Energy storage and generation system

Abstract

An energy system includes a lift system and a generator system. The lift system includes an elevator cab and a driver. The driver raises and lowers the elevator cab. The generator system includes a generator and a plurality of carriage systems. The generator is coupled to a generator axle, receives rotation from the generator axle, and generates output energy. Each of the plurality of carriage systems include a unidirectional pulley coupled to the generator axle and a carriage coupled to the unidirectional pulley. The unidirectional pulley engages the generator axle to rotate the generator axle with the unidirectional pulley when the pulley is rotated in a first direction and does not engage the generator axle when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a second direction. The elevator cab is configured to raise the carriages. The carriages rotate the unidirectional pulleys in the first direction when the carriages are lowered.

Description

ENERGY STORAGE AND GENERATION SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Patent Application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 570,137, filed March 26, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 642,240, filed May 3, 2024, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a system configured to lift weights to store potential energy of the weights and generate energy using the potential energy of the weights.BACKGROUND

[0003] Many buildings and other structures include an elevator system. The elevator system may include an elevator configured to move people using the building between floors of the structure. However, there are many situations in which the elevator system is idle. For example, the elevator system may be idle at night when people are not using the structure.SUMMARY

[0004] In one embodiment, an energy system includes a lift system and a generator system. The lift system includes an elevator cab and a driver coupled to a lift axle. The driver is configured to rotate the lift axle to raise and lower the elevator cab. The generator system includes a generator coupled to a generator axle and a plurality of carriage systems coupled to the generator axle. The generator is configured to receive rotation from the generator axle and generate output energy utilizing the rotation received from the generator axle. Each of the plurality of carriage systems include a unidirectional pulley coupled to the generator axle and a carriage coupled to the unidirectional pulley. The unidirectional pulley is configured to engage the generator axle to rotate the generator axle with the unidirectional pulley when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a first direction and not engage the generator axle when theunidirectional pulley is rotated in a second direction. The elevator cab is configured to raise the carriages from a lowered position into a raised position. The carriages rotate the unidirectional pulleys in the first direction when the carriages are moving from the raised position toward the lowered position such that the unidirectional pulleys rotate the generator axles to provide rotation to the generator to generate the output energy.

[0005] In another embodiment, an energy system includes a lift system and a generator system. The lift system includes an elevator cab and a driver configured to raise and lower the elevator cab. The generator system includes a generator coupled to a generator axle and a carriage system coupled to the generator axle. The generator is configured to receive rotation from the generator axle and generate output energy utilizing the rotation received from the generator axle. The carriage system includes a carriage coupled to the generator axle and a weight configured to be received by the carriage to increase a potential energy associated with the carriage in a raised position. The elevator cab is configured to raise the carriage from a lowered position into the raised position. The weight is selectively transferrable from the carriage to the elevator cab when the carriage is in the lowered position and from the elevator cab to the carriage when the carriage is in the raised position.

[0006] In yet another embodiment, a generator system is configured to interface with a lift system. The generator system includes a generator coupled to a generator axle and a carriage system. The generator is configured to receive rotation from the generator axle and generate output energy utilizing the rotation received from the generator axle. The carriage system is coupled to the generator axle. The carriage system includes a unidirectional pulley coupled to the generator axle and a carriage coupled to the unidirectional pulley. The unidirectional pulley is configured to engage the generator axle to rotate the generator axle with the unidirectional pulley when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a first direction and not engage the generator axle when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a second direction. The carriage is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The carriage is configured to releasably couple with an elevator cab of the lift system when the carriage is the lowered position and release from the elevator cab when the carriage is in the raised position such that the elevator cab raises the carriage from the lowered position toward the raised position. The carriage rotates the unidirectional pulley in the first direction when the carriage is moving from the raisedposition toward the lowered position such that the unidirectional pulley rotates the generator axle to provide rotation to the generator to generate the output energy.

[0007] It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the subject matter disclosed herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several implementations in accordance with the disclosure and are therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an energy storage and generation system, according to some embodiments.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of an energy storage and generation system in a first configuration, according to some embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a front view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 3 in a second configuration.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a front view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 3 in a third configuration.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a front view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 3 in a fourth configuration.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an energy storage and generation system in a first configuration, according to some embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 7 in a second configuration.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 7 in a third configuration.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 7 in a fourth configuration.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 7 in a fifth configuration.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 6 in a first position.

[0021] FIG. 13 is a front view of the portion of the energy storage and generation system of FIG. 11 in a second position.

[0022] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an energy storage and generation system.

[0023] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an energy storage and generation system.

[0024] Reference is made to the accompanying drawings throughout the following detailed description. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative implementations described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other implementations may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged,substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods of generating and storing energy by lifting and lowering weights and, in particular, to an energy storage and generation system that includes a lift system that is configured to lift the weights and a generator that is configured to be rotated when the weights are lowered to generate energy. The lift system may also include a motor that is configured to lift the weights.

[0026] Many lift systems are configured as elevator systems (e.g., lift systems, etc.) that are disposed in an elevator shaft of a building or other structure. The elevator systems may include a cabin (e.g., a car, a cab, etc.) configured to transport passengers and / or goods vertically between floors of the building, a hoist system configured to lift and lower the cabin, and a counterweight configured to reduce energy required by the hoist system to lift and lower the cabin. The hoist system may include a motor configured to lift and lower the cabin, a pulley system driven by the motor, and a series of cables engaged with the pulley configured to raise and lower the cabin. However, there may be time periods in which the elevator system is idle. For example, the elevator system may be idle at night when people are not using the building. As another example, the building may be an office building and the elevator system may be idle during weekends when people are not working in the office building.

[0027] Various embodiments of the system and methods of generating and storing energy may provide benefits including, for example: (1) allowing for weights to be raised by the elevator system while energy is less expensive (e.g., due to surge energy pricing, etc.) and lowering the weights while energy is more expensive to save on energy costs (e.g., electricity costs, etc.); (2) lowering the weights during an energy shortage to make up a portion of energy needed to eliminate the energy shortage to reduce the effects of the energy shortage; (3) using existing elevator systems to lift the weights so that new energy storage and generation systems do not need to be constructed; and (4) using elevator systems to lift the weights while the elevator systems would otherwise be idle to reduce an idle time of the elevator systems andincrease an operating efficiency of the elevator systems (e.g., by increasing an amount of time that the elevator systems are not idle, etc.).

