WO2024069221A1

WO2024069221A1 - Energy store for storing potential energy

Info

Publication number: WO2024069221A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/059377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mauro Pedretti
Original assignee: Mauro Pedretti
Priority date: 2022-10-01
Filing date: 2022-10-01
Publication date: 2024-04-04

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy store having weights to be raised to store potential energy and to be lowered again to release energy, comprising a lifting assembly, weights to be raised and lowered by the lifting assembly, and an upper storage place for raised weights, wherein at least one track-bound carrier vehicle is provided for horizontally moving the weights in the upper storage place.

Description

Energy storage for storing potential energy

The present invention relates to a method for storing potential energy according to claim 1, an energy storage for potential energy according to claim 15 and a weight for such an energy storage according to claim 35.

Energy storage devices of the type mentioned are known, for example in the form of tower cranes, which lift weights using a winch and a wire rope, rotate with the lifted weight and position it on a stack. This process consumes energy, which is stored as potential energy by the weight stored at a higher level. This charges the energy storage device. If necessary, the crane can lift a weight from the stack, rotate back accordingly and lower the weight to a free storage space, which drives its winch and can then drive a generator, for example. The potential energy is thus converted into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy, and the energy storage device is discharged.

Cable cars have also become known that bring rubble or sand in troughs from a lower storage location to an elevated position, i.e. to a higher storage location. In contrast to a crane, almost any height difference can be managed, although there are strict limits to the amount of weight. In addition, the installations required in the lower and upper storage space for storing the weights or hanging a weight are complex. Storing a large amount of energy requires a large storage space, so the weights have to be deposited on a larger area, which in turn requires small cranes that transport the weights back and forth between the cable car and the specific storage location of an individual weight, similar to the case is for containers for the transport of goods in seaports. All in all, in addition to the expensive installation for transferring the weights between the storage location and the cable car, considerable energy is also used to operate it.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for storing potential energy as well as an improved energy storage device with corresponding weights.

This task is solved by the characterizing features of claims 1, 15 and 35. The fact that the weights are moved on a carrier vehicle results in a cost-effective and energy-saving transfer of the weights from the storage location to the lifting arrangement. In addition, the storage location can be easily organized, whereby, for example, larger expansions of the storage location are neither complex in terms of infrastructure nor significant in terms of additional energy consumption. Another advantage is that both very large and small local energy storage systems can be implemented equally easily and cheaply. In addition, technologies (rail vehicles, lifts, gantry cranes, etc.) can also be used for large mass storage devices, which are now widely used, i.e. technologically mature, and are therefore inexpensive and available everywhere at any time. Finally, the concept of energy storage with carrier vehicles allows a modular structure or modularly combinable components, according to the following preferred embodiments, which the person skilled in the art can combine favorably in a specific case.

In a preferred embodiment, the weights themselves place road elements such as rails on their top, making the stacking itself easy and problem-free. The need for infrastructure is again minimal and opens the way to storing potential energy on a large scale simply, cheaply and with little maintenance.

In a further preferred embodiment, a lift or a gantry crane is used as a lifting arrangement. In the case of the lift, this allows the weights to be shifted into and out of the lift via a road-related carrier vehicle, which leads to a particularly simple and efficient storage of potential energy. In the case of the gantry crane, a particularly simple energy storage system can be implemented.

In a further preferred embodiment, a lifting arrangement with two lifting arrangements is used, so that a lifting or lowering process of the weight relating to the lifting arrangements is energy-neutral.

In a further preferred embodiment, a storage area is provided in which carrier vehicles for weights first bring them to a collection route, in which they are brought to the lifting arrangement on carrier vehicles that can in turn be driven on. What the embodiments according to the invention have in common is that, if necessary, they can be implemented in a building that can also be equipped with a building infrastructure that allows human use independently of energy storage.

Further preferred embodiments have the features of the dependent claims.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

It shows:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a weight according to the invention,

Figures 2a and 2b show a schematic embodiment of a carrier vehicle according to the invention,

Figure 3 shows a weight according to Figure 1, which is moved by a carrier vehicle according to Figures 2a, b,

Figure 4 stacked weights according to Figure 1,

5a to 5e show a schematic view of an embodiment of an energy storage device according to the invention,

Figure 6 an embodiment of a lift,

7a and 7b show a schematic view of a further embodiment of an energy storage device according to the invention,

Figure 8a and b a weight according to another embodiment of the invention,

Figure 8c shows an energy storage device according to a further embodiment of the invention.

9 shows a view of the layout of the upper storage space of a further embodiment of the energy storage device, Figures 10a a to f show the carrier vehicles that can be used in the embodiment according to Figure 9 and a frame for transporting the weights, and

Figure 10g is a side view of an embodiment of the crane with two lifting arrangements.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a weight 1 for an energy storage device, which is designed, for example, as a horizontal cuboid, in a view from its front side, wherein the weight 1 has a recess 2 on its underside. The recess 2 is preferably straight and more preferably extends over the entire length of the weight 1, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of Figure 1. The weight 1 is positioned with the recess 2 over rails 6 for a carrier vehicle 7 (Figures 2a and 2b) and accordingly stands with its lower side sections 3a, 3b stable on the ground 4 to the side of the rails 6. In the embodiment shown, rails 6 are also arranged on the top side 5 of the weight 1, with the same track width, so that a carrier vehicle 7 can also travel on the top side 5.

The weight can, for example, consist of soil cement, fly ash, bottom ash or another material; containers filled with bulk material can also be used. The weight preferably has a mass of, for example, 20 t, 40 t, 60 1 or 80 1, but can also weigh 100 t to 300 1 or more. The dimensions can be, for example, 6 m in length and 4 m in height and width.

Figures 2a and 2b show an embodiment of a carrier vehicle 7 for a weight 1 (seen from its front side, like the weight 1 in Figure 1) which is designed to be road-related, i.e. travels on a suitably designed roadway and, in the embodiment shown, has a chassis 8 which can travel via wheels 9 on roadway elements of a roadway 11 designed as rails 10. In a vehicle body 12, a drive unit (not shown to reduce the load on the figure), for example a battery-powered drive unit, is provided which drives the wheels 9 and can thus travel the carrier vehicle 7 along the rails 10 (or along the roadway elements). Alternatively, it is possible for the carrier vehicle to be pulled over the roadway elements or along them by cables running in the area of the roadway. A carrier arrangement 13 for a weight 1 has a support device designed as a support plate 14 in the embodiment shown, which can be extended vertically upwards (Figure 2b) and retracted downwards again (Figure 2a), for example via lifting cylinders 15; see the double arrow in Figure 2b for the vertical direction of movement of the support plate 14. The carrier arrangement 13 is designed to lift a weight 1 with the support plate 14, to carry it while the carrier vehicle 7 moves with its loaded weight 1 along the rails 10 and then to lower the weight 1 transported in this way again at a destination.

