Rapid Battery Replacement and Recharging Techniques (CellGel)

• US 20140272521A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Original Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Inventors: Beckman, Christopher V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,461,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/122
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/049 Processes for forming or storing electrodes in the battery container
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/38 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4214 Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4242 Regeneration of electrolyte or reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/021 Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/025 with shapes other than plane or cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/138 adapted for specific cells, e.g. electrochemical cells operating at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 : Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 : Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• 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: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53022 : with means to test work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53265 : with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

New electrochemical battery recharging, refurbishment and replacement techniques are provided. In some aspects of the invention, small, fungible battery elements may be immersed in a fluid and delivered via a bifurcated pump interface that simultaneously unloads discharged cells and loads new, charged cells, to accomplish rapid cell replacement and recharging. The cells may be magnetically aligned to bring cathode and anode elements together, in series, and bridge contacts within a container (powering an appliance). Density differentials between charged and discharged elements may aid in placing them in series (with similar charge states and capacities) and in removing them during replacement.

In other aspects, electrode elements may be rapidly flushed to accomplish rapid recharging, in a staged process. Aspects of the invention also provide for rapid exchange of larger, streamlined battery elements, without the use of an immersive fluid, and systematic control of recharging balances accomplished by such exchanges.

Claims

1. A specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s), an at least partially streamlined outer profile further comprising at least two contacts, corresponding with said battery cell'"'"'s cathode and anode, respectively, and which may be dumped into, and aligned with electrical contacts in, a holding container servicing an appliance, suspended in an immersive fluid.

2. The specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s) of claim 1, further comprising wherein said cell, and other, similar cells, are suspended together in an insulating fluid that prevents short-circuiting the cells.

3. The specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s) of claim 2, further comprising wherein said container comprises a liquid-tight holding tank with electrical contacts for engaging at least some of both the anode(s) and cathode(s) of said cells.

4. The specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s) of claim 1, further comprising wherein said cell may change its density upon discharge from a charged state (and/or vice versa) and thereby may increase its sortability.

5. The specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s) of claim 3, further comprising in which said tank may be serviced by tubes or other conduits for rapidly removing discharged cells, and replacing them with charged cells, via a pump that engages the fluid in which said cells are suspended.

6. The specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s) of claim 5, further comprising in which an external pump brings said discharged cells to a recharging device, for returning them to a charged state, and brings charged cells to an appliance, for providing electrical power to an appliance.

7. The specialized electrochemical battery cell facilitating rapid exchange in a container for such battery cell(s) of claim 6, further comprising in which said external pump further comprises a bifurcated nozzle servicing two separate tubes for discharged cell removal from and charged cell delivery to said tank.

8. A specialized electrochemical battery component facilitating the rapid exchange of charged elements of such battery cell(s), comprising a variably-enclosing container comprised within the battery cell, which may be flushed by new electrode elements and/or an interstitial fluid in which said electrode elements may be immersed, entering and pushing old electrode elements out

9. The specialized electrochemical battery component facilitating the rapid exchange of charged elements of such battery cell(s) of claim 8, further comprising in which said new electrode elements comprise cathode elements with intercalation capabilities for accepting Li+ or other ions, but which presently contain no such ions.

10. The specialized electrochemical battery component facilitating the rapid exchange of charged elements of such battery cell(s) of claim 9, further comprising in which contacts for recharging an anode are applied to drive electrons into an anode associated with said battery component.

11. The specialized electrochemical battery component facilitating the rapid exchange of charged elements of such battery cell(s) of claim 8, further comprising in which a electrolyte fluid, with substantially all charge-carrying ions removed or not present, is flushed through said container to facilitate stripping charge carrying ions from a cathode.

12. The specialized electrochemical battery component facilitating the rapid exchange of charged elements of such battery cell(s) of claim 11, further comprising in which a charging (reverse) current is applied to at least part of said battery.

13. The specialized electrochemical battery component facilitating the rapid exchange of charged elements of such battery cell(s) of claim 12, further comprising in which said container comprises both an inlet and outlet, to aid in said being flushed.

14. A system for rapidly replacing a specialized, streamlined battery cell, comprising a carriage and/or holding and/or assessment container for holding, assessing data from, delivering, and installing and/or capturing a streamlined battery cell with specialized contacts for interfacing with said container.

15. The system for rapidly replacing a specialized, streamlined battery cell of claim 14, further comprising in which said container pushes a new streamlined battery cell into an appliance to install it and, in that process, the release of an old streamlined battery cell is triggered.

16. The system for rapidly replacing a specialized, streamlined battery cell of claim 15, further comprising in which a control system assesses a net charge gain, net capacity gain, or other net quality gain from the exchange of the old battery for the new battery.

17. The system for rapidly replacing a specialized, streamlined battery cell of claim 16, further comprising in which said control system assesses a charge to a user initiating said exchange of said old battery for said new battery.

18. The system for rapidly replacing a specialized, streamlined battery cell of claim 16, further comprising in which said assessment is made prior to effectuating said exchange.