[0028] While various embodiments described herein are described with respect to systems for use with elevator systems, the systems described herein can include any other lifting system for lifting the weights (e.g., chair lifts, escalators, Ferris wheels, cranes, etc.). All such variations are envisioned and within the scope of the present application.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an energy storage and generation system 10 (e.g., an energy system, an energy storage system, a system, an energy generation system, etc.), according to an embodiment. The energy storage and generation system 10 includes a lift system 100 (e.g., an elevator system, a pulley system, etc.) and a generator system 200 (e.g., a weight system, a potential energy conversion system, etc.). The lift system 100 is configured to interface with the generator system 200 to store energy in the generator system 200 (e.g., store potential energy in the generator system 200, etc.). The generator system 200 may utilize the energy stored in the generator system 200 to generate energy (e.g., electrical energy, etc ). In some embodiments, the lift system 100 is configured as an elevator system disposed within an elevator shaft of a building. The elevator system may be configured to raise and lower people and / or goods between different floors of the building. As such, the energy storage and generation system 10 may function primarily as an elevator to raise and lower people and goods and function secondarily as a system for storing and generating energy. In various embodiments, when the lift system 100 is configured as the elevator system the generator system 200 is at least partially disposed within the elevator shaft of the building.

[0030] The lift system 100 includes a driver 110 (e.g., a motor, an engine, etc.) a lift axle 112 (e.g., a drive shaft, a lift shaft, etc.) coupled to the driver 110, a lift pulley assembly 114 (e.g., a sheave assembly, a hoist assembly, etc.) coupled to the lift axle 112, a lift cable 116 (e.g., a wire rope, a rope, etc.) engaged with the lift pulley assembly 114, and a lift cab 120 (e.g., an elevator car, an elevator cab, a body, etc.) coupled to the lift cable 116. The lift system 100 is configured to raise and lower the lift cab 120. The driver 110 is configured to receive an input energy from an input energy source (e.g., a battery, an electrical grid, a generator, a solar panel, a wind turbine, an external energy system, etc.) and rotate the lift axle 112 to raise andlower the lift cab 120. For example, the driver 1 10 may be an electrical motor configured to receive electricity from an electricity source and rotate the lift axle 112 using the electricity. The driver 110 may output a torque on the lift axle 112 based on the input energy received by the driver 110 from the input energy source.

[0031] The lift pulley assembly 114 may include a plurality of pulleys configured to interface with the lift cable 116. The lift pulley assembly 114 may be configured to reduce an amount of the torque that is needed to be outputted by the driver 110 on the lift axle 112 to raise and lower the lift cab 120 or increase a speed of the lift cab 120 based on the torque outputted by the driver 110 on the lift axle 112 (e.g., change a torque ratio between the driver 110 and the lift cab 120, etc.). For example, the lift pulley assembly 114 may be configured to distribute the load of the lift cab 120 between load supporting portions of the lift cable 116 to reduce the amount of the torque that is needed to be outputted by the driver 110 on the lift axle 112 to raise and lower the lift cab 120 (e.g., by utilizing a mechanical advantage resulting from the configuration of the lift pulley assembly 114, etc.). In other embodiments, the lift pulley assembly 114 includes a single pulley configured to interface with the lift cable 116 (e.g., a direct drive between the driver 110 and the lift cab 120, etc.).

[0032] In some embodiments, the lift cab 120 is coupled to a first end of the lift cable 116 and the lift system 100 also includes a lift counterweight 130 coupled to an opposing second end of the lift cable 116. The lift counterweight 130 may be configured to reduce the amount of the input energy utilized by the driver 110 to lift the lift cab 120. For example, while the lift cab 120 is raised, the lift counterweight 130 is lowered, resulting in the potential energy of the lift counterweight 130 assisting the driver 110 with raising the lift cab 120. In some instances, the lift counterweight 130 may reduce a maximum torque output requirement of the driver 110 by reducing a maximum amount of torque required from the driver 110 to raise the lift cab 120 (e.g., when the lift cab 120 is at a maximum capacity, etc.).

[0033] The generator system 200 includes a generator 210 (e.g., an electrical generator, a dynamo, etc.), a generator axle 212 (e.g., a generator shaft, etc.) coupled to the generator 210 and configured to provide a torque to the generator 210, and a plurality of carriage systems 220 (e.g., two of the carriage systems 220, a first of the carriage systems 220, a second of thecarriage systems 220, etc.) configured to selectively engage the generator axle 212. Each of the carriage systems 220 are configured utilize the energy stored by the lift system 100 in the generator system 200 to drive the generator axle 212 and the generator 210. In other embodiments, the generator system 200 includes one of the carriage systems 220 (e.g., a single of the carriage systems 220, a carriage system, etc.).

[0034] The generator 210 is configured to be driven by the generator axle 212 (e.g., based on a torque applied on the generator axle 212 by the carriage systems 220, etc.) to generate output energy. For example, a component of the generator 210 (e g., a coil, a generator shaft, etc.) may be rotated based on the rotation of the generator axle 212 to cause the generator 210 to generate the output energy. As another example, the generator 210 may be configured as an electromagnetic generator configured to generate electrical output energy based on rotation of coils in the electromagnetic generator that is caused by the rotation of the generator axle 212. The output energy generated by the generator 210 may be provided to an electrical energy storage system (e.g., a battery system, etc.), to an electrical energy network (e.g., an electrical grid, etc.), an electrical device (e.g., an electrical air conditioner, an electrical heater, an electrical security system, etc.), or another system that utilizes electricity (e.g., a server system, a lighting system, etc.).

[0035] In some embodiments, the generator 210 includes a gearing system (e.g., a gearbox, a chain gearing system, etc.) configured to alter the speed of the rotation received by the generator 210 from the generator axle 212 and the torque received by the generator 210 from the generator axle 212. For example, the gearing system may be configured to increase the speed of the rotation received from the generator axle 212 and decrease the torque of the rotation received from the generator axle 212 to increase the speed of the rotation of the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy. As another example, the gearing system may be configured to decrease the speed of the rotation received from the generator axle 212 and increase the torque of the rotation received from the generator axle 212 to increase the torque of the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy.

[0036] In some embodiments, the gearing system is configured to rotate the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy at a desired rotation speed (e.g., at a speed in rotations per minute, etc.) based on the torque of the rotation received from the generator axle 212. For example, the gearing system may be configured to rotate the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy at the desired rotation speed such that the output energy produced by the generator 210 is above an output energy threshold. In some embodiments, the gearing system is configured to rotate the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy at a desired torque based on the torque of the rotation received from the generator axle 212. For example, the gearing system may be configured to rotate the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy at the desired torque such that the output energy produced by the generator 210 is above the output energy threshold. In some embodiments, the gearing system may be calibrated based on the desired rotation speed or the desired torque of the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy.

