Modular fuel cell and H2 storage system for vehicles
A modular assembly for a fuel-cell vehicle is configured to connect to a bracket arranged along a longitudinal frame of the vehicle. The modular frame can include one or more components for powering the vehicle, including one or more of a fuel cell, a battery, a battery cooling system, and hydrogen storage tanks. The modular assembly can communicate with the fuel-cell vehicle through standard integration components regardless of the particular components in the modular assembly. The modular assembly can be readily removed from the fuel-cell vehicle and replaced with a different modular assembly containing different components.
1 . A modular assembly for connecting at least one fuel cell to a lift truck, said modular assembly comprising:
a modular frame having an internal space configured to receive at least one of a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, a lithium-ion battery, and a battery cooling system; and
wherein the modular frame is configured to connect to a first pair of brackets extending vertically along a frame of the lift truck, wherein the modular frame comprises a vertically arranged frame member that fits between the first pair of brackets and comprises a hole that corresponds to holes in each bracket of the first pair of brackets to receive a connector that connects the modular frame to the brackets; and
one or more integration members arranged along the modular frame including mechanical and electrical connectors for connecting the lift truck connection members to the components housed in the at least one modular frame, wherein the integration members are the same regardless of the components contained in the internal space of the modular frame, such that the integration members are the same for a modular frame housing a battery, a modular frame housing a fuel cell, a modular frame housing a hydrogen storage tank, and a modular frame housing a battery cooling system, thereby permitting the modular frame to mechanically and electrically connect with the lift truck without modification of the connection members on the lift truck regardless of the components contained in the modular frame.
2 . The modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is a pin and lock connector.
3 . The modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the internal space houses a fuel cell and wherein the integration members used to connect components arranged within the internal space of the modular frame are configured such that the same connections are used to connect components to the lift truck regardless of the number of fuel cells arranged within the internal space of the modular frame.
4 . The modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the modular frame further houses one or more batteries and a battery cooling system within the internal space of the modular frame.
5 . The modular assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional modular frame configured to receive one or more hydrogen storage containers therein, wherein the at least one additional modular frame comprises a vertically arranged frame member configured to fit between a second pair of brackets arranged on an opposite side of the lift truck from the first pair of brackets, the vertically arranged frame member comprising a hole that corresponds to holes in the second pair of brackets to receive a connector that connects the modular assembly to the brackets.
6 . The modular assembly according to claim 5 , wherein at least four hydrogen storage tanks are contained within the at least one additional modular frame and wherein the integration members are the same as for a system where there is a single hydrogen storage tank contained within the at least one additional modular frame.
7 . The modular assembly according to claim 6 , wherein six hydrogen storage tanks are contained within one or more modular frames and wherein the integration members are the same as for a system containing only four hydrogen storage tanks within the at least one additional modular frame.
8 . The modular assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one additional modular frame is connected to the pair of brackets using a pin-and-lock connector.
9 . The modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the modular assembly is pre-assembled with desired components before shipping to a customer.
10 . The modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein one modular frame can be readily removed from the lift truck and replaced with a different modular frame having different components to change the functionality of the lift truck without having to modify the integration members for connecting the mechanical and electrical components of the modular frame to the lift truck.
11 . A method of adapting a lift truck frame to operate using an electrical system, the method comprising:
arranging an electric drive train within a central opening between longitudinal frame members of the lift truck;
connecting one or more vertically arranged pairs of brackets to one or more of the longitudinal frame members;
securing a vertically arranged frame member of at least one modular frame to at least one of the one or more pairs of brackets, wherein the at least one modular frame houses one or more components selected from a group comprising a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, a lithium-ion battery, and a battery cooling system; and
providing one or more integration members including mechanical and electrical connectors for connecting the lift truck connection members to the components housed in the at least one modular frame, wherein the integration members are the same for a modular frame housing a battery and a modular frame housing a fuel cell, thereby permitting the modular frame to mechanically and electrically connect with the lift truck without modification of the connection members on the lift truck regardless of the components contained in the modular frame.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one modular frame houses one or more fuel cells.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one modular frame houses two or more fuel cells.
14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the vertically arranged frame member and corresponding pair of brackets each comprise corresponding holes to receive a connector to connect the frame member to the pair of brackets.
15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one modular frame houses a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks.
16 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the integration members comprise one or more of:
tubing, cables, and radiators.
17 . A reach truck comprising:
a frame comprising two longitudinally arranged frame members having a space between them;
one or more pairs of brackets vertically arranged along one or more of the longitudinally arranged frame members;
at least one modular frame having a vertically arranged frame member connected to at least one of the pairs of brackets;
a plurality of components arranged within the at least one modular frame based on user needs, wherein the plurality of components are selected from a group comprising a lithium-ion battery, a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, and a battery cooling system; and
integration members configured to mechanically and electrically connect the components arranged in the modular frame to the reach truck, wherein the integration members are the same regardless of whether the modular frame houses a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, a lithium-ion battery, or a battery cooling system.
18 . The reach truck according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one modular frame comprises two or more modular frames with at least one modular frame connected to each side of the reach truck.
19 . The reach truck according to claim 17 , wherein the plurality of components comprises at least one fuel cell and at least one hydrogen storage tank.
20 . The reach truck according to claim 17 , wherein the integration members comprise one or more of tubing, cables, and radiators.