IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,162,559
Granted Patent B2
US 9,162,559 · App. 13/259,902 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Fuel cell system and vehicle

Inventors: Hiroshi Arisawa (Susono, JP); Manabu Takahashi (Toyota, JP); Hiroyuki Imanishi (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60K1/04B60L1/003B60L7/14B60L11/1803B60L11/1885B60L11/1887B60L11/1892B60L11/1896B60L11/1898B62D21/152B62D21/157H01M8/00B60K2001/0422B60L2200/26B60L2210/40B60L2240/421H01M16/006H01M2250/20Y02E60/50Y02T10/642Y02T10/7241Y02T90/32Y02T90/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,162,559
App. No.
13/259,902
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel-cell-system providing structure is provided which is capable of preventing a collision of a fuel cell with a related apparatus of the fuel cell while suppressing the increase in weight of a vehicle. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit. The related apparatus is arranged at a position closer to an outer surface of the vehicle than the fuel cell unit.

Claims (23)

1. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and

a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit,

the related apparatus being arranged at a position closer to an outer surface of the vehicle than the fuel cell unit in a planar view in a front-back direction or a width direction of the vehicle;

the related apparatus is provided, at a part thereof close to the outer surface of the vehicle, with an inclined portion, and

the related apparatus is arranged at a position where a structural member that moves due to an impact of a collision from in front of the vehicle is to be brought into contact with the inclined portion.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the vehicle comprises a passenger compartment that is provided with a center bump portion; and

the related apparatus is arranged below the center bump portion.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the inclined portion is formed by a partial shape of a housing of the related apparatus.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the inclined portion is formed by an impact suppressing member that is attached to the related apparatus.

5. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the related apparatus is arranged on an inclined surface.

6. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the fuel cell unit has a branch shape of two-direction branches; and

the related apparatus is arranged between the branches of the branch shape of the fuel cell unit.

7. The fuel cell system according to claim 6 , wherein one or both of the related apparatus and the branch shape of the fuel cell is/are provided, at a part where the related apparatus and the fuel cell face each other, with a cushioning member.

8. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle, comprising:

a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and

a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit, wherein:

the fuel cell unit is arranged below a seat arranged in a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

the related apparatus is arranged below a center bump portion provided to the passenger compartment;

the related apparatus is provided, at a part thereof close to an outer surface of the vehicle, with an inclined portion, in a planar view in a front-back direction or a width direction of the vehicle, and

the related apparatus is arranged at a position where a structural member that moves due to an impact of a collision from in front of the vehicle is to be brought into contact with the inclined portion.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 027170 FRAME 0273. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NAME OF ASSIGNOR 1 AS "HIROSHI ARISAWA". Recorded Nov 28, 2011
From: ARISAWA, HIROSHI; TAKAHASHI, MANABU; IMANISHI, HIROYUKI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 027284/0244 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2011
From: ARIKAWA, HIROSHI; TAKAHASHI, MANABU; IMANISHI, HIROYUKI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 027170/0273 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120015257A1 · Jan 19, 2012