[0037] Each of the carriage systems 220 includes a unidirectional pulley 222 (e.g., a oneway pulley, a pulley, etc.) coupled to the generator axle 212, a carriage cable 224 (e.g., a wire rope, a rope, etc.) engaged with the unidirectional pulley 222, and a carriage 226 coupled to the carriage cable 224. The unidirectional pulley 222 is configured to engage (e.g., drive, operate, etc.) the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulley 222 is rotated in a first direction and disengage (e.g., release from, etc.) the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulley 222 is rotated in a second direction. For example, the unidirectional pulley 222 may include a rachet mechanism (e.g., a ratchet, a clutch, etc.) configured to engage the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulley 222 is rotated in the first direction and not engage the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulley 222 is rotated in the second direction such that the unidirectional pulley 222 is disengaged from the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulley 222 is rotated in the second direction. Similar to the lift pulley assembly 114 of the lift system 100, the unidirectional pulley 222 may be configured as a unidirectional pulley assembly configured to increase the speed of the rotation of the generator axle 212 or increase a torque transferred from the unidirectional pulley 222 to the generator axle 212.

[0038] The unidirectional pulleys 222 of each of the carriage systems 220 may be configured to engage the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulleys 222 are rotated in the same first direction and disengage the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulleys 222 are rotated in the same second direction. For example, a first of the unidirectional pulleys 222 of a first of the carriage systems 220 may engage the generator axle 212 when the first of the unidirectional pulleys 222 is rotated in a first direction and release the generator axle 212 when the first of the unidirectional pulleys 222 is rotated in a second direction and a second of the unidirectional pulleys 222 of a second of the carriage systems 220 may engage the generator axle 212 when the second of the unidirectional pulleys 222 is rotated in the first direction and release the generator axle 212 when the second of the unidirectional pulleys 222 is rotated in the second direction. As a result, when the first of the of the unidirectional pulleys 222 is rotated in the first direction and engages the generator axle 212, the second of the unidirectional pulleys 222 may be rotated in the second direction without engaging the generator axle 212 such that the generator axle 212 is rotated in the first direction despite the second of the unidirectional pulleys 222 being rotated in the second direction.

[0039] In some embodiments, each of the carriage systems 220 includes a carriage retainer configured to selectively retain a position of the carriage 226. For example, the carriage retainer may retain the carriage 226 in a raised position until the carriage retainer receives a signal to allow the carriage 226 to be lowered toward a lowered position. In various embodiments, the unidirectional pulley 222 is configured as the carriage retainer. For example, once the carriage 226 is in the raised position, the unidirectional pulley 222 may engage a hard stop configured to prevent the rotation of the unidirectional pulley 222. Once the unidirectional pulley 222 has received the signal to allow the carriage 226 to be lowered toward the lowered position, the unidirectional pulley 222 may disengage from the hard stop such that the unidirectional pulley 222 may rotate and allow for the carriage 226 to lower toward the lowered position while driving the generator axle 212 and the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0040] In various embodiments, a first of the carriages 226 may be retained in the raised position by the carriage retainer until a second of the carriages 226 has reached the lowered position such that the generator axle 212 is rotated by the second of the carriages 226 until the second of the carriages 226 reaches the lowered position. Once the second of the carriages 226reaches the lowered position, the carriage retainer may release the first of the carriages 226 to continue to rotate the generator axle 212. As a result, the rotation of the generator axle 212 may be maintained, resulting in a continued generation of the output energy by the generator 210.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 3-11, each of the carriages 226 are coupled to a first end of the carriage cables 224 and each of the carriage systems 220 also include a carriage counterweight 230 coupled to opposing second ends of the carriage cables 224, according to some embodiments. Similar to the lift counterweight 130, the carriage counterweights 230 may be configured to reduce the amount of energy required to lift the carriages 226 (e g., energy utilized by the lift system 100 to lift the carriage 226, etc.). In some embodiments, the carriage counterweights 230 weighs more than the carriages 226 such a default position of the carriages 226 is a raised position (e.g., when the carriage 226 is empty, when the carriage 226 is not coupled to additional weights, etc.). For example, a first weight of the carriages 226 may be less than a second weight of the carriage counterweights In other embodiments, the carriage counterweights 230 weigh less than the carriages 226 such that the default position of the carriages 226 is a lowered position.

[0042] Each of the carriages 226 are configured to receive a weight 228 (e.g., a mass, a load, etc.) configured to increase an amount of the potential energy of the carriages 226 (e.g., energy that is stored in the carriages 226 due to a gravitational force, etc.) that may be used to drive the generator 210 when the carriages 226 are in a raised position. In various embodiments, a combined weight of the carriage 226 and the weight 228 weighs more than the carriage counterweight 230 such that the default position of the carriage 226 when the carriage 226 receives the weight 228 is the lowered position. For example, a sum of a first weight of the carriage 226 and a second weight of the weight 228 may be greater than a third weight of the carriage counterweight 230. In some embodiments, the weights 228 are calibrated based on based on the desired rotation speed or the desired torque of the component of the generator 210 that is rotated to generate the output energy.

[0043] According to the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6, the weights 228 are coupled to the carriages 226 and the weights 228 are raised and lowered with the carriages 226. For example, when the carriages 226 of the generator system 200 are in a lowered position, thecarriages 226 may be engaged (e.g., grabbed, grasped, etc.) by the lift cab 120 of the lift system 100. The lift cab 120 may raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 into a raised position (e.g., by the rotation of the lift axle 112 by the driver 110, etc.) with a potential energy due to gravitational force. Once the carriages 226 and the weights 228 are in the raised position, the lift cab 120 may disengage (e.g., release, etc.) from the carriages 226, allowing the carriages 226 and the weights 228 to lower back toward the lowered position due to the gravitational force on the carriages 226 and the weights 228 and drive the generator axle 212 and the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0044] Still referring to the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6, the lift cab 120 of the lift system 100 includes an engagement system 122 configured to engage the carriages 226 in order to raise the carriages 226 from the lowered position into the raised position. For example, the engagement system 122 may be a grabber configured to grab the carriages 226 when the carriages 226 are in the lowered position and release the carriages 226 when the carriages 226 are in the raised position. As another example, the engagement system 122 may be forks configured to engage the carriages 226 when the carriages 226 are in the lowered position and release the carriages 226 when the carriages 226 are in the raised position. In some embodiments, the engagement system 122 is a passive system (e.g., a system without active control, etc.) that is configured to engage and disengage from the carriages 226 based on the position of the carriages 226 (e.g., engage the carriages 226 when the carriages 226 and the lift cab 120 are in the lowered position, release from the carriages 226 when the carriages 226 and the lift cab 120 are in the raised position, etc.). In other embodiments, the engagement system 122 is an active system that engages and releases from the carriages 226 based on control signals (e.g., received from the control system 300, etc.). For example, the engagement system 122 may include a motor configured to operate an engagement device between an engaged orientation configured to engage the carriages 226 and a disengaged orientation configured to disengage from the carriages 226. In various embodiments, the engagement system 122 is configured to engage multiple of the carriages 226 in order to raise multiple of the carriages 226 from the lowered position to the raised position at once.

