Fuel cell vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11670783-B2
Application number	US-202017073559-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	Jun 26, 2020
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A fuel cell vehicle includes a battery disposed in a first space, a radiator disposed in a second space formed adjacent to the first space in a second direction intersecting a first direction, which is a direction in which the vehicle travels, and at least one fuel cell unit disposed in a third space formed adjacent to the first space in the second direction while being spaced apart from the second space in the second direction, with the first space interposed therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell vehicle, comprising:
a battery disposed in a first space of the fuel cell vehicle;
a radiator disposed in a second space arranged adjacent to the first space in a second direction intersecting a first direction, the first direction being a direction in which the fuel cell vehicle travels; and
at least one fuel cell unit disposed in a third space arranged adjacent to the first space in the second direction while being spaced apart from the second space in the second direction, with the first space interposed therebetween,
wherein a first weight difference between a first weight of the radiator and a second weight of the at least one fuel cell unit is less than a second weight difference between a third weight of the battery and the first weight of the radiator, and the first weight difference is less than a third weight difference between the third weight of the battery and the second weight of the at least one fuel cell unit.

2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuel cell unit comprises a plurality of fuel cell units, and
wherein each fuel cell unit of the plurality of fuel cell units comprises:
a fuel cell;
a fluid supply unit configured to supply a fluid to the fuel cell;
an electronic unit configured to be electrically connected to the fuel cell; and
a controller configured to control the electronic unit and the fluid supply unit.

3. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second body frames extending in the first direction and disposed opposite to each other while being spaced apart from each other in the second direction,
wherein, when viewed in plan, the first space overlaps a space between the first and second body frames, the second space is located outside the first body frame, and the third space is located outside the second body frame.

4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the third space is located between a top surface of the second body frame and a bottom surface of the fuel cell vehicle.

5. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein a top surface of the at least one fuel cell unit is lower than a top surface of the second body frame.

6. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a cab; and
a loading part located behind the cab,
wherein a bottom surface of the loading part is higher than a top surface of each of the first and second body frames.

7. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a hydrogen storage part located between the cab and the loading part in the first direction,
wherein a bottom surface of the hydrogen storage part is higher than a top surface of each of the first and second body frames.

8. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a front mudguard disposed at a front side of the fuel cell vehicle; and
a rear mudguard disposed at a rear side of the fuel cell vehicle,
wherein the at least one fuel cell unit is disposed in the third space located outside the second body frame between the front mudguard and the rear mudguard.

9. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a system-mounting frame mounted to the second body frame, the system-mounting frame being configured to allow the at least one fuel cell unit to be loaded thereon.

10. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the system-mounting frame is disposed in the third space.

11. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one fuel cell unit is loaded on the system-mounting frame so as to be mounted and demounted in at least one of an upward direction, a downward direction, or the second direction.

12. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a side protector disposed to face an outer surface of the at least one fuel cell unit, the outer surface of the at least one fuel cell unit being opposite to an inner surface of the at least one fuel cell unit that faces the second body frame.

13. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the side protector is disposed in the third space.

14. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the side protector is mounted to the system-mounting frame.

15. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein a distance by which the first and second body frames are spaced apart from each other in the second direction gradually decreases from a front side to a rear side of the fuel cell vehicle, and
wherein a distance by which the side protector is spaced apart from the second body frame in the second direction gradually increases from the front side to the rear side of the fuel cell vehicle.

16. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein a distance by which the first and second body frames are spaced apart from each other in the second direction gradually increases from a front side to a rear side of the fuel cell vehicle, and
wherein a distance by which the side protector is spaced apart from the second body frame in the second direction gradually decreases from the front side to the rear side of the fuel cell vehicle.

17. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery is spaced apart from a front axle by a first distance in the first direction,
wherein the radiator is spaced apart from the front axle by a second distance in the first direction,
wherein the at least one fuel cell unit is spaced apart from the front axle by a third distance in the first direction, and
wherein the first distance is greater than each of the second and third distances.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Lee Ju Hyeop
• Ryu Chang Yeol
• Yeon Seung Jun

Classifications

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• B60L50/72

  Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• H01M8/04201 Primary

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title