1. A battery pack for a battery system comprising:
a battery assembly including a plurality of battery units having a plurality of fluid channels formed therebetween for receiving a fluid therein; and
a cooling system coupled to the battery assembly, the cooling system including a tapered first conduit having an inlet for receiving the fluid therein, the first conduit having a width extending along a first width in a width direction of the battery assembly, wherein the width direction is a direction crossing the fluid direction of the first conduit, a second conduit for receiving the fluid therein having a width corresponding to the first width defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, the second conduit having a first end proximate the inlet of the first conduit and a first outlet, and at least one secondary conduit coupled to the second conduit for receiving the fluid therein having a secondary outlet, the at least one secondary conduit defined by one of the first side wall or the second side wall and further defined by an outer wall, a lower wall, and an upper wall, the at least one secondary conduit extends beyond the first width of the battery assembly in the width direction, the second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit through the plurality of fluid channels of the battery assembly and the second conduit including at least one aperture formed through the first or second side wall that defines the at least one secondary conduit to facilitate fluid communication between the second conduit and the at least one secondary conduit, the at least one aperture positioned proximate the first end of the second conduit to increase a flow rate of the fluid from the inlet of the first conduit through at least one of the fluid channels located proximate the inlet of the first conduit, and a combined cross-sectional area of the first outlet and the secondary outlet is greater than a cross-sectional area of the inlet to facilitate increased flow rate of the fluid, wherein the fluid absorbs heat from the battery assembly.
2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the second conduit is substantially equal from a first end to a second end thereof.
3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the second conduit is tapered.
4. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein the second conduit is inversely tapered in respect of the first conduit.
5. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein a taper of the second conduit is less than a taper of the first conduit.
6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the at least one secondary conduit is substantially equal from a first end to a second end thereof.
7. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary conduit is tapered.
8. The battery pack of claim 7, wherein a taper of the at least one secondary conduit is less than a taper of the first conduit.
9. A battery pack for a battery system comprising:
a battery assembly including a plurality of battery units having a plurality of fluid channels formed therebetween for receiving a fluid therein; and
a cooling system coupled to the battery assembly, the cooling system including a tapered first conduit having an inlet for receiving the fluid therein, the first conduit having a width extending along a first width in a width direction of the battery assembly, wherein the width direction is a direction crossing the fluid direction of the first conduit, a tapered second conduit for receiving the fluid therein having a width corresponding to the first width defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, the tapered second conduit including a first outlet, the second conduit having a first end proximate the inlet of the first conduit and at least one secondary conduit coupled to the second conduit for receiving the fluid therein having a secondary outlet, the at least one secondary conduit defined by one of the first side wall or the second side wall and further defined by an outer wall, a lower wall, and an upper wall, the at least one secondary conduit extends beyond the first width of the battery assembly in the width direction, the second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit through the plurality of fluid channels of the battery assembly and the second conduit including at least one aperture formed through the first or second side wall that defines the at least one secondary conduit to facilitate fluid communication between the second conduit and the at least one secondary conduit, the at least one aperture positioned proximate the first end of the second conduit to increase a flow rate of the fluid from the inlet of the first conduit through at least one of the fluid channels located proximate the inlet of the first conduit, and a combined cross-sectional area of the first outlet and the secondary outlet is greater than a cross-sectional area of the inlet to facilitate increased flow rate of the fluid, wherein the battery units are in heat transfer communication with the at least one fluid channel to facilitate a transfer of heat from the battery units to the fluid disposed in the cooling system.
10. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the second conduit is inversely tapered in respect of the first conduit.
11. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein a taper of the second conduit is less than a taper of the first conduit.
12. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional area of the at least one secondary conduit is substantially equal from a first end to a second end thereof.
13. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the at least one secondary conduit is tapered.
14. The battery pack of claim 13, wherein a taper of the at least one secondary conduit is less than a taper of the first conduit.
15. A battery pack for a battery system comprising:
a battery assembly including a plurality of battery units having a plurality of fluid channels formed therebetween for receiving a fluid therein; and
a cooling system coupled to the battery assembly, the cooling system including a tapered first conduit for receiving the fluid therein having an open first end and a closed second end, the first conduit having a width extending along a first width in a width direction of the battery assembly, wherein the width direction is a direction crossing the fluid direction of the first conduit, a tapered second conduit having a width corresponding to the first width defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, the tapered second conduit for receiving the fluid therein having a closed first end and an open second end, and at least one secondary conduit having a first end proximate the open first end of the first conduit, the at least one secondary conduit defined by one of the first side wall or the second side wall and further defined by an outer wall, a lower wall, and an upper wall, the at least one secondary conduit extends beyond the first width of the battery assembly in the width direction, the first conduit in fluid communication with the second conduit through the plurality of fluid channels of the battery assembly, and the second conduit including a plurality of apertures formed through the first or second side wall that defines the at least one secondary conduit to facilitate fluid communication between the second conduit and the at least one secondary conduit, the plurality of apertures positioned proximate the first end of the second conduit to increase a flow rate of the fluid through at least one of the plurality of flow channels located proximate the open first end of the first conduit, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first conduit gradually decreases from the first end to the second end thereof and a cross-sectional area of the second conduit gradually increases from the first end to the second end thereof, the cross-sectional area of the open first end of the first conduit is less than the cross-sectional area of the open second end of the second conduit, and wherein the battery units are in heat transfer communication with the at least one fluid channel to facilitate a transfer of heat from the battery units to the fluid disposed in the cooling system.
