JP4872559B2 - Small electric vehicle with fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell increasing energy efficiency by enabling recovery of exhaust gas heat while arranging an exhaust duct compactly and achieving compatibility between external appearance and cooling efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: In this compact electric vehicle 51, a fuel cell unit 28 is mounted in the lower part of a driving seat 14 provided in the rear part of a vehicle body frame 4, and this fuel cell unit 28 is covered with a vehicle body cover 6. Moreover, wheels are driven by an electric motor driven by electric power supplied from the fuel cell unit 28. The vehicle is provided with a radiator 37 cooling exhaust gas discharged at the time of generation of electrical energy by the fuel cell unit 28. The exhaust duct 52 leading discharged heated air from the radiator 37 discharged by a cooling fan 40 to the outside of the vehicle body cover 6 is extended from the radiator 37 to the rearward of the vehicle body. Furthermore, the exhaust port 53 of the exhaust duct 52 is arranged between the lower end part of the driving seat 14 and the upper end part of the vehicle body cover 6 to be opened to the rearward. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a small electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell.

  In recent years, vehicles using a fuel cell as a power source for driving an electric motor used for running the vehicle have been developed. Such development is mainly performed on four-wheeled vehicles, but development is also progressing for small vehicles such as motorcycles equipped with fuel cells.

  A fuel cell generates heat when generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction, and generates exhaust gas containing high-temperature water vapor as a by-product. Therefore, the exhaust gas must be cooled before being discharged.

In a small vehicle such as a motorcycle equipped with a fuel cell, a radiator is disposed in, for example, a rear fender, and a running wind is guided to the radiator to cool exhaust gas (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-125840 A

  However, since a small electric vehicle or the like used by elderly people has a low traveling speed, the cooling efficiency is poor in the configuration in which the traveling wind is guided to the radiator and the exhaust gas is cooled like the small motorcycle of the motorcycle type. For example, it is necessary to provide an electric cooling fan for forcibly guiding the cooling air.

  On the other hand, since the fuel cell unit of the small electric vehicle described above is covered with a vehicle body cover, exhaust air (warm air) from the radiator that is forcibly discharged by the cooling fan is easily trapped in the vehicle body cover, and the exhaust duct Technology that efficiently exhausts exhausted hot air to the outside is required. In particular, it is difficult to achieve both compactness of the vehicle, cooling efficiency, and appearance.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and is equipped with a fuel cell mounted that has a compact exhaust duct, has both appearance and cooling efficiency, and can recover exhaust heat to enhance energy efficiency. An object is to provide a small electric vehicle.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a small electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell according to the present invention has a fuel cell unit mounted on the lower part of a driving seat provided at the rear part of the vehicle body frame, as described in claim 1, In the small electric vehicle in which the fuel cell unit is covered with a vehicle body cover and the wheels are driven by an electric motor driven by electric power supplied from the fuel cell unit, the driving seat includes a seating portion and a rear end of the seating portion. and a backrest portion that extends rearward and upward from the section, the fuel cell stack constituting the fuel cell unit, mounted on the vehicle body width direction one side of the operator seat bottom, the other side of the fuel cell stack the open space along the side of the body cover, comprising a radiator for cooling the exhaust gas discharged during the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell unit Together, while arranging the cooling fan of the radiator between the fuel cell stack and the radiator, an exhaust duct for guiding the exhaust hot air from the radiator to be discharged by the cooling fan to the outside of the body cover from the radiator extending and set toward the rear of the vehicle body, the exhaust port of the exhaust duct between the lower portion and the upper portion of the body cover after the seat is positioned in front of the upper end portion after the backrest portion of the operator seat It arrange | positions so that it may open toward back from the inside.

  Further, in order to solve the above-described problem, as described in claim 2, an exhaust duct that guides the exhaust hot air from the radiator to the front portion of the vehicle body is provided, and is formed on the front surface of the vehicle body cover at the front lower portion of the operation seat. A shut-off device that can be opened and closed is provided at the exhaust port of the exhaust duct.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, as described in claim 3, the exhaust duct is provided on the lower surface of the seating portion of the operation seat while the exhaust duct that guides the exhaust hot air from the radiator to the upper part of the vehicle body is provided. The air outlet is provided with an exhaust port that is open toward the entire surface of the seat portion, and a shut-off device that can be opened and closed is provided in the middle of the exhaust duct.

