Battery assembly for use in an uninterruptible power supply system and method
First Claim
1. A battery assembly, comprising:
- (a) a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing; and
(b) a thermally conductive mechanism positioned outside said housing but in sufficiently close proximity to and electrically isolated from said terminal and configured in a way which defines a thermally conductive path outside said housing from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery includes a housing and at least one exposed terminal. A thermally conductive mechanism is positioned outside the housing but in close proximity to the terminal, defining a thermally conductive path from the terminal to a point further from the terminal. The mechanism can use thermally conductive brackets that may be electrically isolated from the battery terminals. A heat sink may be positioned to receive heat from the bracket. A heat pump can cooperate with the thermally conductive mechanism and the heat sink for aiding in the movement of heat. A heater can be positioned within the housing for heating the inside of the housing. The battery can be encased by an arrangement of vacuum insulated panels in a way which provides for forming an external electrical connection with the battery terminals. A backup battery assembly and associated uninterruptible power system are described for powering a primary load.
107 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing; and
(b) a thermally conductive mechanism positioned outside said housing but in sufficiently close proximity to and electrically isolated from said terminal and configured in a way which defines a thermally conductive path outside said housing from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing; and
(b) a thermally conductive mechanism positioned outside said housing but in sufficiently close proximity to said terminal and configured in a way which defines a thermally conductive path outside said housing from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal; and
(c) an arrangement cooperating with said thermally conductive mechanism for collecting heat at said further point. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing; and
(b) a thermally conductive mechanism positioned outside said housing but in sufficiently close proximity to said terminal and configured in a way which defines a thermally conductive path outside said housing from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal; and
(c) an arrangement cooperating with said thermally conductive mechanism for dispersing heat at said further point. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing and a pair of terminals extending out of said housing;
(b) an arrangement of vacuum insulated panels defining a thermally isolated interior that receives said battery in a way which provides for forming an external electrical connection with said terminals (c) at least one thermally conductive bracket mounted with and carried by said battery and positioned in sufficiently close proximity to said terminal and configured in a way which defines a thermally conductive path extending out of said thermally isolated interior from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal;
(d) a heat sink mounted with and carried by said battery and positioned in sufficiently close proximity to said further point defined by said thermally conductive path so as to receive heat reaching said last-mentioned point as it passes from said terminal along said path;
(e) a thermoelectric cooler mounted with and carried by said battery and cooperating with said thermally conductive mechanism and said heat sink for aiding in the movement of heat from said terminal to said heat sink; and
(f) a heater positioned proximate to said housing for heating the inside of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing; and
(b) a thermally conductive mechanism positioned outside said housing but in sufficiently close proximity to said terminal and configured in a way which defines a thermally conductive path outside said housing from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal; and
(c) a thermoelectric cooling device located proximate to said further point.
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21. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing;
(b) means for thermally insulating said battery while providing access to said terminal for use in forming an electrical connection therewith;
(c) means defining a thermally conductive path outside said panels from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal;
(d) means for receiving heat reaching said last-mentioned point as it passes from said terminal along said path;
(e) means for aiding in the movement of heat from said terminal to said receiving means; and
(f) means for heating the inside of the housing.
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22. A battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a battery including a housing; and
(b) an arrangement of components mounted with and carried by the battery housing including a cooling mechanism and a heating mechanism configured so as to keep the temperature within the battery housing within a desired temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. In an uninterruptible power system which includes a primary power supply for powering a primary load, a backup battery assembly, comprising:
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(a) a backup battery (i) adapted for connection with said primary power supply so that the primary power supply is able to recharge the backup battery and (ii) adapted for connection with said primary load so that the backup battery is able to power the primary load when said primary power supply is unable to do so;
(b) an arrangement connected with and powered by said backup battery for causing heat to move away from said battery to cool down the battery, said arrangement including a sensor for sensing when said battery is being used to power the primary load and circuitry for insuring that the arrangement does not use power from the battery to cause heat to move away from the battery when the battery is being used to power the primary load. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An uninterruptible power system for powering a primary load, comprising:
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(a) a primary power supply for powering said primary load;
(b) a backup battery (i) connected with said primary power supply so that the primary power supply is able to recharge the backup battery and (ii) connected with said primary load so that the backup battery is able to power the primary load when said primary power supply is unable to do so;
(c) an arrangement connected with and powered by said backup battery for causing heat to move away from said battery whereby to cool down the battery, said arrangement including a sensor for sensing when said battery is being used to power the primary load and circuitry for insuring that the arrangement does not use power from the battery to cause heat to move away from the battery when the battery is being used to power the primary load. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method, comprising:
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(a) providing a battery including a housing and at least one terminal extending out of said housing;
(b) thermally insulating said battery while providing for an external electrical connection with said terminal;
(c) defining a thermally conductive path from a point proximate said terminal to a point further from the terminal;
(d) selectively aiding in the movement of heat from said terminal to said further point; and
(e) receiving heat reaching said further point, after passing from said terminal along said path, for dissipation into an ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification