the main body 44 in the plate thickness direction is the inner surface 44a and the other surface in the plate thickness direction is the outer surface 44b, the longitudinal end of the base plate 42 is joined to the inner surface 44a of each main body 44. The connecting piece 45 projects from the lower end of the main body 44 so as to be orthogonal to the outer surface 44b. An insertion hole (not shown) is formed in the connecting piece 45.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 or 5, the mounting base 46 is erected on the upper surface 42a of the base plate 42. The mounting base 46 has an inverted U shape when viewed from the longitudinal end of the base plate 42. The mounting base 46 includes a pair of support walls 47 erected from both ends of the upper surface 42a of the base plate 42 in the lateral direction, and a top plate 48 supported by the upper ends of the pair of support walls 47. The pair of support walls 47 are erected from positions where the holes 42c are sandwiched from both sides of the base plate 42 in the lateral direction. Therefore, the top plate 48 is arranged above the hole 42c. Further, the top plate 48 is located above the upper surface 42a of the base plate 42 by a pair of support walls 47.

The lower surface 48b, which is one surface of both sides of the top plate 48 in the plate thickness direction, faces the upper surface 42a of the base plate 42, and the other surface of both sides of the top plate 48 is the upper surface 48a. The top plate 48 has a long square plate shape whose length extends in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 42. Through holes 48c are provided in the central portions of the top plate 48 in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction. The through hole 48c penetrates the top plate 48 in the plate thickness direction and is located at a position where it overlaps with the hole 42c in the vertical direction.

The pair of coil springs 49 are arranged below the top plate 48, and are arranged at positions that sandwich the through hole 48c in the longitudinal direction. The upper end of each coil spring 49 is joined to the lower surface 48b of the top plate 48. Therefore, the pair of coil springs 49 are suspended from the top plate 48. Further, the tank fixing mechanism 40 includes a mounting plate 50 that is suspended and supported by both coil springs 49 by being joined to the lower ends of each coil spring 49.

The mounting plate 50 is a long square plate-shaped metal plate. One surface of the mounting plate 50 in the plate thickness direction is the upper surface 50a, and the other surface in the plate thickness direction is the lower surface 50b. The lower end of one coil spring 49 of the pair of coil springs 49 is joined to one end in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface 50a of the mounting plate 50, and the lower end of the other coil spring 49 is the other in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface 50a of the mounting plate 50. It is joined near the edge. Therefore, the mounting plate 50 is suspended and supported by a pair of coil springs 49. The length of the mounting plate 50 extends in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 42, and the short side of the mounting plate 50 extends in the short side direction of the base plate 42.

The longitudinal dimension of the mounting plate 50 is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the hole 42c of the base plate 42, and the lateral dimension of the mounting plate 50 is smaller than the lateral dimension of the hole 42c. The mounting plate 50 has a size that allows it to pass through the hole 42c.

The elastic member 55 is attached to a support member 54 that is fixed to the lower surface 50b of the attachment plate 50 by welding. The support member 54 serves as a core metal for supporting the elastic member 55 by the mounting plate 50. Further, a total of three support members 54 are provided so as to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the mounting plate 50. The elastic member 55 is attached to the support member 54 so as to embrace each support member 54. Therefore, the elastic member 55 is arranged below the mounting plate 50 via the support member 54, and the elastic member 55 is suspended and supported by the coil spring 49 via the support member 54. Further, the elastic member 55 sandwiches the coil spring 49 together with the top plate 48.

The elastic member 55 is made of a rubber plate. Further, the elastic member 55 has a long square plate shape. The longitudinal dimension of the elastic member 55 is the same as or slightly shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the mounting plate 50. The lateral dimension of the elastic member 55 is the same as or slightly shorter than the lateral dimension of the mounting plate 50. Therefore, the longitudinal dimension of the elastic member 55 is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the hole 42c of the base plate 42, and the lateral dimension of the elastic member 55 is smaller than the lateral dimension of the hole 42c. Therefore, the elastic member 55 has a size that allows it to pass through the hole 42c.

The elastic member 55 sandwiches a pair of coil springs 49 in the vertical direction together with the top plate 48 via the mounting plate 50. The pair of coil springs 49 are arranged so that the axis M extends in the vertical direction between the top plate 48 and the elastic member 55.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic member 55 is suspended from the top plate 48 of the mounting base 46 by a pair of coil springs 49 via the mounting plate 50 and the supporting member 54. As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 55 is arranged at a position farthest from the top plate 48 in a state where the coil spring 49 has a natural length. In the uncompressed natural length of the coil spring 49, the elastic member 55 is located below the lower surface 42b of the base plate 42.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the elastic member 55 approaches the top plate 48 by compressing the coil spring 49. The coil spring 49 takes a compressed state by approaching the top plate 48 from the state of natural length.

