US20210067082A1 - Battery Powered Generator - Google Patents
Battery Powered Generator Download PDFInfo
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- US20210067082A1 US20210067082A1 US16/791,000 US202016791000A US2021067082A1 US 20210067082 A1 US20210067082 A1 US 20210067082A1 US 202016791000 A US202016791000 A US 202016791000A US 2021067082 A1 US2021067082 A1 US 2021067082A1
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- Prior art keywords
- rechargeable battery
- battery
- housing
- electricity
- operably connected
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- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
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- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium ion Chemical compound [Li+] HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- OJIJEKBXJYRIBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium nickel Chemical compound [Ni].[Cd] OJIJEKBXJYRIBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001385 heavy metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910001416 lithium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S10/00—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power
- H02S10/10—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power including a supplementary source of electric power, e.g. hybrid diesel-PV energy systems
- H02S10/12—Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03D—WIND MOTORS
- F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
- F03D9/10—Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy
- F03D9/11—Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy storing electrical energy
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03D—WIND MOTORS
- F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
- F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
- F03D9/25—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator
- F03D9/255—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/14—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
- H02J7/1415—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
- H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S10/00—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power
- H02S10/10—PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power including a supplementary source of electric power, e.g. hybrid diesel-PV energy systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03D—WIND MOTORS
- F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
- F03D9/007—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/70—Wind energy
- Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/70—Wind energy
- Y02E10/76—Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E70/00—Other energy conversion or management systems reducing GHG emissions
- Y02E70/30—Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
Definitions
- the present invention relates to alternative sources of electricity. More particularly, the present invention provides for a battery powered generator that can be recharged by a variety of devices, or a combination thereof, to provide a continuous flow of electricity in the event a home's electric panel is unable to.
- Some alternative sources of electricity include home batteries. Some home batteries are reliant on gas to power them, while others are reliant solely on solar energy. Typically, home batteries can only accommodate one form of alternate energy to charge the battery and are unable to integrate various sources of electricity together. Some home batteries require a ramp-up time and do not provide a seamless transition between the electricity supplied by the electric grid and the switch-over to the battery. Some home batteries automatically switch over from the electric grid to the battery in the event of power loss. However, these require additional parts, such as a transfer switch, which are installed in a separate unit from the battery. Some home batteries do not focus on a subset of the home, and instead attempt to power the entire home at once.
- the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing alternative sources of electricity. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.
- the present invention provides a battery powered generator wherein the same can be utilized to provide a continuous flow of electricity in the event a home's electric panel is unable to.
- the present battery powered generator comprises a housing including a rechargeable battery.
- a pedal assembly, a wind turbine, and at least one solar panel are removably securable to the housing, enabling a user to choose any combination of which to recharge the battery.
- the pedal assembly, the wind turbine, and the at least one solar panel are operably connected to the rechargeable battery.
- a subpanel disposed in the housing and an electrical panel are also operably connected to the rechargeable battery.
- a controller is operably connected to the electrical panel, the rechargeable battery, and the subpanel, and can control a flow of electricity into and out of the subpanel.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the battery powered generator.
- FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the representative components of an embodiment of the battery powered generator.
- the battery powered generator 100 comprises a housing 110 including a rechargeable battery (as shown in FIG. 2, 200 ).
- the housing 110 is configured to hold and isolate various electronic components from the environment outside of the housing 110 .
- the housing 110 is a steel cabinet that is configured to house a sub-panel, rechargeable battery, and controller.
- the housing 110 also houses an inverter, an automatic transfer switch, at least one junction box, a trickle charger (as shown in FIG. 2, 280 ), and a battery management system, as further detailed below.
- the housing 110 further comprises electrical connection ports 150 .
- the electrical connection ports 150 enable a user to removably secure a desired electronic device thereto in order to provide electricity to the desired electronic device.
- the electrical connection ports 150 are a standard electrical outlet.
- a pedal assembly 120 , a wind turbine 130 , and at least one solar panel 140 are removably securable to the housing 110 .
- the housing 110 is configured to receive all three of the pedal assembly 120 , wind turbine 130 , and solar panel 140 at the same time.
- the housing 110 is also configured to receive or any combination of the three individually, or in combination.
- the pedal assembly 120 , wind turbine 130 , and solar panel 140 are operably connected to the rechargeable battery when secured to the housing 110 .
- the pedal assembly 120 , wind turbine 130 , and solar panel 140 are connected to the housing via at least one electric cable and received by at least one receptacle in the housing in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery.
