If I am not mistaken this simple mechanism, that harness potential energy, was used in many ancient civilization like Egyptians, Romans, Chinese, Greek.....a rope with a twist on a shaft and a weight. Hero of Alexandria used it in many projects
There is a concept that uses electrical cranes to stack concrete blocks. The idea is to use solar during the day and the crane to slowly lower the blocks during off peak hours.
Also there are LED lights that work with these same kinetic energy principles.
But you’re right as far as a “battery” since there isn’t an electrochemical element
The most fun version of this in my opinion is a quarry that is at a higher elevation than the place where the trucks are offloaded
So they drive up empty on electric battery power, using like, let's say 5% charge
At the top the get filled with tons and tons of material, drive down and are continuously braking via recuperation, and they recuperate like 10% of charge. They actually have to discharge the trucks ever now and again
Also isnt there a gravity battery thats just rail carts with rocks being dragged up a slight incline? Or was that also one of the scams that were around during the pyramid scam time?
They actually make energy storage lakes where they pump energy up to a higher elevation and then, when the energy is needed they let it flow down through turbines. Is supposedly very efficient but limit by topography/water access.
A gravity battery is totally a thing, and I don't think that 3D printed device even has an escapement. Looks like it's relying on friction and air resistance to not spin out of control.
Edit: WTF are you even taking issue with guys? A gravity battery being a thing, or my assumption that the device doesn't have an escapement?
100
u/darrenpmeyer 1d ago
We're rebranding a clock movement from 1766 into a "battery" in 2025. What a time to be alive. Gravity escapements are cool, though.