FUEL CELL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cell system (100) for a vehicle (F), comprising a vehicle frame or vehicle body part, having: at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) and a support structure (10) for supporting the fuel cell system (100) on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part, wherein the support structure (10) has at least one inner component support (13) relative to the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2), submodules of the at least one fuel cell module (MI, M2) are connected to the at least one inner component support (13), and the at least one component support (13) has at least one securing interface (11, 12) in order to secure the fuel cell system (100) on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system (100) for a vehicle (F), comprising a vehicle frame or vehicle body part, having: at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) and a support structure (10) for supporting the fuel cell system (100) on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part, wherein the support structure (10) has at least one inner component support (13) relative to the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2), wherein submodules of the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) are connected to the at least one inner component support (13), and wherein the at least one inner component support (13) has at least one securing interface (S3, S4) to secure the fuel cell system (100) on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part.

2. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) has only one continuous inner component support (13) relative to all fuel cell modules (M1, M2) to support the fuel cell system (101) with all fuel cell modules (M1, M2) simultaneously on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part.

3. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the continuous inner component support (13) has at least one connection point (N) between at least two modules (M1, M2) of the fuel cell system (101).

4. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) has a single continuous inner component support (13) for each fuel cell module (M1, M2) of the fuel cell system (100) n to support the respective fuel cell module (M1, M2) of the fuel cell system (101) individually on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part.

5. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) is configured in one piece and/or materially uniform and/or monolithically, or the at least one inner component support (13) is made of a plurality of parts that are connected to one another.

6. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) has a profile that is closed in cross-section, or the at least one inner component support (13) has a profile that is open in cross-section.

7. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, wherein submodules (S, O, H, E, K) of the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) are releasably connected to the at least one inner component support (13).

8. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (10) has a first transverse beam (11) and a second transverse beam (12) for supporting the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) respectively on a front and rear of the vehicle frame or on the vehicle body part, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) is arranged so as to support the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) on the first transverse carrier (11) and on the second transverse carrier (12).

9. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 8, wherein the first transverse beam (11) and the second transverse beam (12) each comprise at least one securing interface (S1, S2) for securing the first transverse beam (11) and the second transverse beam (12) to the vehicle frame or a vehicle body part.

10. A vehicle (F), having: a vehicle frame or vehicle body part and a fuel cell system (100) according to claim 1, which is supported on the vehicle frame or the vehicle body part.

11. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) is made of a plurality of parts that are connected to one another in a materially locking manner by welding, or in a form-fit or force-fit manner by screwing, latching, and/or clamping.

12. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) has a profile that is closed in cross-section and is O shaped.

13. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one inner component support (13) has a profile that is open in cross-section and is Z-shaped, T-shaped, C-shaped, or U-shaped.

14. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the submodules (S, O, H, E, K) of the at least one fuel cell module (M1, M2) are releasably connected to the at least one inner component support (13) in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner.

15. The fuel cell system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the securing interface (S1, S2) for securing the first transverse beam (11) and the second transverse beam (12) to the vehicle frame or a vehicle body part releasably secures the first and second transverse beams in a form-fit or force-fit manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Furthermore, the invention is shown in greater detail with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures are of a descriptive nature only and are not intended to restrict the invention in any way.

[0042] The figures show:

[0043] FIG. 1 a possible fuel cell system in the sense of the invention in a top plan view and in a schematic cross-sectional view,

[0044] FIG. 2 a further possible fuel cell system in the sense of the invention in a top plan view and in a schematic cross-sectional view, and

[0045] FIG. 3 yet another possible fuel cell system in the sense of the invention in a top plan view and in a schematic cross-sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In the various figures, like parts are always given the same reference numerals, for which reason they are usually only described once.

[0047] FIGS. 1 to 3 each show a fuel cell system 100 in the sense of the invention, which is provided for a vehicle F having a vehicle frame or a vehicle body part.

[0048] The fuel cell system 100 according to the invention can comprise the following elements: at least one fuel cell module M1, M2 and a support structure 10 for supporting the fuel cell system 100 on the vehicle frame or body part, wherein the support structure 10 has at least one inner component support 13 relative to the at least one fuel cell module M1, M2, wherein submodules of the at least one fuel cell module M1, M2 are connected to the at least one inner component support 13, and wherein the at least one component support 13 has at least one securing interface S3, S4, in order to secure the fuel cell system 100, directly or indirectly, e.g., via further connecting parts, on the vehicle frame or vehicle body part, preferably releasably, for example in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner. The connecting parts can be, for example, transverse beams 11, 12.

