Fuel-cell-powered four-wheel automobile

• US 6,648,085 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nagura, Hidenori, Komuro, Nobuaki, Yamashita, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RESTIFO, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US09/988,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/68.5, 180/69.4
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/02 concerning intake
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/10 concerning gas-producing plants
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/112 City movers, small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/16 having fluid storage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0227 containing a catalytic reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1223 Methanol
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0625 in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A tank is disposed beneath a floor for storing methanol and water. A reforming unit is disposed beneath the floor for generating hydrogen from methanol and water supplied from the tank. A fuel cell is disposed beneath the floor for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen generated by the reforming unit and oxygen in air. A secondary battery is disposed beneath the floor for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell. In this way, mechanisms for generating electricity from air, methanol, and water are centralized.

Claims

1. A fuel-cell-powered four-wheel automobile having a chassis which is of a rectangular shape as viewed in plan with four wheels positioned at respective four corners thereof, a riding seat disposed substantially centrally on the chassis, a flat floor mounted on said chassis in front of the riding seat, and an electric motor for moving the four-wheel automobile, wherein a tank is disposed beneath said floor for storing material for a fuel cell, wherein said fuel cell is disposed beneath said floor for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air, and a secondary battery is disposed beneath said floor for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell,

wherein said fuel cell is disposed entirely on one side of a central line which divides the chassis into left and right portions, and said electric motor is disposed entirely on an opposite side of said central line.

2. A fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle, comprising:

a substantially rectangular chassis;

four wheels positioned at respective four corners of said chassis;

a riding seat disposed substantially centrally on said chassis;

a substantially flat floor mounted on said chassis in front of said riding seat;

an electric motor for moving the four-wheel vehicle;

a fuel cell disposed beneath said floor for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air; and

a tank disposed beneath said floor for storing material for said fuel cell; and

a secondary battery disposed beneath said floor for storing electricity generated by said fuel cell,

wherein said fuel cell is disposed entirely on one side of a central line which divides the chassis into left and right portions, and said electric motor is disposed entirely on an opposite side of said central line.

3. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a case which houses said tank, said reforming unit, and said fuel cell therein.

4. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said case further houses said secondary battery therein.

5. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said case has an opening therein, and said floor comprises a cover which closes said opening.

6. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said floor has stiffener ribs therein.

7. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising an air cleaner located remotely from said case.

8. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising an air pipe interconnected between said air cleaner and said case.

9. The fuel-cell-powered four-wheel vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said air pipe includes an air pump therein.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis having a floor;

a plurality of wheels supporting said chassis;

a case located below said floor;

a fuel cell disposed in said case for generating electricity from an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air; and

a tank disposed in said case for storing material for said fuel cell; and

a secondary battery disposed in said case for storing electricity generated by said fuel cell,

wherein said fuel cell is disposed entirely on one side of a central line which divides the chassis into left and right portions, and said electric motor is disposed entirely on an opposite side of said central line.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said case has an opening therein, and said floor comprises a cover which closes said opening.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said floor has stiffener ribs therein.

13. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising an air cleaner located remotely from said case.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising an air pipe interconnected between said air cleaner and said case.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said air pipe includes an air pump therein.

16. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising:

a riding seat disposed substantially centrally on said chassis and rearwardly of said floor; and

an electric motor located rearwardly of said seat for driving the vehicle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising:

an air cleaner located remotely from said case;

an air pipe interconnected between said air cleaner and said case; and

an air pump located in said air pipe.