  According to the small electric vehicle equipped with the fuel cell according to the present invention, exhaust hot air can be emitted to the rear of the vehicle, and the appearance can be kept good.

  In addition, the heat of the exhaust heat wind can be used as heating in the winter, improving energy efficiency. Furthermore, the exhaust duct can be arranged compactly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a first embodiment of an electric four-wheel vehicle as a small electric vehicle to which the present invention is applied. The electric four-wheel vehicle 1 includes a platform-type vehicle body frame 4 that supports a pair of left and right punkless front wheels 2 and a pair of left and right punkless rear wheels 3.

  The vehicle body frame 4 has a footrest portion 5 at a substantially central portion thereof, and the front and rear of the vehicle body frame 4 including the footrest portion 5 are covered with a vehicle body cover 6 made of, for example, a synthetic resin.

  The front wheel 2 is supported at the front portion of the vehicle body frame 4 so as to be steerable left and right by a front wheel suspension device and a steering mechanism (not shown). The steering post 7 constituting the steering mechanism constitutes the vehicle body cover 6, for example, the leg shield 8 that covers the feet of the occupant is erected upward, and the steering wheel 9 for steering the front wheels and the electrical part are arranged on the upper part thereof. And 10 are provided integrally with the rotation. The front wheel 2 is steered left and right by the steering handle 9 via the steering post 7.

  On the other hand, a drive unit 11 that transmits power to the rear wheel 3 is disposed at the rear of the vehicle body frame 4. The drive unit 11 includes a gear case and an electric motor (not shown) inside. The front end of the drive unit 11 is pivotally attached to the body frame 4 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and is elastically supported by the body frame 4 by the cushion unit 12.

  A seat post 13 that is one step higher is disposed at the rear of the vehicle body frame 4 above the drive unit 11, and an operation seat 14 is installed on the seat post 13.

  FIG. 2 is a left side view of the electric four-wheel vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electric four-wheel vehicle 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electric four-wheel vehicle 1. 2 to 4 show a state where an exterior product such as the vehicle body cover 6 is removed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vehicle body frame 4 includes a main frame 15 as a frame member made of, for example, aluminum pipes and a pair of left and right in the vehicle width direction, and other frame members that connect these main frames 15. It comprises a plurality of beam members 17-22.

  Each main frame 15 is bent and formed in a substantially V-shape that gently rises forward and rearward in a straight line with the bent portion formed at the substantially central portion in the side view as the lowest point. A front frame 15F and a rear frame 15R are formed at the boundary. Further, the left and right rear frames 15R are arranged in parallel, and the front frame 15F forward from the bent portion is bent in a straight line toward the inside in a plan view.

  The front end (left side of the figure) of the front frame 15F is connected by a first beam member 17 that also serves as a steering bracket that supports the steering mechanism and a part of the front wheel suspension. A plate-like second beam member 18 is installed behind the first beam member 17 so as to be separated.

  Further, a plate-like third beam member 19 is installed immediately behind the bent portion of the main frame 15 behind the second beam member 18, and a plate-like fourth beam is placed behind the third beam member 19. The member 20 is erected apart. The rear end (right side in the figure) of the rear frame 15R is connected by a rod-like fifth beam member 21.

  A space between the second beam member 18 and the third beam member 19 is set as a footrest portion 5. For example, a floor member 22 formed by pressing an iron plate is straddled between the left and right main frames 15. The floor member 22 also serves as a beam member as a strength member, has a rectangular shape in plan view, and is placed on the upper surface of the front frame 15F so that the front portions on both sides of the floor member 22 are outside the front frame 15F. Protrudes towards.

  A seat pipe 23 that is integrally bent from, for example, an aluminum pipe is straddled at a substantially central portion of the left and right rear frames 15R. A seat post 13 is formed at the center of the horizontal portion of the seat pipe 23 in the vehicle width direction so as to support the operation seat 14 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction and lockable at a predetermined position. Further, a reinforcing stay 24 is extended from the rear portion of the seat post 13 toward the fifth beam member 21 installed at the rear end portion of the main frame 15 at the lower rear portion.