[0049] The figures show two modules M1, M2 in the context of the fuel cell system 101 merely by way of example, wherein the fuel cell system 101 can also comprise a plurality, for example three, four, or even more, of modules M1, M2.

[0050] The fuel cell modules M1, M2 or simply modules M1, M2 can comprise the following submodules S, O, H, E, K: [0051] submodule S in the form of a fuel cell stack, [0052] submodule O for oxidizer supply, [0053] submodule H for fuel supply, [0054] submodule E for control electronics, and [0055] submodule K for cooling supply.

[0056] The at least one securing interface 11, 12 can be configured in the form of pre-mounted screws, rivets, latching elements, clips, or the like, for example. The figures show by way of example two securing interfaces 11, 12 at each end of the at least one inner component support 13.

[0057] According to the invention, the fuel cell modules M1, M2 accommodate the at least one inner component support 13 of the support structure 10 within the modules M1, M2. The support structure 10 thus forms a post structure for the fuel cell modules M1, M2. The support structure 10 allows the fuel cell modules M1, M2 according to the invention to be designed in an open manner and to be supported on the vehicle F without a completely enclosed housing.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the at least one inner component support 13 of the support structure 10 can extend continuously through all modules M1, M2 of the fuel cell system 100. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, it is possible that, between the modules M1, M2, the at least one inner component support 13 can comprise a connection point N, wherein the connection point is a seam or a force-fit or form-fit connection point N.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 2, each module M1, M2 of the fuel cell system 100 can form an individually manageable module unit with the corresponding elements of the support structure 10. A single inner component support 13 can be provided for each module M1, M2 of the fuel cell system 100.

[0060] In the context of the invention, it is conceivable that the at least one (continuous or single) inner component support 13 can be configured in one piece and/or materially uniform and/or monolithically.

[0061] In addition, it is conceivable in the context of the invention that the at least one (continuous or single) inner component support 13 can be compiled from a plurality of separate parts, which can in turn be joined together in a materially locking manner, in particular by welding, or in a form-fit or force-fit manner, in particular by screwing, latching, and/or clamping.

[0062] The submodules S, O, H, E, K and/or components of the modules M1, M2 can be connected (if necessary with additional brackets), e.g., releasably, to the at least one inner component support 13, e.g., in a form-fit or force-fit manner.

[0063] The invention provides that only the at least one inner component support 13 needs to be implemented for securing the submodules S, O, H, E, K and/or components of the fuel cell modules M1, M2 on the vehicle F. The submodules S, O, H, E, K and/or components of the fuel cell modules M1, M2 are not supported directly on the vehicle frame or on the vehicle body part, but indirectly via the at least one inner component support 13 on the vehicle F.

[0064] In the context of the invention, it is conceivable that the at least one component support 13 can have a profile that is closed in cross-section, in particular O-shaped (indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2), in order to provide, for example, improved crash safety and/or shock absorption through the component support.

[0065] As FIG. 3 implies, it is conceivable in the context of the invention that the at least one component support 13 can have a profile that is open in cross-section, in particular Z-shaped, T-shaped, preferably C-shaped or U-shaped, in order to create space, for example, within the at least one component support 13, for arranging the components and/or submodules S, O, H, E, K of the fuel cell modules M1, M2.

[0066] The vehicle F according to the invention is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in its entirety merely for reasons of simplicity. The vehicle frame of the vehicle F can have a first longitudinal beam 1 and a second longitudinal beam 2. In addition, the vehicle frame of the vehicle F can have a first transverse beam 11 and a second transverse beam 12, which can be provided as parts of the support structure 10, for example.

[0067] The vehicle F can advantageously be embodied as an electric vehicle, wherein the fuel cell system 101 can provide electrical energy to an electric motor of the vehicle F.

[0068] It is further conceivable that the first transverse beam 11 and the second transverse beam 12 can each comprise at least one securing interface S1, S2 for securing the first transverse beam 11 and the second transverse beam 12 to the vehicle frame or a vehicle body part, in particular on the longitudinal beams 1, 2 of the vehicle F, preferably releasably, in particular in a form-fit or force-fit manner.

[0069] The above description of the figures describes the present invention solely in the context of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, insofar as technically sensible, without leaving the scope of the invention.