Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a vehicle, more particularly relates to one or more fuel cells for the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] With the advent of the electric vehicles, OEMs and manufacturers faces challenges in improving the performance of the electric vehicles. Further, users 5 also face the challenges of charging the electric vehicles at the certain running distance, also less availability of power stations also becomes challenging for the user.
[0003] In the commercial vehicles such as buses, 3 wheelers, trucks. The user tends to have limited time to charge because of the consignment or delivery to a customer 10 at a certain time range. So, this becomes a limitation for the user of electric vehicles, to always keep the vehicle charged and also before starting for a particular destination, a buffer time is to be taken to charge the vehicle. To address this issue OEMs are now providing hybrid vehicles as well which is having two different power sources to maneuver the vehicle. 15
[0004] In the existing vehicles one of the limitations is batteries as the power source is having less gravimetric energy density, which tends to reduce the range of the vehicles. This becomes problematic for the user of the vehicle to take that vehicle on a longer trip.
[0005] Further, the material used in the electrical power source unit is not 20 recyclable which tends to damage the environment, this becomes the concern of policy makers and OEMs to address this problem.
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[0006] Therefore, there is an essential requirement for a solution that addresses the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY
[0007] Aspects of the present invention pertain to the vehicle may have at least one portion. The at least one portion may have a first portion and a second portion. In 5 an embodiment, the second portion being configured to have one or more cells.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention, the one or more cells may be configured to place at a rear end of at least one power source.
[0009] Another aspect of the present invention, the one or more cells may be connected to at least one distribution unit. 10
[00010] Another aspect of the present invention, the at least one distribution unit may be configured to operably connected with the at least one power source, an auxiliary load and at least one control unit.
[00011] Another aspect of the present invention, a storage chamber may be configured to operably connect with the one or more cells. 15
[00012] Another aspect of the present invention, a connecting member may be configured to hold the one or more cells.
[00013] Another aspect of the present invention, the one or more cells may be one of a fuel cell, solar cells, or hydrogen fuel cells.
[00014] Another aspect of the present invention, the one or more cells may be 20 disposed adjacent to each other.
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[00015] Another aspect of the present invention, the one or more cells may be disposed at a predetermined ground clearance for preventing damage to the one or more cells.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a 5 part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The detailed description of the present subject matter is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference features and components. 10
[00017] Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[00018] Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the vehicle with some parts not shown, in an accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[00019] Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of the vehicle with some parts not shown, in 15 accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[00020] Fig.4 illustrates a rear view of the vehicle having one or more cells, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[00021] Fig.5 illustrates a signal flow diagram, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 20
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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[00022] Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the 5 spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the following detailed description be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit is indicated by the following claims.
[00023] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to an assembly along with the accompanying drawings. However, 10 the present invention is not limited to the present embodiments. The present subject matter is further described with reference to accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate principles of the present subject matter. Various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present subject matter. 15 Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[00024] The present invention relates to a vehicle, more particularly relates to the fuel cells for the vehicle. 20
[00025] Object of the present invention is to provide the fuel cell assembly for the vehicle, to improve the range and efficiency of the vehicle.
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[00026] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a vehicle 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the vehicle 100 can be a two- wheeled, three wheeled, four wheeled or a multi wheeled vehicle. The vehicle 100 generally includes a frame structure 101, a front cowl 102, a front wheel 103, a wheel cover 104, a front suspension unit 105, a windscreen 106, a headlamp 5 assembly 107, a handle bar assembly 108, a floorboard 109, a driver seat 110, a driver backrest 111, at least one passenger seat 112, a rear body panel 113, a pair of rear wheels 114, a rear suspension 115 and a soft-top 116.
[00027] The vehicle 100 is configured to have one or more portions 118, 119. The one or more portions 118, 119 is a first portion 118 and a second portion 119. In 10 an embodiment, the front portion 118 is provided along a front end of the vehicle 100 having the front wheel 103, the handlebar assembly 108, the driver seat 110. Further, the second portion 119 is provided along the pair of rear wheels 114, and the at least one passenger seat 112.
[00028] The frame structure 101 extends from a front side of the vehicle 100 15 towards a rear side of the vehicle 100 to support the mentioned elements of the vehicle 100. The front cowl 102, at its lower end, is connected to the front wheel 103 such that the wheel cover 104 is disposed in between. The front suspension unit 105 supports the front wheel 103 and connects the front wheel 103 to the frame structure 101. An upper portion of the front cowl 102 supports the windscreen 106 20 that provides a front view from inside of the vehicle 100. The headlamp assembly 107 is disposed on at least a portion of the front cowl 102 of the vehicle 100. The handlebar assembly 108 is disposed behind the front cowl 102 in the front cabin
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118. The floorboard 109 extends from a bottom portion of the front cowl 102 towards the rear side of the vehicle 100 and supported by the frame structure 101. The floorboard 109 extends from the driver compartment 118 to the rear cabin 119 to provide leg space to passenger as well as the driver. The driver seat 110 and the driver backrest 111 are disposed in the driver compartment 118, whereas the at 5 least one passenger seat is disposed in the rear cabin 119. The rear cabin 119 is covered by the rear body panel 113 such that the soft-top 116 connects a top end of the front cowl 102 and a top end of the rear body panel 113. The soft-top 116 is adapted to provide a top cover for the front cabin 118 and the rear cabin 119. The rear body panel 113 accommodates the pair of rear wheels 114 supported on the 10 frame structure 101 through a rear axle and the rear suspension 115. [00029] Referring to Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is provided with a storage bracket 201. The storage bracket 201 is configured to accommodate a storage chamber 202. In an embodiment, the storage chamber 202 can be a compressed natural gas (CNG) storage chamber, liquified petroleum 15 gas (LPG) storage chamber and a like. Further, the storage chamber 202 is configured to have a valve 204. In figure 2 an imaginary YY’ axis is provided. The imaginary axis YY’ is provided at the rear end of the vehicle 100. Further, a power unit 310 is provided in the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the power unit 310 can be an internal combustion engine, a hybrid engine and a like. In a present invention, 20 the imaginary axis YY’ is provided behind the power unit 310. In an embodiment, the imaginary axis XX’ is parallel to the imaginary axis YY’. The imaginary axis YY’ is provided in the vehicle 100 to accommodate one or more cells 208a, 208b.