- the pedal assembly 120 comprises a series of pedals 121 that can be rotated about an axis.
- Each of the pedals 121 are configured to receive a foot of a user and can be pedaled in the same manner as a bicycle.
- the rotation of the pedals 121 about the axis generates electricity which can be transferred to the battery powered generator via the electrical connection.
- rotation of the pedals 121 can generate up to twelve volts of direct current.
- the wind turbine 130 comprises a plurality of blades 131 which are configured to be rotated by a volume of wind passing over the plurality of blades 131 . This rotation of the plurality of blades 131 of the wind turbine 130 generates electricity which can be transferred to the battery powered generator via the electrical connection.
- rotation of the plurality of blades 131 can generate up to twelve volts of direct current.
- the solar panels 140 comprise a frame and a plurality of solar cells 141 .
- One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how the solar cells 141 are able to harness the power of the sun's rays and generate electricity.
- the solar panels 140 can generate up to twelve volts of direct current.
- each of the pedal assembly 120 , wind turbine 130 , and solar panels 140 enables a user to selectively determine which source of alternative energy to use, or combination thereof, to generate power and recharge the rechargeable battery. For example, on an overcast but windy day, the user may elect to utilize the pedal assembly 120 and the wind turbine 130 but forego the solar panels 140 . On a clear and sunny day with no wind, the user may elect to remove the pedal assembly 120 and wind turbine 130 from the assembly and store them out of the direct sunlight while the rechargeable battery is charged by the solar panels 140 .
- An electrical panel 160 is operably connected to the rechargeable battery.
- the electrical panel 160 is a house electrical panel.
- the electrical panel 160 is connected to the housing 110 by a flexible conduit 161 .
- the electrical panel 160 when the battery powered generator is installed, the electrical panel 160 is attached to the housing 110 and is not removably secured unless and until de-installation occurs. In this manner, the electrical panel 160 is permanently electrically connected to the rechargeable battery.
- the electrical panel 160 is operably connected to the rechargeable battery by a trickle charger. The trickle charger enables the rechargeable battery to be slowly charged by an electrical supply from the electrical panel 160 thereby ensuring that the rechargeable battery stays charged even without the pedal assembly 120 , wind turbine 130 , and/or solar panel 140 attached thereto.
- a subpanel (as shown in FIG. 2, 250 ) is disposed in the housing 110 , operably connected to the rechargeable battery.
- the subpanel comprises a plurality of circuits that can be utilized to provide power, either from the rechargeable battery or the electrical panel 160 , to desired electronics.
- the subpanel comprises six circuits (as shown in FIG. 2, 290 ).
- the six circuits can be used to provide electricity to small or medium electronic devices, but not large electronic devices such as a dryer or an oven.
- Such a configuration ensures that necessary elements such as a garage door, alarm, internet components, and the like have a source of power at the expense of leaving large electronics that are not needed on-demand, like a dryer or oven, without power in the case of a power outage.
- a controller (as shown in FIG. 2, 240 ) is operably connected to the electrical panel 160 , the rechargeable battery, and the subpanel.
- the controller is configured to control a flow of electricity into and out of the subpanel.
- the controller is configured to detect when electricity is flowing from the electrical panel 160 .
- the controller is configured to automatically enable the flow of electricity out of the rechargeable battery into the subpanel when an electrical supply from the electrical panel is interrupted.
- the controller is also configured to detect when the electrical flow to the electrical panel 160 has been restored.
- the controller is configured to disable the flow of electricity out of the rechargeable battery after the electrical supply from the electrical panel is restored and uninterrupted for over 45 seconds. In some circumstances an electrical supply can flicker on and off to an electrical supply.
- the battery were to be turned on and off in such a circumstance, undue wear would be imposed on the rechargeable battery.
- the stability of the electrical supply from the electrical panel 160 can be established and undue wear and tear on the rechargeable battery is avoided.
- the waiting period of 45 seconds can be modified to suit a user's comfort with how long to monitor the electrical supply to the electrical panel.
- the housing 110 includes a rechargeable battery 200 .
- the rechargeable battery 200 is a lithium ion battery to utilize low levels of heavy metals and provide high energy densities.
- the present invention is not limited to the type of rechargeable battery, and that alternate rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-cadmium, may be utilized.
- the battery powered generator further comprises a battery management system 210 .
- the battery management system 210 is configured to manage the charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery 200 and protects the rechargeable battery 200 from operating outside pre-defined safe operating parameters.