The guide member 51 is arranged inside each coil spring 49. The guide member 51 is provided so that the compression of each coil spring 49 and the expansion due to the decompression are made along the axis M. Specifically, the guide member 51 expands and contracts the coil spring 49 in the vertical direction along the axis M. invite. The guide member 51 has a first spring guide 52 integrated with the top plate 48 and a second spring guide 53 integrated with the elastic member 55.

The pair of first spring guides 52 are arranged at positions sandwiching the through hole 48c in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 48. Each first spring guide 52 has a columnar shape. Each first spring guide 52 projects from the lower surface 48b of the top plate 48 toward the elastic member 55 so that the axis extends in the vertical direction.

Each second spring guide 53 has a cylindrical shape. Each second spring guide 53 projects from the upper surface 50a of the mounting plate 50 toward the top plate 48 so that the axis extends in the vertical direction. Since the mounting plate 50 is attached to the elastic member 55 via the support member 54, the second spring guide 53 integrated with the mounting plate 50 is integrated with the elastic member 55. The inner diameter of the second spring guide 53 is larger than the diameter of the first spring guide 52. The first spring guide 52 is inserted inside the second spring guide 53. Then, the second spring guide 53 moves straight in the vertical direction by sliding along the peripheral surface of the first spring guide 52.

Next, the holding mechanism 60 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5 or 6, the holding mechanism 60 is provided to hold the first compressed state of the coil spring 49 compressed in the direction approaching the top plate 48. The holding mechanism 60 includes a female screw pole 61 erected from the upper surface 50a of the mounting plate 50, and a bolt 62 that penetrates the through hole 48c of the top plate 48 and is screwed into the female screw pole 61. The mounting plate 50 and the elastic member 55 are integrated via the support member 54. Further, the mounting plate 50 faces the top plate 48 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the female screw pole 61 is projected from the elastic member 55 toward the top plate 48 via the mounting plate 50.

The female screw pole 61 is arranged at the center of the mounting plate 50 and the elastic member 55 in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction. The female screw pole 61 is arranged at a position sandwiched between the pair of coil springs 49 in the longitudinal direction of the mounting plate 50 and the elastic member 55. The female screw pole 61 has a female screw 61a on the inner peripheral surface.

The bolt 62 has a head 62a and a male screw 62b. The diameter of the head 62a is larger than the diameter of the through hole 48c in the top plate 48. Therefore, when the male screw 62b is inserted into the through hole 48c, the head 62a comes into contact with the periphery of the through hole 48c on the upper surface 48a of the top plate 48. The bolt 62 does not penetrate the through hole 48c.

The male screw 62b penetrating the through hole 48c is screwed into the female screw 61a of the female screw pole 61. Then, by rotating the bolt 62, the mounting plate 50 and the elastic member 55 integrated with the female screw pole 61 can be attracted to the top plate 48. By pulling the mounting plate 50 and the elastic member 55 toward the top plate 48, the pair of coil springs 49 can be brought close to the top plate 48 and compressed. The more the female screw pole 61 is screwed onto the bolt 62, the larger the amount of compression of the pair of coil springs 49 can be. The axial length of the coil spring 49 in the maximally compressed state is shorter than the axial length of the female screw pole 61. Therefore, the upper end of the female screw pole 61 comes into contact with the lower surface 48b of the top plate 48 before the coil spring 49 is compressed to the maximum.

Then, when the female screw pole 61 is screwed onto the bolt 62 and the coil spring 49 is compressed, the elastic member 55 is held close to the top plate 48 by the screwing of the female screw pole 61 and the bolt 62. NS.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the tank fixing device 30 having the above configuration, one connecting plate 43 of the base 41 is bolted to the first support arm 22, and the other connecting plate 43 is bolted to the second support arm 23. Thereby, it is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23. Specifically, the connecting piece 45 of one connecting plate 43 is bolted to the upper end of the first support arm 22, and the connecting piece 45 of the other connecting plate 43 is bolted to the upper end of the second support arm 23. The tank fixing device 30 is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23.

