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DE-102017221366-B4 - FUEL CELL MOUNTING STRUCTURE

DE102017221366B4DE 102017221366 B4DE102017221366 B4DE 102017221366B4DE-102017221366-B4

Abstract

Fuel cell mounting structure (10) for mounting a fuel cell (20) in a vehicle body, comprising: a pair consisting of one left and one right element (50) after installation in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, each of which is attached to suspension elements (30) by means of front connecting sections (52A) and rear connecting sections (52B) after installation in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and the fuel cell (20), which is supported at least by the pair of left and right elements (50) and is arranged above the suspension elements (30) with respect to a vehicle body, wherein either the front connecting sections (52A) or the rear connecting sections (52B) are mounted so that they can be rotated about an axis of rotation extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the others are formed from the front connecting sections (52A) and the rear connecting sections (52B) in such a way that they separate from the suspension elements (30) due to predetermined breaking sections (55), characterized in that the elements (50) are vibration-damping, and the predetermined breaking sections (55) break when a load from a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is introduced into the fuel cell (20).

Inventors

  • Takahiro Yamafuji
  • Fumihiro ABUKAWA

Assignees

  • TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20171129
Priority Date
20161226

Claims (6)

  1. Fuel cell mounting structure (10) for mounting a fuel cell (20) in a vehicle body, comprising: a pair of left and right elements (50) after installation in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, each of which is attached to suspension elements (30) by means of front connecting sections (52A) and rear connecting sections (52B) after installation in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and the fuel cell (20), which is supported at least by the pair of left and right elements (50) and is arranged above the suspension elements (30) with respect to a vehicle body, wherein either the front connecting sections (52A) or the rear connecting sections (52B) are mounted so that they are rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the other elements of the front connecting sections (52A) and the rear connecting sections (52B) are designed so that they separate from the suspension elements (30) due to predetermined breaking sections (55), characterized in that the elements (50) are vibration-damping, and the predetermined breaking sections (55) break when a load from a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is introduced into the fuel cell (20).
  2. Fuel cell mounting structure (10) according to Claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking sections (55) are provided on anchor sections (54).
  3. Fuel cell mounting structure (10) according to Claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking sections (55) have a thickness that is thinner than that of other areas of the associated connecting sections (52A, 52B).
  4. Fuel cell mounting structure (10) according to Claim 2 , wherein the anchor sections (54) are formed in a "U" shape in a side view of the vehicle.
  5. Fuel cell mounting structure (10) according to Claim 2 , wherein the anchor sections (54) are formed in a "U" shape in a side view of the vehicle and are open downwards with respect to the vehicle body.
  6. Fuel cell mounting structure (10) according to Claim 2 , wherein the anchor sections (54) are formed in a "U" shape in a side view of the vehicle and are open upwards with respect to the vehicle body.

Description

BACKGROUND Technical field The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell mounting structure having the features of the preamble of claim 1. State of the art A structure is known in which a predetermined breaking point is formed on a bracket for an engine (drive unit) mounting, and because of this predetermined breaking point, which breaks in a collision of the vehicle, the engine falls out of the vehicle, thus preventing the engine from flying into the passenger compartment (see, for example, the JP 2004 - 231 018 A ). However, the structure described above cannot be used if the drive unit is a fuel cell, as laws and regulations prohibit the fuel cell from falling out of the vehicle in the event of a collision. In particular, there is room for improvement in a structure that reduces the load transfer to a fuel cell in a vehicle collision without causing the fuel cell to fall out of the vehicle. JP 2013 - 112 123 A It reveals a mounting structure in which a fuel cell can rotate around a vertical axis into the vehicle upon impact. JP 2016 - 153 288 A , the JP 2011 - 162 108 A and the JP 2012 - 035 744 A each disclose a fastening structure according to the preamble of claim 1. SUMMARY It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a fuel cell mounting structure that can reduce the load transfer to a fuel cell in a vehicle collision without causing the fuel cell to separate from the vehicle. This object is achieved by a structure according to one of the independent claims. A fuel cell mounting structure according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises the features listed in claim 1. According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when a load is introduced into the fuel cell in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the predetermined breaking points break, and the fuel cell rotates with the transverse direction of the vehicle as its axis of rotation in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Consequently, in a collision of the vehicle, a load introduced into the fuel cell is weakened without the fuel cell separating from the vehicle. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. A fuel cell mounting structure according to a second aspect of the present disclosure comprises the features listed in claim 2. According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, when a load is introduced into the fuel cell in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the anchor sections separate, and the fuel cell rotates with the transverse direction of the vehicle as its axis of rotation in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Consequently, in a collision of the vehicle, a load introduced into the fuel cell is attenuated without the fuel cell separating from the vehicle. A fuel cell mounting structure according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the fuel cell mounting structure according to claim 3. According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, the predetermined breaking points have a thickness that is thinner than that of other areas. Consequently, in comparison with a structure in which the predetermined breaking points do not have a thickness that is thinner than that of other areas, the predetermined breaking points can break easily when a load is introduced into the fuel cell in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A fuel cell mounting structure according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the fuel cell mounting structure according to any one of claims 4 to 6. According to the fourth aspect, the anchor sections are essentially U-shaped when viewed from the side of the vehicle. Therefore, in comparison to a structure where the anchor sections are not essentially U-shaped when viewed from the side of the vehicle, the anchor sections can easily separate if a load is introduced into the fuel cell along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. According to the first and second aspects of the present disclosure, in the event of a collision of a vehicle, a load transfer to a fuel cell can be reduced without the fuel cell separating from the vehicle. According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, predetermined breaking points can easily break when a load is applied to a fuel cell from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. According to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, anchor sections can easily separate when a load is applied to a fuel cell from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below on the basis of the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1 a schematic drawing showing a vehicle to which the fastening structures of the present embodiments are applied; 2 a perspective view showing a fastening structure of a first embodiment; 3 a side view showing a fastening structure of the first embodiment; 4 a side view showing a condition in which, accordi