Retrofittable battery cabinet for telecommunications enclosures

• US 5,806,948 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R&I Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R&I Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Rowan, William F. Jr., Rowan, W. Frank Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US08/876,266
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 312/257.1, 312/293.3, 312/293.1, 312/296, 312/25, 312/100, 312/210, 312/222, 312/236, 312/265.6, 312/270.3, 312/350, 312/351.1, 312/334.27 , 312/334.32, 312/334.33, 312/334.35, 312/334.44, 219/209, 219/218, 219/521, 219/385, 429/99, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 312/293.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/00 Current supply arrangements for telephone systems for selecting-equipment H04Q1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/025 Cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/03 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/035 Cooling of active equipments, e.g. air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/112 mechanical protection, e.g. resistance to earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/186 for supporting telecommunication equipment selecting apparatus H04Q1/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A retrofit battery cabinet for telecommunications equipment. A 48 volt DC or other battery power supply is held in a retrofit battery cabinet to provide a retrofittable battery power supply to telecommunications cabinets. Dual and separately operable battery trays provide a weight-bearing capacity of more than 500 pounds each. The battery trays extend through an open front end of a housing be sealed by a removable door. The weight load exerted by the retrofit battery cabinet is supported by the concrete or other pad providing ultimate support to the entire configured assembly, and not by the associated telecommunications equipment cabinet. Outriggers, mounting brackets, and nesting of the housing beneath the telecommunications cabinet serve to secure the retrofit battery cabinet in place, ensuring the electrical connection between the batteries and the telecommunications equipment without direct attachment of the retrofit battery cabinet to the telecommunications cabinet support columns. Exhaust fans shrouded by the outriggers ventilate hydrogen gas and provide a more controlled thermal environment for the batteries. The removable door may have a full-length front vent at its base or, alternatively, a duct may connect the retrofit battery cabinet to a subterranean or other thermal reservoir for constant-temperature air flow. A thermostat, timer or timers, alarm reset, battery connections, fuses, breakers, and the like may be held and made easily and readily available at a central console. An intrusion alarm may alert a central monitoring station or control of removal of the front door panel.

Claims

1. A retrofit battery cabinet for use in conjunction with telecommunications equipment protected from ambient environmental conditions in a telecommunications equipment cabinet, the retrofit battery cabinet comprising:

a housing, said housing fitting within a space provided by the telecommunications equipment cabinet so that the telecommunications equipment cabinet protects said housing from the ambient environmental conditions, said housing comprising construction of one-eighth inch (1/8") aluminum and defining an open front aperture or opening along its entire front width to provide open and clear access to batteries within said housing, said open front aperture having a perimeter circumscribed by a gasket, said housing defining notches capable of receiving a latch bolt;

a pair of battery trays, each of said battery trays slidably coupled to said housing so that each of said battery trays independently and selectably moves with respect to said housing so that batteries held by said battery trays may be more easily accessed and serviced, said battery trays each able to support of load of five hundred pounds (500 lbs.) or more, said battery trays each comprising;

a flat pan, said flat pan supporting said batteries;

retaining flanges, said retaining flanges circumscribing said flat pan and retaining said batteries upon said flat pan;

said flat pan and said retaining flanges comprising zinc-coated steel;

a pair of said spring-loaded latches, said spring-loaded latches oppositely opposed on a front end of said battery tray, each of said spring-loaded latches engaging one of said notches to automatically latch and secure said battery tray to said housing when said battery tray slides into said housing, said spring-loaded latches requiring that they be set into place with respect to said housing before a door may be placed upon said housing to enclose said batteries within the retrofit battery cabinet;

a raceway, said raceway coupled to said battery tray; and

rollers, said rollers engaging said raceway and allowing travel of said raceway over said rollers, there being six (6) rollers for each of two opposite sides of said battery tray;

whereby

said tray may travel into and out of said housing as said raceway travels overs said rollers and said battery tray when loaded with a full complement of batteries holds and retains said batteries upon said battery tray;

a plurality of adjustable levelling feet strategically distributed across a bottom of said housing, said adjustable levelling feet distributing weight of the retrofit battery cabinet including any batteries across an ultimate support, each of said adjustable levelling feet comprising zinc-plated and/or stainless steel and able to withstand weight of the retrofit battery cabinet including any batteries, said adjustable levelling feet adjustably coupled to said housing to provide level adjustment means for adjusting a level of said housing, said adjustable levelling feet located internally to said housing and being available for adjustment only from inside said housing, each of said adjustable levelling feet comprising;

a threaded pin, said threaded pin threadably traveling through said housing; and

a pressure-distributing foot, said pressure-distributing foot coupled to said threaded pin;