It turns out that the weights 1 preferably have a recess 2 on their underside for carrier vehicles 7, which is designed in such a way that a carrier vehicle 7 with the carrier arrangement 13 retracted can retract under a weight 1, the recess 2 preferably being designed continuously, like this that a carrier vehicle 7 that has retracted under the weight 1 on one side can be extended again on the other side.

Furthermore, it preferably results that the carrier vehicle 7 is designed as a rail vehicle and the roadway elements are designed as rails 10.

The roadway 11 with the rails 6 (or with the roadway elements) is located, for example, on a storage area 16 of a storage location, like the storage areas of the upper storage location 23.74 or the lower storage location 24.73 (see Figure 5d and Figure 8c) .

Figure 3 shows a carrier vehicle 7 that has driven under a weight 1 standing above the rails 6 (see Figure 1) in its recess 2 and has lifted the weight 1 over its support plate 14 and can thus move the weight 1 along the rails 6 to a destination. The height of the carrier vehicle 7 is greater than that of the recess 2 because the carrier vehicle 7 is in the configuration according to Figure 2b, whereas it previously drove into the configuration according to Figure 2a at a lower height than the height of the recess 2. The carrier vehicle 7 and the recess 2 of the weight 1 are therefore coordinated with one another in terms of their dimensions.

It follows that preferably a carrier vehicle 7 has a carrier arrangement 13 for a weight 1 to be displaced by it, which is used for loading the carrier vehicle 13 by a Weight 1 has a support element that can be extended vertically upwards and retracted downwards again for unloading, preferably a support plate 14 for lifting the weight 1.

Figure 4 shows a lower weight 1 and an upper weight 1' to be stacked on the lower weight 1, which has been moved by a carrier vehicle 7 to its stacking location on the upper side 5 of the lower weight 1. For this purpose, the carrier vehicle 7 drove into the stacking location on the rails 6 arranged on the upper side 5 of the lower weight 1 and stopped as soon as the stacking location was reached. Figure 4 shows the moment at which the carrier vehicle 7 can begin to lower or retract the support plate 14 and thus deposit the upper weight 1' with its lower side sections 3a' and 3b' on the upper side 5 of the lower weight 1. Once the upper weight 1' has been deposited, it is stacked on the lower weight 1. If the upper weight 1' is to be moved away from its stacking location, the carrier vehicle 7 in the configuration of Figure 2a moves on the rails 6 on the upper side 5 of the lower weight 1 into the recess 2' of the upper weight 1', lifts it by assuming the configuration according to Figure 2b and then moves the weight 1' on the rails 6 to its respective destination.

Of course, in the same way, a further weight 1" can be stacked or unstacked on the upper weight 1' (see, for example, Figures 5a to 5d) by moving the carrier vehicle 7 loaded with the further weight 1" in or out on the rails 6' onto the upper side 5' of the weight 1', and so on, depending on the desired height of the total stack of weights 1.

This results in a weight 1,1', 1" for an energy storage device, which has a recess 2 on its underside for receiving a carrier vehicle 7, which preferably extends over its length and is more preferably straight. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the weight has 5, 5', 5" track elements, for example rails 6, on its upper side for a carrier vehicle 7 running on it. If the weight has a recess 2 on its underside, the track elements or rails 6 are preferably aligned with this. This then more preferably results in a weight 1,1', 1" in which the track elements are designed as rails 6 for a rail-bound carrier vehicle 7 running on them. In particular, Figure 4 shows a method according to which an upper weight stacked on a lower weight is removed from the latter by a carrier vehicle driving onto the track elements (for example rails 10) of the lower weight and thus under the stacked upper weight, lifting the latter and then driving away from the latter on the track elements of the lower weight loaded with the upper weight.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the carrier vehicle 7 is track-controlled, since its path is predetermined by the track elements or rails 6. Instead of rails 6, other track elements are also possible according to the invention, such as lateral guide rollers in the track to the destination of a weight 1, 1', in which case the carrier vehicle can be, for example, an air cushion vehicle. Preferably, however, a rail-bound vehicle is used as the carrier vehicle and rails are used as the track elements.

Figure 5a schematically shows an energy storage device 20 with a support structure 21 for an upper storage location 23 for weights 1, which has an upper storage surface 22, wherein a lower storage location 24 is also provided, which in the figure is filled with weights 1, 1', 1" stacked three times on top of each other, i.e. standing on a lower storage surface 25. The lower storage location thus has the first to third stacking levels 26 to 28, on which the stored weights 1, 1' and 1" have been stacked, for example in the manner shown in Figures 1 to 4. In the upper storage location 23 there is also space for three stacking levels, namely a first to third stacking level 29 to 31.

Both storage areas 22, 25 have at least one roadway, not shown to relieve the figure, with roadway elements designed here again as rails 6, with only the rails 6 of the upper storage location 23 being symbolically represented by a line in the figure, as the rails of the lower storage location 24 are covered by the stacked weights 1. Likewise, the rails 6" of the top of the stacked weights 1 (stacking level 28) are visible, those of the other weights 1.1" are not.

Thus, the storage location 23 for the lifted weights 1 preferably has a storage area 22 with track elements (e.g. rails 6) for the carrier vehicle 7. Furthermore, an energy storage device is produced in which the weights are designed to be stackable on top of one another and have track elements for the carrier vehicle on their upper side, such that a carrier vehicle can travel on them.

Next to the support structure 21 there is a lifting arrangement for the weights 1, which in the embodiment shown has a lift 32 with a lift cabin 33, so that the lift 32 can transport weights 1, 1', 1" from the lower storage location 24 to the upper storage location 23 and back again. In the embodiment shown, the lift cabin 33 contains a carrier vehicle 7, which stands on rails 6 of the lift cabin 33.

The supporting structure 21 can also be designed at least between the storage areas 23, 24 as a building section 35, which is then provided with a building infrastructure (load-bearing floors, walls for room division, doors, windows, roadways, lines for electricity and water, etc.), so that Further use of this area becomes possible, for example as a warehouse for any goods or as a parking garage, factory, offices, apartments, etc. It follows that the upper 23 storage space 23 is then preferably provided in an upper area of a building, and an area of the building below the upper storage space 23 is provided with a building infrastructure that allows further use of this area, so that this area 34 is preferably designed as a parking garage, factory, offices or apartments.

The result is an energy storage device in which the lifting arrangement preferably has a lift 32 for the weights 1, 1 ', 1", and the lift is provided with road elements for the carrier vehicle 7, which are arranged in such a way that a weight 1, 1', 1" loaded carrier vehicle 7 can be moved into and out of the lift.

The lift cabin 33 is located in Figure 5a at the level of the third stacking level 28, so that its rails 6 are aligned with the rails 6 'on the top 5' of the weights 1' in the second stacking level 27. From this starting position, the energy storage device 20 can store potential energy by the carrier vehicle 7 moving weights 1, 1', 1" into the lift cabin 28, which in turn transports the weights 1, 1', 1" into the upper storage location 23.

Figure 5b shows the energy storage 20, which is loaded with slightly more than 50% of the storable energy. Three weights 1",1' are located in the upper storage location 23 in the stacking levels 29,30, a weight 1" is transported upwards by the lift 32 while absorbing energy from outside, preferably electrical energy. Two weights 1 are still in the lower storage space 24, on the first stacking level 26.

Figure 5c shows the energy storage device 20 in a loaded state, since all weights 1, 1', 1" have been transported to the upper storage location 23 using external energy - the lower storage location 24 is empty. The carrier vehicle 7 (Figures 2a and 2b), which is covered by the weight 1 except for its wheels 9, has been driven out of the lift cabin 33 and moved onto a lower weight 1' or its rails 6', as shown in detail in Figure 4, and is ready to set down the upper weight 1 to be stacked, which it carries, onto the lower weight 1'.

Figure 5d shows the energy storage device 20 during discharge. A weight 1' is located in the elevator cabin 33, which descends and thereby drives a winch, for example via a rope that is omitted to relieve the figure and on which the cabin 33 hangs, which in turn can be connected to a generator so that the potential energy of the weight 1' is converted into electrical energy.

Once all weights 1, 1', 1"' have been returned to the lower storage location 24, the energy storage 20 is completely discharged and is back in the configuration of FIG. 5a.

The result is a method according to which the weights 1, 1 ', 1" are raised and lowered by a lifting arrangement with road elements having a lift 32, and the weights are moved into and out of the lift by a carrier vehicle 7.

Furthermore, there is an energy storage device in which the lifting arrangement is preferably designed in such a way that it can deliver and pick up weights in the area of the upper 23 or the upper 23 and the lower storage location 24 at the respective height of several stacking levels 26 to 28 and 29 to 31 , and wherein a first stacking level 26, 29 is provided at the level of a storage location 25, 22 and at least one further stacking level at the level of stacked weights 1, 1 ', 1 ", such that on each stacking level 26 to 28 and 29 to 31 align the roadway elements on the weights 1, 1', 1" with the roadway elements provided in the lifting arrangement. A lower storage location 24 is also preferred the weights 1, 1 ', 1" to be lifted are provided, which has roadway elements for the carrier vehicles 7. It is preferred that the lower storage location is designed in the same way as the upper storage location 23.

In general, a lower storage location 24 for lowered weights 1,1', 1" can be designed in the same way as the upper storage location 23.

Figure 6 shows the lift cabin 33 shown schematically in Figures 5a to 5d in detail in a possible embodiment. The cabin 33 is suspended via a rope 40 from a suitable drive, which is known to those skilled in the art of lifts, the drive being additionally connected to an energy converter which has been omitted to relieve the figure, so that it itself has one when shutting down (Figure 5d), for example Can drive generator, which converts the potential energy stored by the weights 1, 1 ', 1 "in the upper storage location 23 into electrical energy.

A lower cable wheel 41 of the suspension of the lift cabin is connected to an upper longitudinal beam 42, on which a front 43 and a rear frame 44 hang, the frames 43, 44 being connected to one another by rails 6. The rails have front rail sections 6*, which bridge the distance between the front frame 43 and the rails 6, 6 ', 6 "of a weight 1, 1', 1", so that a carrier vehicle 7 can be moved from a roadway into a storage area without any problems 22.25 or rails 6.6' on the top 5.5' of the weights can move into or out of the lift cabin 33.

Preferably, all supports of the lift cabin 33 are designed as double-T-supports, which results in a particularly simple design of the lift cabin 33.

Figure 7a shows a further embodiment of an energy storage 50 according to the present invention in a view from the front, where the viewer sees a front side of the energy storage 50, but also the support structure of the energy storage 50 designed as a grid structure 51.

The design of the energy storage 50 is based on the schematic representation of the invention according to Figures 5a to 5d. Weights 53 can be stored in a lower storage location 52 For example, they can be stacked ten times on top of each other, so that there are ten stacking levels. Likewise in an upper storage location 54. When the energy storage device 50 is loaded according to FIG. 7a, three stacking levels in the upper storage location 53 are filled.

7a it can also be seen that the lifting arrangement on the front of the energy storage 50 has a row of lifts 55a to 551 lying next to one another, and additionally a row of lifts 55m to 55w lying next to one another on the rear side of the energy storage device facing away from the figure 50. The lifts 55m to 55w are visible because the grid structure 51 of the energy storage 50 is not covered.

To differentiate, the weights 53 raised/lowered by the lifts 55a to 551 are hatched and the weights 53 raised/lowered by the lifts 55m to 55w are shown without hatching.

To reduce the load on the figure, the carrying vehicles for the weights 53 and the corresponding rails on which the carrying vehicles move have been omitted, see Figures 4 and 5a to 5d. The direction of travel of the carrying vehicles is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 7a. Figure 7a shows a further advantage of the energy storage device 20.50 according to the invention: In principle, the person skilled in the art can provide any number of stacking levels, as well as any number of modules lying next to one another, which consist of one or, as shown in the figure, two opposite lifts (for example the lifts 55a and 55m or 55e and 55q, and so on) and the storage areas between them are formed. In this specific case, an energy storage device can be designed for storing the desired amount of energy, with only a few or all of the lifts on the front or rear side of the energy storage device being put into operation depending on the energy to be stored or released again. It preferably results that multiple lifting arrangements can be used, these multiple lifting arrangements being used independently of one another to raise or lower weights according to current needs.