As shown in FIG. 6 or 8, when the tank fixing device 30 is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23, the mounting base 46 is the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y. It is placed above the central part of. Therefore, the top plate 48 included in the mounting base 46 is arranged above the central portion of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y. Further, the elastic member 55 suspended and supported by the top plate 48 is also arranged above the central portion of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y.

The dimensions of the main body 44 in each connecting plate 43 and the base plate 42 with respect to the main body 44 so that the mounting base 46 is arranged above the central portion of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y. The mounting position is adjusted.

When the pair of coil springs 49 have natural lengths, the natural lengths of the coil springs 49 are set so that the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 is located below the upper end surface of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank. Therefore, by compressing the pair of coil springs 49 from their natural lengths, the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 can be separated upward from the upper end surface of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank. In the present embodiment, the state in which the coil spring 49 is compressed until the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 is separated from the upper end surface of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank is defined as the first compression state. The holding mechanism 60 can hold the coil spring 49 in the first compressed state by screwing the female screw pole 61 and the bolt 62.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 or 9, when the bolt 62 is screwed back from the female screw pole 61, the holding of the compressed state of the coil spring 49 by the holding mechanism 60 can be released. Then, the coil spring 49 in the first compressed state expands due to the force returning from the first compressed state to the original shape. At this time, the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 can be pressed against the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 located at the extension destination of the coil spring 49.

The elastic member 55 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 before the coil spring 49 extends to its natural length. Therefore, a compression reaction force is generated in the coil spring 49, and the elastic member 55 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 by the compression reaction force. Therefore, the coil spring 49 released from the holding of the first compressed state by the holding mechanism 60 takes the second compressed state before reaching the natural length.

The coil spring 49 in the second compressed state presses the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 against the upper end surface of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank. That is, the coil spring 49 in the second compressed state urges the fuel tank 20 toward the base weight 21 and restricts the movement of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X.

When the elastic member 55 is pressed against the fuel tank 20, the mounting plate 50 is sandwiched between the elastic member 55 and the coil spring 49. Therefore, the compression reaction force of the coil spring 49 is received by the mounting plate 50, and the elastic member 55 can be suppressed from being deformed by the compression reaction force.

The natural length of each coil spring 49 is adjusted so that the second compressed state can be taken when the holding mechanism 60 releases the holding of the first compressed state. The natural length of the coil spring 49 is preset according to the tank diameter of the fuel tank 20 mounted on the vehicle body 11. The base weights 21 of the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 are provided so that the coil spring 49 can take the second compressed state when the holding of the first compressed state by the holding mechanism 60 is released. At least one of the protruding dimension, the vertical dimension of the connecting plate 43, the thickness of the mounting plate 50 and the elastic member 55, and the natural length of the coil spring 49 is adjusted.

Next, a method of fixing the fuel tank 20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the fuel tank 20 is placed on the plurality of tank pedestals 24 of the base weight 21, and the fuel tank 20 is supported by the receiving surface 26a (see FIG. 3) of the rubber plate 26. .. Further, it is assumed that the tank fixing device 30 is not supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 of the base weight 21, and is located at a different position from the base weight 21.

In the tank fixing device 30, the male screw 62b of the bolt 62 is inserted into the through hole 48c of the top plate 48, the male screw 62b is screwed into the female screw 61a of the female screw pole 61, and the head 62a is the top plate 48. It is in contact with the periphery of the through hole 48c on the upper surface 48a of the above.

In the tank fixing device 30, the bolt 62 is rotated, the female screw 61a of the female screw pole 61 is screwed into the male screw 62b of the bolt 62, and the female screw pole 61 is brought close to the top plate 48. Then, as shown in FIG. 6 or 8, the elastic member 55 integrated with the female screw pole 61 also approaches the top plate 48, and the coil spring 49 sandwiched between the top plate 48 and the elastic member 55 is compressed. As a result, the state in which the elastic member 55 is close to the top plate 48 is maintained by the screwing of the female screw pole 61 and the bolt 62. The coil spring 49 between the top plate 48 and the elastic member 55 is held in the first compressed state.

Next, an arrangement step of arranging the tank fixing device 30 above the fuel tank 20 is performed. In the arranging step, the connecting piece 45 of one connecting plate 43 of the tank fixing device 30 is placed on the upper end of the first support arm 22, and the connecting piece 45 of the other connecting plate 43 is placed on the upper end of the second support arm 23. At this time, since the elastic member 55 is attracted to the top plate 48, the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 is located above the upper end surface of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank. Therefore, when the tank fixing device 30 is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23, the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 does not come into contact with the tank outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20.

