Vehicle and energy producing and storage system for a vehicle

• US 7,198,124 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Veenstra, Mike, Lee, Josephine, Amori, Rick, Pittman, Deborah D., Stellon, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US10/789,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20040173391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/69.5, 180/314, 280/830, 280/834, 137/267, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, 296/193.07, 296/203.01, 296/204
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• 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 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries

Abstract

An energy producing and storage system for a vehicle includes a compressed gas storage tank having a generally cylindrical outer wall and a generally cylindrical battery having a partially triangular section defined in part by a concave surface extending along and nested with at least a portion of the cylindrical outer wall of the gas storage tank. The energy producing and storage system also includes a fuel cell disposed in a concavity formed in the vehicle body, thereby further minimizing the passenger and/or trunk space required to accommodate the system.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

an energy producing and storage system including first and second portions cooperating in a nesting relationship, thereby minimizing vehicle space usage; and

a vehicle body including a floor having a first concavity formed therein for receiving a third portion of the system from outside the vehicle, the first concavity being configured to prevent at least some of the third portion from extending beyond the vehicle body, and to minimize use of vehicle occupant space,

the floor having a second concavity formed therein, the second concavity being oriented longitudinally along a length of the vehicle and having a depth greater than a depth of the first concavity, thereby providing a conduit between a front of the vehicle and a rear of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one transverse support disposed on an inside of the floor along a length of the first concavity, thereby adding strength to the vehicle body in a transverse direction, the at least one transverse support being configured to provide an attachment structure for a corresponding vehicle front seat.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the system includes a fuel cell system, and wherein the first portion includes a fuel tank, the second portion includes a storage device for storing and providing electricity, and the third portion includes a fuel cell stack.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a pair of longitudinal supports, each of the longitudinal supports being attached to the vehicle body across a corresponding portion of the first concavity, thereby adding strength to the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction, each of the longitudinal supports being configured to receive a corresponding mounting bracket of the fuel cell stack.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the storage device is a battery, and the nesting relationship between the fuel tank and the battery is defined by a concave portion of the battery disposed along a length of the battery, generally conforming to a convex portion of the fuel tank disposed along a length of the fuel tank.

6. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the first concavity is oriented generally transverse to the vehicle length, and is disposed below a vehicle front seat.

7. A vehicle having a uni-body construction and configured to efficiently package a fuel cell system, the vehicle comprising:

a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, a fuel tank, and a storage device for storing and providing electricity, the fuel tank and the storage device cooperating in a nesting relationship to minimize vehicle space usage;

a first concavity formed in a floor of the uni-body, the first concavity being configured to receive the fuel cell stack from outside the vehicle; and

a second concavity formed in the floor of the uni-body and oriented longitudinally along a length of the vehicle, the second concavity having a depth greater than a depth of the first concavity, thereby providing a conduit between a front of the vehicle and a rear of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the storage device is a battery, and the nesting relationship between the fuel tank and the battery is defined by a concave portion of the battery disposed along a length of the battery, generally conforming to a convex portion of the fuel tank disposed along a length of the fuel tank.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first concavity is oriented generally transverse to the vehicle length, and is disposed below a vehicle front seat.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a pair of longitudinal supports attached to the uni-body, each of the longitudinal supports being disposed across a corresponding portion of the first concavity, thereby adding strength to the uni-body in a longitudinal direction, each of the longitudinal supports being configured to receive a corresponding mounting bracket of the fuel cell stack.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising at least one transverse support disposed on an inside portion of the uni-body along a length of the first concavity, thereby adding strength to the uni-body in a transverse direction, the at least one transverse support being configured to provide an attachment structure for a corresponding vehicle front seat.

12. A method for packaging an energy producing and storage system in a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body having a floor with first and second concavities formed therein, the second concavity being oriented longitudinally along a length of the vehicle and having a depth greater than a depth of the first concavity, thereby forming an open space above the first concavity, the method comprising:

placing first and second portions of the system together in a nesting relationship, thereby minimizing vehicle space usage;

placing a third portion of the system in the first concavity from outside the vehicle such that at least some of the third portion does not extend beyond the vehicle body; and

placing at least one of a coolant line or an electrical wire through the open space above the first concavity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle further includes at least one transverse support disposed along an inside of the floor along a length of the first concavity, the method further comprising attaching at least one vehicle front seat to the at least one transverse support.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the system includes a fuel cell system, and wherein the first portion includes a fuel tank, the second portion includes a storage device for storing and providing electricity, and the third portion includes a fuel cell stack.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein placing the first and second portions of the system together in a nesting relationship includes placing a concave portion of the battery adjacent a convex portion of the fuel tank, the concave portion of the battery being disposed along a length of the battery, the convex portion of the fuel tank being disposed along a length of the fuel tank.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle further includes a pair of longitudinal supports attached to the vehicle body across a corresponding portion of the first concavity, and the fuel cell includes at least one mounting bracket, the method further comprising attaching the at least one fuel cell mounting bracket to a corresponding longitudinal support.