Figure 7b shows the energy storage 50 of Figure 7a seen from its left side, so that the lifts 55a to 551 in Figure 7b are on the right side, and the lifts 55m to 55w on the left side. The arrow P points to the side of the energy storage 50 shown in FIG. 7a, ie the viewing direction of the viewer in FIG. 7a. Among other things, they are visible two weights 53 and 53 ', which are moved as intended by carrier vehicles 56 (the direction of travel is in the drawing plane of Figure 7b), eight weights 53 are arranged one behind the other in the lower 52 and upper storage space 54. Again, the expert can determine the number of weights in a row for the specific case. As in Figure 7a, the rails for the carrier vehicles 56 have been omitted to reduce the load on the figure.

It is evident from Figures 7a and 7b that the lifting arrangement for the energy storage device 50 preferably has a row of adjacent lifts 55a to 551 for the weights 53, and preferably an opposite row of further lifts 55m to 55w is provided, and that in the upper storage area 54 the track elements extend between lifts that are opposite one another, such that a weight can be moved from one of the lifts in one row into the opposite lift in the other row.

Preferably, the lifting arrangement also comprises a further lift which is located opposite the lift, so that the lifts enclose the upper storage area for lifted weights between them, and wherein track elements for the carrier vehicle are provided in the upper storage area, which extend from one lift to the other lift, such that a weight can be moved from one of the lifts into the other lift.

The result of the invention is a method for storing potential energy by weights lifted by a lifting arrangement, which are to be stored in an upper storage location for raised weights while absorbing energy and then lowered again from there while releasing the energy, wherein the weights in the upper storage location are moved horizontally between the lifting arrangement and a storage location for an individual weight by at least one carrier vehicle with a track-related drive, wherein the carrier vehicle runs on track elements of the track designed to be operative in the storage location, and that further preferably in the embodiment shown, weights are used which are designed to be stackable vertically on top of one another and which have track elements arranged operatively on their upper side in such a way that a carrier vehicle can move on them, and that the weights are stacked on top of one another in the storage location by a carrier vehicle with an upper weight to be stacked driving onto the track elements of a lower weight already located in its storage location and positioning the upper weight to be stacked on the lower weight in this way. Furthermore, according to the invention, there is an energy storage device with weights that are raised to store potential energy and lowered again to release energy, with a lifting arrangement and with weights that are raised and lowered by the lifting arrangement and an upper storage location for raised weights, with at least one road-related carrier vehicle being provided for the horizontal displacement of the weights in the upper storage location. In the embodiment shown, the weights are preferably designed to be stackable on top of one another and have roadway elements for the carrier vehicle on their upper side, such that a carrier vehicle can travel on them.

It should be noted at this point that in order to reduce the burden on the figures, a control for the energy storage for the carrier vehicles and the lifting arrangement has been omitted, but can easily be designed by a person skilled in the art in the specific case.

In the embodiments of the energy storage device shown in the figures, the lifting arrangement or the lift is located on one or on opposite sides of the upper storage location. In a specific case, the expert can freely choose the number and location(s) of the lifting arrangement, for example also arranging them in the middle of the upper storage space, so that the weights can then be moved in different directions from the lifting arrangement or the lift into the storage space.

It is also possible to design the lifting arrangement, especially for smaller energy storage units, as a crane that places the weights in the upper storage area on suitably designed, road-bound carrier vehicles, which in turn bring the weights to a predetermined, individual storage area or fetch them from there back to the crane.

Figure 8a shows a weight 60 according to a further embodiment of the invention, which, in contrast to the weight 1 to 1"', preferably has no rails on its upper side, but the recess 2 into which a carrier vehicle can drive in and out again, so that the weight 60 can be moved by a carrier vehicle 7 in the same way as a weight 1 to 1"' according to Figures 1 to 4. Accordingly, rails 6 for a carrier vehicle 7 can be seen in Figure 8a. The weight 60 is preferably designed as a standing cuboid, for example with a height of 10 m and a rectangular base area of 3 mx 4 m (where the front side shown in Figure 8a has a width of 4 m). The weight 60 then has a volume of 120 m ³ and a mass of approximately 240 t. In the specific case, the expert can also provide other, smaller or larger, suitable masses.

The result is a weight for an energy storage device that has a preferably straight recess on its underside that extends over its length for accommodating a carrier vehicle. The carrier vehicle is designed to be operatively opposite to the recess 2, see Figures 2a to 3.

The weight 60 further has lateral recesses 61 which form, for example, a horizontal stop surface 62, whereby a lifting device for the weight 60 is formed

Figure 8b shows the weight 60, which is to be lifted via a cable 64 of a crane 65 (see Figure 8c). For this purpose, the crane 65 has a lifting arrangement, which in the embodiment shown is designed as a gripper 66. To lift the weight 60, the gripper 66 hanging on the cable 64 is moved over the weight, whereby the gripper 66 engages with inwardly extending hook elements 67 in the recesses 61, strikes with these on the stop surfaces 62 and can thus lift the weight 60. The shape of the recess and in particular the design of the stop surface 62, as well as the design of the gripper 66 can be determined by the expert himself according to the needs of the specific case. For example, the stop surface can be inclined inwards and the gripper can be designed as a pair of scissors that close under the load of the weight. Another design of the lifting device and thus the suspension of the weight 60 on the crane is also in accordance with the invention. The recess 61 thus forms an embodiment of a lifting device for the weight 60 provided on the weight, which allows the weight to be lifted using a correspondingly designed lifting arrangement, e.g. that of a crane. In the specific case, the expert can design the lifting device in a suitable manner, be it by means of hooks cast into the weight, several recesses in the type of recess 61 or by other suitable means.

The result is an energy storage device in which the lifting arrangement preferably comprises a crane, most preferably a gantry crane. Thus, the weight is preferably provided with a lifting device which allows the weight to be lifted by a lifting arrangement of a crane, wherein the lifting device is preferably designed as recesses (61) with stop surfaces (62) running laterally on the weight, on opposite sides in each case.

Figure 8c shows a schematic view of an energy storage device 70 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown, a building 71 has a shaft 72 with walls 72' and 72" for raising or lowering weights 60, which can be raised by a crane 65 from the level of a lower storage location 73 to the level of an upper storage location 74 or lowered from this back to the level of the lower storage location 73.

The crane 65 is preferably designed as a gantry crane that is fixedly positioned or can be moved perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, with trolleys 76, 77 that can be moved horizontally on its cross member 75 in the embodiment shown. A weight 60 'hangs on the trolley 77 via the rope 64, for example in the manner described in Figure 8b. The weight 60' is lowered in accordance with the direction of the arrow shown in order to recover stored potential energy and make it usable, just like that in the energy storage 20 is the case. For this purpose, a generator omitted to relieve the figure can be provided on the trolley itself or at another location via the deflected rope 64 - just as is the case, for example, for driving conventional trolleys in gantry cranes for larger weights. For example, converting an electric motor to drive a winch for the rope 64 in such a way that it can also serve as a generator is generally known to those skilled in the art.

