Key Takeaways
Ford has filed a brand new patent with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace, detailing a brand new innovation that goals to make compressed fuel tanks safer and will enhance driving vary. Just like the final hydrogen-related Ford patent CarBuzz found, this one seems to be destined for a truck just like the F-250 or F-350 Tremendous Obligation pickups.
An enormous problem with automobiles that depend on compressed fuel (whether or not we’re speaking about hydrogen or pure fuel) is that the tanks take up a variety of house, and as stress vessels, their rupturing may very well be doubtlessly catastrophic, particularly in a automobile crash. Ford’s resolution is so as to add further tanks outdoors the car’s chassis however inside the physique. Permit us to clarify.
Hinged Gasoline Tanks
We can’t go into excessive element about how precisely the patent works, however the gist of it’s {that a} concave bracket between the body rails would home the standard compressed fuel tanks. These are protected, however they do not present sufficient capability. Thus, Ford envisions including one other bracket – hinged, this time – to the outboard aspect of every longitudinal body rail, upon which the extra tanks would sit.
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Within the occasion of a aspect affect, the bracket may detach, permitting the compressed fuel tank to rotate round and below the body in order that it sits beneath the car however off the bottom. Most significantly, this could transfer it away from the supply of the affect. As you possibly can think about, this could not be doable with a car that has a low journey peak.
Extra Security Issues
The thought above is that the compressed tank could be much less prone to be punctured by an exterior pressure if it may be moved away from the supply of the affect, however what if the collision is excessive? To keep away from the tanks changing into indifferent from the car, Ford particulars tethers that might make sure the tanks are all the time related to the body. It additionally makes provision for cease limits, utilizing rubber or plastic stoppers to forestall the tanks from hitting the body to which they’re connected.
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Associated
Utilizing hydrogen to energy automobiles is an older idea than you suppose.
As an additional precaution, the tanks could be manufactured from carbon fiber or one other high-strength composite materials. Lastly, Ford says that it may complicate the design by including an digital controller and sensors that talk with the superior driver help programs. With this, the tanks may very well be moved out of the way in which simply because the affect occurs, moderately than counting on a break within the bracket to relocate them. Nonetheless, hydrogen has an extended option to go.
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Associated
The Blue Oval has filed a patent for underfloor hydrogen gas cell storage, and it seems to utilize a field body chassis.
Patent filings don’t assure using such expertise in future automobiles and are sometimes used solely as a method of defending mental property. Such a submitting can’t be construed as affirmation of manufacturing intent.