- the battery management system 210 is also configured to monitor the status of the battery, report data to a controller, and the like.
- the battery management system 210 can monitor the voltage in total and for individual battery cells, average temperature for individual cells, state of charge or depth of discharge to indicate the charge level of the battery, the remaining capacity of the battery as a percentage of the original capacity, current in or out of the battery, as well as similar parameters.
- the battery management system 210 can protect the rechargeable battery 200 by preventing it from operating outside of pre-defined safe parameters such as: over-current, over-voltage, under-voltage, over-temperature, under-temperature, and the like.
- the battery management system 210 can prevent operation outside of the pre-define safe parameters by a number of methods including, but not limited to: an internal switch which is opened if the battery is operated outside of the pre-defined safe parameters, requesting devices to which the rechargeable battery 200 is attached to reduce or terminate usage of the rechargeable battery 200 , and actively controlling the environment such as through heating, cooling, air conditioning, or fans.
- the rechargeable battery 200 is operably connected to the battery management system 210 .
- the rechargeable battery 200 is also operably connected to a charger 220 and an inverter 230 .
- a charger 220 is configured to enable energy to flow to a rechargeable battery 200 by forcing an electric current into the rechargeable battery 200 .
- the inverter 230 is configured to receive a flow of electricity from an alternate power source 270 , such as the pedal assembly, wind turbine, or solar panel discussed above, and convert the electricity from a direct current into an alternating current.
- the inverter 230 is operably connected to a controller 240 and a subpanel 250 .
- the controller 240 is an automatic transfer switch and is configured to control a flow of electricity into and out of the subpanel 250 .
- the subpanel 250 , the charger 220 , and the automatic transfer switch are operably connected to an electrical panel 260 .
- both the electricity provided by the electrical panel 260 , as well as the alternate power sources 270 are electrically connected to the rechargeable battery 200 and the flow of electricity into the subpanel 250 is controlled by the controller 240 .
- the automatic transfer switch is configured to monitor the flow of electricity from the electrical panel 260 .
- the automatic transfer switch detects an interruption of power, the automatic transfer switch can automatically transfer the flow of electricity into the subpanel 250 from the electrical panel 260 to the rechargeable battery 200 . In this manner, the flow of electricity to the subpanel 250 remains uninterrupted, even in the event that the electrical panel 260 is unable to supply electricity due to an outage.
- the automatic transfer switch is the controller 240 , and is disposed in the housing 110 . In standard alternate power systems, automatic transfer switches are typically installed as a stand-alone component and must be independently monitored. By encapsulating the automatic transfer switch within the housing 110 additional installation and hardware is avoided.
- the controller 240 is configured to enable the flow of electricity from the electrical panel 260 into the rechargeable battery 200 when the rechargeable battery 200 is under eighty percent charged. In this manner, the controller 240 can ensure that the rechargeable battery 200 is maintained at an eighty percent level even when the sources of alternate power are being utilized but may not be able to keep up with demand. In some other embodiments, the controller 240 provides a similar function to the battery management system 210 and is configured to prevent the rechargeable battery 200 from overcharging. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how the controller 240 can monitor the status of the rechargeable battery 200 and determine whether electricity needs to be directed to the rechargeable battery 200 , and the rate at which said electricity is delivered.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/893,851 filed on Aug. 30, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
- The present invention relates to alternative sources of electricity. More particularly, the present invention provides for a battery powered generator that can be recharged by a variety of devices, or a combination thereof, to provide a continuous flow of electricity in the event a home's electric panel is unable to.
- Many people power countless items with electricity such as televisions, refrigerators, fans, stoves, computers, and more. In the event of a power outage, many of these devices are rendered inoperable. Without power, food stored in a refrigerator may thaw, defrost, or go bad. Without power, heating and cooling device will not work, and temperatures may quickly fall outside a desired comfortable range. Without power, lights may not work leaving people to fumble around in the dark. Some systems that rely on electricity are critical to sustaining life, such as systems found in a hospital. Other systems simply maintain creature comforts such as a fully charged cellphone. All these systems, however, rely on a steady and uninterrupted source of electricity.
- Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to alternative sources of electricity. These include devices that have been patented and disclosed in patent application publications. However, the devices in the known art have several drawbacks. Some alternative sources of electricity include home batteries. Some home batteries are reliant on gas to power them, while others are reliant solely on solar energy. Typically, home batteries can only accommodate one form of alternate energy to charge the battery and are unable to integrate various sources of electricity together. Some home batteries require a ramp-up time and do not provide a seamless transition between the electricity supplied by the electric grid and the switch-over to the battery. Some home batteries automatically switch over from the electric grid to the battery in the event of power loss. However, these require additional parts, such as a transfer switch, which are installed in a separate unit from the battery. Some home batteries do not focus on a subset of the home, and instead attempt to power the entire home at once.
- The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing alternative sources of electricity. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.
- In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of alternative sources of electricity now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a battery powered generator wherein the same can be utilized to provide a continuous flow of electricity in the event a home's electric panel is unable to. The present battery powered generator comprises a housing including a rechargeable battery. A pedal assembly, a wind turbine, and at least one solar panel are removably securable to the housing, enabling a user to choose any combination of which to recharge the battery. When secured to the housing, the pedal assembly, the wind turbine, and the at least one solar panel are operably connected to the rechargeable battery. A subpanel disposed in the housing and an electrical panel are also operably connected to the rechargeable battery. A controller is operably connected to the electrical panel, the rechargeable battery, and the subpanel, and can control a flow of electricity into and out of the subpanel.
- Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
- Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
-
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the battery powered generator. -
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the representative components of an embodiment of the battery powered generator. - Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the battery powered generator. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the battery powered generator. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
- Referring now to
FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the battery powered generator. The battery poweredgenerator 100 comprises ahousing 110 including a rechargeable battery (as shown inFIG. 2, 200 ). Thehousing 110 is configured to hold and isolate various electronic components from the environment outside of thehousing 110. In the shown embodiment, thehousing 110 is a steel cabinet that is configured to house a sub-panel, rechargeable battery, and controller. In various other embodiments, thehousing 110 also houses an inverter, an automatic transfer switch, at least one junction box, a trickle charger (as shown inFIG. 2, 280 ), and a battery management system, as further detailed below. In one embodiment, thehousing 110 further comprises electrical connection ports 150. The electrical connection ports 150 enable a user to removably secure a desired electronic device thereto in order to provide electricity to the desired electronic device. In a further embodiment, the electrical connection ports 150 are a standard electrical outlet. By encompassing various electronic components in one housing, the need for additional units and structures is eliminated. Additionally, by compactly storing the electronic components in one housing, an economy of space is preserved, and the battery powered generator is able to be stored and kept utilizing a minimum of storage space in a building. - A
pedal assembly 120, awind turbine 130, and at least onesolar panel 140 are removably securable to thehousing 110. Thehousing 110 is configured to receive all three of thepedal assembly 120,wind turbine 130, andsolar panel 140 at the same time. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that as the three components are removably securable, thehousing 110 is also configured to receive or any combination of the three individually, or in combination. Thepedal assembly 120,wind turbine 130, andsolar panel 140 are operably connected to the rechargeable battery when secured to thehousing 110. In one embodiment, thepedal assembly 120,wind turbine 130, andsolar panel 140 are connected to the housing via at least one electric cable and received by at least one receptacle in the housing in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery. - The
pedal assembly 120 comprises a series ofpedals 121 that can be rotated about an axis. Each of thepedals 121 are configured to receive a foot of a user and can be pedaled in the same manner as a bicycle. The rotation of thepedals 121 about the axis generates electricity which can be transferred to the battery powered generator via the electrical connection. In one embodiment, rotation of thepedals 121 can generate up to twelve volts of direct current. In a similar manner, thewind turbine 130 comprises a plurality ofblades 131 which are configured to be rotated by a volume of wind passing over the plurality ofblades 131. This rotation of the plurality ofblades 131 of thewind turbine 130 generates electricity which can be transferred to the battery powered generator via the electrical connection. In one embodiment, rotation of the plurality ofblades 131 can generate up to twelve volts of direct current. Thesolar panels 140 comprise a frame and a plurality ofsolar cells 141. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how thesolar cells 141 are able to harness the power of the sun's rays and generate electricity. In one embodiment, thesolar panels 140 can generate up to twelve volts of direct current. - The ability to removably secure each of the