8c shows that the weight 60' has been moved by a carrier vehicle 7' in the upper storage area 74 into a position on the edge of the shaft 72, from which position it is lifted by the gantry crane 65 to the left into the area of the shaft 72 moved and then lowered into it. At the level of the lower storage bin 73, a carrier vehicle 7 waits to load the weight 60' once it has been completely lowered and then move to the right in the direction of the arrow to position it in the lower storage bin 73, where other weights 60 are already stored are. All of this is preferably done in the manner described in Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 8c it can also be seen that a weight 60" has been brought from a carrier vehicle 7" just at the level of the lower storage location 73 into a position in the area of the shaft 72, from which it is lifted by the trolley 76 with the gripper 66 ' can be grabbed and lifted as soon as the trolley 76 has completely released the weight 60"' located on the carrier vehicle 7"' and has lowered the gripper 66' to the weight 60" in order to grab it and then lift it to the upper storage location 74.

For explanation purposes, FIG. 8c shows the loading of the energy storage device 70 on the left side and its discharge on the right side. Of course, in a specific case, the person skilled in the art can provide one or more cranes 65 and arrange the (at least one) shaft appropriately, for example on one side of the energy storage, or even organize the energy storage 70 in accordance with the invention and suitably according to the needs in the specific case.

The result is a method for storing potential energy through weights raised by a lifting arrangement, which are to be stored in an upper storage location for raised weights while absorbing energy and then lowered again from this while releasing the energy, the weights being in the upper storage location between the lifting arrangement and a storage location for an individual weight are moved horizontally by at least one road-related carrier vehicle, and the carrier vehicle runs on road elements of the roadway which is designed to be operational in the storage area.

In this method, a crane, preferably a gantry crane, is preferably used as the lifting arrangement.

According to the invention, an energy storage device is provided with weights to be raised for the storage of potential energy and lowered again for the delivery of energy, with a lifting arrangement and with weights to be raised and lowered by the lifting arrangement, as well as an upper storage location for raised weights, with at least one road-related carrier vehicle for the horizontal displacement of the weights in the upper storage location is provided.

Of course, for all embodiments of the present invention, it is preferred that a weight is moved by loading it onto a carrier vehicle in a first step, which is then loaded into a drivable recess provided on the underside of the weight retracts until it is in a loading position, in a second step it loads the weight there by lifting it and in a third step after the loading process it moves as intended to a target position, where in a fourth step it lowers the weight to the ground and out of the recess drives away, see Figures 1 to 3.

At this point, it should be emphasized that the described embodiments of the carrier vehicle 7, to 7"' (in particular as a rail vehicle with track elements designed as rails) can be used for all possible designs of an energy storage device 20,70, as can the corresponding design of the weights 60 to 60"', as far as their interaction with the carrier vehicle 7 to 7"' is concerned.

Of course, in the case of the energy storage device 70, an area 78 of the building 71 located below the upper storage area 74 can also be provided with a building infrastructure, as is the case with the energy storage device 20 according to Figures 5a to 5c. Likewise, however, the energy storage device 20, 70 can also be implemented not in a building, but on a hill or in a mountain.

Figure 9 shows a view from above of the upper storage location 80 of another embodiment of an energy storage device 81, which is divided into two storage areas 82, 83. The storage area 82 is almost full with weights 84, there are no weights in the storage area 83, it is empty, the energy storage device 80 is thus charged to slightly less than 50%.

A lifting device designed as a crane 85 has two lifting arrangements for weights 84, which in turn, as in Figures 8b and 8c, are preferably designed as grippers 66, see Figure 10f. The crane 85 spans two openings 86, 87, through which the weights 84 carried by the grippers 66 can be lifted to the upper storage location 80 or lowered downwards from there, e.g. to a lower storage location 88 (Figure 10g). The lower storage location 88 is hidden in the figure by the upper storage location 80. The crane 85 with its two lifting arrangements is shown in detail in Figure 10g.

Each storage area 82.83 is in turn divided into a section 89.90 with the storage locations for the individual weights and a transport section 91.92. In the embodiment of the upper storage location 80 shown, the storage areas 82, 83 are designed symmetrically, although the person skilled in the art can also choose a different arrangement in the specific case. The storage sections 89.90 for storing the individual weights are designed according to the same principle as the upper storage spaces 23.74 of the energy storage devices 20.70 (Figures 5a and 8c): the flat upper storage space 80 there forms a roadway 93.94 for as Rails 6 are formed roadway elements on which carrier vehicles 7 (designed according to Figures 2a, 2b) can move and thereby bring weights 84 to an individual storage location of a weight 84 or pick them up from it. Two mutually assigned rails 6 form a pair of rails for a carrier vehicle 7, ie two rails 6 each have the track width of the carrier vehicle 7. In the arrangement according to Figure 9, the rails 6 form a first section of the existing roadway elements.

The carrier vehicles 7 are visible in the storage section 90, but not in the storage section 89, since they are covered there by the weights 84. The design of the weights and their arrangement on a carrier vehicle 7 is shown in Figures 10a and 10b.

Each storage section 82.83 is adjoined by a transport section 91.92, which extends along the storage area 82.83 up to the crane 85 and has a roadway 95.96 which is lower than the roadway 93.94 of the storage section 89.90, in which rails 97 are arranged for carrier vehicles 100 that can be driven on by the carrier vehicles 7, these rails 97 forming a further section of the existing roadway elements. The drivable carrier vehicles 100 are shown in detail in Figures 10c and 10d. At this point it should be mentioned that the drivable carrier vehicles 100 are in turn provided with rails 6 with the track width of the carrier vehicles 7, so that a carrier vehicle 7 can drive onto a drivable carrier vehicle 100, see Figure 10e.

The rails 97 run along the ends of the rails 6 of the section 89, 90 assigned to them, such that a drivable carrier vehicle 100 with the rails 6 located on it can be positioned in alignment with each of the pairs of rails in the storage area 82, 83 (see also Fig. 10g). This means that, for example, a carrier vehicle 7 can drive from the rails 6 in the storage section 90 onto a drivable carrier vehicle 100 positioned in front of it in an operational manner by driving onto its rails 6 and continuing on these until it is completely on the drivable carrier vehicle 100, as is shown, for example, in Figure 9 for the fourth carrier vehicle 7 from the left using the arrow drawn in. The transfer of a weight between the vehicles 7,100 is, as mentioned, shown in Figure lOe.

