PRESSURIZED GAS TANK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) for a motor vehicle (100) for cooling pressurized gas tanks (10), wherein the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) comprises: a) a main body (20) with a plurality of supporting surfaces (22) in the form of channels for receiving the pressurized gas tank (10), wherein the main body (20) is thermally conductive and has a mounting interface (26) for arrangement on a counter mounting interface (126) of a body (120) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the main body (20) has thermally conducting surfaces (24) for thermally communicating connection to the body (120), b) pressurized gas tanks (10) for storing gas under high pressure, wherein the pressurized gas tanks (10) are thermally conductive and are interlockingly received on the supporting surfaces (22) of the main body (20), which supporting surfaces are in the form of channels, for thermal communication with the main body (20).

Claims

1. A pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) for a motor vehicle (100) for cooling pressurized gas tanks (10), wherein the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) includes: a) a main body (20) having a plurality of channel-shaped receiving surfaces (22) for accommodating the pressurized gas tanks (10), wherein the main body (20) is thermally conductive and has a mounting interface (26) for arrangement at a counter mounting interface (126) of a body (120) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the main body (20) has thermally conductive surfaces (24) for a thermally communicating connection with the body (120), b) pressurized gas tanks (10) for storing gas under high pressure, wherein the pressurized gas tanks (10) are thermally conductive and are interlockingly accommodated on the channel-shaped receiving surfaces (22) of the main body (20) for thermal communication with the main body (20).

2. The pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least 15% of the external shell surface (AM) of each pressurized gas tank (10) is accommodated at the respective channel-shaped receiving surfaces (22) of the main body (20) for thermal communication with the main body (20).

3. The pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body (20) includes at least one of the following elements: a thermally conductive element (32), for cooling the main body, a thermally conductive elastic element (34) between the pressurized gas tanks (10) and the channel-shaped receiving surfaces (22) to compensate for a thermal expansion of the pressurized gas tanks (10), a reinforcing element (36) for stabilizing the main body (20).

4. A system (300), wherein the system (300) includes a motor vehicle (100) and a cooling device (200) for cooling a body (120) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the motor vehicle (100) includes: a) a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 through 3claim 1, b) the body (120) having the counter mounting interface (124), wherein the thermally conductive main body (20) of the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) is arranged with the mounting interface (24) at the counter mounting interface (124).

5. The system (300) including the motor vehicle (100) and the cooling device (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cooling device (200) includes a fan (130) of the motor vehicle (100) and a cooling air guide element (132) for guiding the cooling air conveyed from the fan (130) to the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100), and/or wherein the cooling device (200) includes a cooling circuit (140) of the motor vehicle (100) and a cooling fluid guide element (142) for guiding cooling fluid to the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100).

6. The system (300) including the motor vehicle (100) and the cooling device (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cooling device (200) includes an external cooling element (210) for cooling the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the cooling element (210) is arrangeable in an area of the motor vehicle (100) and the cooling element (210) is one of the following elements: an external fan (212), an external water spraying device (214) for spraying the motor vehicle (100) with water, a cooling chamber

7. A filling station (500) for a system (300) having a motor vehicle (100) and a cooling device (200), wherein the filling station (500) includes: a) a parking area (510) where the motor vehicle (100) is to be parked, b) a filling station control unit (560) having a data interface (562) for communicating data with a counter data interface (162) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the filling station control unit (560) is designed at least for recognizing a positive refueling process status (S1) of the motor vehicle (100) based on data communication between the data interface (562) and the counter data interface (162) and, upon recognition of the positive refueling process status (S1), activating the cooling device (200) in order to cool the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100).

8. The filling station (500) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the filling station (500) includes an external cooling element (210) of the cooling device (200) for cooling the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the cooling element (210) is arrangeable in an area of the motor vehicle (100) and the cooling element (210) is one of the following elements: an external fan (212), an external water spraying device (214) for spraying the motor vehicle (100) with water, a cooling chamber.

9. The filling station (500) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the parking area (510) includes an inspection pit (512) having a fluid-permeable cover (514), wherein the cooling device (200) is arranged in the inspection pit (512) for cooling the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100).

10. A method for cooling a body (120) of a motor vehicle (100) during the refueling of the motor vehicle (100) at a filling station (500), wherein the motor vehicle (100) has a counter data interface (162), and wherein the method includes the following steps: a) data communication (602) between a data interface (562) of the filling station (500) and the counter data interface (162) of the motor vehicle (100) in order to ascertain a status of the refueling process, b) recognizing (604) a positive refueling process status via a filling station control unit (560), c) activating (606) a cooling device (200) via the filling station control unit (560) and/or via a vehicle control unit in order to cool the body (120) of the motor vehicle (100) and fill (608) pressurized gas tanks (10) of the motor vehicle (100).

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method includes, after the step c), the following step d): d) deactivating (612) the cooling device (200) if the pressurized gas tanks (10) have fallen below an establishable temperature threshold value.

12. The pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least 25% of the external shell surface (AM) of each pressurized gas tank (10) is accommodated at the respective channel-shaped receiving surfaces (22) of the main body (20) for thermal communication with the main body (20).

