Fuel cell vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725010-B2
Application number	US-201514836960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell, a fuel storage container, a container installation space, a fill lid box, and a fuel gas detector. The fuel cell is to generate power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. At least part of the fuel storage container is disposed in the container installation space. The fill lid box includes a gas fill port inside the fill lid box and has a communication hole to connect an inside of the fill lid box with the container installation space. The fuel gas is to be supplied through the gas fill port into the fuel storage container from an outside of the fuel cell vehicle. The fuel gas detector is disposed inside the fill lid box to detect a fuel gas leakage and to detect a fuel gas density in the container installation space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell vehicle, comprising:
a fuel cell that generates power through an electrochemical reaction with a fuel gas and an oxidant gas;
a fuel storage container that stores the fuel gas, at least part of the fuel storage container being disposed in a container installation space;
a fill lid box in which a gas fill port that allows the fuel gas to be inserted therethrough into the fuel storage container from outside the vehicle is disposed, the fill lid box having a communication hole that connects an inside of the fill lid box with the container installation space; and
a fuel gas detector that is disposed inside the fill lid box and that detects a fuel gas leakage,
wherein a fuel gas density in the container installation space is detectable by the fuel gas detector, and
wherein the fuel gas detector is mounted on an inside surface of the fill lid box.

2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fill pipe that connects a fuel gas inlet port of the fuel storage container with the gas fill port;
an open-close valve disposed in the fuel gas inlet port; and
a duct member that surrounds the fill pipe and the open-close valve so as to keep the fill pipe and the open-close valve hermetically enclosed,
wherein the duct member is connected to the fill lid box so as to keep the communication hole hermetically enclosed.

3. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a floor panel disposed above the fuel storage container,
wherein the floor panel extends obliquely upward toward the communication hole from a position lower than the communication hole so as to guide the fuel gas located in an upper portion of the fuel storage container to the communication hole.

4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a state indicator that allows a cancellation of fuel gas filling to be visually perceived is disposed inside the fill lid box.

5. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas detector changes a destination of a detection signal in response to opening and closing of the fill lid box.

6. A fuel cell vehicle comprising:
a fuel cell to generate power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas;
a fuel storage container to store the fuel gas;
a container installation space in which at least part of the fuel storage container is disposed;
a fill lid box including a gas fill port inside the fill lid box and having a communication hole to connect an inside of the fill lid box with the container installation space, the fuel gas being to be supplied through the gas fill port into the fuel storage container from an outside of the fuel cell vehicle; and
a fuel gas detector disposed inside the fill lid box to detect a fuel gas leakage and to detect a fuel gas density in the container installation space,
wherein the fuel gas detector is mounted on an inside surface of the fill lid box.

7. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a fill pipe connecting a fuel gas inlet port of the fuel storage container with the gas fill port;
an open-close valve disposed in the fuel gas inlet port; and
a duct member surrounding the fill pipe and the open-close valve so as to keep the fill pipe and the open-close valve hermetically enclosed,
wherein the duct member is connected to the fill lid box so as to keep the communication hole hermetically enclosed.

8. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a floor panel disposed above the fuel storage container,
wherein the floor panel extends obliquely upward toward the communication hole from a position lower than the communication hole so as to guide the fuel gas located in an upper portion of the fuel storage container to the communication hole.

9. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 ,
wherein a state indicator that allows a cancellation of fuel gas filling to be visually perceived is disposed inside the fill lid box.

10. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 ,
wherein the fuel gas detector changes a destination of a detection signal in response to opening and closing of the fill lid box.

11. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 ,
wherein the container installation space is connected to the communication hole at a highest position of the container installation space.

12. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 ,
wherein the fuel gas detector is provided at a position higher than the communication hole.

13. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 7 ,
wherein one end of the duct member is connected to the fuel storage container and another end of the duct member is connected to the fill lid box.

14. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fill pipe that connects a fuel gas inlet port of the fuel storage container with the gas fill port; and
a duct member that surrounds the fill pipe and defines the container installation space,
wherein the duct member is connected to the fill lid box and the fuel storage container.

15. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 14 ,
wherein the duct member is directly connected to the fill lid box and the fuel storage container.

16. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 15 ,
wherein the fill lid box is provided above the fuel storage container,
wherein the duct member is directly connected to the fill lid box so as to surround the communication hole, and
wherein the communication hole is provided at a highest position within the duct member.

17. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fuel gas detector is provided in a position higher than the communication hole.

18. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a fill pipe that connects a fuel gas inlet port of the fuel storage container with the gas fill port; and
a duct member that surrounds the fill pipe and defines the container installation space,
wherein the duct member is connected to the fill lid box and the fuel storage container.

19. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 18 ,
wherein the duct member is directly connected to the fill lid box and the fuel storage container.

20. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 19 ,
wherein the fill lid box is provided above the fuel storage container,
wherein the duct member is directly connected to the fill lid box so as to surround the communication hole, and
wherein the communication hole is provided at a highest position within the duct member.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Akihiro
• Matsumoto Mitsunori

Classifications

• F17C2250/0491

  Parameters measured at or inside the vessel · CPC title

• F17C2205/0394

  in direct contact with the pressure vessel · CPC title

• F17C13/023

  having the mass as the parameter · CPC title

• Y02T90/16

  Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles · CPC title

• H01M8/04201

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