Elevator Backup System

• US 20090173582A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encell Technology, Inc
• Original Assignee: Encell Technology, Inc
• Inventors: Ogg, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 8,883,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/290
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/281 Large cells or batteries with stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0404 by coating on electrode collectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/043 involving compressing or compaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/244 Zinc electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/26 Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/50 of manganese
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/70 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/808 Foamed, spongy materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/531 Electrode connections inside a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 including coating or impregnating

Abstract

A method of controlling an elevator system comprises transferring power to an elevator car from a primary power supply to a backup power supply without interruption of power if the primary power supply fails or is disrupted. Following transfer of power to the elevator car from the primary power supply to the backup power supply either pending operations of the elevator car are completed or the elevator car is moved to a predetermined floor based on pending operations of the elevator car. The backup power supply can be attached to the elevator car.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an elevator system, the method comprising:

transferring power to an elevator car from a primary power supply to a backup power supply without interruption of power if the primary power supply fails or is disrupted; and

following transfer of power to the elevator car from the primary power supply to the backup power supply either;

completing pending operations of the elevator car;

or

moving the elevator car to a predetermined floor based on pending operations of the elevator car.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the primary power supply comprises AC power; and

the backup power supply comprises DC power.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup power supply is located on top of the elevator car.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup power supply comprises a rechargeable prismatic battery comprising:

an electrode stack comprised of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates, wherein;

the positive electrode plates each comprise;

manganese;

compressed metal foam; and

positive electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the positive electrode plates are arranged such that the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another; and

the negative electrode plates each comprise;

zinc;

compressed metal foam; and

negative electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the negative electrode plates are arranged such that the negative electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another;

positive current collectors formed by fusing the positive electrode plate extensions; and

negative current collectors formed by fusing the negative electrode plate extensions.

5. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator car;

a primary power supply; and

a backup power supply attached to the elevator car.

6. The elevator system of claim 5, wherein the backup power supply is located on top of the elevator car.

7. The elevator system of claim 5, wherein:

the primary power supply comprises AC power; and

the backup power supply comprises DC power.

8. The elevator system of claim 5, further comprising:

solar recharging capabilities for the backup power supply.

9. The elevator system of claim 5, wherein the backup power supply comprises a rechargeable prismatic battery comprising:

an electrode stack comprised of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates, wherein;

the positive electrode plates each comprise;

manganese;

compressed metal foam; and

positive electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the positive electrode plates are arranged such that the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another; and

the negative electrode plates each comprise;

zinc;

compressed metal foam; and

negative electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the negative electrode plates are arranged such that the negative electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another;

positive current collectors formed by fusing the positive electrode plate extensions; and

negative current collectors formed by fusing the negative electrode plate extensions.

10. A rechargeable prismatic battery comprising:

an electrode stack comprised of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates, wherein;

the positive electrode plates each comprise;

manganese;

compressed metal foam; and

positive electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the positive electrode plates are arranged such that the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another; and

the negative electrode plates each comprise;

zinc;

compressed metal foam; and

negative electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the negative electrode plates are arranged such that the negative electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another;

positive current collectors formed by fusing the positive electrode plate extensions; and

negative current collectors formed by fusing the negative electrode plate extensions.

11. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein the positive current collectors are connected to a positive terminal.

12. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein the negative current collectors are connected to a negative terminal.

13. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of positive electrode plates comprises a finite number of sides, and further wherein the positive electrode plate extensions are fused to form positive current collectors at multiple sides of the electrode stack.

14. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 12, wherein the positive current collectors are coextensive with the sides of the electrode stack.

15. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of negative electrode plates comprises a finite number of sides, and further wherein the negative electrode plate extensions are fused to form negative current collectors at multiple sides of the electrode stack.

16. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 15, wherein the positive current collectors are coextensive with the sides of the electrode stack.

17. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of positive electrode plates comprises an even number of sides, and further wherein the positive electrode plate extensions are fused to form positive current collectors at alternating sides of the electrode stack.

18. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of negative electrode plates comprises an even number of sides, and further wherein the negative electrode plate extensions are fused to form negative current collectors at alternating sides of the electrode stack.

19. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein all of the positive electrode plates are the same, and all of the negative electrode plates are the same.

20. The rechargeable prismatic battery of claim 10, wherein all of the positive electrode plate extensions and all of the negative electrode plate extensions are bent at the same angle.

21. A prismatic battery comprising:

an electrode stack comprised of positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, and separator layers therebetween, wherein;

the positive electrode plates comprise positive electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the positive electrode plates are arranged such that the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another; and

the negative electrode plates comprise negative electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the negative electrode plates are arranged such that the negative electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another;

positive current collectors formed by fusing the positive electrode plate extensions; and

negative current collectors formed by fusing the negative electrode plate extensions.

22. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein the positive current collectors are connected to a positive terminal.

23. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein the negative current collectors are connected to a negative terminal.

24. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of positive electrode plates comprises a finite number of sides, and further wherein the positive electrode plate extensions are fused to form positive current collectors at multiple sides of the electrode stack.

25. The prismatic battery of claim 24, wherein the positive current collectors are coextensive with the sides of the electrode stack.

26. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of negative electrode plates comprises a finite number of sides, and further wherein the negative electrode plate extensions are fused to form negative current collectors at multiple sides of the electrode stack.

27. The prismatic battery of claim 26, wherein the positive current collectors are coextensive with the sides of the electrode stack.

28. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of positive electrode plates comprises an even number of sides, and further wherein the positive electrode plate extensions are fused to form positive current collectors at alternating sides of the electrode stack.

29. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein the periphery of the electrode stack of negative electrode plates comprises an even number of sides, and further wherein the negative electrode plate extensions are fused to form negative current collectors at alternating sides of the electrode stack.

30. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein all of the positive electrode plates are the same, and all of the negative electrode plates are the same.

31. The prismatic battery of claim 21, wherein all of the positive electrode plate extensions and all of the negative electrode plate extensions are bent at the same angle.

32. A method of manufacturing a prismatic battery comprising:

stacking positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, and separator layers therebetween, wherein;

the positive electrode plates comprise positive electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the positive electrode plates are arranged such that the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another; and

the negative electrode plates comprise negative electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the negative electrode plates are arranged such that the negative electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another;

fusing the positive electrode plate extensions to form positive current collectors; and

fusing the negative electrode plate extensions to form negative current collectors.

33. A method of manufacturing a series of prismatic batteries comprising:

manufacturing multiple prismatic batteries by a method comprising;

stacking positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, and separator layers therebetween, wherein;

the positive electrode plates comprise positive electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the positive electrode plates are arranged such that the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another; and

the negative electrode plates comprise negative electrode plate extensions that extend beyond a periphery of the electrode stack, and the negative electrode plates are arranged such that the negative electrode plate extensions are aligned with one another and in a direction opposite that in which the positive electrode plate extensions are aligned;

fusing the positive electrode plate extensions to form positive current collectors; and

fusing the negative electrode plate extensions to form negative current collectors; and

fusing the positive current collectors of one electrode stack to the negative current collectors of another electrode stack.

34. A flat plate electrode cell comprising:

positive electrode plates each comprising;

manganese; and

compressed metal foam; and

negative electrode plates each comprising;

zinc; and

compressed metal foam.

35. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 34,

wherein:

the positive electrode plates have aligned positive electrode plate extensions; and

the negative electrode plates have aligned negative electrode plate extensions; and

the flat plate electrode cell further comprises;

a positive terminal formed from the aligned positive electrode plate extensions of the positive electrode plates; and

a negative terminal formed from the aligned negative electrode plate extensions of the negative electrode plates.