FUEL CELLS MOUNTING CONCEPT

• Main Authors: LIEBREGTS, René Mathias Johannes, WEIJENBORG, Bernardus Johannes Maria, VAN DER KNAAP, Albertus Clemens Maria, KERSTEN, Roel Lambertus Johannes, RAUE, Victor
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 27.09.2023
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; LIGHTING; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; SPRINGS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

The invention provides a truck or tractor semi-trailer combination interconnected via a fifth wheel, with a chassis formed by at least two elongate beams along a length of the truck. The chassis forms a suspension mount for a suspension system that connects to an unsprung mass including an axle and (drive) wheels, which has a primary eigenfrequency mode (also called wheel hop mode) impacting the chassis. The at least two elongate beams are coupled by at least a cross beam extending laterally along the truck. The cross beam forms at least one mounting position for a first fuel cell mount, said chassis further comprising a second fuel cell mount. First and second fuel cell mounts are arranged to carry a fuel cell module having elastic connectors provided at the side walls, to connect to said first and second fuel cell mounts respectively. In this manner the fuel cell module is elastically suspended to the chassis with a heave, pitch and roll eigenfrequency that is tuned to be distinct of the primary eigenfrequency of the unsprung axle mass by providing the elastic connectors with an axial stiffness, in the direction of gravity, that is substantially lower than a lateral and/or longitudinal stiffness.