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US 12,345,239 B2Granted
Energy storage and delivery system and method
AssigneeEnergy Vault, Inc.
InventorsAndrea Pedretti, Mauro Pedretti-Rodi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elevator cage is used in an energy storage and delivery system to move blocks between a lower elevation of a tower and a higher elevation of a tower to store energy and to move blocks between a higher elevation of the tower and a lower elevation of the tower under force of gravity to generate electricity. The elevator cage removably receives a block thereon and supports the block on at least three sides.
Claims20
An energy storage and delivery system, comprising:
- a frame having a vertical height above a foundation, the frame comprising:
- multiple vertical levels, each vertical level having
- a plurality of rows that extend horizontally, each of the plurality of rows including a pair of beams, the pair of beams having a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of elevator shafts, each of the plurality of elevator shafts aligned with the first end or the second end of the pair of beams which define the plurality of rows;
- and
- a trolley movably coupled to the pair of beams, the trolley being operable to lift and carry a block from the first end to the second end of the pair of beams, the trolley being operable to lower the block onto the pair of beams, the trolley comprising:
- a trolley frame;
- one or more wheel assemblies rotatably coupled to the trolley frame;
- and
- a plurality of support pistons movably coupled to the trolley frame, the plurality of support pistons being selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the trolley is configured to:
- translate along one or more of the plurality of rows with the plurality of support pistons in the retracted position to position the plurality of support pistons under the block that is supported on the pair of beams,
- move the plurality of support pistons to the extended position to lift the block above the pair of beams,
- translate along one or more of the plurality of rows while lifting the block with the plurality of support pistons in the extended position,
- move the plurality of support pistons to the retracted position to lower the block onto the pair of beams, and
- translate from under the block lowered onto the pair of beams with the plurality of support pistons in the retracted position;
- and
- an elevator cage movably disposed in the plurality of elevator shafts and operatively coupled to an electric motor-generator, the elevator cage sized to receive the block and vertically move the block between the plurality of rows, the elevator cage operable to lift the block from the pair of beams at or proximate the first end of the pair of beams and/or the second end of the pair of beams.
14 more elements
An energy storage and delivery system, comprising:
- a frame having a vertical height above a foundation, the frame comprising:
- a plurality of rows that extend horizontally, each of the plurality of rows including a pair of beams each having a bottom flange, the bottom flanges extending from a first end of the pair of beams to a second end of the pair of beams;
- a trolley movably coupled to the bottom flanges, the trolley comprising:
- a trolley frame;
- one or more wheel assemblies rotatably coupled to the trolley frame;
- and
- a plurality of support pistons movably coupled to the trolley frame, the plurality of support pistons being selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the trolley is configured to one or more of:
- translate along one or more of the plurality of rows with the plurality of support pistons in the retracted position to position the plurality of support pistons under a block of one or more blocks,
- move the plurality of support pistons to the extended position to lift the block of the one or more blocks above the pair of beams,
- translate along one or more of the plurality of rows while lifting the block with the plurality of support pistons in the extended position,
- move the plurality of support pistons to the retracted position to lower the block of the one or more blocks, and
- translate from under the block lowered onto the pair of beams with the plurality of support pistons in the retracted position;
- and
- one or more elevator cages configured to vertically move proximate to the first end and/or the second end of the pair of beams, the one or more elevator cages operatively coupled to an electric motor-generator, the one or more elevator cages sized to receive the block at or proximate the first end of the pair of beams and/or the second end of the pair of beams and vertically move the block between the plurality of rows, the one or more elevator cages operable to lift the block.
11 more elements
An energy storage and delivery system, comprising:
- a frame having a vertical height above a foundation, the frame comprising a plurality of rows that extend horizontally, each of the plurality of rows including a pair of beams having a first end and a second end, the pair of beams configured to support one or more blocks thereon;
- and
- a trolley movably coupled to the pair of beams of one or more of the plurality of rows, the trolley comprising:
- a trolley frame;
- one or more wheel assemblies rotatably coupled to the trolley frame;
- and
- a plurality of support pistons movably coupled to the trolley frame, the plurality of support pistons being selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the trolley is configured to one or more of:
- translate along one or more of the plurality of rows with the plurality of support pistons in the retracted position to position the plurality of support pistons under a block of the one or more blocks that is supported on the pair of beams,
- move the plurality of support pistons to the extended position to lift the block of the one or more blocks above the pair of beams,
- translate along one or more of the plurality of rows while lifting the block with the plurality of support pistons in the extended position,
- move the plurality of support pistons to the retracted position to lower the block of the one or more blocks onto the pair of beams, and
- translate from under the block lowered onto the pair of beams with the plurality of support pistons in the retracted position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.