Pressure Vessel System Comprising a Plurality of Pressure Vessels, and Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of pressure vessels for storing fuel. The pressure vessels are generally provided in the underfloor region of the motor vehicle, and the longitudinal axes of these vessels are expediently parallel to one another. At least one pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels is a reinforced pressure vessel. At least one other pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels is a reinforcement-free pressure vessel.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A pressure vessel system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of pressure vessels for storing fuel, wherein at least one pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels is a reinforced pressure vessel, wherein at least one other pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels is a reinforcement-free pressure vessel, and wherein: (i) the at least one reinforced pressure vessel is provided further away from a side sill of the motor vehicle than the at least one reinforcement-free pressure vessel, or (ii) the at least one reinforced pressure vessel is provided further away from a wheel axis of the motor vehicle than the at least one reinforcement-free pressure vessel.

13. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of pressure vessels are provided in one plane, and wherein the outer pressure vessels are reinforcement-free pressure vessels.

14. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein at least one fire-retardant and/or intumescent layer is provided for thermally protecting the reinforced pressure vessels only on or directly adjacent to the reinforced pressure vessels.

15. The pressure vessel system according claim 12, wherein a floor plate is provided between the plurality of pressure vessels and the carriageway, and wherein a first region of the floor plate that at least partially covers the reinforced pressure vessel is formed from a different material or from a different layered structure from a second region of the floor plate that at least partially covers the reinforcement-free pressure vessel.

16. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein the movable bearing of the reinforced pressure vessel is formed differently from the movable bearing of the reinforcement-free pressure vessel.

17. The pressure vessel system according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of reinforced pressure vessels are supported by a common movable bearing.

18. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein a common tank shut-off valve is provided on a common fuel line, wherein the common fuel line fluidically connects the plurality of pressure vessels to one another without interruption, and wherein the tank shut-off valve is provided in the central region of the fuel line.

19. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of pressure vessels are connected to one another via a common fuel rail, and wherein the plurality of pressure vessels are provided in the underfloor region of the motor vehicle.

20. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein thermal pressure relief devices are provided only on reinforcement-free pressure vessels.

21. The pressure vessel system according to claim 12, wherein the reinforcement-free pressure vessels have better crash behavior and/or withstand a greater intrusion without bursting than the reinforced pressure vessels.

22. A motor vehicle comprising a pressure vessel system according to claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0040] The technology disclosed here will now be explained with reference to schematic FIG. 1 which shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle. The front wheels and the rear wheels are each arranged here on common wheel axes A. The term wheel axis does not mean the physical component here, but rather the connecting line between the two front wheels or the two rear wheels. The body outer skin K is shown here in greatly simplified form by dashed lines. The pressure vessel system is provided here in the underfloor region. It is provided below the passenger compartment and substantially between the wheel axes A and the side sills 410. The pressure vessel system 100 here comprises a plurality of pressure vessels 110, 120. Here, 8 pressure vessels 110, 120 are illustrated. However, there could also be a greater or smaller number of pressure vessels.

[0041] The pressure vessels 110, 120 are oriented here parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The pressure vessels 110, 120 lie in one plane here. The two outer pressure vessels 110 here are reinforcement-free pressure vessels 110. Expediently, steel tanks could be constructed here. Reinforced pressure vessels 120 are provided here between the reinforcement-free pressure vessels 110. Consequently, the reinforced pressure vessels 120 are at a greater distance from the side sills on the same side than the reinforcement-free pressure vessels 110. A plate or plate profile is arranged on each side between the pressure vessels 120 and the outer reinforcement-free pressure vessels 110. This plate or plate profile is generally a longitudinal member and serves as further impact protection in the event of a side crash. In the unlikely case that a side crash actually causes deformation as far as the outer reinforcement-free pressure vessels 110, these pressure vessels 110, which are generally produced from metal, are less sensitive to mechanical loading. Therefore, side crashes can be withstood even better. Each of the plurality of pressure vessels 110, 120 is connected at one end to the fuel line 130. The fuel line 130 can preferably be designed as a fuel rail. Such a configuration reduces the number of parts and the number of closure points which could cause leakages. The tank shut-off valve 140 is provided here in the center of the fuel line 130 and is integrated here in a valve distributor block. Expediently, a TPRD and/or an overpressure protection valve can also be integrated in this valve distributor block. The tank shut-off valve 140 or the valve distributor block is fluidically connected here to a tank coupling. The fluid connection to the energy converter, e.g. to a fuel cell system, has been omitted here for simplification. Further TPRDs which may alternatively or additionally be provided are likewise not shown. The region B here designates the width which, according to the design of the body, is not intruded in the event of a side crash. It is apparent that the pressure vessel system is protected against a side impact.

[0042] The case is illustrated here in which the pressure vessels are installed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the pressure vessels are installed in the motor vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The outer reinforcement-free pressure vessels are then arranged closer to the wheel axes than the centrally provided, reinforced pressure vessels.

[0043] For reasons of readability, the term at least one has been partially omitted for simplification. If a feature of the technology disclosed herein is described in the singular or with an indefinite article (for example, the/a reinforced pressure vessel, the/a reinforcement-free pressure vessel, etc.), a plurality thereof is also intended to be disclosed at the same time (for example, the at least one reinforced pressure vessel, the at least one reinforcement-free pressure vessel, etc.).

[0044] In the context of the technology disclosed herein, the term substantially (for example substantially perpendicular axis) includes the exact property or the exact value (for example perpendicular axis) and deviations that are irrelevant for the function of the property/of the value (for example tolerable deviation from perpendicular axis).

[0045] The description of the present disclosure given above serves only for illustrative purposes and not for the purposes of limiting the disclosure. Various changes and modifications are possible within the context of the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure and its equivalents.