[0045] According to the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-13, the weights 228 are configured to be selectively transferred between the carriages 226 and the lift cab 120. Forexample, when one of the carriages 226 of the generator system 200 are in a lowered position, the weight 228 associated with the one of the carriages 226 may be transferred from the one of the carriages 226 to the lift cab 120. The lift cab 120 may raise the weight 228 into the raised position (e.g., by the rotation of the lift axle 112 by the driver 110, etc.) and the one of the carriages 226 may be raised into the raised position by the carriage counterweight 230 associated with the one of the carriages 226 (e.g., the carriage counterweight 230 weighs more than the one of the carriages 226 such that the default position of the one of the carriages 226 is the raised position when the one of the carriages 226 does not receive the weight 228, etc.). Once the one of the carriages 226 and the weight 228 received by the lift cab 120 are in the raised position with a potential energy due to gravitational force, the weight 228 may be transferred back to the one of the carriages 226, allowing the one of the carriages 226 and the weight 228 to lower back toward the lowered position due to the gravitational force on the one of the carriages and the weight 228 and drive the generator axle 212 and the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0046] According to the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-11, the generator system 200 further comprises a platform 240 (e.g., a weight stand, a weight platform, etc.) proximate the raised position of the carriages 226 configured to support the weights 228 in the raised position after the lift cab 120 has raised the weight 228 into the raised position, but before the weight 228 has been transferred back to the carriage 226 such that the lift cab 120 lower away from the raised position once the weight 228 is in the raised position even if the carriage 226 is not in the raised position to receive the weight 228.

[0047] In some embodiments, the weights 228 are configured to be selectively transferred between the carriages 226 and the lift cab 120 when the carriages 226 are in the lowered position. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, each of the carriages 226 include a ramp gate 250 (e.g., an ejection gate, a transfer gate, etc.) positioned at a bottom of the carriages 226. As shown in FIG. 12, the ramp gate 250 is configured to support the weights 228 when the weights 228 are received by the carriages 226 and the carriages 226 are not in the lowered position. The ramp gates 250 are each configured to contact a transfer post 260 (e.g., a transfer interface, etc.) when the carriages 226 are in the lowered position. As shown in FIG. 13, when the ramp gates 250 contact the transfer posts 260, the ramp gates 250 are angled such that the weights 228 slide offof the ramp gates 250 and out of the carriages 226. The weights 228 slide into the lift cab 120 in the lowered position, such that the lift cab 120 may lift the weights 228 into the raised position while the carriages 226 are raised into the raised position by the weight of the carriage counterweights 230. Once the lift cab 120 holding the weight 228 and the carriage 226 corresponding to the weight 228 reach the raised position, the weight 228 may be transferred back into the carriage 226, allowing the carriages 226 and the weight 228 to lower back toward the lowered position and drive the generator axle 212 and the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0048] In some embodiments, the generator system 200 can be manufactured as a modular kit configured to provide a retrofit solution for generating and storing energy. In some embodiments, the generator system 200 can be manufactured as a modular kit configured to provide a retrofit solution for generating and storing energy for converting a lift system without a capability to generate and store energy into a lift system with the capability to generate and store energy. Accordingly, various different designs of the generator system 200 can be designed and manufactured to integrate into various different systems that did not previously have the capability to generate and store energy. Therefore, installing the generator system 200 into an existing lift system may provide additional capabilities to the existing lift system. For example, the generator system 200 could be installed in an existing elevator system of a building to provide the capability to generate and store energy to the existing elevator system of the building. In various embodiments, the lift system of the existing elevator system may be modified with any of the features of the lift system 100 when the generator system 200 is installed (e.g., the engagement system 122, etc.).

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the energy storage and generation system 10 includes a control system 300, according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the control system 300 includes a processing circuit 302. The processing circuit 302 includes one or more processors 304 and a memory 306. The processor 304 may be a general or specific purpose processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a group of processing components, or other suitable processing components. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 304 may be coupled to the memory 306 and may be configured to execute computer code or instructions stored in thememory 306 or acquired from other computer-readable media (e.g., USB drive, network storage, remote server, etc.). The memory 306 may include one or more memory devices (e.g., memory units, storage devices, etc.) for storing data and / or computer code for completing and / or facilitating the various processes described herein. The memory may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard drive storage, temporary storage, nonvolatile memory, flash memory, optical memory, or any other suitable memory for storing software objects and / or computer instructions. The memory 306 may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities described herein in connection with the systems, apparatuses, and methods for communicating with and / or controlling the lift system 100 and the generator system 200. The memory 306 may be communicably coupled to the processor 304 and may include computer code that, when executed by the one or more processors, performs one or more of the processes described herein.

[0050] The control system 300 may be configured to transmit commands, data, or information to the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200, as described herein. Likewise, the control system 300 may be configured to acquire commands, data, or information from the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200. In some embodiments, the commands, data, or information transmitted from or acquired by the control system 300 is related to control, configuration, settings, troubleshooting, diagnostics, etc. of the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200. For example, the control system 300 may acquire operational data from the generator system 200 indicating positions of the carriages 226 of each of the carriage systems 220. As another example, the control system 300 may acquire operational data from the lift system 100 indicating an operation frequency of the lift system 100. In some embodiments, one or more components of the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200 include microprocessors communicably coupled with the control system 300 and configured to acquire the commands, data, or information from the control system 300 and operate the components of the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200 according to the commands, data, or information. In some embodiments, the control system 300 is integrated or at least partially integrated into the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200. For example, a first processor may be part of the lift system 100 (e.g., to operate the driver 110,etc.) and a second processor may be part of the generator system 200 (e g., to monitor the generator 210, etc.).

[0051] The control system 300 may be communicably coupled to one or more other systems, such as an external energy system. For example, the control system 300 may be communicably coupled to an external electrical system to monitor an electricity price associated with the external electrical system in order to determine when to activate the generator system 200. As another example, the control system 300 may be communicably coupled to the external electrical system to monitor an electrical supply associated with the external electrical system in order to determine when to activate the generator system 200.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, the control system 300 includes a communication interface 308. The communication interface 308 may be configured to facilitate wired or wireless communication between (i) the control system 300 and (ii) the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200. The communication interface 308 may include programming and / or hardware-based components that connect the control system 300 to the lift system 100 and / or the generator system 200 over a wired or wireless network. For example, the communication interface 308 may include a wireless transceiver (e.g., Bluetooth® transceiver, cellular modem, a Wi-Fi® transceiver) and / or a wired connection. In some embodiments, the communication interface 308 includes hardware and machine-readable media structured to support communication over multiple channels of data communication (e.g., wireless, Bluetooth®, near-field communication, etc.). The communication interface 308 may include one or more cryptography modules to establish a secure communication session (e.g., using the IPSec protocol or similar) in which data communicated over the session is encrypted and securely transmitted.

