Transportable Electrical Energy Storage System

• US 20100117591A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Farris, Lloyd K., Copp, James C., Hoelscher, David L., Thomas, Toby D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A transportable electrical energy storage system includes an electrical energy storage unit, an electrical energy storage unit management system operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit, an AC/DC rectifier operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit management system, and a DC/DC converter operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit management system. The system further includes at least one bi-directional adapter operatively associated with the electrical energy storage unit and a case for protecting the electrical energy storage unit, the electrical energy storage unit management system, the AC/DC rectifier, the DC/DC converter, and the at least one bi-directional adapter.

Claims

1. A transportable electrical energy storage system, comprising:

an electrical energy storage unit;

an electrical energy storage unit management system operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit;

an AC/DC rectifier operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit management system;

a DC/DC converter operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit management system;

at least one bi-directional adapter operatively associated with the electrical energy storage unit; and

a case for protecting the electrical energy storage unit, the electrical energy storage unit management system, the AC/DC rectifier, the DC/DC converter, and the at least one bi-directional adapter.

2. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises:

at least one removable electrical energy storage module, the at least one electrical energy storage module comprising;

at least one rechargeable electrical cell;

a shell housing the at least one rechargeable cell;

a male, positive contact extending from a first side of the shell;

a male, negative contact extending from the first side of the shell;

a female, positive contact exposed from a second side of the shell opposite the first side of the shell;

a female, negative contact exposed from the second side of the shell,

wherein the contacts are electrically coupled with the at least one rechargeable electrical cell.

3. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 2, wherein the at least one removable electrical energy storage module comprises:

a first removable electrical energy storage module; and

a second removable electrical energy storage module mated to the first removable electrical energy storage module, such that the male contacts of the first electrical energy storage module are mated with the female contacts of the second electrical energy storage module or the female contacts of the first electrical energy storage module are mated with the male contacts of the second electrical energy storage module.

4. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises:

one of a lithium-ion cell, a nickel-cadmium cell, a nickel-metal hydride cell, a lithium cell, and a lead-acid cell.

5. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises:

a solid state, capacitive, electrical energy storage device.

6. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for recharging the electrical energy storage unit.

7. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit management system is configured to recharge the electrical energy storage unit with electrical power inputted via the at least one bi-directional adapter.

8. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit management system.

9. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fuel cell operably associated with the electrical energy storage unit management system for recharging the electrical energy storage unit.

10. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 9, wherein the fuel cell is disposed in the case.

11. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit management system is configured to operate the electrical energy storage system in a first mode, wherein the electrical energy storage system outputs electrical power having characteristics that mimic characteristics of a lead-acid battery system to which the electrical energy storage system is electrically connected, and a second mode, wherein the electrical energy storage system outputs electrical power having characteristics of the electrical energy storage unit.

12. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage system is configured to be carried by no more than two personnel.

13. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the AC/DC rectifier accepts electrical power exhibiting a voltage within a range of about 50 volts to about 300 volts.

14. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the DC/DC converter accepts electrical power exhibiting a voltage within a range of about 6 volts to about 50 volts.

15. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit exhibits a nominal capacity of at least two kilowatt-hours.

16. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage system is configured to operate within a temperature range of about −

40 degrees centigrade to about 70 degrees centigrade.

17. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bi-directional adapter is configured as a NATO slave connector.

18. The transportable electrical energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage unit is configured to provide a maximum, continuous discharge rate of electrical power through the at least one bi-directional adapters of at least two kilowatts at 200 amperes of current.

19. An electrical energy storage module, comprising:

at least one rechargeable electrical cell;

a shell housing the at least one rechargeable cell;

a male, positive contact extending from a first side of the shell;

a male, negative contact extending from the first side of the shell;

a female, positive contact exposed from a second side of the shell opposite the first side of the shell; and

a female, negative contact exposed from the second side of the shell,

wherein the contacts are electrically coupled with the at least one rechargeable electrical cell.

20. The electrical energy storage module of claim 19, wherein the at least one rechargeable electrical cell comprises:

one of a lithium-ion cell, a nickel-cadmium cell, a nickel-metal hydride cell, a lithium cell, and a lead-acid cell.

21. The electrical energy storage module of claim 19, wherein the at least one rechargeable electrical cell comprises:

a solid state, capacitive, electrical energy storage device.

22. The electrical energy storage module of claim 19, wherein the first side of the shell defines protrusions extending to a height above the male contacts and the second side of the shell defines grooves configured to receive protrusions corresponding to the protrusions define by the first side of the shell.

23. The electrical energy storage module of claim 19, further comprising:

a latch for latching the electrical energy storage module to an adjacent electrical energy storage module.

24. The electrical energy storage module of claim 19, wherein the electrical energy storage module is configured to output electrical power exhibiting a plurality of selectable voltages.

25. An electrical energy storage module charging device, comprising:

an electrical energy storage module charging and management system configured to receive electrical power from an external source;

an insert defining at least one cavity;

a positive female contact exposed into a first side of the cavity;

a negative female contact exposed into the first side of the cavity;

a positive male contact exposed into a second side of the cavity; and

a negative male contact exposed into the second side of the cavity;

wherein the contacts are electrically coupled with the electrical energy storage module charging and management system; and

wherein the contacts are configured to mate with corresponding contacts of an electrical energy storage module.

26. The electrical energy storage module charging device of claim 25, further comprising:

an AC/DC rectifier operably associated with the electrical energy storage module management system; and

a DC/DC converter operably associated with the electrical energy storage module management system.

27. The electrical energy storage module charging device of claim 25, further comprising:

grooves extending from the at least one cavity for receiving corresponding protrusions of the electrical energy storage module.

28. The electrical energy storage module charging device of claim 25, further comprising:

protrusions extending into the at least one cavity for reception in corresponding grooves of the electrical energy storage module.