US 12,421,938 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 Jul. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/777,119.
Application 18/777,119 is a continuation of application No. 18/363,502, filed on Aug. 1, 2023, granted, now 12,044,218.
Application 18/363,502 is a continuation of application No. 18/063,919, filed on Dec. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,761,432, issued on Sep. 19, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/265,348, filed on Dec. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0012259 A1, Jan. 9, 2025
Int. Cl. F16C 3/00 (2006.01); F03G 3/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 3/094 (2021.08) [H02K 7/1807 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy storage and delivery system, comprising:
a frame having a vertical height above a foundation defined by a plurality of rows that extend horizontally;
one or more elevator shafts disposed on an end of the plurality of rows;
an elevator cage assembly movably disposed in the one or more elevator shafts, the elevator cage assembly comprising:
an elevator cage sized to hold and support one or more blocks, the elevator cage having a top support, a rear support attached to the top support and extending transverse to the top support, and a bottom support attached to and extending transverse to the rear support; and
a base positioned underneath the elevator cage and slidably coupled to the elevator cage; 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;
one or more cables extending from a first end attached to the elevator cage assembly, at least partially around the shaft, and to a second end attached to a counterweight;
a first pulley disposed vertically above the elevator cage assembly and operable to maintain the one or more cables in a vertical orientation as the elevator cage assembly moves up and down the one or more elevator shafts; and
a second pulley spaced from the first pulley and disposed vertically above the counterweight, the second pulley operable to maintain the one or more cables in the vertical orientation as the counterweight moves up and down the one or more elevator shafts;
wherein the elevator cage is configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the base to pick-up or drop-off the one or more blocks; and
wherein the first pulley is actuatable to move laterally with the elevator cage to maintain the vertical orientation of the one or more cables as the elevator cage moves laterally to pick-up or drop-off the one or more blocks.