Vehicle and energy producing and storage system for a vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
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;
a vehicle body including a floor having a concavity formed therein for receiving a third portion of the system from outside the vehicle, the third portion of the system including a fuel cell stack, the 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; and
a pair of longitudinal supports, each of the longitudinal supports being attached to the vehicle body across a corresponding portion of the concavity, thereby adding strength to the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction, each of the longitudinal supports being configured to receive a corresponding portion of a mounting bracket system of the fuel cell stack from outside the vehicle so the fuel cell stack can be installed into and removed from the concavity from outside the vehicle.
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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.
62 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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an energy producing and storage system including first and second portions cooperating in a nesting relationship, thereby minimizing vehicle space usage; a vehicle body including a floor having a concavity formed therein for receiving a third portion of the system from outside the vehicle, the third portion of the system including a fuel cell stack, the 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; and a pair of longitudinal supports, each of the longitudinal supports being attached to the vehicle body across a corresponding portion of the concavity, thereby adding strength to the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction, each of the longitudinal supports being configured to receive a corresponding portion of a mounting bracket system of the fuel cell stack from outside the vehicle so the fuel cell stack can be installed into and removed from the concavity from outside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A vehicle having a uni-body construction and configured to efficiently package a fuel cell system, the vehicle comprising:
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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 concavity formed in a floor of the uni-body, the concavity being configured to receive the fuel cell stack from outside the vehicle; a mounting bracket for mounting the fuel cell stack to the vehicle; and a pair of longitudinal supports attached to the uni-body, each of the longitudinal supports being disposed across a corresponding portion of the concavity, thereby adding strength to the uni-body in a longitudinal direction, each of the longitudinal supports being configured for attachment to a portion of the mounting bracket on an outside the vehicle so the fuel cell stack can be installed into and removed from the concavity from outside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for packaging an energy producing and storage system in a vehicle, at least a portion of the system including a mounting bracket, the vehicle including a vehicle body having a floor with a concavity formed therein, and further including a pair of longitudinal supports attached to the vehicle body across a corresponding portion of the concavity, the method comprising:
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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 concavity from outside the vehicle such that at least some of the third portion does not extend beyond the vehicle body; and attaching the mounting bracket to at least one of the longitudinal supports from outside the vehicle to secure the third portion of the system to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification