Utility pole having underground battery housing
Utility pole system having a battery storage housing defining a top portion, a bottom portion, and an interior volume with an access opening extending through the top portion; a pole with an upper end and a lower end attached to the top portion of the battery storage housing; and means for moving the pole from the first position where the lower end of the pole covers the access opening of the battery housing, and a second position where the lower end exposes the access opening. The utility pole system might also include electrical components powered by a battery provided in the battery storage housing, such battery charged by utility power.
1. A battery storage pole system comprising:
a battery storage housing for disposition at least partially below a ground surface, the battery storage housing having an upper end, a lower end and interior volume with an access opening extending through the upper end of the battery storage housing;
a plurality of batteries disposed within the interior volume of the housing;
a pole having an upper portion and a lower portion configured for attachment proximate to the upper end of the battery storage housing, the pole movable between a first position where the lower portion covers the access opening and a second position where the lower portion exposes the access opening; and
a controller configured to charge the batteries from an electrical grid and discharge the batteries to the electrical grid.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a locking element for selectively locking the pole in the first position.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical componentry comprises at least one of:
cell equipment supported by the pole;
sensors supported by the pole;
cameras supported by the pole;
traffic lights supported by the pole.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of battery storage poles, wherein each pole further includes at least one battery disposed within the battery storage housing, and is connected to an electrical grid and the other poles, the plurality of battery storage poles form a micro-grid.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lift system configured to move a battery through the access opening from a location disposed within the battery storage housing to a location at least partially outside the battery storage housing.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the pole between the upper portion and the lower portion of the pole, when the pole is in the first position, defines a vertical axis of the system.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the pole rotates between the first position and the second position.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the pole rotates about an axis that is transverse to the vertical axis.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the pole moves between the first position and the second position in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a track disposed proximate to the upper end of the battery storage housing, wherein the lower portion is connected to the track.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pole moves along the track between the first position and the second position.
12. A battery storage pole system comprising:
a battery storage housing for disposition at least partially below a ground surface, the battery storage housing having an upper end, a lower end and interior volume with an access opening extending through the upper end of the battery storage housing;
a pole having an upper portion and a lower portion configured for attachment proximate to the upper end of the battery storage housing, the pole movable between a first position where the lower portion covers the access opening and a second position where the lower portion exposes the access opening, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pole between the upper portion and the lower portion of the pole, when the pole is in the first position, defines a vertical axis of the system;
a track disposed proximate to the upper end of the battery storage housing, wherein the lower portion is connected to the track and the pole moves along the track between the first position and the second position in a direction that is transverse to the vertical axis.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a plurality of batteries disposed within the interior volume of the housing.
14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a controller configured to charge said batteries relative to a power source.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power source is an electrical grid and wherein the controller is configured to charge the batteries from the grid and discharge the batteries to the grid.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller discharges the batteries to electrical componentry supported by the pole.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electrical componentry comprises at least one of:
cell antennas supported by the pole;
sensors supported by the pole;
cameras supported by the pole;
traffic lights supported by the pole.