Next, the bolt inserted through one connecting piece 45 is fastened to the upper end of the first support arm 22, and the bolt inserted through the other connecting piece 45 is fastened to the upper end of the second support arm 23. Then, the tank fixing device 30 is fixed to the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23.

After the placement process, a pressing process is performed.
As shown in FIG. 9, in the pressing step, the bolt 62 screwed into the female screw pole 61 is screwed back from the female screw pole 61 and removed from the female screw pole 61. Then, the holding mechanism 60 held by screwing the bolt 62 to the female screw pole 61 releases the holding of the coil spring 49 in the first compressed state, and the coil spring 49 extends from the first compressed state.

The stretched coil spring 49 moves the elastic member 55 toward the fuel tank 20, and the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 comes into contact with the upper end surface of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank. At this time, the lower surface 55a of the elastic member 55 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank before the coil spring 49 has a natural length. Therefore, the coil spring 49 is in the second compressed state. The elastic member 55 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 by the compression reaction force of the pair of coil springs 49 in the second compressed state. As a result, the fuel tank 20 is urged toward the base weight 21 by the compression reaction force of the pair of coil springs 49. The fuel tank 20 is pressed against the tank cradle 24 and fixed to the base weight 21.

Further, by pressing the elastic member 55 of the tank fixing device 30 against the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20, the elastic member 55 is inserted between the elastic member 55 and the fuel tank 20 in addition to the compression reaction force of the coil spring 49. Friction force and compression reaction force work. Further, on the base weight 21, the fuel tank 20 is supported from below by six tank cradle 24s. Therefore, when the fuel tank 20 is pressed downward by the tank fixing device 30, the pressing force is also transmitted to each tank cradle 24. As a result, the frictional force and the compression reaction force of the rubber plate 26 also act between the rubber plate 26 of the tank cradle 24 and the fuel tank 20. As a result, the fuel tank 20 can be fixed on the base weight 21, and the fuel tank 20 is restricted from moving in the vertical direction, the longitudinal direction X, and the lateral direction Y.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The tank fixing device 30 includes a coil spring 49 that presses the elastic member 55 toward the fuel tank 20. By releasing the holding of the first compressed state by the holding mechanism 60, the elastic member 55 can be pressed against the fuel tank 20 by the compression reaction force of the coil spring 49. Even if the shape of the fuel tank 20 varies during the production of the tank, the elastic member 55 can be pressed against the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 by absorbing the variation by the elastic deformation of the coil spring 49. This makes it possible to more flexibly deal with variations in the shape of the fuel tank 20 during tank manufacturing, as compared with the band method.

(2) When the band method is adopted, the band is wound around the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 in a U shape, and one end and the other end of the band are fixed to the structure on the vehicle body 11 side. It is necessary to secure an area for winding the band and an area for fixing the end portion of the band on the outside of the outer peripheral surface 20a of the tank. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to secure a region for winding the band around the outer peripheral surface 20a of the fuel tank 20 and a region for fixing the end portion of the band. Therefore, other parts can be mounted around the fuel tank 20 or the fuel tank 20 can be enlarged by utilizing such a region.

(3) Fuel tanks 20 having different outer diameters can be accommodated by the amount of elastic deformation of the coil spring 49. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately manufacture the tank fixing device 30 for each of the plurality of fuel tanks 20 having different outer diameters.

(4) The tank fixing device 30 is configured to press the coil spring 49 and the elastic member 55 against the fuel tank 20. Therefore, when the fuel tank 20 is filled with fuel gas and the fuel tank 20 expands and contracts, the coil spring 49 and the elastic member 55 elastically deform in accordance with the expansion and contraction. Therefore, the expansion and contraction of the fuel tank 20 can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the coil spring 49 and the elastic member 55. Further, the inertial force acting on the fuel tank 20 when the vehicle vibrates can be canceled by the compression reaction force of the coil spring 49 and the elastic member 55.

(5) The holding mechanism 60 can hold the coil spring 49 in the first compressed state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 55 from coming into contact with the fuel tank 20 during the arrangement process of fastening the tank fixing device 30 to the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23. Further, after the tank fixing device 30 is supported by the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23, the coil spring 49 is held in the first compressed state until the first compressed state of the coil spring 49 by the holding mechanism 60 is released. can. Therefore, the work of fastening the tank fixing device 30 to the first support arm 22 and the second support arm 23 is not hindered by the coil spring 49, and the workability is good.

