EP-4737652-A2 - HYDROGEN-POWERED WORKING VEHICLE

EP4737652A2EP 4737652 A2EP4737652 A2EP 4737652A2EP-4737652-A2

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to hydrogen powered working vehicle. Advantageously, the hydrogen-powered working vehicle of the present disclosure is designed to enable existing chassis designs for diesel-powered working vehicles to be re-purposed for use in hydrogen powered working vehicles whilst still affording adequate lateral airflow to components of the hydrogen powered working vehicle.

Inventors

HARPER, Lee
JAMES, JOSEPH
JOHNSON, NOEL

Assignees

J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20230202

Claims (15)

A hydrogen-powered working vehicle comprising: a hydrogen fuel cell; a hydrogen storage unit for supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen fuel cell; a chassis; and a working arm coupled to the chassis; wherein the working vehicle comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the working vehicle further comprises a first port provided at a first side of the working vehicle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second port provided at a second side of the working vehicle with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first side is opposite the second side with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein an airflow pathway is defined between the first port and the second port and extends laterally across the chassis of the working vehicle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the working vehicle further comprises a fan arrangement configured to control the direction of airflow along the airflow pathway between a first direction, wherein the first port acts as an intake and the second port acts as an exhaust, and a second direction, wherein the second port acts as an intake and the first port acts as an exhaust.
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen storage unit is arranged such that air passing along the airflow pathway acts on at least part of the hydrogen storage unit during use.
The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen fuel cell is arranged such that air passing along the airflow pathway acts on at least part of the hydrogen fuel cell during use.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second port is provided on a side of the excavator
The vehicle of any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second ports are substantially vertically orientated.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, wherein the chassis defines an internal volume, and wherein the airflow pathway extends across at least a portion of the internal volume of the chassis such that air passing along the airflow pathway acts on at least some of the components housed within the internal volume during use.
The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the chassis comprises a front, a rear, a first side and a second side, defining the internal volume therebetween.
The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising at least one energy storage device located within the internal volume, optionally wherein the energy storage device and the hydrogen fuel cell are stacked one above the other, and further optionally wherein the energy storage device is located proximal the second side of the chassis.
The vehicle of claim 7 or 8, further comprising a first cooling pack housed within the internal volume and located proximal the first side of the chassis, optionally towards the rear of the chassis.
The vehicle of any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a second cooling pack housed within the internal volume and located proximal the second side of the chassis, optionally towards the front of the chassis.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, wherein the chassis comprises a front, a rear, a first side and a second side, defining the or an internal volume therebetween, wherein the working arm is hydraulically controlled, wherein the vehicle further comprises a hydraulic tank operably coupled to the working arm via a series of control valves, and wherein the hydraulic tank is housed within the internal volume and is located proximal the first side of the chassis, and optionally wherein the hydraulic tank is located towards the front of the chassis.
The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the working vehicle further comprises a cab located proximal the first side of the chassis, optionally wherein the hydraulic tank is located directly behind the cab.
The vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the chassis comprises a width extending between the first side and the second side, and wherein the series of control valves are housed within the internal volume and located within a central third of the chassis width.
The vehicle according to any preceding claim, further comprising a slew motor for rotating the chassis, optionally wherein the slew motor is an electric slew motor, and further optionally wherein the slew motor is housed within the internal volume, the chassis comprises a width extending between the first side and the second side, and the slew motor is located within a central third of the chassis width.
The vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the hydrogen-powered working vehicle is an excavator, and optionally wherein the excavator is a crawler excavator comprising tracks.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen-powered working vehicle, in some embodiments a hydrogen-powered excavator. BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been a drive to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and the harmful environmental implications associated with such fuels. Accordingly, there is a need for vehicles which are more environmentally friendly. In the construction sector, working vehicles are typically exposed to harsh working environments and so need to be able to withstand impact and damage. This can make adopting new, environmentally friendly technology more difficult, particularly where new power systems are more vulnerable to damage than traditional diesel combustion engines and associated components. The present disclosure seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, one or more of the aforementioned problems. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a hydrogen-powered working vehicle comprising a hydrogen fuel cell, a hydrogen storage unit for supplying hydrogen to the hydrogen fuel cell, a chassis configured to house the hydrogen storage unit, a working arm coupled to the chassis and a counterweight located proximal a rear of the chassis for counter-balancing the working arm, wherein the hydrogen storage unit is located inboard of the counterweight. In other words, the storage unit is provided as a separate component to the counterweight. Advantageously, by locating the hydrogen storage unit inboard of the counterweight, the hydrogen storage unit is at a position of maximum protection within the excavator, thereby reducing the susceptibility of this component to damage during use. In exemplary embodiments, the working vehicle comprises a longitudinal axis. In exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal axis intersects at least a portion of the hydrogen storage unit. Advantageously, by positioning the hydrogen storage unit centrally within the chassis of the vehicle, the susceptibility of the hydrogen storage unit to damage can be further reduced since it is more common for collisions to occur at the corner portions of the excavator chassis. In exemplary embodiments the hydrogen storage unit extends transversely across the chassis with respect to the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, positioning the hydrogen storage unit transversely across the chassis helps to maximise the space available within the chassis. In exemplary embodiments, the hydrogen storage unit is provided proximal to a rear of the chassis. Advantageously, positioning the hydrogen storage unit at the rear of the chassis helps to further maximise the degree of protection afforded to this component, since the hydrogen storage unit will be provided in close proximity to the durable counterweight. In exemplary embodiments, the storage unit may comprise a plurality of sub-units. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of sub-units may be configured to extend transversely across the chassis with respect to the longitudinal axis. In exemplary embodiments, the plurality of hydrogen storage units may comprise a first sub-unit and a second sub-unit, wherein the first and second sub-units are stacked one above the other. In exemplary embodiments, the first and second sub-units may be the rear-most sub-units. In exemplary embodiments, the storage unit may comprise one or more pressurised tanks. Advantageously, pressurised tanks provide a reliable and easy-to-implement means for storing hydrogen fuel aboard the working vehicle which is readily compatible with current hydrogen power generation systems. In exemplary embodiments, the one or more pressurised tanks may be one or more elongate tanks. In exemplary embodiments, the elongate tanks may extend transversely across the chassis with respective to the longitudinal axis. In exemplary embodiments, the counterweight may comprise a metal casing filled with an aggregate material. Advantageously, the aforementioned counterweight helps to further maximise the degree of protection afforded to the hydrogen storage unit. In exemplary embodiments, the metal casing may comprise steel. In exemplary embodiments, the aggregate material may comprise concrete. Advantageously, the use of such materials helps to further maximise the degree of protection afforded to the hydrogen storage unit. In exemplary embodiments, the working vehicle further comprises a first port provided towards a first side of the working vehicle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second port provided towards a second side of the working vehicle with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first side is opposite the second side with respect to the longitudinal axis. In exemplary embodiments, an airflow pathway may be defined between the first port and the second port, the airflow pathway extending laterally across the chassis of the working vehicle with respect to the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, this provision enables the existing chassis and shroud design of a dies