13. The pressurized gas tank receiving assembly (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thermally conductive element (32) is cooling fins and/or cooling ducts and/or a cooling plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] Further measures which improve the present invention result from the following description of some exemplary embodiments of the present invention which is schematically represented in the figures. All features and/or advantages, including structural design details, spatial arrangements, and method steps, resulting from the claims, the description, or the drawings, can be essential to the invention alone or in the highly diverse combinations. It should be noted that the figures merely have descriptive character and are not intended to restrict the invention in any way.

[0062] Schematically

[0063] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly,

[0064] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly from FIG. 1 in a vertical cross section,

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly according to the invention,

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly according to the invention in a section,

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly according to the invention in a section,

[0068] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention,

[0069] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention,

[0070] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a filling station according to the invention,

[0071] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a filling station according to the invention, and

[0072] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0073] In the following figures, identical reference characters are also utilized for the same technical features of different exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, one embodiment of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1. The pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 has a thermally conductive main body 20, for example, made of steel. The body 20 can be designed in the shape of a box, wherein pressurized gas tanks 10 are accommodated in a plurality of channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22 (not apparent here) in an interior space of the box-shaped main body 20. The main body 20 has a protruding rim 28 encircling the box-shaped main body 20. The encircling, protruding rim 28 represents a mounting interface 26 and, simultaneously, a thermally conductive surface 24. The mounting interface 26 can have holes for the passage of screws. The main body 20 can be arranged with the mounting interface at a counter mounting interface 126 of a body 120 of a motor vehicle 100. The pressurized gas tanks 10 are thermally conductive and can be designed to be hollow cylindrical as in FIG. 1. The pressurized gas tanks 10 can be made, for example, of steel and particularly advantageously store gas under high pressure, such as, for example, hydrogen. In addition, three reinforcing elements 36 are additionally illustrated in FIG. 1, which secure the pressurized gas tanks 10 accommodated in the particular receiving surfaces 22 against moving and contribute to the stability of the main body 20. The heat arising during the refueling process can therefore be particularly advantageously dissipated from the pressurized gas tanks 10, in particular, the arising heat can be guided from the pressurized gas tanks 10 via the thermally conductive main body 20 to the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100. FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 from FIG. 1 in a vertical cross section A1-A1 (see cutting axis A1-A1 in FIG. 1). In FIG. 2, the thermally conductive pressurized gas tanks 10 are interlocking accommodated, with a particular external shell surface AM, by the main body 20 on the channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22 of the main body 20 for thermal communication. The channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22 are designed in the shape of a circular arc.

[0075] FIG. 3 describes two further embodiments of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 according to the invention, each in a vertical cross section (cf. cutting axis A1-A1 in FIG. 1). In both embodiments, pressurized gas tanks 10 are accommodated in channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22. In addition, both embodiments have a thermally conductive surface 24 and a mounting interface 26. The one further embodiment that is represented on the left shows a separate thermally conductive element 32, wherein the thermally conductive element 32 is a cooling plate, which is arranged on the main body 20. The thermally conductive element 32 additionally has cooling ducts in the cooling plate, through which, for example, a cooling fluid or cooling air can flow. The one further embodiment that is represented on the right shows a thermally conductive element 32, wherein the thermally conductive element 32 is one piece with the thermally conductive main body 20. The thermally conductive element 32 likewise has cooling ducts here. In addition, the thermally conductive element 32 includes cooling fins, through which cooling air can flow and, thereby, heat can be additionally dissipated from the thermally conductive main body 20.

[0076] FIG. 4 illustrates one further embodiment of a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 according to the invention in a vertical cross section (cf. cutting axis A1-A1 in FIG. 1). In FIG. 4, pressurized gas tanks 10 are accommodated in channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22 arranged next to one another. In addition, the channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22 arranged next to one another are arranged spaced apart from one another. The pressurized gas tanks 10 accommodated in the receiving surfaces 22 therefore do not touch one another. It can therefore be ensured, furthermore, that the pressurized gas tanks 10 also continue to be interlockingly accommodated by the thermally conductive main body 20 of the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 in the case of a thermal expansion of the pressurized gas tanks 10. In addition, FIG. 4 describes a thermally conductive elastic element 34 between each of the pressurized gas tanks 10 and the channel-shaped receiving surfaces 22, by means of which the thermal expansion of the particular pressurized gas tank 10 can be compensated for. The thermal expansion of the pressurized gas tanks 10 can occur due to the heat arising during the refueling process.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows, in one further embodiment, a pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 according to the invention in a vertical cross section (cf. cutting axis A1-A1 in FIG. 1), wherein a reinforcing element 36 is represented in FIG. 5 as an addition to FIG. 2. This reinforcing element 36 secures the pressurized gas tanks 10 accommodated in the particular receiving surfaces 22 against moving and contributes to the stability of the main body 20.