(6) When the holding of the coil spring 49 by the holding mechanism 60 is released, the elastic member 55 is pressed against the fuel tank 20 by the compression reaction force accompanying the elastic deformation of the coil spring 49. The amount of elastic deformation of the coil spring 49 is larger than the amount of elastic deformation of rubber having the same thickness as the axial dimension of the coil spring 49. Therefore, even if there is an individual difference in the outer diameter of the fuel tank 20, the individual difference can be easily absorbed by the elastic deformation of the coil spring 49, and the fuel tank 20 can be pressed against the tank cradle 24 and fixed in a stable state.

(7) By pressing the fuel tank 20 against the tank cradle 24 by the coil spring 49, the movement of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X can be restricted. Therefore, by using the coil spring 49, it is not necessary to secure an area for arranging a mechanism for restricting the movement of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X on both ends of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X. Therefore, on both ends of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X, the region where the mechanism for restricting the movement of the fuel tank 20 in the longitudinal direction X is arranged can be deleted, or the fuel tank 20 can be enlarged to that region.

(8) By screwing the female screw pole 61 of the holding mechanism 60 and the bolt 62, the elastic member 55 is held close to the top plate 48, and the coil spring 49 between the top plate 48 and the elastic member 55 is held. 1 It is held in a compressed state. Therefore, the coil spring 49 can be held in the first compressed state with a simple configuration of screwing the female screw pole 61 and the bolt 62.

(9) When the coil spring 49 is compressed and expanded, the second spring guide 53 slides with respect to the first spring guide 52, so that the elastic member 55 can be guided to move in the vertical direction. As a result, the coil spring 49 can be compressed and expanded in a state where the axis M of the coil spring 49 extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the coil spring 49 from bending and being compressed without being along the vertical direction, and it becomes easier for the holding mechanism 60 to maintain the compressed state. Further, when the coil spring 49 is extended, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 55 from bending toward the fuel tank 20, and the elastic member 55 can be suitably pressed against the fuel tank 20.

(10) A mounting plate 50 is fixed to the lower end of the coil spring 49, and an elastic member 55 is attached to the mounting plate 50. Therefore, the mounting plate 50 can accept the compression reaction force of the coil spring 49 when it is released from the first compressed state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 55 from being deformed by the compression reaction force.

This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
○ The holding mechanism 60 may be appropriately changed as long as the coil spring 49 can be held in the first compressed state. For example, the holding mechanism 60 may be configured by a clip capable of sandwiching the top plate 48 and the elastic member 55 in the plate thickness direction.

○ In the tank fixing device 30, the urging member may be one coil spring 49. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the female screw pole 61 is arranged inside the coil spring 49, and the bolt 62 can be screwed into the female screw pole 61. Therefore, the tank fixing device 30 has a top plate 48, a coil spring 49, an elastic member 55, and a holding mechanism 60. Therefore, the first spring guide 52 and the second spring guide 53 of the guide member 51 are eliminated.

○ In the tank fixing device 30, the number of coil springs 49 may be three or more, and in this case, it is preferable to provide a guide member 51 inside each coil spring 49.
○ In the guide member 51, the tubular first spring guide 52 may be integrally provided on the top plate 48, and the columnar second spring guide 53 may be integrally provided on the mounting plate 50.

○ In the tank fixing device 30 of the embodiment, the guide member 51 may be eliminated.
○ The mounting plate 50 and the support member 54 may be deleted, and the elastic member 55 may be directly suspended and supported at the lower end of the coil spring 49.

○ The upper end of the coil spring 49 does not have to be joined to the lower surface 48b of the top plate 48. Further, the lower end of the coil spring 49 may not be joined to the mounting plate 50 or the elastic member 55. In short, the coil spring 49 is arranged between the top plate 48 and the elastic member 55, and if the elastic member 55 can be pressed against the fuel tank 20 by the compression reaction force of the coil spring 49, the top plate 48, the elastic member 55, and The state with respect to the mounting plate 50 may be changed as appropriate.

○ In the coil spring 49, the axial length in the maximally compressed state may be longer than the axial length of the female screw pole 61. In this case, even when the coil spring 49 is in the maximum compressed state, the upper end of the female screw pole 61 is separated from the lower surface 48b of the top plate 48.

