Modular battery cabinet assembly

• US 5,403,679 A
• Filed: 06/23/1994
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exide Technologies
• Original Assignee: GNB Industrial Battery Company
• Inventors: Stone, Bradley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US08/265,500
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 429/99, 429/100, 429/96, 429/9, 429/159, 206/333, 206/512
• US Class Current: 429/99
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention comprises a modular battery tray comprising a series of battery modular trays attached together, each tray comprising a back section and opposing side sections configured to provide access between the opposing side sections, at least one of the sections having battery compartments in which the battery is restrained from movement, as desired. In the preferred embodiment, a top cover and a front access door are included, as is a base so as to provide a battery cabinet assembly that may be readily moved and which restricts access.

Claims

1. A modular battery tray assembly for housing multiple batteries comprising a plurality of battery trays stacked one upon the other and attached together, each battery tray comprising a back section and opposing side sections each said side section having a front end and a back end, the back end connected to said back section and said front ends being unconnected with each other, said back and opposing side sections forming a C-shaped configuration when viewed from above, said opposing side sections disposed to provide access to each of the batteries housed through an open side opposite said back section, at least two of said sections including at least one battery compartment sized to accommodate one of the batteries being housed, restraining means attached to said battery tray for retaining a battery within said battery compartment and attachment means associated with each of said battery trays for attaching a battery tray to another of said battery trays.

2. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said restraining means retains the battery from movement in at least two directions within the battery compartment.

3. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 2, wherein said restraining means retains the battery within said battery compartment against movement side-to-side, front-to-back and up and down within the battery compartment.

4. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said battery compartment comprises a back wall, a base having an upstanding lip dimensioned to snugly hold a battery from front-to-back movement between lip and said backwall and side panels dimensioned to prevent a battery within said battery compartment from side-to-side movement.

5. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 4, wherein said side panels are angled so as to facilitate attachment of a handle to a battery retained in said battery compartment.

6. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 4, wherein said side panels have apertures for air movement.

7. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 4, wherein said side panels contain an aperture for accepting a restraining means for preventing movement of a battery positioned in said battery compartment from up and down movement.

8. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 7, wherein said aperture is L-shaped.

9. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 8, wherein said restraining means is an L-shaped rod capable of being inserted through said L-shaped apertures and wherein said L-shaped apertures are positioned such that said L-shaped rod is positioned on the top of a battery located in a battery compartment.

10. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a structural extension member located adjacent each of the four corners of the tray battery and extending below said battery tray, an opening in the top of each corner of the battery tray for accepting said structural extension member of a complementary battery tray, and apertures for accepting means for attaching said battery tray to another battery tray.

11. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, which includes a top cover.

12. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, which includes a front door restricting access to the open side opposite said back section.

13. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 12, wherein said front door includes means for locking said front door to said battery tray assembly.

14. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, which includes a base attached to the bottom battery tray of said battery tray assembly.

15. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 14, wherein said base includes access means for allowing a lifting mechanism to lift said modular battery tray assembly.

16. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 15, wherein said base has means allowing attachment of said base to a floor.

17. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said sections includes at least one battery compartment.

18. A battery cabinet assembly for housing multiple batteries comprising a plurality of battery tray modules stacked one upon another and attached together, each module comprising a back section and opposing side sections each said side section having a front end and a back end, the back end connected to said back section and said front ends being unconnected with each other, said back and opposing side sections forming a C-shaped configuration when viewed from above, said opposing side sections disposed to provide access to each of the batteries housed through an open side opposite said back section, at least two of said sections including at least one battery compartment sized to accommodate one of the batteries being housed, restraining means associated with said module for retaining a battery within said battery compartment, a battery positioned in each of said battery compartments, said batteries being electrically connected together, and attachment means associated with each of said modules for attaching said module to another module.

19. The battery cabinet assembly of claim 18, which includes a top cover attached to the top module, a front door closing off the open side opposite said back section and a base attached to the bottom module.

20. The battery cabinet assembly of claim 19, wherein said front door includes means for locking said front door to said modules.

21. The battery cabinet assembly of claim 20, wherein said base includes means for attaching said base to a floor.

22. The battery cabinet assembly of claim 21, wherein said base includes access means for allowing a lifting mechanism to lift said battery cabinet assembly.

23. The battery cabinet assembly of claim 22, wherein each of said sections includes at least one battery compartment.

24. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 18, wherein said restraining means retains the battery from movement in at least two directions within the battery compartment.

25. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 24, wherein said restraining means retains the battery within said battery compartment against movement side-to-side, front-to-back and up and down within the battery compartment.

26. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 18, wherein said battery compartment comprises a back wall, a base having an upstanding lip dimensioned to snugly hold a battery from front-to-back movement between lip and said backwall and side panels dimensioned to prevent a battery within said battery compartment from side-to-side movement.

27. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 26, wherein said side panels are angled so as to facilitate attachment of a handle to a battery retained in said battery compartment.

28. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 26, wherein said side panels have apertures for air movement.

29. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 26, wherein said side panels contain an aperture for accepting a restraining means for preventing movement of a battery positioned in said battery compartment from up and down movement.

30. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 29, wherein said aperture is L-shaped.

31. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 29, wherein said restraining means is an L-shaped rod capable of being inserted through said L-shaped apertures and wherein said L-shaped apertures are positioned such that said L-shaped rod is positioned on the top of a battery located in a battery compartment.

32. The modular battery tray assembly of claim 18, wherein said attachment means comprises a structural extension member located adjacent each of the four corners of the battery tray and extending below said battery tray, an opening in the top of each corner of the battery tray for accepting said structural extension member of a complementary battery tray, and apertures for accepting means for attaching said battery tray to another battery tray.

33. A pre-wired battery tray module for housing multiple batteries comprising a back section and opposing side sections each said side section having a front end and a back end, the back end connected to said back section and said front ends being unconnected with each other, said back and opposing side sections forming a C-shaped configuration when viewed from above, said opposing side sections disposed to provide access to each of the batteries being housed through an open side opposite said back section, at least two of said sections including at least one battery compartment sized to accommodate one of the batteries being housed, a battery positioned in each of said battery compartments, connections electrically connecting said batteries and attachment means associated with said module for attaching said module to another module.

34. A modular battery tray assembly for housing multiple batteries comprising a plurality of battery trays stacked one upon the other and attached together, each battery tray comprising a back section and opposing side sections each said side section having a front end and a back end, the back end connected to said back section and said front ends being unconnected with each other, said back and opposing side sections forming a C-shaped configuration when viewed from above, said opposing side sections disposed to provide access to the batteries housed through an open side opposite said back section, at least two of said sections including at least one battery compartment sized to accommodate one of the batteries being housed, restraining means attached to said battery tray for retaining a battery within said battery compartment and restraining the battery from movement in at least two directions within the battery compartment, a battery positioned in each compartment, and attachment means associated with each of said battery trays for attaching a battery tray to another of said battery trays.