System and method for storing and releasing energy

• US 8,080,972 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goal Zero LLC (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Goal Zero LLC (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US12/477,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20100102772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/134, 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

A power system includes a housing having a base and a handle, a battery; a charge controller, and an inverter. The power system further includes a chimney-like venting system for cooling the power system. The chimney venting system may have at least one opening near said base and at least one opening near said handle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a cylindrically-tapered housing having a base proximate a lower end and a handle proximate an upper end;

a battery supported on the base and disposed within the cylindrical housing so that a first air space is defined between an outer surface of the battery and an inner surface of the cylindrical housing;

a charge controller disposed within the cylindrically-tapered housing above the battery so that a second air space is defined between an outer surface of the charge controller and the inner surface of the cylindrically-tapered housing;

an inverter disposed within the cylindrically-tapered housing above the battery so that a third air space is defined between an outer surface of the inverter and the inner surface of the cylindrically-tapered housing; and

a chimney venting system for cooling said system, said chimney venting system configured to draw a supply of ambient air along an airflow path defined at least partially by at least one lower opening near said base, and the first air space proximate the battery, and the second air space proximate the charge controller, and the third air space proximate the inverter, and at least one upper opening near said handle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a solar panel for charging said battery.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a heat sink positioned between said charger controller and inverter.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shock absorption means for cushioning said battery.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cylindrically-tapered housing is at least partially tapered from the lower end toward the upper end.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one upper opening is disposed beneath the handle and is at least partially concealed by the handle.

7. A system, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical housing having a uniformly tapered profile extending at least partially from a base portion proximate a lower end of the housing toward a handle portion proximate an upper end of the housing;

a battery supported on the base portion and disposed within the cylindrical housing so that a first air space is defined around the battery and within the cylindrical housing;

a shock absorber operably coupled between the base portion and the battery;

a charge controller and an inverter disposed within the cylindrical housing above the battery so that a second air space is defined around the charge controller and the inverter and within the cylindrical housing;

a heat sink disposed at least partially between the charger controller and the inverter, and in communication with the second air space;

a venting system for cooling the battery and the charge controller and the inverter and the heat sink, the venting system configured to draw a supply of ambient air from outside of the housing along an airflow path defined at least partially by at least one lower air-entrance opening proximate the lower end of the housing, and the first air space proximate the battery, and the second air space proximate the charge controller and the inverter, and at least one upper air-exit opening proximate the upper end of the housing.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one upper air-exit opening is disposed beneath the handle portion and is at least partially concealed by the handle portion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one upper air-exit opening is defined at least partially by a junction beneath the handle portion and the housing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one upper air-exit opening is configured to direct the supply of ambient air flowing along the airflow path in a direction away from the handle portion.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the shock absorber comprises a user-replaceable item if broken.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first load transferring post coupled to the base portion and the lower end of the housing.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second load transferring post coupled to the handle portion and the upper end of the housing.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the tapered profile of the cylindrical housing is configured to facilitate a chimney effect for the supply of ambient air flowing along the airflow path.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the heat sink is configured to provide electromagnetic shielding between the inverter and the charge controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the heat sink is substantially L-shaped and comprises a plurality of fins exposed to the second air space.