○ The number of tank cradle 24 may be changed as appropriate.
○ The urging member may be a leaf spring or a disc spring instead of the coil spring 49.
○ In the mounting base 46, the support wall 47 that supports the top plate 48 may be only one, or may be a plurality of columnar members. In short, the shape of the support wall 47 may be appropriately changed as long as the top plate 48 can be supported above the base plate 42.

○ As long as the top plate 48, the coil spring 49, and the elastic member 55 can be arranged above the fuel tank 20, the tank fixing device 30 may appropriately change the shapes of the base 41 and the mounting base 46.

○ Although the elastic member 55 is made of a rubber plate, the elastic member 55 may have a configuration other than the rubber plate, for example, a spring or a sponge.
○ The tank mounting portion on which the fuel tank 20 is mounted may be a body other than the base weight 21, or may be the body of the vehicle body 11.

○ The tank fixing device 30 is a tank fixing device 30 applied to the fuel cell type towing tractor 10, but the tank fixing device 30 is not limited to this and is applied to the tank fixing device 30 of a fuel cell type forklift or an automobile. You may.

M ... Axis, 11 ... Body, 20 ... Fuel tank, 21 ... Base weight as tank mounting part, 27 ... Fuel cell, 30 ... Tank fixing device, 48 ... Top plate, 48c ... Through hole, 49 ... As urging member Coil spring, 51 ... guide member, 52 ... first spring guide, 53 ... second spring guide, 50 ... mounting plate, 55 ... elastic member, 60 ... holding mechanism, 61 ... female screw pole, 61a ... female screw, 62 ... bolt, 62a ... head, 62b ... male screw.

Claims (5)

A tank fixing device for a vehicle that presses and fixes a fuel tank for storing fuel gas used in a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle body against a tank mounting portion provided on the vehicle body.
A top plate placed above the fuel tank and
An urging member arranged below the top plate and compressing in a direction approaching the top plate,
An elastic member that sandwiches the urging member together with the top plate above the fuel tank.
It has a holding mechanism that holds the urging member in a first compressed state in which the urging member is compressed until the elastic member is separated from the upper end surface of the fuel tank.
By releasing the holding of the first compressed state by the holding mechanism and pressing the elastic member against the fuel tank by the compression reaction force of the urging member in the second compressed state that is extended from the first compressed state. A tank fixing device for a vehicle, characterized in that the fuel tank is fixed to the tank mounting portion. The holding mechanism includes a female screw pole that protrudes from the elastic member toward the top plate and has a female screw on the inner circumference.
It has a bolt that penetrates the through hole of the top plate and is screwed into the female screw of the female screw pole.
The bolt has a male screw to be inserted into the through hole and a head integrated with the male screw, the male screw is inserted into the through hole, and the bolt is screwed into the female screw of the female screw pole. The tank fixing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the head is in contact with the periphery of the through hole in the top plate. The urging member is a coil spring, and the coil spring is arranged so that an axis extends in the vertical direction between the top plate and the elastic member, and compression of the coil spring and extension due to decompression are performed in the vertical direction. Equipped with a guide member to follow
The guide member includes a first spring guide that is integrated with the top plate and projects toward the elastic member so that the axis extends in the vertical direction.
It has a second spring guide that is integrated with the elastic member and projects toward the top plate so that the axis extends in the vertical direction.
The tank fixing device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein either one of the first spring guide and the second spring guide is tubular and the other is a columnar shape inserted into the inside of the one. The tank fixing for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a mounting plate is suspended and supported on the urging member, and the elastic member is arranged under the mounting plate. Device. It is a tank fixing method for a vehicle by a tank fixing device that presses and fixes a fuel tank for storing fuel gas used for a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle body against a tank mounting portion provided on the vehicle body.
The tank fixing device is
A top plate placed above the fuel tank and
An urging member arranged below the top plate and compressing in a direction approaching the top plate,
An elastic member that sandwiches the urging member together with the top plate above the fuel tank.
It has a holding mechanism that holds the urging member in a first compressed state in which the urging member is compressed until the elastic member is separated from the upper end surface of the fuel tank.
An arrangement step of arranging the tank fixing device so that the elastic member is located above the upper end surface of the fuel tank while the urging member is held in the first compressed state by the holding mechanism.
The compression reaction force of the urging member in the second compressed state, which is performed after the arranging step, releases the holding of the urging member in the first compressed state by the holding mechanism, and is extended from the first compressed state. A tank fixing method for a vehicle, which comprises a pressing step of fixing the fuel tank to the tank mounting portion by pressing the elastic member against the upper end surface of the fuel tank.

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