pedal assembly 120,wind turbine 130, andsolar panels 140 enables a user to selectively determine which source of alternative energy to use, or combination thereof, to generate power and recharge the rechargeable battery. For example, on an overcast but windy day, the user may elect to utilize thepedal assembly 120 and thewind turbine 130 but forego thesolar panels 140. On a clear and sunny day with no wind, the user may elect to remove thepedal assembly 120 andwind turbine 130 from the assembly and store them out of the direct sunlight while the rechargeable battery is charged by thesolar panels 140. - An
electrical panel 160 is operably connected to the rechargeable battery. In one embodiment, theelectrical panel 160 is a house electrical panel. In a further embodiment, theelectrical panel 160 is connected to thehousing 110 by aflexible conduit 161. In one embodiment, when the battery powered generator is installed, theelectrical panel 160 is attached to thehousing 110 and is not removably secured unless and until de-installation occurs. In this manner, theelectrical panel 160 is permanently electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. In a further embodiment, theelectrical panel 160 is operably connected to the rechargeable battery by a trickle charger. The trickle charger enables the rechargeable battery to be slowly charged by an electrical supply from theelectrical panel 160 thereby ensuring that the rechargeable battery stays charged even without thepedal assembly 120,wind turbine 130, and/orsolar panel 140 attached thereto. - A subpanel (as shown in
FIG. 2, 250 ) is disposed in thehousing 110, operably connected to the rechargeable battery. The subpanel comprises a plurality of circuits that can be utilized to provide power, either from the rechargeable battery or theelectrical panel 160, to desired electronics. In one embodiment, the subpanel comprises six circuits (as shown inFIG. 2, 290 ). In such an embodiment, the six circuits can be used to provide electricity to small or medium electronic devices, but not large electronic devices such as a dryer or an oven. Such a configuration ensures that necessary elements such as a garage door, alarm, internet components, and the like have a source of power at the expense of leaving large electronics that are not needed on-demand, like a dryer or oven, without power in the case of a power outage. - A controller (as shown in
FIG. 2, 240 ) is operably connected to theelectrical panel 160, the rechargeable battery, and the subpanel. The controller is configured to control a flow of electricity into and out of the subpanel. The controller is configured to detect when electricity is flowing from theelectrical panel 160. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to automatically enable the flow of electricity out of the rechargeable battery into the subpanel when an electrical supply from the electrical panel is interrupted. The controller is also configured to detect when the electrical flow to theelectrical panel 160 has been restored. In a further embodiment, the controller is configured to disable the flow of electricity out of the rechargeable battery after the electrical supply from the electrical panel is restored and uninterrupted for over 45 seconds. In some circumstances an electrical supply can flicker on and off to an electrical supply. If the battery were to be turned on and off in such a circumstance, undue wear would be imposed on the rechargeable battery. By waiting and monitoring the electrical connection over 45 seconds, the stability of the electrical supply from theelectrical panel 160 can be established and undue wear and tear on the rechargeable battery is avoided. In various other embodiments, the waiting period of 45 seconds can be modified to suit a user's comfort with how long to monitor the electrical supply to the electrical panel. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , there is shown a block diagram of an embodiment of the representative components of an embodiment of the battery powered generator. Thehousing 110 includes arechargeable battery 200. In one embodiment, therechargeable battery 200 is a lithium ion battery to utilize low levels of heavy metals and provide high energy densities. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the type of rechargeable battery, and that alternate rechargeable batteries, such as nickel-cadmium, may be utilized. - In one embodiment, the battery powered generator further comprises a
battery management system 210. Thebattery management system 210 is configured to manage the charging and discharging of therechargeable battery 200 and protects therechargeable battery 200 from operating outside pre-defined safe operating parameters. Thebattery management system 210 is also configured to monitor the status of the battery, report data to a controller, and the like. In some embodiments, thebattery management system 210 can monitor the voltage in total and for individual battery cells, average temperature for individual cells, state of charge or depth of discharge to indicate the charge level of the battery, the remaining capacity of the battery as a percentage of the original capacity, current in or out of the battery, as well as similar parameters. Thebattery management system 210 can protect therechargeable battery 200 by preventing it from operating outside of pre-defined safe parameters such as: over-current, over-voltage, under-voltage, over-temperature, under-temperature, and the like. Thebattery management system 210 can prevent operation outside of the pre-define safe parameters by a number of methods including, but not limited to: an internal switch which is opened if the battery is operated outside of the pre-defined safe parameters, requesting devices to which therechargeable battery 200 is attached to reduce or terminate usage of therechargeable battery 200, and actively controlling the environment such as through heating, cooling, air conditioning, or fans. In the shown embodiment, therechargeable battery 200 is operably connected to thebattery management system 210. - In the shown embodiment, the
