JP2006253061A - Water drainage device of fuel cell vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water drainage device of a fuel cell vehicle capable of performing water drainage appropriately without giving displeasure to a driver of the other vehicles or pedestrians by the water drained outside the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The drainage device 1 of the fuel cell vehicle 100 discharges the water generated in the fuel cell vehicle 100 to the outside from the fuel cell vehicle 100 having a fuel cell 10 as a drive source. This drainage device 1 has a drainage pipe 20 to discharge the generated water in the fuel cell 10 to the outside of vehicle and a control device 40 to inhibit discharge of the generated water from the drainage pipe 20. The control device 40 judges whether or not it is raining and if it can judge that it is raining, it does not inhibit discharge of generated water from the drainage pipe 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a drainage device for a fuel cell vehicle.

Conventionally, a drain device for a fuel cell vehicle that discharges water generated from a fuel cell is known. As an example, for example, a product that efficiently discharges generated water from the lower part of the vehicle and facilitates mounting on the vehicle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, it is known that the discharged generated water is not applied to the tires of the own vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-204126 JP 2001-313056 A

  However, when the generated water is discharged outside the vehicle by the conventional drainage device, the drained water may be splashed on the following vehicle while the vehicle is running. In addition, when traveling on a sharp curve or the like, there is a possibility that pedestrians and the like on the sidewalk adjacent to the curve section will be splashed with water. That is, in the conventional drainage device, the discharged water is applied to other vehicles and pedestrians, which may cause discomfort to drivers and pedestrians of other vehicles.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and the object of the present invention is to avoid discomfort to drivers and pedestrians of other vehicles due to water discharged outside the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide a drainage device for a fuel cell vehicle capable of appropriately draining water.

  The drain device for a fuel cell vehicle according to the present invention discharges water generated by the fuel cell from the fuel cell vehicle using the fuel cell as a drive source, and is generated by the fuel cell. Discharging means for discharging water to the outside of the vehicle, and control means for prohibiting discharge of generated water by the discharging means. This control means determines whether or not it is currently raining, and does not prohibit the discharge of the generated water by the discharging means when it can be determined that it is raining.

  According to the present invention, when it can be determined that it is raining, the discharge of the generated water by the discharge means is not prohibited. For this reason, even if the discharged generated water is blown toward the succeeding vehicle or the pedestrian, the generated water is mixed with rain. Accordingly, the water discharged outside the vehicle can be appropriately drained without causing discomfort to the driver or pedestrian of the other vehicle.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a drainage device for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the drainage device 1 discharges water generated by the fuel cell 10 from the fuel cell vehicle 100 using the fuel cell 10 as a drive source. , A drain pipe (discharge means) 20, a valve 30, a control device (control means) 40, a wiper switch 50, and a raindrop sensor (raindrop detection means) 60.

  The fuel cell 10 generates an electromotive force by causing an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen as a fuel gas and oxygen as an oxidant gas, and drives the fuel cell vehicle 100 by supplying power to a motor or the like (not shown). belongs to. In the fuel cell 10, water is generated during the chemical reaction. The generated water can be stored to some extent, but since the space that can be stored is limited, it is desirable to discharge the generated water as much as possible.

  The drain pipe 20 discharges the generated water generated in the fuel cell 10 to the outside of the vehicle, and one end is connected to the fuel cell 10 and the other end is connected to the outside of the vehicle 100. The drain pipe 20 is provided with a valve 30. The valve 30 opens and closes the flow path of the drain pipe 20, and discharge of generated water from the drain pipe 20 is prohibited while the valve 30 is closed.

  The valve 30 is controlled by the control device 40. For this reason, the control apparatus 40 will function as what prohibits discharge | emission of the produced water by the drain pipe 20. FIG. The control device 40 has a function of determining whether or not it is currently raining. Furthermore, when it is judged that it is raining, the control apparatus 40 is the structure which does not prohibit discharge | emission of the produced water by the drain pipe 20 without closing the valve | bulb 30. FIG.

  More specifically, when the control device 40 is connected to the wiper switch 50 and determines that the wiper of the fuel cell vehicle 100 is operating, the control device 40 determines that it is raining and does not close the valve 30. To do. Further, the control device 40 determines that it is raining when the raindrop is detected by the raindrop sensor 60 that detects the raindrop, and does not close the valve 30.

  Since it has such a configuration, the drainage device 1 of the fuel cell vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment appropriately drains the water and the pedestrians of other vehicles without causing discomfort by the water discharged outside the vehicle. Can be done. That is, when it can be determined that it is raining, drainage is not prohibited, so the generated water will be drained, but even if the discharged generated water is blown toward the following vehicle or pedestrian, Falls into the rain. For this reason, even if the water discharged to the outside of the vehicle hits the driver or pedestrian of another vehicle, the driver or pedestrian will not feel uncomfortable and can drain water without discomfort. I can say that.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the drainage device 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the drainage device 1 of the fuel cell vehicle 100, the control device 40 determines whether or not the wiper is operating (ST1). If it is determined that the wiper is operating (ST1: YES), the control device 40 determines whether or not the operation speed of the wiper is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed (ST2). For example, when the switch position of the wiper switch 50 is “intermittent”, “low speed”, and “high speed”, the control device 40 determines that the operation speed of the wiper is not equal to or higher than a predetermined speed when the switch position is “intermittent”. When the switch position is “low speed” or “high speed”, it is determined that the operation speed of the wiper is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed.

  If it is determined that the wiper operating speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined speed (ST2: YES), the control device 40 opens the valve 30 and does not prohibit the discharge of the generated water (ST3), as shown in FIG. The process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the speed is not equal to or higher than the predetermined speed (ST2: NO), the process shown in FIG. 2 ends without passing through step ST3.