[0053] The control system 300 is configured to operate the lift system 100 and the generator system 200 to generate the output energy. For example, the control system 300 may send signals to the driver 110 that result in the driver 110 operating the lift cab 120 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 into the raised position such that the carriages 226 and the weights 228 can be lowered to drive the generator 210. For example, the control system 300 may receive an indication from the generator system 200 (e.g., via a sensor, etc.) that a first ofthe carriages 226 is in the lowered position. In response, the control system 300 may operate the lift system 100 to lower the lift cab 120 to the lowered position (e.g., via the driver 110, etc.) engage the first of the carriages 226 (e.g., via the engagement system 122, raise the first of the carriages 226 to the raised position with the lift cab 120, and disengage from the first of the carriages 226 such that the first of the carriages 226 and the weight 228 received by the first of the carriages 226 can be lowered to drive the generator 210.

[0054] As another example, the control system 300 may receive an indication from the generator system 200 that a second of the carriages 226 in the lowered position. In response, the control system 300 may operate the lift system 100 to lower the lift cab 120 to the lowered position, transfer the weight 228 associated with the second of the carriages 226 from the second of the carriages 226 to the lift cab 120, raise the lift cab 120 and the weight 228, confirm that the second of the carriages 226 is in the raised position (e.g., raised by the carriage counterweight 230 coupled to the second of the carriages 226 via the carriage cable 224, etc.), and transfer the weight 228 back to the second of the carriages 226 such that the second of the carriages 226 and the weight 228 received by the second of the carriages 226 can be lowered to drive the generator 210.

[0055] In some embodiments, the control system 300 is configured to operate a first of the carriage retainers of a first of the carriage systems 220 and a second of the carriage retainer of a second of the carriage systems 220. The control system 300 may operate the first of the carriage retainers and the second of the carriage retainers based on a first position of a first of the carriages 226 of the first of the carriage systems 220 and a second position of a second of the carriages 226 of the second of the carriage systems 220. For example, the control system 300 may operate the first of the carriage retainers to retain the first of the carriages 226 in the raised position when the second of the carriages 226 is rotating the generator axle 212 (e.g., the second of the carriages 226 is not in the lowered position, the second of the carriages 226 is in an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position, etc.).

[0056] Once the control system 300 has received an indication that the second of the carriages 226 has received an indication (e.g., from a sensor, etc.) that the second of the carriages 226 has reached the lowered position (e.g., an indication that the second of thecarriages 226 is no longer rotating the generator axle 212, etc.), the control system 300 may operate the first of the carriage retainers to release the first of the carriages 226 such that the first of the carriages 226 may lower toward the lowered position and rotate the generator axle 212. As a result, the generator axle 212 may continue to be rotated by the first of the carriages 226 once the second of the carriages 226 has reached the lowered position, resulting in a continuous generation of the output energy by the generator 210. Further, once the second of the carriages 226 is raised into the raised position, the second of the carriage retainers may retain the second of the carriages 226 in the raised position and release the second of the carriages 226 once the first of the carriages 226 has reached the lowered position to continue to rotate the generator axle 212. This process may be repeated to cause the generator 210 to continuously generate the output energy.

[0057] In some embodiments, the control system 300 is configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 based on an energy characteristic (e.g., a characteristic of the external energy system, etc.). For example, the control system 300 may be configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 when a cost of electricity associated with the input energy of the driver 110 is below an energy cost threshold such that the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 are raised while the electricity has a lower cost and may be held in the raised position to be able to generate the output energy when the electricity has a higher cost. As another example, the control system 300 may be configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 when a supply of electricity associated with the input energy of the driver is above an energy supply threshold such that the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 are raised during a high supply time period of the electricity and may be held in the raised position to be able to generate the output energy when the electricity is at a lower supply. In various embodiments, the control system 300 is configured to allow the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 to be lowered into the lowered position (e.g., via the carriage retainer, etc.) based on the energy characteristic (e.g., when the cost of energy is above the energy cost threshold, when the supply of energy is below the supply threshold, etc.).

[0058] In some embodiments, the control system 300 is configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 based on a predicted characteristic of the input energy utilized by the driver 110. For example, if the control system 300 receives a weather forecast indicating that a temperature will be higher than typical over a future period, the control system 300 may determine that an energy consumption during the future period will be higher than normal and may operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 prior to an occurrence of the future period. The control system 300 may hold the carriages 226 and the weights 228 in the raised position to be able to generate the output energy once the energy consumption during the future period is higher than normal.

[0059] In some embodiments, the control system 300 is configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 based on an operational frequency of the lift system 100. For example, if the lift system 100 is configured as the elevator system that is also being utilized to raise and lower the people and / or the goods between different floors of the building, the control system 300 may be configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 when the lift system 100 is being utilized as the elevator system with a frequency that is less than a frequency threshold. For example, if the frequency threshold is ten uses per hour and the lift system 100 is being used as the elevator system at a rate of fifteen uses per hour, the control system 300 may not operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220. If the lift system 100 is being used as the elevator system at a rate of nine uses per hour, the control system 300 may operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220. As a result, the control system 300 may efficiently control the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 during periods of time where the lift system 100 is being less frequently utilized as the elevator system and is available to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220.

[0060] In some embodiments, the control system 300 is configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 during a designated time period. For example, if the lift system 100 is configured as the elevator system,the control system 300 may be configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 during the night when the lift system 100 is less likely to be used as the elevator system. As another example, if the lift system 100 is configured as the elevator system, the control system 300 may be configured to operate the lift system 100 to raise the carriages 226 and the weights 228 of the carriage systems 220 during the weekend when the lift system 100 is less likely to be used as the elevator system.