  Pivot brackets 25 are respectively provided on the lower surfaces of the substantially central portions of the left and right rear frames 15R, and the front end portions of the drive unit 11 are pivotally attached to the pivot brackets 25 so as to be swingable. An upper support bracket 26 of the cushion unit 12 that elastically supports the drive unit 11 is provided at the rear portion of the seat post 13. Furthermore, electrical components 27 such as a charger and a control unit are arranged in the space surrounded by the rear portions of the left and right rear frames 15R and the fourth beam member 20 and the fifth beam member 21, for example.

  The electric motor (not shown) of the drive unit 11 mounted on the small electric vehicle (electric four-wheel vehicle 1) according to the present invention uses a fuel cell as a power supply source. In the present embodiment, the unit of the fuel cell is a known direct methanol fuel cell unit 28 (hereinafter abbreviated as DMFC unit) that directly uses the methanol aqueous solution for power generation without reforming. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the DMFC unit 28.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the DMFC unit 28 is a fuel constituted by stacking a plurality of single battery cells (not shown) capable of generating electric energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen based on methanol and oxygen in the air. A battery stack 29 is provided. In addition, the DMFC unit 28 is a fuel tank 30 that stores high concentration methanol, for example, about 54%, and the high concentration methanol is diluted to about 3% concentration suitable for the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell stack 29, for example. A water tank 31 for storing water for generating a methanol aqueous solution and a circulation tank 32 for storing the generated methanol aqueous solution.

  Further, the DMFC unit 28 includes a fuel pump 33 that supplies high-concentration methanol in the fuel tank 30 into the circulation tank 32, a water pump 34 that supplies water in the water tank 31 into the circulation tank 32, and an inside of the circulation tank 32. And a circulation pump 35 for supplying the methanol aqueous solution to the fuel cell stack 29.

  The DMFC unit 28 supplies an air pump 36 for supplying air containing oxygen to the fuel cell stack 29, and exhaust gas containing high-temperature steam generated as a by-product when electric energy is generated by an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell stack 29. A radiator 37 for cooling and a second water tank 51 for finally storing water in the exhaust gas separated from gas and liquid are provided.

  The DMFC unit 28 generates electrical energy by causing an electrochemical reaction between the aqueous methanol solution and air in the fuel cell stack 29. Further, the carbon dioxide gas generated during the electrochemical reaction and a part of the methanol aqueous solution not used are led to the circulation tank 32. The concentration of the aqueous methanol solution is constantly monitored in the circulation tank 32, and the concentration of the aqueous methanol solution is maintained constant by automatically adding high-concentration methanol or water as necessary.

  On the other hand, the exhaust gas generated at the time of generating electric energy is cooled by the radiator 37 and separated into water and air, and then guided to the water tank 31. Similarly, the carbon dioxide gas guided to the circulation tank 32 is also guided to the water tank 31. The air and carbon dioxide gas guided to the water tank 31 are discharged to the outside via the exhaust filter 38.

  On the other hand, the water that is guided to the water tank 31 and overflows the water tank 31 is drained to the outside through the exhaust filter 38.

  Next, the layout of each device of the DMFC unit 28 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the DMFC unit 28 is mounted on the lower part of the driving seat 14 provided at the rear part of the vehicle body frame 4, and is entirely covered by the vehicle body cover 6.

  Of the plurality of beam members that connect the pair of left and right main frames 15, the air pump 36 is disposed and fixed on the plate-shaped third beam member 19 that is disposed at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame 4. . A gate-shaped pipe frame 39 is installed from the third beam member 19 to the plate-shaped fourth beam member 20 disposed behind the third beam member 19 so as to straddle the air pump 36 in the front-rear direction. The fuel cell stack 29 is disposed and fixed. The air pump 36, the pipe frame 39, and the fuel cell stack 29 are offset on one side in the width direction of the vehicle body, on the right side in the present embodiment, and on the third beam member 19 in the space opened on the left side of the air pump 36, the fuel system Of the circulation pump 35, the fuel pump 33, and the water pump 34 constituting the pump, for example, the circulation pump 35 is arranged in parallel in the width direction of the vehicle body, and a space opened on the left side of the fuel cell stack 29 is provided in the space of the vehicle body. A radiator 37 is disposed along the side surface. Further, a cooling fan 40 of the radiator 37 is disposed on the side surface of the fuel cell stack 29 of the radiator 37.