  When it is determined that the wiper is not operating (ST1: NO), the control device 40 determines whether or not raindrops are detected by the raindrop sensor 60 (ST4). When it is determined that no raindrop has been detected by the raindrop sensor 60 (ST4: NO), the process shown in FIG. 2 ends without passing through step ST3. On the other hand, when it is determined that raindrops are detected by the raindrop sensor 60 (ST4: YES), the control device 40 determines whether or not the amount of raindrops is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (ST5). Here, the predetermined amount is, for example, the degree to which the driver sets the wiper switch 50 to “low speed” or “high speed” when the switch position of the wiper switch 50 is “intermittent”, “low speed”, and “high speed”. The amount of.

  If it is determined that the amount of raindrops is not equal to or greater than the predetermined amount (ST5: NO), the process shown in FIG. 2 ends without passing through step ST3. When it is determined that the amount of raindrops is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount (ST5: YES), the control device 40 does not prohibit the discharge of the generated water by opening the valve 30 (ST3). Then, the process shown in FIG.

  Thus, according to the drainage device 1 of the fuel cell vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment, when it can be determined that it is raining, the discharge of the generated water from the drain pipe 20 is not prohibited. For this reason, even if the discharged generated water is blown toward the succeeding vehicle or the pedestrian, the generated water is mixed with rain. Accordingly, the water discharged outside the vehicle can be appropriately drained without causing discomfort to the driver or pedestrian of the other vehicle.

  Further, when the wiper of the fuel cell vehicle 100 is operating, it is determined that it is raining. For this reason, it can be judged that it is raining from the existing structure mounted in the vehicle 100, without adding a new structure. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a drainage device that appropriately drains water without discharging an uncomfortable feeling to a driver or pedestrian of another vehicle by suppressing the increase in cost.

  Further, it is determined that it is raining when the wiper of the fuel cell vehicle 100 is operating and when the wiper operating speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed. For this reason, although it is raining, it is judged that it is not raining when the amount of rainfall is such that the generated water is not mixed with rain, and the generated water can be prevented from being discharged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driver or pedestrian of the other vehicle from feeling more uncomfortable.

  Further, when a raindrop is detected by the raindrop sensor 60, it is determined that it is raining. For this reason, it is possible to reliably detect the presence of rainfall, and not to prohibit the discharge of the generated water from the drain pipe 20, and to drain the water with high accuracy.

  Further, when raindrops are detected by the raindrop sensor 60 and the amount of detected raindrops is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, it is determined that it is raining. For this reason, when it is raining, but the amount of rainfall is such that the generated water is not mixed with rain, it is determined that it is not raining, and discharge of the generated water can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driver or pedestrian of the other vehicle from feeling more uncomfortable.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, a sensor (generated water detection means) that detects the amount of generated water to be discharged from the drain pipe 20 is provided near the valve 30. And even if it is a case where a raindrop is detected by the raindrop sensor 60, the amount of raindrops detected by the raindrop sensor 60 is determined according to the amount of generated water detected by the sensor. When it is less than this, discharge of the generated water from the drain pipe 20 is prohibited. The specified value is set to such an extent that the generated water is mixed with rain when the generated water is discharged, and can be obtained by experiments or the like. Here, for example, when the amount of generated water to be discharged is large and the amount of rainfall is small, the generated water is not easily mixed with rain, and the following vehicle or pedestrian on which the generated water is applied feels uncomfortable. However, when the above configuration is adopted, when the amount of generated water is large, the generated water is discharged when the amount of rainfall is large, and it is possible to appropriately avoid feeling uncomfortable. Conversely, when the amount of generated water is small, there is no situation where drainage is prohibited until the amount of rainfall becomes large. Therefore, drainage can be performed appropriately without further discomfort.

It is a lineblock diagram of the drainage device of the fuel cell vehicle concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the drainage apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Drainage device 10 ... Fuel cell 20 ... Drain pipe (discharge means)
30 ... Valve 40 ... Control device (control means)
50 ... Wiper switch 60 ... Raindrop sensor (raindrop detection means)
100: Fuel cell vehicle

Claims (6)

A drainage device for discharging water generated by a fuel cell from a fuel cell vehicle having a fuel cell as a drive source to the outside of the vehicle,
Discharging means for discharging generated water generated in the fuel cell to the outside of the vehicle;
Control means for prohibiting the discharge of the produced water by the discharge means,
The control means judges whether or not it is raining now, and when it can be judged that it is raining, the drainage of the generated water by the draining means is not prohibited.   2. The drain device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines that it is raining when the wiper of the fuel cell vehicle is operating.   3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein when the wiper of the fuel cell vehicle is operating and when the operation speed of the wiper is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, it is determined that it is raining. A drainage device for a fuel cell vehicle according to 1. It further comprises raindrop detection means for detecting raindrops,
The fuel cell vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means determines that it is raining when raindrops are detected by the raindrop detection means. Drainage equipment.   The said control means is a case where a raindrop is detected by the said raindrop detection means, Comprising: When the amount of the detected raindrop is more than predetermined amount, it is judged that it is raining. 5. A drainage device for a fuel cell vehicle according to 4. Further comprising generated water detecting means for detecting the amount of generated water that the discharging means is about to discharge,
Even when the raindrop is detected by the raindrop detection means, the control means is configured such that the amount of raindrop detected by the raindrop detection means depends on the amount of generated water detected by the generated water detection means. The drainage device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4, wherein when it is less than a prescribed value, the discharge of the generated water by the discharge means is prohibited.

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