[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, an example of the energy storage and generation system 10 is shown, according to some embodiments. A starting configuration of the energy storage and generation system 10 is shown in FIG. 3, with the lift cab 120 of the lift system 100 in the lowered position, a first of the carriages 226 and a corresponding first of the weights 228 in the lowered position and engaged by the engagement system 122 of the lift cab 120, and a second of the carriages 226 and a corresponding second of the weights 228 in the raised position.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 4, the first of the carriages 226 and the corresponding first of the weights 228 are raised to the raised position by the lift cab 120 driven by the driver 110 and the second of the carriages 226 and the corresponding second of the weights 228 are lowered into the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 5, once the engagement system 122 of the lift cab 120 disengages from the first of the carriages 226, the first of the carriages 226 and the corresponding first of the weights 228 begin lowering toward the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy. Additionally, the lift cab 120 returns to the lowered position and engages the second of the carriages 226 via the engagement system 122.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 6, the second of the carriages 226 and the corresponding second of the weights 228 are raised to the raised position by the lift cab 120 driven by the driver 110.The first of the carriages 226 and the corresponding first of the weights 228 are lowered into the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy. The operations of the energy storage and generation system 10 may continue to repeat, with the lift system 100 alternatively raising the first and the second of the carriages 226 into the raised position while the first and the second of the carriages 226 and the corresponding first and second of theweights 228 return to the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 7-11, another example of the energy storage and generation system 10 is shown, according to some embodiments. A starting configuration of the energy storage and generation system 10 is shown in FIG. 7, with the lift cab 120 of the lift system 100 in the lowered position, a first of the carriages 226 in the lowered position and holding a first of the weights 228, a second of the carriages 226 in the raised position, and a second of the weights 228 in the raised position and supported by the platform 240.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 8, the first of the weights 228 is transferred from the first of the carriages 226 to the lift cab 120 and the second of the weights 228 is transferred from the platform 240 to the second of the carriages 226.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 9, the first of the weights 228 is raised from the lowered position to the raised position by the lift cab 120 and transferred from the lift cab 120 to the platform 240, the first of the carriages 226 is raised from the lowered to the position to the raised position by a corresponding first of the carriage counterweights 230, and the second of the carriages 226 and the second of the weights 228 are lowered toward the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 10, the first of the weights 228 is transferred from the platform 240 to the first of the carriages 226, the lift cab 120 is lowered from the raised position to the lowered position, the second of the carriages 226 and the second of the weights 228 are lowered to the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy, and the second of the weights 228 is transferred from the second of the carriages 226 to the lift cab 120.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 11, the first of the carriages 226 and the first of the weights 228 are lowered toward the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy, the lift cab 120 is raised to the raised position, the second of the weights 228 is raised to the raised position and transferred from the lift cab 120 to the platform 240, the lift cab 120 is lowered toward the lowered position, and the second of the carriages 226 is raised to the raised position by a corresponding second of the carriage counterweights 230. The operations of theenergy storage and generation system 10 may continue to repeat, with the lift system 100 alternatively raising the first and the second of the weights 228 into the raised position and transferring the first and the second of the weights 228 to the platform 240 to be transferred to the first and the second of the carriages 226, respectively. Once the first and the second of the weights 228 are transferred to the first and the second of the carriages 226, the first and the second of the carriages 226 and the first and the second of the weights 228 return to the lowered position while driving the generator 210 to generate the output energy.

[0070] Referring now to FIG. 14, yet another example of the energy storage and generation system 10 is shown, according to some embodiments. An intermediate configuration of energy storage and generation system 10 is shown in FIG. 14, with the lift cab 120 of the lift system 100 in the raised position, a first of the carriages 226 in the lowered position and a second of the carriages 226 in the raised position.

[0071] According to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the energy storage and generation system 10 includes a plurality of guide railings 12 (e.g., tracks, etc.) configured to guide various components (e.g., the lift cab 120, the lift counterweight 130, the carriages 226, the carriage counterweights 230, etc.) of the energy storage and generation system 10. For example, the energy storage and generation system 10 may include one or more of the guide railings 12 (e.g., a single of the guide railings 12, a first pair of guide railings 12, etc.) slidably coupled to the lift cab 120 and configured to guide the lift cab 120 between the lowered position and the raised position, one or more of the guide railings 12 (e.g., a second pair of the guide railings 12, etc.) slidably coupled to the lift counterweight 130 and configured to guide the lift counterweight 130 between the lowered position and the raised position, one or more of the guide railings 12 (e.g., a third pair of the guide railings 12, etc.) slidably coupled to a first of the carriages 226 and configured to guide the first of the carriages 226 between the lowered position and the raised position, one or more of the guide railings 12 (e.g., a fourth pair of the guide railings 12, etc.) slidably coupled to a second of the carriages 226 and configured to guide the second of the carriages 226 between the lowered position and the raised position, one or more of the guide railings 12 (e.g., a fifth pair of the guide railings 12, etc.) slidably coupled to a first of the carriage counterweights 230 and configured to guide the first of the carriage counterweights 230 between the lowered position and the raised position, and / or one or more ofthe guide railings 12 (e.g., a sixth pair of the guide railings 12, etc.) slidably coupled to a second of the carriage counterweights 230 and configured to guide the second of the carriage counterweights 230 between the lowered position and the raised position.

[0072] According to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 14, each of the carriage systems 220 includes a cable pulley 232 engaged with the carriage cable 224. A center of the cable pulley 232 may be offset from a center of the unidirectional pulley 222 to offset a first portion of the carriage cable 224 coupled to the carriage 226 from a second portion of the carriage cable 224 coupled to the carriage counterweight 230. For example, a first portion of the carriage cable 224 may be coupled to the carriage 226, the carriage cable 224 may wrap around a portion of the cable pulley 232, the carriage cable 224 may wrap around a portion of the unidirectional pulley 222, and a second portion of the carriage cable 224 may be coupled to the carriage counterweights 230, the first portion of the carriage cable 224 spaced a distance from the second portion of the carriage cable 224.

[0073] According to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the generator system 200 includes a first pulley 214 coupled to the generator axle 212, a second pulley 216 coupled to the generator 210, and a belt 218 engaged with the first pulley 214 and the second pulley 216 and configured to be driven by the rotation of the generator axle 212 to drive the generator 210 such that an axis defined by the generator axle 212 is offset from a driving axis of the generator 210. For example, the torque received by the generator axle 212 from the unidirectional pulley 222 may be transferred from the generator axle 212 to the generator 210 via the first pulley 214, the second pulley 216, and the belt 218.

[0074] Referring now to FIG. 15, yet another example of the energy storage and generation system 10 is shown, according to some embodiments. The example of the energy storage and generation system 10 shown in FIG. 15 includes the generator system 200 and the lift system 100. The lift system 100 is configured to interface with the generator system 200 to store energy in the generator system 200. The generator system 200 may utilize the energy stored in the generator system 200 to generate energy.

