Battery system safety shield

• US 9,799,876 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C&C Power Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C&C Power Incorporated
• Inventors: Conrardy, N. William, Lupinek, James R., Fechalos, William, Heinz, Christopher D., Blake, Paul, Osko, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOMONE, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US15/340,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20170047577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/10 Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/591 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/593 Spacers; Insulating plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

Storage batteries connected in series in an uninterruptable or back-up power supply system may have voltage potential differences between exposed terminals or conductors that exceed safety limits. A demountable insulating shield having apertures may be positioned so that the series string may be broken into a plurality of series sub-strings having a lesser potential difference has a cover over the aperture through which the series string configuration may be connected and disconnected. The cover may be an insulating material removably fastened to the insulating shield or a sliding cover that is captivated to the insulating shield. When the series string has been divided in to the sub-strings, the insulating shield may be demounted from the structure housing the batteries so that the batteries or their connections may be serviced.

Claims

1. A storage battery back-up power supply system, comprising:

a plurality of storage batteries having electrical terminals, the terminals of at least some of the storage batteries of the plurality of storage batteries connected in series;

a removable non-conductive barrier having a non-conductive portion extending along a rank of batteries of the plurality of storage batteries and disposed to prevent contact with electrically conducting portions of the system having a voltage difference therebetween and an aperture to provide access to at least a terminal of a storage battery or a connection between storage batteries; and

a non-conductive cover sized and dimensioned to prevent access to the terminal or connection when the non-conductive cover is disposed over the aperture.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive cover is capable of being secured to the non-conductive barrier by a fastener.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a spacing between apertures in a rank of storage batteries is such that a value of the voltage differences between the storage battery terminals or inter-storage-battery connections exposed by a removal of the non-conductive cover is less than a nominal 50 VDC.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a spacing between adjacent apertures is such that a value of the voltage difference between storage battery terminals or inter-storage-battery connections of adjacent apertures is less than a nominal 50 VDC.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive cover has a length such that adjacent apertures are covered when the non-conductive cover is in a first position and motion of the cover is constrained such that only one of the adjacent apertures is uncovered when the non-conductive cover is moved to a second position.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the non-conductive cover is captivated to the non-conductive barrier such that it is slidable in a direction joining the adjacent apertures.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a stop is provided such that the slidable movement uncovers only one aperture at a time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-conductive cover has a lock capable of engaging the non-conductive barrier, the lock having a captive key mechanism such that, when the non-conductive cover is slidable with respect to the apertures of the non-conductive barrier, a key of the lock is captivated by the lock, and the key is removable when the non-conductive element is fixed in a position where the apertures are covered.