Modular rack assemblies for sealed lead acid batteries

• US 20060028171A1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kim Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Kim Supply Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kim Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Kim Supply Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marraffa, Andew
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/627 Stationary installations, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 with free flow by convection only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A module for a battery system supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising a pair of side panels, each panel formed of material such as steel shaped to define a generally rectangular face and top and bottom flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the face along top and bottom edges thereof and side flanges formed integrally with the face and top and bottom flanges, a base plate having means for mounting the module to a support surface having a generally U-shaped channel formed integrally along the front and rear edges of the base plate, a rear panel extending between and nested in the side panels and secured thereto and the base plate, at least one pair of front and rear support channels extending between the side panels, a shelf for batteries supported on the base plate and support channels, a support channel extending vertically between the top and bottom flanges, and means for securing modules stacked one on top of another along the top and bottom flanges.

Claims

1. A module for a battery system supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising

a pair of side panels, each panel formed of material such as steel shaped to define a generally rectangular face and top and bottom flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the face along top and bottom edges thereof and side flanges formed integrally with the face and top and bottom flanges;

a base plate having means for mounting the module to a support surface having a generally U-shaped channel formed integrally along the front and rear edges of the base plate;

a rear panel extending between and nested in the side panels and secured thereto and the base plate;

at least one pair of front and rear support channels extending between the side panels;

a shelf for batteries supported on the base plate and support channels;

a support channel extending vertically between the top and bottom flanges; and

means for securing modules stacked one on top of another along the top and bottom flanges.

2. A module as claimed in claim 1 including an elongated stiffener of L-shaped cross section which nests and underlies the top flange of each side panel and provides a strong and rigid cross beam extending from the rear panel to the front end of the module.

3. A module as claimed in claim 1 including means defining holes in the back panel engagable by a fork lift so that the module may be transported from one location to another.

4. A module as claimed in claim 1 including ventilation slots in the shelf to permit circulation of air to cool the batteries.

5. A module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the back panel has formed integrally therewith an inwardly projecting retaining tab.

6. A module assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the modules may be assembled to one another and secured to a support surface solely through access from the front open end of the modules whereby an array of modules may be easily positioned and anchored in place in a very tight space area.

7. The combination comprising a module for a battery system supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising

a pair of side panels, each panel formed of material such as steel shaped to define a generally rectangular face and top and bottom flanges extending generally perpendicularly to the face along top and bottom edges thereof and side flanges formed integrally with the face and top and bottom flanges;

a base plate having means for mounting the module to a support surface having a generally U-shaped channel formed integrally along the front and rear edges of the base plate;

a rear panel extending between and nested in the side panels and secured thereto and the base plate;

at least one pair of front and rear support channels extending between the side panels;

a shelf for batteries supported on the base plate and support channels;

a support channel extending vertically between the top and bottom flanges;

means for securing modules stacked one on top of another along the top and bottom flanges; and

a pair of spaced based assemblies defining a gap there between to accommodate a fork lift to move the base assemblies and modules from one location to another during an installation process.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said base assemblies are of box like structure having confronting opening sides for access to the module bolt holes and anchor bolt holes from the gap between the base assemblies.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein each base assembly comprises an inner channel of J-shaped cross section having a short leg and a wider bottom leg and an outer channel comprising a lower channel member and an upper channel member each of L-shaped cross section and wherein the inner channel nests in the outer channel and is secured thereto by slot welds along the elongated slot between the upper and lower channels and a plurality of spaced gussets and a pattern of bolt holes in the channel members for anchoring the base assemblies and modules to a support surface and which are accessible through the gap between the base assemblies.