[0075] According to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the generator system 200 includes the generator 210, the generator axle 212 coupled to the generator 210, a plurality ofthe unidirectional pulleys 222 coupled to the generator axle 212, one of the carriage cables 224 engaging each of the unidirectional pulleys 222, and one of the weights 228 coupled to a first end of each of the carriage cables 224. The generator system 200 is configured to utilize energy stored by the lift system 100 in the generator system 200 to drive the generator axle 212 and the generator 210. In other embodiments, the generator system 200 includes a single of the unidirectional pulleys 222 coupled to the generator axle 212, a single of the carriage cables 224 engaging the unidirectional pulley 222, and a single of the weights 228 coupled to the first end of the carriage cable 224.

[0076] According to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the weights 228 are raised and lowered between a lowered position and a raised position by the lift system 100. For example, to store energy in the generator system 200, the lift system 100 may raise the weights 228 from the lowered position into the raised position with potential energy due to gravitational force by pulling on an opposing second end of the carriage cables 224. Once the weights 228 are in the raised position, the generator system 200 may allow for the weights 228 to lower back toward the lowered position due to the gravitational force on the weights 228 and drive the generator axle 212 and the generator 210 via the unidirectional pulleys 222 to generate the output energy. The unidirectional pulleys 222 may engage the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulleys 222 are rotated in a first direction by the carriage cables 224 as the weights 228 are lowered from the raised position towards the lowered position such that the lowering of the weights 228 drives the generator 210 to generate the output energy. The unidirectional pulleys 222 may disengage the generator axle 212 when the unidirectional pulleys are rotated in an opposing second direction by the carriage cables 224 as the weights 228 are raised from the lowered position towards the raised position such that a portion of the torque outputted by the driver 110 to lift the weights 228 is not utilized to drive the generator 210.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 15, the lift system 100 includes the driver 110 and the lift axle 112, and a plurality of pulley systems 140 configured to be operated by the driver 110 to store energy in the generator system 200. Each of the pulley systems 140 are coupled between the lift axle 112 and one of the second opposing ends of the carriage cables 224 of the generator system 200 to allow for the driver 110 to operate the pulley systems 140 to store energy in thegenerator system 200. The driver 1 10 is configured to receive an input energy from an input energy source and rotate the lift axle 112 to operate the pulley systems 140 to store energy in the generator system 200. The driver 110 may output a torque on the lift axle 112 based on the input energy received by the driver 110 from the input energy source. The pulley systems 140 may be configured to reduce an amount of the torque that is needed to be outputted by the driver 110 to raise and / or lower the weights 228 and / or increase a speed at which the weights 228 are raised and / or lowered based on an output torque of the driver 110. In other embodiments, the lift system 100 includes a single of the pulley systems 140.

[0078] The pulley systems 140 each include a first pulley 142 coupled to the lift axle 112, a pulley cable 144 engaged with the first pulley 142, and a tackle pulley system 146 (e.g., a block and tackle pulley system, etc.) engaged with the pulley cable 144. The tackle pulley system 146 includes a first block 148 (e g., a first pulley assembly, etc.) that is anchored (e g., to a ground, to a stationary object, a relatively stationary object relative to the driver 110, etc.) and a second block 150 (e.g., a second pulley assembly, etc.) coupled to the opposing second end of one of the carriage cables 224 of the generator system 200. In other embodiments, each of the pulley cables 144 are directly coupled to one of the weights 228 (e.g., when the generator system 200 does not include the carriage cables 224, etc.). For example, a first end of the pulley cable 144 may engage one of the first pulleys 142, an intermediate portion of the pulley cable 144 may engage one of the tackle pulley systems 146, and an opposing second end of the pulley cable 144 may be coupled to one of the weights 228.

[0079] Each of the first block 148 and the second block 150 include a plurality of sheeves. The pulley cable 144 is threaded through the sheeves of the first block 148 and the second block 150 to engage the first block 148 and the second block 150. As the driver 110 drives the lift axle 112 to rotate the first pulley 142, the first pulley 142 pulls the pulley cable 144 such that the second block 150 is pulled closer to the first block 148, pulling the opposing second end of the carriage cable 224 of the generator system 200 such that the weight 228 coupled to the first end of the carriage cable 224 is lifted in a direction from the lowered position toward the raised position. Depending on how may sheeves and / or pulleys are included in the first block 148 and the second block 150, the force needed to lift the weights 228 may be a fraction of the force needed to lift the weights 228 without the pulley systems 140.

[0080] In some embodiments, the ends of the pulley cables 144 engaged with the first pulleys 142 may be configured to spool around the first pulleys 142 in opposite directions and the unidirectional pulleys 222 of the generator system 200 may be configured to engaged and disengage the generator axle 212 in opposite directions. For example, the pulley cable 144 of a first of the pulley systems 140 may be configured to spool around the first pulley 142 of the first of the pulley systems 140 in a first direction and the pulley cable 144 of a second of the pulley systems 140 may be configured to spool around the first pulley 142 of the second of the pulley systems 140 in an opposing second direction such that the driver 110 rotating the lift axle 112 in the first direction causes a first of the carriage cables 224 coupled to the first of the pulley systems 140 to lift a first of the weights 228 while a first of the unidirectional pulleys 222 engaged with the first of the carriage cables 224 is disengaged from the generator axle 212.

[0081] Rotating the lift axle 112 in the opposing second direction causes a second of the carriage cables 224 coupled to the second of the pulley systems 140 to lift a second of the weights 228 while a second of the unidirectional pulley 222 engaged with the second of the carriage cables 224 is disengaged form the generator axle 212. By spooling the pulley cables 144 around the first pulleys 142 in opposite directions, the weights 228 may be moved in opposite directions such that one of the weights 228 is lowered to drive the generator axle 212 via one of the unidirectional pulleys 222 while another of the weights 228 is being raised. For example, if a first of the weights 228 is in the raised position, a second of the weights 228 is in the lowered position. As another example, the pulley cable 144 of a first of the pulley systems 140 coupled to a first of the weights 228 in the raised position may be wrapped around the first pulley 142 of the first of the pulley systems 140 a maximum amount while the pulley cable 144 of a second of the pulley systems 140 coupled to a second of the weights 228 in the lowered position may be wrapped around the first pulley 142 of the second of the pulley systems 140 a minimum amount. Since the driver 110 is driving the pulley systems 140 to raise and lower the weights 228 at the same time (e.g., simultaneously, etc.), an energy outputted by the driver 110 to raise one of the weights 228 may be reduced compared to if the driver 110 were to raise the one of the weights 228 independently.

[0082] It should be noted that the term “example” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples,representations, and / or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

[0083] The terms “coupled,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.

