Energy storage and delivery system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12345239-B2
Application number	US-202418771167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2024
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support pistons is aligned with at least one of the one or more wheel assemblies.

3. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wheel assemblies include a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly, the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly positioned on opposite sides of the trolley frame.

4. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the elevator cage comprises a top support and a pair of side supports attached to and extending traverse to the top support.

5. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 4 , wherein the elevator cage includes a bottom support attached to and extending transverse to the pair of side supports, the top support, pair of side supports and bottom support defining an opening generally corresponding with a shape of the block.

6. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support pistons are a platform with a width that corresponds with a width of the trolley frame.

7. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein movement of the elevator cage in the plurality of elevator shafts is synchronized to continuously generate electricity.

8. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elevator shafts includes elevator shafts on opposite sides of the frame.

9. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elevator shafts includes one or more elevator shafts on a same side of the frame.

10. 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. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of support pistons is aligned with at least one of the one or more wheel assemblies.

12. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more wheel assemblies include a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly, the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly positioned on opposite sides of the trolley frame.

13. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more elevator cages each comprise a top support and a pair of side supports attached to and extending traverse to the top support.

14. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more elevator cages include a bottom support attached to and extending transverse to the pair of side supports, the top support, pair of side supports and bottom support defining an opening generally corresponding with a shape of the block.

15. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of support pistons are a platform with a width that corresponds with a width of the trolley frame.

16. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 10 , wherein vertical movement of the one or more elevator cages is synchronized to continuously generate electricity.

17. The energy storage and delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the pair of beams each has a top flange.

18. 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 th

Assignees

• Energy Vault Inc

Inventors

• Pedretti Andrea
• Pedretti-Rodi Mauro

Classifications

• F03G3/00

  Other motors, e.g. gravity or inertia motors · CPC title

• B66C17/06

  specially adapted for particular purposes, e.g. in foundries, forges; combined with auxiliary apparatus serving particular purposes (B66C17/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02K7/1853

  driven by intermittent forces · CPC title

• Y02E70/30

  Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin · CPC title

• Y02E60/16

  Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids · CPC title