This results in a method in which the weights are moved in the area of the storage location for an individual weight on a first section of the roadway elements and in the area of the lifting arrangement on a further section of the roadway elements, the weights being moved in the first section on a carrier vehicle with a lifting arrangement, but in the further section on a drivable carrier vehicle which in turn is provided with roadway elements, and in which a carrier vehicle with the lifting arrangement drives onto a carrier vehicle with roadway elements to transfer or take over an individual weight and deposits the weight on or picks it up from it.

Furthermore, an energy storage device is obtained in which the track elements preferably have a first section with rails (6) and a further section with rails (97), and wherein the rails (6) are arranged transversely to the rails (97) and lead to them, and wherein the rails (97) are preferably located lower than the rails (6).

The rails 97 continue to run away from the bearing sections 89,90 to the openings 86,87 and enclose these between them. A pair of rails 97 thus has a track width that is slightly larger than an opening 86.87, so that a drivable carrier vehicle 100 can be driven over an opening 86.87 and positioned there. This is shown in Figure 9, for example, for a drivable carrier vehicle 100 in the storage area 82, which has been loaded with a weight 84 and is moving towards the opening 87 in the direction of the arrow shown.

If a weight to be lowered is located above an opening 86,87, it is grasped by the gripper 66 and raised slightly so that the drivable carrier vehicle 100 can be moved away from the opening 86,87 beneath it. If the opening 86,87 is then free, the weight 84 is lowered through it by the crane 85.

If a weight to be lifted is located above an opening 86, 87, it is lifted so far that a drivable carrier vehicle 100 can be driven under the weight 84, after which it is lowered onto the drivable carrier vehicle 100 and released from the gripper 66. Then the loaded, drivable carrier vehicle 100 moves to the left in the figure until it is in front of a predetermined pair of rails 6 of the storage section 90 and stops there. The weight 84 is then transferred to a carrier vehicle 7, which moves it to its individual storage location.

This results in a method according to which an individual weight 84 is preferably lowered by the crane 85 by first moving it from its individual storage location on a carrier vehicle 7,100 towards the crane until it is operationally located at a crane transfer location (here, for example, above the opening 86,87), then being lifted off the carrier vehicle by the lifting arrangement of the crane, whereupon the carrier vehicle moves away from the crane transfer location so that it clears an opening provided in the ground therein, wherein the crane then finally lowers the weight through this opening.

The result is an energy storage device in which the upper storage location preferably has an opening for a lifting arrangement of the crane, such that a weight to be raised or lowered by the crane can be moved through the opening.

Furthermore, there is an energy storage device in which roadway elements for a carrier vehicle are preferably provided on the side of the opening, wherein the carrier vehicle can be moved over the opening in such a way that it can be loaded with a weight by the lifting arrangement of the crane or unloaded by it.

Figure 10a shows an embodiment of a weight 84, which, in contrast to weight 1, has no recess 2 on its underside (Figure 1), nor a recess 61 with a stop surface 62 (Figure 8a). It is preferably designed as a simple cuboid and can therefore be produced with little effort. However, the weight 84 rests on a frame 110 with these features: The frame 110 has a recess 113 formed by two legs 111, 112, into which a carrier vehicle 7 designed, for example, according to Figures 2a, 2b can enter, as shown in Figure 10a .

Figure 10b shows the weight 84 with the frame 110 in a side view rotated by 90 degrees compared to Figure 10a. It can be seen that the legs 111,112 of the frame protrude on their outside so that stop surfaces 114 are formed which correspond to the stop surfaces 62 of the weight 1 (Figure 8a). The frame 110 thus has, like the Weight 60 has a lifting device which can interact with the lifting arrangement of the crane 85 designed as a gripper 66. Again, as in the case of weight 60, the expert can design the lifting arrangement and the lifting device to suit the specific case.

This results in an energy storage device in which weights 84 are arranged on a frame 110 which has a recess 2 for carrier vehicles 7 on its underside, which is designed such that a carrier vehicle 7 provided with an extendable carrier arrangement 13 with the carrier arrangement retracted can move under the weight 84.

Furthermore, there is an energy storage in which the frame 110 preferably has a lifting device for cooperation with a lifting arrangement, the lifting device having recesses (113) with stop surfaces (114) running on the side of the frame, each on opposite sides.

Figure 10c shows a drivable carrier vehicle 100 from the front, Figure 10d shows it from the side. In contrast to the carrier vehicle 7 according to Figures 2a, 2b, the drivable carrier vehicle 100 has a loading area 121 instead of a carrier arrangement 13, which in turn is provided with rails 6 which have the track width of the wheels 9 of the carrier vehicle 7. The rails 6 on the loading area 121 run transversely to the direction of travel of the wheels 122 and thus the chassis of the carrier vehicle 120. Since this is used on the rails 97 of the roadway 95, 96, the track width of the wheels 122 is somewhat larger than the opening 86, 87, so that the carrier vehicle 120 can travel over it, see also above, the description of Figure 9 and Figure 10f.

It follows that in the energy storage preferably at least one carrier vehicle 120 has roadway elements, preferably rails 6, such that it can in turn be driven by another carrier vehicle, preferably by a carrier vehicle 7 with a carrier arrangement 13.

Furthermore, a rail-bound carrier vehicle 120 for a weight 84 is obtained with a chassis running on rails 97 and a loading area 121 on which a weight 84 for an energy storage device 80 for potential energy can be positioned, the loading area 121 in turn having rails 6 such that the loading area 121 can be connected by a rail-bound Carrier vehicle 7 can be driven on, wherein the rails 6 on the loading area are preferably arranged transversely to the running direction of the chassis.

Figure 10e shows the transfer of a weight 84 from a carrier vehicle 7 to a drivable carrier vehicle 120. As mentioned above, a carrier vehicle 7 fetches a weight 84 from its individual storage location in the storage section 89,90 by driving under its frame 110, this with its carrier arrangement 13 lifts and then moves along the rails 6 against the respective transport section 91,92. A drivable carrier vehicle 100 is already waiting there, the rails 6 of which are aligned on its loading area 121 with the rails 6 on which the carrier vehicle 7 has arrived. Accordingly, the carrier vehicle 7 can enter the loading area of the drivable carrier vehicle 100 until the weight 84 is completely above the loading area 120. Figure 1Oe shows this moment. The carrier vehicle 7 then retracts its carrier arrangement until the frame 110 sits on the loading area 121, whereupon the carrier vehicle 7 leaves the loading area backwards again. The weight 84 is thus loaded onto the drivable carrier vehicle 100 and can be moved by it to the crane 85.