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[00030] Referring to the figure 3 and figure 4 in conjunction with figure 2, a side view of the vehicle 100 is provided. The vehicle 100 is configured to accommodate the one or more cells 208a, 208b at the rear end of the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the one or more cells 208a, 208b is provided at the rear end of vehicle 100, behind the power unit 310. Further, a connecting member 209 is provided in 5 the vehicle 100. The connecting member 209 is configured to place or connect the one or more cells 208a, 208b at the second portion119 of the vehicle 100. A rear stopper member 210 is provided for the vehicle 100. The rear stopper member 210 is provided to rigidly fix the one or more cells 208a, 208b at the rear end the vehicle when viewed along the imaginary XX’ axis. In an embodiment, the one or more 10 cells 208a, 208b can be a fuel cell, hydrogen cell, solar cells or a multi stack low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.
[00031] Referring to figure 5, a signal flow diagram is provided. the storage chamber 202 is connected to a 5way connector and a first regulator 304 and a second regulator 305. The 5-way connector is configured to connect the storage 15 chamber 202 on one side to connect to the first regulator 304 and the second regulator 306. In an embodiment, the first regulator 304 and the second regulator 305 can be a pressure regulator. Further, the first regulator 304 and the second regulator 305 are configured to reduce the pressure or increase the pressure as per the specification of the power unit 310. Further, the storage chamber 202 is 20 configured to connect a flash arrestor 307 and a solenoid valve 309. In an embodiment, the flash arrestor 307 is configured to allow or shut off fluid/ gas flow to the one or more cells 208a, 208b. Further, the solenoid valve 309 is configured
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to stop any backfire or back flow of the fluid/ gas. Furthermore, a power distribution unit 308 is provided in the vehicle 100. The power distribution unit 308 is provided to distribute power to all critical loads within the vehicle 100. The power distribution unit 308 is configured to connect with the power unit 310, a control unit 314 and an auxiliary load 314. In an embodiment, the power 5 distribution unit 308 is configured to function as junction or fuse boxes. Furthermore, the power distribution unit 308 is configured to switch and distribute the power from the one or more cells 208a, 208b to a motor 316, the power unit 310 and the auxiliary load 312. In an embodiment, the motor 316 can be a traction motor 316. 10 [00032] The present invention provides the advantage of reducing the weight of the vehicle by installing the hydrogen fuel cells instead of any heavier material cells. Furthermore, the range of the vehicle is also improved with reduction in weight by providing the fuel cells at the rear end of the vehicle.
[00033] The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the 15 embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention(s)” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a”, “an” and “the” 20 mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
[00034] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various
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aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope as indicated by the following claims. [00035] It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the features described herein. Many modifications and variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of the above 5 disclosure. Therefore, within the scope of claims of the present subject matter, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.
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REFERENCE NUMERIALS
100-Vehicle 116- soft top
101-Frame structure 118-front cabin
102-front cowl 119- rear cabin
103-front wheel 201-storage bracket 5
104-wheel cover 202-storage chamber
105-front suspension 204- Valves
106-wind screen 208a-first cell
107-headlamp assembly 208b-second cell
108-handle bar assembly 209-connecting member 10
109-floor board 210-rear stopper member
110-driver seat 316-Motor
111-driver backrest 304-first regulator
112-passanger seat 306-second regulator
113-rear body panel 307-Flash arrestor 15
114-rear wheels 309- solenoid valve
115-rear suspension 308-Power distribution unit
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310-Power unit
312-Auxilary load
314- control unit , Claims:We claim:
1. A vehicle (100), the vehicle (100) comprising:
at least one portion (118, 119), the at least one portion (118, 119) comprising; 5
a first portion (118); and
a second portion (119);
wherein,
the second portion (119) being configured to have one or more cells 10 (208a, 208b).
2. The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cells (208a, 209b) being disposed at a rear end of at least one power source (310).
3. The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cells (208a, 208b) being connected to at least one distribution unit (308). 15
4. The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one distribution unit (308) being configured to operably connected with the at least one power source (310), an auxiliary load (312) and at least one control unit (314).
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5.The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a storage chamber (202)being configured to operably connect with the one or more cells (208a,208b).
6.The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connecting member(209)being configured tohold the one or more cells (208a, 208b).5
7.The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cells(208a, 208b) being one of a fuel cell, solar cells, or hydrogen fuel cells.
8.The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cells(208a, 208b) being disposed adjacent to each other.
9.The vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cells10 (208a, 208b) being disposed at a predetermined ground clearance forpreventing damage to the one or more cells (208a, 208b).