Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
First Claim
1. An enclosure for housing at least one battery rack, comprising:
- said battery rack having a plurality of removable batteries;
a first upper shelf and a second lower shelf, said first shelf spaced apart from said second shelf forming a gap between said shelves in which said removable batteries reside;
said removable batteries alternately inserted into and removed from said gap between said first upper shelf and said second lower shelf;
each of said removable batteries includes a first electrical battery contact and a second electrical battery contact;
said first upper shelf includes a plurality of first electrical battery connectors, each of said first battery connectors matingly engage one of said first electrical battery contacts of said removable batteries, said first upper shelf includes a plurality of second electrical battery connectors, each of said second battery connectors matingly engage one of said second electrical battery contacts of one of said removable batteries, said first upper shelf includes a plurality of apertures therein;
said first upper shelf includes a plurality of interface circuits, each of said interface circuits electrically communicating with a battery bus and a charge bus, each of said interface circuits includes switching means, said switching means of said interface circuit interconnects said battery bus and said charge bus with said first electrical battery connectors;
said second lower shelf supports said removable batteries;
each of said removable batteries includes;
a latch;
a spring biasing said latch to a first locking position; and
, said latch movable to a second depressed position;
each of said latches interengages one of said apertures in said first upper shelf locking each of said removable batteries to said first shelf when each of said removable batteries is inserted in said rack in said gap between said first and second shelves; and
,each of said removable batteries is removable from said gap between said first and second shelves when each of said latches is movable against said bias of said springs to said second depressed position wherein said latches disengage from said apertures and said removable batteries are released from said first shelf.
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Abstract
A scalable intelligent power-supply system and method capable of powering a defined load for a specified period of time is disclosed and claimed. Multiple external AC and DC inputs supply power to the system if available and required. An internal DC input from a back-up energy source is on board. The back-up energy source is scalable by adding additional energy cartridges such as batteries in racks mounted within frames of the system. The AC and DC inputs (including the internal DC input) are controlled, measured, sensed, and converted by circuitry controlled by the microprocessor into multiple AC and/or DC outputs. A microprocessor manages power input to, within, and output from the system. The performance of a Lithium-ion batteries used to power an automobile can be determined on the basis individual battery packs or individual battery cells within the packs. This enables the clusters or groups of Lithium ion batteries to be used in a vehicle such that these clusters operate and function as a “gas” tank or more appropriately as an “energy” tank.
81 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An enclosure for housing at least one battery rack, comprising:
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said battery rack having a plurality of removable batteries; a first upper shelf and a second lower shelf, said first shelf spaced apart from said second shelf forming a gap between said shelves in which said removable batteries reside; said removable batteries alternately inserted into and removed from said gap between said first upper shelf and said second lower shelf; each of said removable batteries includes a first electrical battery contact and a second electrical battery contact; said first upper shelf includes a plurality of first electrical battery connectors, each of said first battery connectors matingly engage one of said first electrical battery contacts of said removable batteries, said first upper shelf includes a plurality of second electrical battery connectors, each of said second battery connectors matingly engage one of said second electrical battery contacts of one of said removable batteries, said first upper shelf includes a plurality of apertures therein; said first upper shelf includes a plurality of interface circuits, each of said interface circuits electrically communicating with a battery bus and a charge bus, each of said interface circuits includes switching means, said switching means of said interface circuit interconnects said battery bus and said charge bus with said first electrical battery connectors; said second lower shelf supports said removable batteries; each of said removable batteries includes;
a latch;
a spring biasing said latch to a first locking position; and
, said latch movable to a second depressed position;each of said latches interengages one of said apertures in said first upper shelf locking each of said removable batteries to said first shelf when each of said removable batteries is inserted in said rack in said gap between said first and second shelves; and
,each of said removable batteries is removable from said gap between said first and second shelves when each of said latches is movable against said bias of said springs to said second depressed position wherein said latches disengage from said apertures and said removable batteries are released from said first shelf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A rack for housing a removable battery, comprising:
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a first upper shelf and a second lower shelf, said first shelf spaced apart from said second shelf forming a gap between said shelves in which said removable battery resides; said removable battery alternately inserted into and removed from said gap between said first upper shelf and said second lower shelf; said removable battery includes a first electrical battery contact and a second electrical battery contact; said first upper shelf includes a first electrical battery connector which matingly engages said first electrical battery contact and a second electrical battery connector which matingly engages said second electrical battery contact, said first upper shelf includes an aperture therein; said first upper shelf includes an interface circuit, said interface circuit in electrical communication with a battery bus and a charge bus, said interface circuit includes switching means, said switching means of said interface circuit interconnects said battery bus and said charge bus with said first electrical battery connector; said second lower shelf supports said removable battery; said removable battery includes;
a latch;
a spring biasing said latch to a first locking position; and
, said latch being movable to a second depressed position;said latch interengages said aperture in said first upper shelf locking said removable battery to said first shelf when said removable battery is inserted in said gap between said first and second shelves; and
,said removable battery is removable from said gap between said first and second shelves when said latch is moved against said bias of said spring to said second depressed position wherein said latch disengages from said aperture and said removable battery is released from said first shelf. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A rack for housing a plurality of removable batteries, comprising:
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a first upper shelf and a second lower shelf, said first shelf spaced apart from said second shelf forming a gap between said shelves in which said removable batteries reside; said removable batteries alternately inserted into and removed from said gap between said first upper shelf and said second lower shelf; each of said removable batteries includes a first electrical battery contact and a second electrical battery contact; said first upper shelf includes a plurality of first electrical battery connectors, each of said first battery connectors matingly engage said first electrical battery contact of one of said removable batteries, said first upper shelf includes a plurality of said second electrical battery connectors, each of said second battery connectors matingly engage said second electrical battery contact of one of said removable batteries, said first upper shelf includes a plurality of apertures therein; said first upper shelf includes a plurality of interface circuits, each of said interface circuits electrically communicating with a battery bus and a charge bus, each of said interface circuits includes switching means, said switching means of said interface circuit interconnects said battery bus and said charge bus with each of said first electrical battery connectors of said first upper shelf; said second lower shelf supports said removable batteries; each of said removable batteries includes;
a latch;
a spring biasing said latch to a first locking position; and
, said latch being movable to a second depressed position;each of said latches interengages one of said apertures in said first upper shelf locking each of said removable batteries to said first shelf when each of said removable batteries is inserted in said rack in said gap between said first and second shelves; and
,each of said removable batteries is removable from said gap between said first and second shelves when each of said latches is moved against said bias of said springs to said second depressed position wherein said latches disengage from said apertures and said removable batteries are released from said first shelf.
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Specification