rechargeable battery 200 is also operably connected to a charger 220 and aninverter 230. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a charger 220 is configured to enable energy to flow to arechargeable battery 200 by forcing an electric current into therechargeable battery 200. Theinverter 230 is configured to receive a flow of electricity from analternate power source 270, such as the pedal assembly, wind turbine, or solar panel discussed above, and convert the electricity from a direct current into an alternating current. Theinverter 230, in turn, is operably connected to acontroller 240 and asubpanel 250. In the shown embodiment, thecontroller 240 is an automatic transfer switch and is configured to control a flow of electricity into and out of thesubpanel 250. Thesubpanel 250, the charger 220, and the automatic transfer switch are operably connected to an electrical panel 260. In this manner, both the electricity provided by the electrical panel 260, as well as thealternate power sources 270 are electrically connected to therechargeable battery 200 and the flow of electricity into thesubpanel 250 is controlled by thecontroller 240. - The automatic transfer switch is configured to monitor the flow of electricity from the electrical panel 260. When the automatic transfer switch detects an interruption of power, the automatic transfer switch can automatically transfer the flow of electricity into the
subpanel 250 from the electrical panel 260 to therechargeable battery 200. In this manner, the flow of electricity to thesubpanel 250 remains uninterrupted, even in the event that the electrical panel 260 is unable to supply electricity due to an outage. In the shown embodiment, the automatic transfer switch is thecontroller 240, and is disposed in thehousing 110. In standard alternate power systems, automatic transfer switches are typically installed as a stand-alone component and must be independently monitored. By encapsulating the automatic transfer switch within thehousing 110 additional installation and hardware is avoided. - In one embodiment, the
controller 240 is configured to enable the flow of electricity from the electrical panel 260 into therechargeable battery 200 when therechargeable battery 200 is under eighty percent charged. In this manner, thecontroller 240 can ensure that therechargeable battery 200 is maintained at an eighty percent level even when the sources of alternate power are being utilized but may not be able to keep up with demand. In some other embodiments, thecontroller 240 provides a similar function to thebattery management system 210 and is configured to prevent therechargeable battery 200 from overcharging. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how thecontroller 240 can monitor the status of therechargeable battery 200 and determine whether electricity needs to be directed to therechargeable battery 200, and the rate at which said electricity is delivered. - It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
- Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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US16/791,000 US10958206B1 (en) | 2019-08-30 | 2020-02-14 | Battery powered generator |
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US201962893851P | 2019-08-30 | 2019-08-30 | |
US16/791,000 US10958206B1 (en) | 2019-08-30 | 2020-02-14 | Battery powered generator |
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US7150465B2 (en) | 2003-05-07 | 2006-12-19 | Darling Iii Charles W | Mission adaptable portable cart/utility table arrangement |
US7049508B2 (en) * | 2004-04-21 | 2006-05-23 | Bushey Richard D | Flexible conduit |
US20070157390A1 (en) | 2006-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | Joseph Molinaro | Device for providing elements for survival |
US7565968B2 (en) | 2006-03-13 | 2009-07-28 | Lindley Michael B | Portable survival kit |
US7590472B2 (en) * | 2006-11-09 | 2009-09-15 | Gridpoint, Inc. | Energy arbitrage by load shifting |
US8593102B2 (en) | 2006-12-27 | 2013-11-26 | Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. | Portable, self-sustaining power station |
US20110101794A1 (en) | 2008-07-21 | 2011-05-05 | Kirk Schroeder | Portable Power Supply Device |
US9099892B2 (en) * | 2012-03-28 | 2015-08-04 | Humless, Llc | Portable power systems |
WO2013185772A2 (en) * | 2012-06-12 | 2013-12-19 | Vestas Wind Systems A/S | Wind-power-plant control upon low-voltage grid faults |
US9584004B2 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2017-02-28 | Constructive Industries, Llc | Regenerative power supply system and method |
US9929591B2 (en) * | 2014-10-30 | 2018-03-27 | Win Sheng Cheng | Smart home power system |
CN204904426U (en) * | 2015-09-07 | 2015-12-23 | 汪震坤 | Individual power generation system based on identity recognition technology |
US20170271874A1 (en) * | 2016-03-18 | 2017-09-21 | Solar-Ready Ltd | Electrical Power Recovery Apparatus |
US10424933B2 (en) * | 2016-08-10 | 2019-09-24 | Tesla, Inc. | Automatic smart transfer switch for energy generation systems |
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