Non-electrical Battery Using Tensioned Strings for Mechanical Energy Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical batteries pose environmental and health risks due to toxic materials, require expensive and heavy casings to prevent leakage, and have inefficient energy storage compared to mechanical energy storage methods.

Innovation Solution

A non-electrical battery system utilizing strings made from materials like graphene, carbon fiber, and plastic, with a charging mechanism that applies tension to increase potential energy stored, forming a membrane structure for efficient energy storage and release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If electrical batteries use toxic materials (cadmium, cobalt, lead, nickel) for energy storage, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but environmental pollution and health risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution and health risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces harmful electrochemical materials with benign mechanical energy storage materials. The mechanical battery uses elastic potential energy stored in springs or compressed gases, converting the harmful chemical energy storage into beneficial mechanical energy storage, thereby eliminating toxic material leakage while maintaining energy storage functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent fundamentally changes the energy storage parameter from electrochemical to mechanical. By using Hooke's law (E = 1/2 kx²) instead of electrochemical reactions, the system achieves energy storage without toxic materials, changing the physical state and mechanism of energy storage from chemical to mechanical

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If electrical batteries use heavy protective casings to prevent leakage, then safety and reliability improve, but battery weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidbattery weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the heavy protective casing requirement by removing the harmful electrochemical materials that necessitate such protection. Since mechanical energy storage materials (springs, compressed gases) do not leak or corrode like chemical electrolytes, the complex protective structure is removed, significantly reducing battery weight while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of protecting harmful materials with heavy casings, the patent inverts the approach by using inherently safe mechanical materials that require minimal protection. The safety mechanism is inverted from active protection (heavy casings) to passive safety (inherently non-leaking mechanical components)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Use of energy by moving object

If electrical batteries use complex chemical compositions to store energy, then energy density is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy densityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex electrochemical system with a simpler mechanical system based on Hooke's law. Instead of managing multiple chemical reactions, electrolytes, and electrode materials, the mechanical battery uses springs, compressed gases, or elastic materials that can be manufactured using conventional mechanical engineering processes, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The non-electrical battery achieves higher energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact by storing energy mechanically, potentially exceeding electrochemical batteries by a factor of 10:1 in energy storage capacity while avoiding toxic materials and reducing weight and cost associated with protective casings.

Implementation Method 1

each string comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each string is attached to the backing plate and each string extends away from the backing plate; and a charging mechanism attached to the second end of each string to apply a force to the strings to increase a potential energy stored by the strings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The amount of tension applied to a string of the plurality of strings in various embodiments, may extend the string by an amount within the range of 0.75·A to A, where A=ε·l, wherein ε is an elasticity of the string and l is the unstretched length of the string

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHooke's Law: Hooke's Law

Data Source

PatentUS10720611B2Non-electrical battery based on plastic strings and membranes

Publication Date: 2020.07.21 MERCURY MISSION SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A non-electrical battery can include a backing plate; a plurality of strings disposed in parallel relation on the backing plate, each string comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each string is attached to the backing plate and each string extends away from the backing plate; and a charging mechanism attached to the second end of each string to apply a force to the strings to increase a potential energy stored by the strings.