  On the other hand, the remaining fuel pumps in the space behind the air pump 36 and the fuel cell stack 29, the fuel pump 33 and the water pump 34, and the circulation tank 32 and the water tank 31 in this embodiment are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle body. Established. Further, an exhaust filter 38 is disposed in the lower space of the radiator 37.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a cooling air intake 41 is provided on the side surface of the vehicle body cover 6 facing the radiator 37. The fuel tank 30 is formed of a material such as synthetic resin, and has a plate-like tank shape with a small size in the front-rear direction and a large size in the vertical and horizontal directions, between the pair of left and right front wheels 2 and the front wheel. 2 is disposed above. Preferably, the fuel tank 30 is accommodated in a space in front of the steering post 7 in the leg shield 8 constituting the vehicle body cover 6, and the fuel filler 42 is disposed, for example, in the upper left part of the leg shield 8. The front of the leg shield 8 is provided with a luggage mounting basket 43 as an impact absorbing member.

  By the way, since the DMFC unit 28 is covered by the vehicle body cover 6, exhaust heat air (warm air) from the radiator 37 that is forcibly discharged by the cooling fan 40 into the vehicle body cover 6 is likely to be trapped.

  FIG. 6 is a left side view showing a second embodiment of an electric four-wheel vehicle as a small electric vehicle to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the electric four-wheel vehicle shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structural member as the electric four-wheeled vehicle 1 shown by 1st embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the electric four-wheeled vehicle 51 includes an exhaust duct 52 that guides the exhaust hot air from the radiator 37 to the outside of the vehicle body cover 6. The exhaust duct 52 is connected to the cooling fan 40 of the radiator 37 and extends upward, and is bent below the operation seat 14 to be bent on the side of the vehicle, in the present embodiment, the vehicle in which the radiator 37 is disposed. After extending the left side substantially horizontally toward the rear, it extends in the width direction of the vehicle behind the driving seat 14 and an exhaust port 53 is formed at the rear thereof. The exhaust port 53 is disposed so as to open rearward between the lower end portion of the operation seat 14 and the upper end portion of the vehicle body cover 6.

  FIG. 8 is a left side view showing a third embodiment of an electric four-wheel vehicle as a small electric vehicle to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the electric four-wheel vehicle shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 10 is a view taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structural member as the electric four-wheeled vehicle 1 shown by 1st embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the electric four-wheel vehicle 61 also has an exhaust port 62 provided at the rear part of the vehicle body for exhaust heat from the radiator 37, similar to the electric four-wheel vehicle 51 shown in the second embodiment. An exhaust duct 63 that leads from the vehicle body cover 6 to the outside is provided. In addition, the electric four-wheeled vehicle 61 is provided with an exhaust duct 64 that guides exhaust hot air from the radiator 37 to the front of the vehicle body.

  The exhaust duct 64 that guides the exhaust hot air to the front portion of the vehicle body is provided so as to branch from a portion of the other exhaust duct 63 that extends upward from, for example, the cooling fan 40 of the radiator 37, and the vehicle body at the front lower portion of the driver seat 14. The exhaust port 65 of the exhaust duct 64 formed on the front surface of the vehicle body cover 6 and extending toward the front surface of the cover 6 is provided with a shut-off device that can be opened and closed, for example, a louver type gate 66.

  FIG. 11 is a left side view showing a fourth embodiment of an electric four-wheel vehicle as a small electric vehicle to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the electric four-wheel vehicle shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structural member as the electric four-wheeled vehicle 1 shown by 1st embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, this electric four-wheel vehicle 71 also has a vehicle body cover for exhaust heat air from the radiator 37 through an exhaust port 72 provided at the rear of the vehicle body, like the electric four-wheel vehicle 51 shown in the second embodiment. 6 is provided with an exhaust duct 73 leading to the outside. In addition, the electric four-wheeled vehicle 71 is provided with an exhaust duct 74 that guides the exhaust hot air from the radiator 37 to the upper side of the radiator 37.

