US 12,044,218 B2
Energy storage and delivery system and method
Andrea Pedretti, Thousand Oaks, CA (US)
Assigned to Energy Vault, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US)
Filed by Energy Vault, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/363,502.
Application 18/363,502 is a continuation of application No. 18/063,919, filed on Dec. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,761,432.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/265,348, filed on Dec. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0018948 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F03G 3/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 3/094 (2021.08) [H02K 7/1807 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy storage and delivery system, comprising:
one or more modules, each of the one or more modules comprising:
a frame having a vertical height above a foundation defined by a plurality of rows that extend horizontally, the frame comprising:
an upper section having a first set of rows, each of the first set of rows configured to receive and support a plurality of blocks;
a lower section having a second set of rows, each of the second set of rows configured to receive and support the plurality of blocks;
an elevator shaft disposed on an end of the plurality of rows; and
an elevator cage assembly movably disposed in the elevator shaft, the elevator cage assembly sized to receive one or more of the plurality of blocks, the elevator cage assembly configured to move relative to a row of the first set of rows or the second set of rows to pick-up or drop-off said one or more of the plurality of blocks; and
a lift drive system for moving the elevator cage assembly, the lift drive system comprising:
an electric motor-generator configured to rotate a shaft; and
one or more cables extending from the elevator cage assembly and around the shaft;
wherein the lift drive system is operable to rotate the shaft in a first direction to lower the elevator cage assembly, and wherein the lift drive system is configured to rotate the shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the elevator cage assembly.