whereby

weight applied to said adjustable levelling foot by the retrofit battery cabinet is distributed by said pressure-distributing foot upon said ultimate support and said housing may be made level by suitable adjustment of each of said adjustable levelling feet and nested in place;

four (4) outriggers coupled to and extending laterally from opposite side corners of said housing so that a pair of outriggers is present on each side of said housing, each of said outriggers of said pairs spaced apart from its companion to define a gap for a telecommunications support column, said outrigger pairs providing stability for the retrofit battery cabinet and said housing as the retrofit battery cabinet is trapped between telecommunication support columns to restrict all horizontal motion of the retrofit battery cabinet, said outriggers providing a protective shroud for a fan while permitting air flow via said fan, each of said outriggers being open on three sides and closed on three sides to provide a covering shroud for an adjoining portion of said housing, adjustment and mounting of each of said outriggers to said housing accessible only from inside said housing, each of said outriggers comprising one-eighth inch (1/8") aluminum, each of said outriggers having a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket coupling an associated outrigger to said housing, whereby said associated outrigger is more stably secured to said housing, a mounting bolt coupled to said mounting bracket attaching the retrofit battery cabinet to said ultimate support, said mounting bolt and said mounting bracket capable of withstanding loads and stresses inflicted by the retrofit battery cabinet when fully loaded with batteries upon said mounting bolt and said mounting bracket;

first and second battery-powered fans powered by batteries held within the retrofit battery cabinet or an outside source, said fans coupled to opposite sides of said housing, said fans drawing air through an interior of said housing, whereby said interior may be flushed with fresh air and thereby ventilated, each of said fans providing air flow of at least one thousand cubic feet per minute (1000 cfm);

a removable door, said removable door covering a front aperture defined by said housing, said removable door comprising one-eighth inch (1/8") aluminum and defining a front vent, said front vent travelling along the entire front bottom of said door, said removable door bearing a three (3) point stainless steel latch securing said removable door to said housing, said latch having a handle providing for engagement by a lock whereby said door may be lockably secured to said housing, said door positively engaging said gasket circumscribing said front aperture of said housing to seal said perimeter of said front aperture, said removable door unable to securely engage said housing unless said battery trays are latched and secured to said housing;

an intruder alarm, said intruder alarm transmitting a signal upon removal or opening of said door; and

a central console, said central console providing easy but exclusively internal access to connectors, elements, and sensors within said housing, said central console vertically positioned between said battery trays, said central console comprising;

a thermostat, said thermostat coupled to said central console and monitoring temperature internal to said housing;

a fan fuse, said fan fuse coupled to said central console and preventing an excess of power from flowing to a fan;

a battery breaker, said battery breaker coupled to said central console, said battery breaker tripping if an excess of power is associated with a battery connected to said battery breaker; and

a battery connection, said battery connection coupled to said central console, said battery connection allowing a battery upon said battery tray to be easily connected to the battery retrofit cabinet to supply associated telecommunications equipment with battery power;

whereby

said thermostat, said fan fuse, said battery breaker, and said battery connection are made more easily accessible;

whereby

a retrofit battery cabinet is provided that securely maintains its adjusted level and prevents tampering of said adjusted level and internal components from outside said housing.

2. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1, wherein said central console further comprises a timer, said timer coupled to one or more of said fans, said timer periodically activating said one or more of said fans to ensure evacuation of accumulated hydrogen gas from within said housing.

3. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1, wherein said first and second fans further comprise:

valve means for controlling air flow, said valve means permitting one-way air flow out of said housing but impairing air flow into said housing;

whereby

air flow generated by said fans is allowed by said valve means but other air flow is otherwise impaired.

4. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1, wherein said fans are activated by said thermostat.

5. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1, wherein said central console further comprises an intruder alarm reset, said intruder alarm reset coupled to said central console and resetting an intruder alarm.

6. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1, wherein said central console further comprises a hydrogen gas detector, said hydrogen gas detector coupled to said central console and detecting presence of hydrogen gas above a certain threshold concentration.

7. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1 wherein at least one of said battery trays further comprises a heating pad, said heating pad coupled to said battery tray and providing warmth to batteries held by said battery tray.

8. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 1, wherein said housing is coupled to a thermal reservoir, said thermal reservoir providing an interior of said housing with air at a constant temperature.

9. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 8, wherein said thermal reservoir is subterranean.

