# US 12,600,564 B2 · Rechargeable power source for a load handling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,564 B2 - Document ID: US12600564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/794,770 - Filed: 2021-01-20 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-24 - Assignees: Ocado Innovation Limited - Applicants: Ocado Innovation Limited - Inventors: Philip Corser; Damian Flynn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600564B2 ## CPC - B65G 1/0464: {with access from above} - B60L 58/26: by cooling - B60R 16/04: Arrangement of batteries - B65G 1/0478: {for matrix-arrangements} - B65G 1/065: {with self propelled cars} - B66C 19/00: Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries (B66C17/00 takes precedence; base supporting structures with legs B66C5/00; jib cranes B66C23/00) - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/625: Vehicles - H01M 10/6551: Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings - H01M 10/6563: with forced flow, e.g. by blowers - H01M 10/6572: Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices - B65G 2201/0235: Containers - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A load handling device for lifting and moving one or more containers stacked in a storage system with a grid framework structure supporting a plurality of tracks arranged in a grid pattern to define a grid structure above the one or more stacks of containers, the load handling device including: A) a driving mechanism; B) a vehicle body housing: i) a container receiving space located above the tracks; ii) a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber; and iii) a cassette housing a rechargeable power source for powering the driving mechanism; wherein a thermal management system includes a temperature sensor and at least one temperature regulating device configured to maintain the temperature of the rechargeable power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load handling device for lifting and moving one or more containers stacked in a storage system within a grid framework structure supporting a plurality of tracks arranged in a grid pattern to define a grid structure above the one or more stacks of containers, the grid pattern including a plurality of grid cells, the load handling device comprising: A) a driving mechanism configured and operatively arranged for moving the load handling device on the grid structure; B) a vehicle body housing including: i) a container receiving space located above the tracks; ii) a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device configured, in use, to releasably grip a container and lift the container from the stack into the container receiving space; and iii) a cassette housing a rechargeable power source for powering the driving mechanism; wherein the load handling device comprises: a thermal management system having a temperature sensor and at least one temperature regulating device that includes at least one Peltier element having a heat absorbing surface and a heat radiating surface that are opposite each other, said at least one Peltier element being configured to maintain a temperature of the rechargeable power source within a predetermined temperature range in response to a signal from the temperature sensor, wherein said at least one Peltier element is configured to selectively cool and/or heat the rechargeable power source by switching polarity; and wherein the at least one Peltier element comprises: a first Peltier element; and a second Peltier element, the first Peltier element being arranged such that a heat absorbing face of the first Peltier element is in proximity to a first portion of the rechargeable power source, and the second Peltier element being arranged such that a heat radiating face of the second Peltier element is in proximity to a second portion of the rechargeable power source; wherein the cassette includes a plurality of walls defining a volume configured to receive the rechargeable power source, wherein the plurality of walls include at least one inlet vent and one outlet vent for circulating air within the cassette for maximizing airflow across the rechargeable power source, and wherein the cassette includes a plurality of airflow channels, each configured as a tortuous path to allow airflow to be guided through a tortuous path around the rechargeable power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature regulating device comprises: at least one cooling fan. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The load handling device of claim 2, wherein the at least one cooling fan comprises: a first cooling fan for supplying cool air to an inside space of the cassette; and a second cooling fan for extracting warm air from the inside space of the cassette. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The load handling device of claim 2, wherein the thermal management system comprises: a heat sink thermally coupled to the rechargeable power source, said heat sink having a plurality of heat dissipating fins and wherein the at least one cooling fan is configured for blowing cool air across the heat dissipating fins. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the cassette comprises: one or more vents. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the temperature regulating device comprises: at least one heating element in proximity to the rechargeable power source and contained within the cassette. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the heat radiating surface of the at least one Peltier element is thermally coupled to a heat sink. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The load handling device of claim 7, comprising: a fan configured for blowing air at the heat sink. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one Peltier element is driven by a Peltier driver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The load handling device of claim 9, wherein the Peltier driver comprises: a pulse width modulator for regulating current to the at least one Peltier element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the thermal management system comprises: a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the at least one temperature regulating device, said controller being configured to regulate a temperature reading of the temperature sensor to within the predetermined temperature range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The load handling device of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises: at least one of a battery and/or a capacitor, each of the at least one of a battery and/or capacitor having a plurality of cells. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A storage system comprising: a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks running transversely to the first set of tracks in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern with a plurality of grid spaces or grid cells; a plurality of stack of containers located beneath the first set of tracks and second set of tracks, wherein each of the stack of containers occupies a single grid space or grid cell; and a load handling device as claimed in claim 1 arranged to traverse along the first set and the second set of tracks over the plurality of grid spaces or grid cells, such that when positioned above a stack of containers occupying a grid space or grid cell, the lifting device is configured to lift at least one container from said stack of containers.