[0078] In FIG. 6, in one embodiment, a system 300 according to the invention including a motor vehicle 100 and a cooling device 200 for cooling a body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 is represented in a front view. In FIG. 6, the motor vehicle 100 includes an internal cooling device 200. A pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 forms at least a portion of the underbody of the motor vehicle 100. The motor vehicle 100, in particular the body 120, includes two crossmembers 121a and 121b, wherein the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 is arranged at both crossmembers 121a, 121b. In particular, a thermally conductive main body 20 (not represented) of the pressurized gas tank receiving assembly 1 is arranged, with mounting interfaces 24a and 24b, at a counter mounting interface 124a of the crossmember 121a and at a counter mounting interface 124b of the crossmember 121b of the body 120, respectively.

[0079] In FIG. 7, in one further embodiment, a system 300 according to the invention including a motor vehicle 100 and a cooling device 200 for cooling a body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 is represented in a front view. In FIG. 7, the cooling device 200 includes a fan 130 of the motor vehicle 100 and/or a cooling circuit 140 of the motor vehicle 100. By means of cooling air guide elements 132, cooling air conveyed by the fan 130 is conveyed to various points of the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 and, via cooling fluid guide elements 142, a cooling fluid is guided to various points of the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100. In addition, the cooling device 200 includes an external cooling element 210 for cooling the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100. The external cooling element is an external fan 212 and/or an external water spraying device 214 for spraying the motor vehicle 100 with, for example, water. The external cooling element 210 is arranged under the motor vehicle. Air delivered from the external fan 212 and/or water delivered from the water spraying device 214 can flow/spray in the flow direction S, in particular essentially perpendicularly, against at least a portion of the body 120, advantageously against the entire body 120. Entirely advantageously, the air from the external fan 212 flows and/or the water from the water spraying device 214 sprays against the underbody of the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100.

[0080] In FIG. 8, in one embodiment, a filling station 500 according to the invention for a system 300 including a motor vehicle 100 and a cooling device 200 for cooling a body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 is represented in a front view. In FIG. 8, the motor vehicle 100 includes an internal cooling device 200. The filling station 500 has a parking area 510 where the motor vehicle 100 is to be parked. In addition, in FIG. 8, a pressurized gas tank fuel dispenser 520 is illustrated at the parking area 510 for providing a gas under high pressure. In FIG. 8, the pressurized gas tank fuel dispenser 520 includes a filling station control unit 560 having a data interface 562 for communicating data with a counter data interface 162 of the motor vehicle 100. The filling station control unit can also be arranged outside the pressurized gas tank fuel dispenser 520.

[0081] In FIG. 9, in one further embodiment, a filling station 500 according to the invention for a system 300 including a motor vehicle 100 and a cooling device 200 for cooling a body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 is represented in a front view. In FIG. 9, the cooling device 200 includes, on the one hand, a fan 130 of the motor vehicle 100 and/or a cooling circuit 140 of the motor vehicle 100. By means of cooling air guide elements 132, cooling air delivered by the fan 130 is conveyed to various points of the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 and, via cooling fluid guide elements 142, a cooling fluid is guided to various points of the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100. The cooling air guide element 132 and the cooling fluid guide element 142 are not explicitly represented in FIG. 9. Moreover, the cooling device 200 includes an external cooling element 210. The filling station 500 has a parking area 510 where the motor vehicle 100 is to be parked. In addition, in FIG. 9, a pressurized gas tank fuel dispenser 520 is illustrated at the parking area 510 for providing a gas under high pressure. In FIG. 9, the pressurized gas tank fuel dispenser 520 includes a filling station control unit 560 having a data interface 562 for communicating data with a counter data interface 162 of the motor vehicle 100. The filling station control unit can also be arranged outside the pressurized gas tank fuel dispenser 520. The external cooling element 210 in this embodiment is arranged in an inspection pit 512 having a fluid-permeable cover 514. Due to the fluid-permeable cover 514, the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 can be cooled particularly easily, without great flow resistance, by means of the cooling device 200, for example, by an external fan 212 and/or by the external water spraying device 214. Entirely advantageously, the air from the external fan 212 flows and/or the water from the water spraying device 214 sprays in the flow direction S against the underbody of the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100.

[0082] In FIG. 10, one embodiment of a method according to the invention for refueling a motor vehicle 100 is described. In a first step, data are communicated 602 between the data interface 562 of the filling station 500 and the counter data interface 162 of the motor vehicle 100 in order to ascertain the status of the refueling process. In the next step, the filling station control unit 560 recognizes 604 a positive refueling process status. Next, the cooling device 200 is activated 606 by the filling station control unit 560 in order to cool the body 120 of the motor vehicle 100 and fills 608 the pressurized gas tanks 10 of the motor vehicle 100. Thereafter, the filling of the pressurized gas tanks 10 is terminated 610. The cooling device 200 can remain activated after the termination 610 of the filling of the pressurized gas tanks 10 and, in an additional step, become deactivated 612 only if the pressurized gas tanks 10 have fallen below an establishable temperature threshold value. This can mean, for example, that the fan 130 and the cooling circuit 140 of the motor vehicle also remain activated during subsequent further travel with the motor vehicle 100, at least for the time until the establishable temperature threshold value is fallen below.