[0084] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the various example embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Additionally, it should be understood that features from one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with features of other embodiments disclosed herein as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the various example embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0085] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An energy system, comprising: a lift system comprising: an elevator cab, and a driver coupled to a lift axle, the driver configured to rotate the lift axle to raise and lower the elevator cab; and a generator system comprising: a generator coupled to a generator axle, the generator configured to receive rotation from the generator axle and generate output energy utilizing the rotation received from the generator axle, and a plurality of carriage systems coupled to the generator axle, each of the plurality of carriage systems comprising: a unidirectional pulley coupled to the generator axle, the unidirectional pulley configured to engage the generator axle to rotate the generator axle with the unidirectional pulley when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a first direction and not engage the generator axle when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a second direction; and a carriage coupled to the unidirectional pulley; wherein the elevator cab is configured to raise the carriages from a lowered position into a raised position; and wherein the carriages rotate the unidirectional pulleys in the first direction when the carriages are moving from the raised position toward the lowered position such that the unidirectional pulleys rotate the generator axle to provide rotation to the generator to generate the output energy.

2. The energy system of claim 1, wherein the elevator cab comprises an engagement system configured to engage the carriages to raise the carriages from the lowered position into the raised position.

3. The energy system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to: receive an indication that at least one of the carriages is in the lowered position; operate the engagement system to engage the at least one of the carriages;operate the driver to raise the elevator cab such that the at least one of the carriages is raised from the lowered position into the raised position; and operate the engagement system to disengage from the at least one of the carriages.

4. The energy system of claim 1, wherein each of the carriage systems further comprises: a weight configured to be received by each of the carriages to increase a potential energy associated with the carriages in the raised position.

5. The energy system of claim 4, wherein the weights are selectively transferrable from the carriages to the elevator cab when the carriages are in the lowered position and from the elevator cab to the carriages when the carriages are in the raised position.

6. The energy system of claim 5, wherein each of the carriage systems further comprises: a carriage cable engaged with each of the unidirectional pulleys, each of the carriages coupled to a first end of one of the carriage cables; and a counterweight coupled to an opposing second end of each of the carriage cables.

7. The energy system of claim 6, wherein: the carriages each have a first weight; the counterweights each have a second weight, the second weight greater than the first weight; and the weight of each of the carriage systems has a third weight, a sum of the first weight and the third weight greater than the second weight.

8. The energy system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to: receive, from an external energy system, energy data corresponding to the external energy system; determine, based on the energy data, an energy characteristic associated with the external energy system, the energy characteristic indicating the energy system to provide the output energy to the external energy system; andoperate a carriage retainer of at least one of the carriage systems so as to allow at least one of the carriages to move from the raised position toward the lowered position such that the energy system provides the output energy to the external energy system.

9. The energy system of claim 1, wherein the lift system further comprises a pulley system coupled between the elevator cab and the driver, the pulley system configured to change a torque ratio between the driver and the elevator cab.

10. The energy system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to: receive an energy characteristic associated with input energy utilized by the driver to rotate the lift axle; and responsive to the energy characteristic being below an energy characteristic threshold, operate the lift system to raise at least one of the carriages from the lowered position into the raised position.

11. An energy system, comprising: a lift system comprising: an elevator cab, and a driver configured to raise and lower the elevator cab; and a generator system comprising: a generator coupled to a generator axle, the generator configured to receive rotation from the generator axle and generate output energy utilizing the rotation received from the generator axle, and a carriage system coupled to the generator axle, the carriage system comprising: a carriage coupled to the generator axle, the carriage movable between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein movement of the carriage from the raised position toward the lowered position rotates the generator axle to provide rotation to the generator to generate the output energy; a weight configured to be received by the carriage to increase a potential energy associated with the carriage in a raised position;wherein the elevator cab is configured to raise the carriage from a lowered position into the raised position; and wherein the weight is selectively transferrable from the carriage to the elevator cab when the carriage is in the lowered position and from the elevator cab to the carriage when the carriage is in the raised position.

12. The energy system of claim 11, wherein the carriage system further comprises: a unidirectional pulley coupled to the generator axle, the unidirectional pulley configured to engage the generator axle to rotate the generator axle with the unidirectional pulley when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a first direction and not engage the generator axle when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a second direction; and wherein the carriage rotates the unidirectional pulley in the first direction when the carriage is moving from the raised position toward the lowered position such that the unidirectional pulley rotates the generator axle to provide rotation to the generator to generate the output energy.

13. The energy system of claim 12, wherein the carriage system further comprises: a carriage cable engaged with the unidirectional pulley, the carriage coupled to a first end of the carriage cable; and a counterweight coupled to an opposing second end of the carriage cable.

14. The energy system of claim 13, wherein: the carriage has a first weight; the counterweight has a second weight, the second weight greater than the first weight; and the weight of the carriage system has a third weight, a sum of the first weight and the third weight greater than the second weight.

15. The energy system of claim 11, further comprising a controller configured to: receive an indication that the carriage is in the lowered position; operate elevator cab to engage the carriage;operate the driver to raise the elevator cab such that the carriage is raised from the lowered position into the raised position; and operate the elevator cab to disengage from the carriage.

16. The energy system of claim 11, wherein the lift system further comprises a pulley system coupled between the elevator cab and the driver, the pulley system configured to change a torque ratio between the driver and the elevator cab.

17. A generator system configured to interface with a lift system, the generator system comprising: a generator coupled to a generator axle, the generator configured to receive rotation from the generator axle and generate output energy utilizing the rotation received from the generator axle, and a carriage system coupled to the generator axle, the carriage system comprising: a unidirectional pulley coupled to the generator axle, the unidirectional pulley configured to engage the generator axle to rotate the generator axle with the unidirectional pulley when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a first direction and not engage the generator axle when the unidirectional pulley is rotated in a second direction; and a carriage coupled to the unidirectional pulley, the carriage movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the carriage configured to releasably couple with an elevator cab of the lift system when the carriage is the lowered position and release from the elevator cab when the carriage is in the raised position such that the elevator cab raises the carriage from the lowered position toward the raised position; wherein the carriage rotates the unidirectional pulley in the first direction when the carriage is moving from the raised position toward the lowered position such that the unidirectional pulley rotates the generator axle to provide rotation to the generator to generate the output energy.

18. The generator system of claim 17, wherein the carriage system further comprises: a carriage cable engaged with the unidirectional pulley, the carriage coupled to a first end of the carriage cable; anda counterweight coupled to an opposing second end of the carriage cable.

19. The generator system of claim 17, wherein: the carriage system further comprises: a weight configured to be received by the carriage to increase a potential energy associated with the carriage in the raised position; and the weight is selectively transferrable from the carriage to the elevator cab when the carriage is in the lowered position and from the elevator cab to the carriage when the carriage is in the raised position.

20. The generator system of claim 19, further comprising a transfer interface configured to interface with the carriage when the carriage is in the lowered position to cause the weight to transfer from the carriage to the elevator cab.

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