Pressure Container System for a Motor Vehicle, Motor Vehicle and Method for Interrupting a Fluid Connection

Abstract

A pressurized container system for a motor vehicle includes a pressurized container configured to store a fuel, wherein the pressurized container system has a shut-off valve which is configured to interrupt, in a currentless state, a fluid connection between the pressurized container and at least one fuel gas consumer. A safety switch is configured to interrupt a power supply to the shut-off valve, where the safety switch is not an ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A pressurized container system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a pressurized container configured to store a fuel, wherein the pressurized container system has a shut-off valve which is configured to interrupt, in a currentless state, a fluid connection between the pressurized container and at least one fuel gas consumer; and a safety switch configured to interrupt a power supply to the shut-off valve, wherein the safety switch is not an ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

2. The pressurized container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety switch is provided in addition to the ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

3. The pressurized container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety switch comprises a safety mechanism which, after interruption of the power supply, permits the power supply again only after authorization.

4. The pressurized container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety switch does not have any other function than disconnection of the power supply to a fuel cell system or to the shut-off valve.

5. The pressurized container system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the authorization takes place using at least one of a key and a numerical code.

6. The pressurized container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after the interruption of the power supply to the shut-off valve, the safety switch is configured to be locked and/or secured.

7. The pressurized container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein during maintenance operations and/or recovery operations, the safety switch is accessible without removing further operating components.

8. A motor vehicle comprising: a pressurized container system as claimed in claim 1; and at least one fuel cell system which is fluidically connected to the pressurized container system, wherein the shut-off valve is designed to interrupt the fluid connection.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the safety switch is not an ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

10. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the safety switch is provided in addition to the ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

11. A method for interrupting a fluid connection between a pressurized container and a fuel cell system of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: interrupting a power supply to a shut-off valve using a safety switch, wherein the shut-off valve is configured to prevent, in a currentless state, a fluid connection between the pressurized container and the fuel cell system, wherein the safety switch is not an ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising securing the interruption of the power supply, wherein the interruption of the power supply is secured by a lock.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one of: before a start of servicing operations on the motor vehicle including an intervention into an anode subsystem of the fuel cell system, the power supply is interrupted and/or the interruption is secured; and after the conclusion of servicing operations on the motor vehicle including the intervention into the anode subsystem of the fuel cell system, the power supply is permitted again and/or the interruption is released.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the power supply is interrupted before the motor vehicle moves into an area which does not have fuel certification.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the safety switch is provided in addition to an ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein an activation of the safety switch does not trigger any other function than disconnection of the power supply to the fuel cell system or to the shut-off valve; and

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein an activation of the safety switch disconnects the power supply to the fuel cell system without further electrical circuits which can be switched by the ignition switch of the motor vehicle being switched as a result.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the activation of the safety switch disconnects the power supply to the fuel cell system without further electrical circuits which can be switched by the ignition switch of the motor vehicle being switched as a result.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, after the interruption of the power supply to the shut-off valve, the safety switch is configured to be locked and/or secured.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the appended drawing. This results in further details, preferred refinements and developments of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a pressured container system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0025] The technology disclosed here will now be explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the pressurized container system disclosed here. It is connected here to a fuel cell stack 210 of a fuel cell system. Further components of the fuel cell system and of the pressurized container system have been omitted for the sake of simplicity. The shut-off valve 120 is provided directly at the end 110 of the pressurized container 100 here. A shut-off valve 120 is an electrically activated valve. The current flows to the shut-off valve 120 via the circuit 300 (not illustrated completely). The shut-off valve 120 is opened as long as a current flows through the coils of the shut-off valve 120. If the circuit is then interrupted, for example by activating the ignition key (not illustrated), the shut-off valve 120 closes. This occurs when the motor vehicle is shut down after operation. In addition, a safety switch 310 is provided here which can additionally interrupt the power supply to the magnet of the shut-off valve 120 via the circuit 300 here. This safety switch 310 can be activated independently of other statuses and parameters of the motor vehicle. If the safety switch 310 interrupts the power supply, a situation is reliably avoided in which the shut-off valve 120 opens and the pressurized gas flows out. In addition, such a safety switch 310 could also reduce the risk of other fault sources, for example short-circuits or incorrect outputs from the controller, in particular if the safety switch 310 is arranged adjacent to the shut-off valve 120. In the advantageous embodiment shown here, a lock 330 is also integrated into the safety switch 310, which lock 330 is locked by means of a key 320. If the safety switch 310 is locked, it is ensured here that another employee cannot close the circuit again by activating the safety switch 310 before the servicing operations on the motor vehicle are concluded. If the operations are concluded, the responsible fitter can release the lock again and close the safety switch 310. The motor vehicle can then be operated normally. The ignition key expediently differs from the lock 320 which is installed in the motor vehicle. The key 320 particularly preferably differs generally from ignition keys installed in motor vehicles.

[0026] The above description of the present invention serves only for illustrative purposes and not for the purpose of limiting the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention and its equivalents.

[0027] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.