  The exhaust duct 74 that guides the exhaust hot air to the upper side of the radiator 37 opens toward the lower surface of the seating portion of the operation seat 14, and is provided with an exhaust port 75 disposed over substantially the entire surface of the seating portion. A shut-off device 76 that can be opened and closed is provided in the middle of the duct 74.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  An exhaust port 53 of an exhaust duct 52 that guides exhausted hot air from the radiator 37 to the outside of the vehicle body cover 6 is disposed so as to open backward between the lower end portion of the operation seat 14 and the upper end portion of the vehicle body cover 6. As a result, the exhaust heat wind is emitted to the rear of the vehicle, so that the exhaust heat wind does not directly hit passengers or surrounding pedestrians. Also, the appearance can be kept good.

  Further, an exhaust duct 64 that guides exhaust heat wind that is normally only exhausted (throw away) to the front of the vehicle body and an exhaust duct 74 that guides it upward are provided at the feet of the occupants and the lower surface of the seating portion of the operation seat 14. By being configured to guide the exhaust hot air, the heat of the exhaust hot air can be used as heating in the winter, and energy efficiency is improved.

  In addition, since the exhaust port 64 of the exhaust duct 64 and the exhaust port 75 of the exhaust duct 74 are provided with a shut-off device 66 and a shut-off device 76 that can be opened and closed, respectively, the exhaust hot air blow-off is shut off when heating such as summer is not required. it can.

  Further, by arranging the radiator 37 along the side surface of the vehicle body, the exhaust ducts 52, 63, 64, 73, 74 arranged in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction can be shortened, and the whole can be made compact. Can do.

1 is a left side view of an electric four-wheeled vehicle showing a first embodiment of a small electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell according to the present invention. The left view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG. The top view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG. The perspective view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG. The flow chart of a direct methanol fuel cell unit (DMFC unit). The left view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle which shows 2nd embodiment of the small electric vehicle carrying a fuel cell concerning this invention. The top view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG. The left view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle which shows 3rd embodiment of the small electric vehicle carrying a fuel cell which concerns on this invention. The top view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG. X arrow line view of FIG. The left view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle which shows 4th embodiment of the small electric vehicle carrying a fuel cell concerning this invention. The top view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1,51,61,71 Electric four-wheeled vehicle (small electric vehicle)
4 Body frame 6 Body cover 14 Driving seat 28 DMFC unit (fuel cell unit)
37 Radiator 40 Cooling fan 52, 63, 64, 73, 74 Exhaust duct 53, 62, 65, 72, 75 Exhaust port 66, 76 Shut-off device

Claims (3)

A fuel cell unit is mounted on the lower part of an operation seat provided at the rear part of the vehicle body frame. The fuel cell unit is covered with a vehicle body cover, and wheels are driven by an electric motor driven by electric power supplied from the fuel cell unit. In the small electric vehicle, the driving seat includes a seating portion and a backrest portion extending rearward and upward from a rear end portion of the seating portion, and the fuel cell stack constituting the fuel cell unit is provided with the driving seat. A radiator that is mounted on one side of the lower body width direction and that cools the exhaust gas discharged when generating electric energy by the fuel cell unit along the side surface of the body cover in the open space on the other side of the fuel cell stack. comprising Rutotomoni, while arranging the cooling fan of the radiator between the fuel cell stack and the radiator, the cold An exhaust duct for guiding the exhaust hot air from the radiator to be discharged by the fan to the outside of the body cover and extending toward the rear of the vehicle body from the radiator, the backrest of the driving seat of the exhaust port of the exhaust duct A small electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, which is disposed so as to open rearward from between a rear lower end portion of a seating portion positioned in front of a rear upper end portion and an upper end portion of the vehicle body cover. . An exhaust duct that guides exhaust hot air from the radiator to a front portion of a vehicle body, and a shut-off device that can be opened / closed is provided at an exhaust port of the exhaust duct formed in front of the vehicle body cover at a front lower portion of the operation seat. A compact electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell according to 1. The exhaust duct is provided with an exhaust duct that guides exhaust heat from the radiator to the upper part of the vehicle body. The exhaust duct opens toward the lower surface of the seating portion of the operation seat, and is an exhaust port that is disposed over substantially the entire surface of the seating portion. And a fuel cell-mounted small electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a shut-off device capable of opening and closing is provided in the middle of the exhaust duct.

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