10. A retrofit battery cabinet for use in conjunction with telecommunications equipment protected from ambient environmental conditions in a telecommunications equipment cabinet, the retrofit battery cabinet comprising:

a housing, said housing fitting within a space provided by the said telecommunications equipment cabinet so that the telecommunications equipment cabinet protects said housing from ambient environmental conditions;

housing stabilizing means for stabilizing said housing with respect to the telecommunications equipment cabinet;

an outrigger, said outrigger coupled to said housing, coupling of said outrigger to said housing accessible only from inside said housing, said outrigger constructed of one-eighth inch (1/8") aluminum;

a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket coupling said outrigger to said housing, whereby said outrigger is more stably secured to said housing;

a mounting bolt, said mounting bolt coupled to said mounting bracket to attach the retrofit battery cabinet to an ultimate support, said mounting bolt capable of withstanding loads and stresses inflicted by the retrofit battery cabinet when fully loaded with batteries upon said mounting bolt;

a battery receptacle, said battery receptacle defined by said housing and providing a protected area within which batteries may be held by said housing; and

level adjustment means for adjusting a level of said housing, said level adjustment means coupled to said housing, said level adjustment means located internally to said housing and being available for adjustment only from inside said housing;

whereby

a retrofit battery cabinet is provided that securely maintains its adjusted level and prevents tampering of said adjusted level from outside said housing.

11. A retrofit battery cabinet for use in conjunction with telecommunications equipment protected from ambient environmental conditions in a telecommunications equipment cabinet, the retrofit battery cabinet comprising:

a housing, said housing fitting within a space provided by the said telecommunications equipment cabinet so that the telecommunications equipment cabinet protects said housing from ambient environmental conditions;

an outrigger, said outrigger coupled to said housing, coupling of said outrigger to said housing accessible only from inside said housing, said outrigger constructed of one-eighth inch (1/8") aluminum, said outrigger being open on three sides and being closed on three sides to provide a covering shroud for an adjoining portion of said housing, said outrigger providing a protective shroud for a fan while permitting air flow via said fan;

a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket coupling said outrigger to said housing, whereby said outrigger is more stably secured to said housing;

housing stabilizing means for stabilizing said housing with respect to the telecommunications equipment cabinet, including four (4) outriggers extending laterally from opposite side corners of said housing so that a pair of outriggers is present on each side of said housing, each of said outriggers of said pairs spaced apart from its companion to define a gap for a telecommunications support column, whereby stability for the retrofit battery cabinet is provided by said outriggers and said housing as the retrofit battery cabinet is trapped between said telecommunication support columns to restrict all horizontal motion of the retrofit battery cabinet;

a battery receptacle, said battery receptacle defined by said housing and providing a protected area within which batteries may be held by said housing; and

level adjustment means for adjusting a level of said housing, said level adjustment means coupled to said housing, said level adjustment means located internally to said housing and being available for adjustment only from inside said housing;

whereby

a retrofit battery cabinet is provided that securely maintains its adjusted level and prevents tampering of said adjusted level from outside said housing.

12. A retrofit battery cabinet for use in conjunction with telecommunications equipment protected from the elements in a telecommunications equipment cabinet, the retrofit battery cabinet comprising:

a housing, said housing fitting within a space provided by the telecommunications equipment cabinet so that the telecommunications equipment cabinet protects said housing from the elements;

a battery receptacle, said battery receptacle defined by said housing and providing a protected area within which batteries may be held by said housing including a battery tray, said battery tray slidably coupled to said housing so that said battery tray selectably moves with respect to said housing so that batteries held by said battery tray may be more easily accessed and serviced;

said housing having a central console, said central console providing easy but exclusively internal access to connectors, elements, and sensors within said housing, said central console vertically positioned between said battery tray on one side and a second battery tray on another side, said central console having a thermostat, said thermostat coupled to said central console and monitoring temperature internal to said housing, said central console having a fan fuse, said fan fuse coupled to said central console and preventing an excess of power from flowing to a fan, said central console having a battery breaker, said battery breaker coupled to said central console, said battery breaker tripping if an excess of power is associated with a battery connected to said battery breaker, said central console having a battery connection, said battery connection coupled to said central console, said battery connection allowing a battery upon said battery tray to be easily connected to the battery retrofit cabinet to supply associated telecommunications equipment with battery power, whereby said thermostat, said fan fuse, said battery breaker, and said battery connection are made more easily accessible; and

level adjustment means for adjusting a level of said housing, said level adjustment means coupled to said housing, said level adjustment means located internally to said housing and being available for adjustment only from inside said housing;

whereby

a retrofit battery cabinet is provided that securely maintains its adjusted level and prevents tampering of said adjusted level from outside said housing.

13. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 12, wherein said central console further comprises:

an intruder alarm reset, said intruder alarm reset coupled to said central console and resetting an intruder alarm.

14. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 12, wherein said central console further comprises:

a hydrogen gas detector, said hydrogen gas detector coupled to said central console and detecting presence of hydrogen gas above a certain threshold concentration.

15. The retrofit battery cabinet of claim 12, wherein said central console further comprises:

a timer, said timer coupled to said central console and a fan, said timer activating said fan on a periodic basis to ventilate an interior of said housing.