Figure 10 f shows the moment when the drivable carrier vehicle 100 is located under the crane 85, i.e. above the opening 86, 87. The gripper 66 has grasped the weight and lifted it slightly so that the carrier vehicle 100 can move backwards and thereby clear the opening 86, 87. As soon as this has happened, the crane 85 can lower the weight, thereby releasing stored energy.

For the storage of energy, the sequence described runs in reverse.

10g shows a schematic partial view of the energy storage 81 from the side, in the direction of the arrow 125 shown in FIG. to illustrate the function of the crane 85 and the interaction of the carriageways 93,94 in the sections with the individual storage locations for the weights 84 with the carriageways 95,96 in the transport sections 91,92 (with the associated rails 6,97). The crane 85 spans the openings 86.87 and the roadways 95.96 with a cross member 126 resting on supports 125. Two lifting arrangements designed as grippers 66 are connected to one another via a rope 127, the rope being driven by a winch 128, which is designed here simultaneously as an electric motor (loading the energy storage 81) and as a generator (discharging the energy storage). Accordingly, the grippers 66 move synchronously, such that one is in an upper position when the other is in a lower position. This neutralizes the weight of the grippers when the crane is in operation, with the result that no energy is lost in this regard. This is quite relevant because for a weight 84 with a mass of 1001 or more, the weight of a grab can easily reach 15 t.

In Figure 10g, the right gripper is in a position in which it can grasp the weight 84 as soon as the carrier vehicle 100 (which is currently in the position shown in Figure 9) has moved forwards, perpendicular to the image plane, towards the viewer and has stopped above the opening 86. At the same time, the weight 84 and the frame 110 are then operatively retracted into the gripper 66, so that the latter can then easily lift the weight 84 over the frame 110. This in turn enables the carrier vehicle 110 to move backwards, away from the viewer, thus clearing the opening 86.

As soon as this has happened, the crane 85 lowers the weight 84, with the winch 128 producing electricity in generator mode and thus removing stored potential energy from the energy storage 81. Vice versa for loading the energy storage 81.

In the background, the weights 84* can be seen, which are stored in their individual storage positions. To reduce the load on the figure, the carrier vehicles 7, which run on the rails 6 and move the weights 84,84* from right to left or from left to right, have been omitted.

Finally, it should be noted that the expert can combine the various embodiments of the weights 1,60,84, the carrier vehicles 7,100 and the arrangement of the rails 6,97 as desired for the specific case. For example, it is also possible to provide weights 60 according to Figure 8a instead of weights 84 with frames 110. It is also possible to dispense with laterally arranged sections 89,90 and to bring the weights 1,60,84 directly from the individual storage location to the openings 86,87, in which case the track width of the nujr used carrier vehicles 7 with carrier arrangements 13 are so large that they can travel on the rails 97.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Method for storing potential energy by weights lifted by a lifting arrangement, which are stored while absorbing energy in an upper storage location (23,74,80) for lifted weights (1,60,84) and then releasing the energy from this are lowered again, characterized in that the weights (1,60,84) in the upper storage location (23,74,80) between the lifting arrangement and a storage location for an individual weight (1,60,84) are carried by at least one road-related carrier vehicle (7,100) are moved horizontally, with the carrier vehicle (7,100) running on road elements of the roadway (11,89 to 91) that is operational in the storage area (23,74,80).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein weights (l, 60) are used which are designed to be stackable vertically on one another and which have road elements (6) arranged in an operable manner on their upper side, such that a carrier vehicle (7, 100) can move on them, and that the weights (1,60) are stacked on top of each other in the storage area by placing a carrier vehicle (7,100) with an upper weight (1,60,84) to be stacked onto the roadway elements (6) of a lower weight that is already in its storage location (1.60) retracts and positions the upper weight (1.60) to be stacked on the lower weight (1.60) in this way.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein an upper weight (1,60,84) stacked on a lower weight (1,60,84) is removed from the latter by a carrier vehicle (7,100) driving onto the track elements (6) of the lower weight (1,60) and thus under the stacked upper weight (1,60), lifting the latter and then driving away from the latter on the track elements (6) of the lower weight (1,60) loaded with the upper weight (1,60).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a weight (1.60) is moved by loading it onto a carrier vehicle (7,100) in a first step, which is then placed in a driveable vehicle on the underside of the weight (1.60 ) recess (2) provided until it is in a loading position, in a second step the weight there (1.60) loads by lifting it and in a third step after the loading process it moves as intended to a target position, where in a fourth step it loads the weight

(1.60.84) lowers to the ground and moves away from the recess (2).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carrier vehicle (7,100) is road-controlled.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the weights (1,60) are raised and lowered by a lifting arrangement having a lift with track elements, and wherein the weights (1,60,84) are moved into and out of the lift by a carrier vehicle (7,100).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a rail-bound vehicle is used as the carrier vehicle (7,100) and rails (6,97) are used as the roadway elements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lifting assemblies are used, and said plurality of lifting assemblies are used independently of one another for raising or lowering weights (1,60,84) as needed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a lower storage location for lowered weights

(1.60.84) is designed in the same way as the upper storage area.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the upper storage space (23,74,80) is provided in an upper area of a building, and an area of the building below the upper storage space (23,74,80) is provided with a building infrastructure, which allows further use of this area.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the weights (1,60,84) are moved in the area of the storage location for an individual weight (1,60,84) on a first section of the roadway elements and in the area of the lifting arrangement on a further section of the Roadway elements, the weights (1,60,84) being moved in the first section on a carrier vehicle (7) with a support arrangement (13), but in the further section on a drivable carrier vehicle (100) which is in turn provided with roadway elements (6), and wherein a carrier vehicle (7) provided with a carrier arrangement (13) for transferring or taking over an individual weight (1,60,84) to a Carrier vehicle (100) provided with roadway elements (6) enters and places the weight (1,60,84) on it or picks it up from it.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein a crane, preferably a gantry crane (65,85) is used as the lifting arrangement.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein a crane is used as the lifting arrangement, which has two lifting assemblies, wherein these are operated in a coupled manner such that in each case one lifting arrangement moves upwards and the other lifting arrangement moves downwards, and both are simultaneously in an upper or lower end position.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein an individual weight (1,60,84) is lowered by the crane (65,85) by first starting from its individual storage location on a carrier vehicle (7,100) against the crane (65,85 ) is moved until it is ready for operation at a crane transfer location, then is lifted from the carrier vehicle (7,100) by the lifting arrangement of the crane (65,85), whereupon it moves away from the crane transfer location, so that there is a provided in the ground Opening (86,87), whereby the crane then finally lowers the weight (1,60,84) through this opening (86,87).

15. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) with weights (1,60,84) to be raised for storing potential energy and lowered again for releasing energy, with a lifting arrangement and with weights (1,60,84) to be raised and lowered by the lifting arrangement and an upper storage location (23,74,80) for raised weights (160,84), characterized in that at least one roadway-related carrier vehicle (7,100) is provided for the horizontal displacement of the weights (1,60,84) in the upper storage location (23,74,80).

16. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the storage location (23,74,89 to 92) for the lifted weights (1,60,84) is a storage area with roadway elements for the carrier vehicle (7,100 ) having.

17. Energy storage device according to claim 16, wherein the track elements have a first section with rails (6) and a further section with rails (97), and wherein the rails (6) are arranged transversely to the rails (97) and lead to them, wherein preferably the rails (97) are lower than the rails (6).

18. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the at least one carrier vehicle (7,100) is designed as a rail vehicle and the roadway elements are designed as rails (6,97).

19. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the at least one carrier vehicle (7,100) has a carrier arrangement (13) for a weight (1,60) to be displaced by it, which has a support element for lifting the weight (1,60) which can be extended vertically upwards for loading the carrier vehicle (7,100) with a weight (1,60) and can be retracted downwards again for unloading.

20. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the at least one carrier vehicle (100) has roadway elements, preferably rails (6), such that it can in turn be driven on by another carrier vehicle (7). , preferably by a carrier vehicle (7) with a carrier arrangement (13).

21. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the weights (1,60,84) are designed to be stackable on one another and have track elements for the carrier vehicle (7,100) on their upper side, such that a carrier vehicle (7,100) can travel on them.

22. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the weights (1,60) have a recess (2) on their underside for the carrier vehicles (7,100), which is designed such that a carrier vehicle (7,100) with the carrier arrangement (13) retracted can retract under the weight (1,60) and the recess (2) is preferably designed continuously in such a way that a retracted on one side under the weight (1,60). Carrier vehicle (7,100) can move out again on the other side.

23. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the lifting arrangement has a lift (32) for the weights (1,60,84), and wherein the lift (32) has roadway elements for the carrier vehicle (7,100) is provided, which are arranged in such a way that a carrier vehicle (7,100) loaded with a weight (1,60,84) can be moved into and out of the lift (32).

24. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 23, wherein the lifting arrangement has a further lift which is opposite the lift, so that the lifts enclose the upper storage area for lifted weights (1,60,84) between them, and wherein track elements for the carrier vehicle (7,100) are provided in the upper storage area, which extend from one lift to the other lift, such that a weight (1,60,84) can be moved from one of the lifts into the other lift.

25. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein the lifting arrangement has a row of adjacent lifts (55a to 551) for the weights (l,60,84), and preferably an opposite row of further lifts (55m to 55w) is provided, and wherein in the upper storage area (54) the track elements extend between each opposite lift, such that a weight (l,60) can be moved from one of the lifts in one row into the opposite lift in the other row.

26. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 12, wherein the lifting arrangement is designed such that it can deliver and receive weights (1,60,84) in the region of the upper or the upper and lower storage location at the respective height of several stacking levels (26 to 28,29 to 31), and wherein a first stacking level (26,29) is provided at the level of a storage location (25,22) and at least one further stacking level is provided at the level of weights (1) stacked on top of one another, such that on each stacking level (26 to 28,29 to 31) the track elements on the weights (1) are aligned with track elements provided in the lifting arrangement.

27. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 12, wherein a lower storage location (24,88) is provided for the weights (1,60,84) to be lifted, which has roadway elements for the carrier vehicles (7,100). and is preferably designed in the same way as the upper storage location (23,80).

28. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 12, wherein the lifting arrangement has a crane, preferably a gantry crane (85,85).

29. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 28, wherein the crane has two lifting arrangements for weights (1,60,84), and is designed to simultaneously raise or lower the two lifting arrangements in opposite directions, such that that in an end position of the lifting arrangements, one is operational in an upper storage location and the other is operational in a lower storage location.

30. Energy storage (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 28, wherein the upper storage location (80) has an opening (86,87) for a lifting arrangement of the crane (65,85), such that one of the crane (65,85) weight (1,60,84) to be raised or lowered can be moved through the opening (86,87).

31. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 30, wherein track elements for a carrier vehicle (7,100) are provided to the side of the opening (86,87) such that the carrier vehicle (7,100) can be moved over the opening (86,87) such that it can be loaded with a weight (1,60,84) by the lifting arrangement of the crane or unloaded from it.

32. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein weights (1,60,84) are arranged on a frame (110) which has on its underside a recess (2) for carrier vehicles, which is designed such that a carrier vehicle (7,100) provided with an extendable carrier arrangement can move in under the weight (1,60,84) with the carrier arrangement retracted.

33. Energy storage according to claim 32, wherein the frame (110) further has a lifting device for cooperation with a lifting arrangement, the lifting device having recesses (113) with stop surfaces (114) running laterally on the frame (110), each on opposite sides. having.

34. Energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81) according to claim 15, wherein it has a supporting structure which in turn is provided with a building structure.

35. Weight (1.60) for an energy storage device (1,20,50,70,81), which has on its underside a preferably straight recess (2) extending over its length for receiving a carrier vehicle (7,100). .

36. Weight (1.60) according to claim 35, wherein on its upper side (5) road elements for a carrier vehicle (7) running on it are arranged, which are preferably aligned with a recess (2) arranged on its underside for receiving the carrier vehicle are.

37. Weight (1.60) according to claim 35, wherein the roadway elements are designed as rails (6) for a rail-bound carrier vehicle (7,100) running on them.

38. Weight (1.60) according to claim 35, wherein it is provided with a lifting device for cooperation with a lifting arrangement of a crane, which allows the weight to be raised by the crane, the lifting device preferably being located on the side of the weight, in each case on opposite sides, has extending recesses (61) with stop surfaces (62).

39. Rail-bound carrier vehicle (100) for a weight (1,60,84) with a chassis running on rails and a loading area (121) on which a weight (1,60,84) for an energy storage device (1,20,50 ,70,81) can be positioned for potential energy, characterized in that the loading area (121) in turn has rails (6), such that the loading area can be driven on by a rail-bound carrier vehicle (7), the rails (6) preferably being are arranged on the loading area transversely to the running direction of the chassis.

31

REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26)