16. The battery pack of claim 15, wherein the second conduit is inversely tapered in respect of the first conduit.
17. The battery pack of claim 15, wherein a taper of the second conduit is less than a taper of the first conduit.
18. The battery pack of claim 15, further comprising at least one control module disposed adjacent the battery assembly.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for reading electric power consumption, comprising:
an optical sensor for sensing indicia of electricity consumption from an electric utility meter;
a bracket having unitary body for positioning the optical sensor with respect to the electric utility meter, the sensor positioned externally to a translucent cover of the electric utility meter; and
a means for mounting the bracket to the electric utility meter.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor senses rotation of a disk located inside the translucent cover of the electric utility meter.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bracket lacks movable parts.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor obtains power for operation of the optical sensor from a serial cable coupled to the optical sensor.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a data collector coupled to the serial cable for collecting data related to electricity consumption.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data collector includes memory for storing data related to electricity consumption.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the data collector stores the data despite a power failure.
8. An apparatus for reading electric power consumption, comprising:
an optical sensor for sensing indicia of electricity consumption from an electric utility meter, wherein the optical sensor obtains power for operation of the optical sensor from a serial cable coupled to the optical sensor;
a bracket for positioning the optical sensor with respect to the electric utility meter, the sensor positioned externally to a translucent cover of the electric utility meter; and
means for mounting the bracket to the electric utility meter.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the optical sensor senses rotation of a disk located inside the translucent cover of the electric utility meter.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bracket is unitary.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the serial cable is coupled to a data collector.
12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the data collector includes memory for storing data related to electricity consumption.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the data collector stores the data despite a power failure.
14. A system for monitoring and controlling power consumption comprising:
a reader for obtaining power consumption data from an electric utility meter;
a computer system for collecting the data from the reader and for controlling an amount of power consumption by controlling a device that consumes electricity based on the data from the reader and the input from the user; and
a user interface at the computer system for accepting input from the user.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the computer system computes a forecast of electric power consumption for a predetermined period of time based on usage for a portion of the predetermined time period.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the computer system repeatedly computes the forecast.
17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the computer system controls the device in response to the forecast.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the computer system controls the device so that usage for the predetermined time period falls below a predetermined amount.
19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the device includes a climate control device.
20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the climate control device is an air conditioning unit.
21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined amount represents a baseline above which cost of the electricity increases.
22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined amount represents a target and when usage falls below the target for the predetermined time period the user becomes entitled to a rebate.
23. The system according to claim 14, wherein the user interface displays indicia related to power consumption to the user.
24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the indicia related to power consumption is representative of historical usage.
25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the indicia related to power consumption is representative of then-current usage in real time.
26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the indicia related to power consumption includes a moving picture.
27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the moving picture includes a chart of usage.
28. The system according to claim 14, further comprising means for accessing the user interface from a location remote from the computer system for providing the user input.
29. The system according to claim 28, further comprising means for displaying indicia related to power consumption at the remote location.
30. A method of monitoring and controlling power consumption comprising:
reading power consumption data from an electric utility meter using an automatic reader;
collecting the data from the reader in a computer memory device;
computing a forecast of electric power consumption for a predetermined period of time based on usage for a portion of the predetermined time period using a computer system; and
controlling an amount of power consumption by the computer system controlling a device that consumes electricity based on the forecast.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said controlling controls the device so that usage for the predetermined time period falls below a predetermined amount.
32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined amount represents a baseline above which cost of the electricity increases.
33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined amount represents a target and when usage falls below the target for the predetermined time period the user becomes entitled to a rebate.
34. The method according to claim 30, further comprising displaying indicia related to power consumption.
35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the indicia related to power consumption is representative of historical usage.
36. The system according to claim 34, wherein the indicia related to power consumption is representative of then-current usage in real time.
37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the indicia related to power consumption includes a moving picture.
38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the moving picture includes a chart of usage.
39. A system for monitoring and controlling power consumption comprising:
a reader for obtaining power consumption data from an electric utility meter;
a computer system for collecting the data from the reader and for avoiding spurious data created by an external light; and
a user interface at the computer system for accepting input from the user.
40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the system senses an occurrence of more than two passes in one second.
41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the system ignores a second one of the two passes.
42. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the system senses a time interval between each pass.
43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the system ignores a middle one of the intervals if a long-short-long pattern is sensed.
44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the system ignores the middle short reading if the long-short-long pattern is seen twice.
45. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein in response to sensing the spurious data, the system alerts an end user when an adjustment to the optical sensor is needed.
46. An apparatus for reading electric power consumption, comprising:
an optical sensor for sensing indicia of electricity consumption from an electric utility meter;
a wireless transmitter coupled to the optical sensor for generating a signal representative of the indicia of electricity consumption; and
a wireless receiver coupled to a data collector for receiving the signal from the wireless transmitter.
47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the optical sensor senses rotation of a disk located inside the translucent cover of the electric utility meter.
48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the signal includes indicia representative of each revolution of the disk.
49. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the data collector is a general purpose computer system.
50. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the data collector is coupled to a general purpose computer system.
51. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the signal sent by the transmitter is a pulsed carrier frequency with each pulse representing one revolution of the disk located inside the electric utility meter.
52. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the signal sent by the transmitter is encoded with source identification information.
53. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the transmitter sends the signal via a 433 MHz carrier frequency.
54. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the data collector includes memory for storing data related to electricity consumption.
55. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the data collector stores the data despite a power failure.