Battery rack

Abstract

A frame device for supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising: a pair of facing end frames, a base plate for mounting each end frame to a support surface, means connecting the end frames including elongated support rails for supporting a plurality of batteries and gusset means connected to the end frames to strengthen the joint between the uprights of the end frame and base plate which lie within the footprint of the end frame.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A frame device for supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising: 
 a pair of facing end frames,    a base plate for mounting each end frame to a support surface,    means connecting the end frames including elongated support rails for supporting a plurality of batteries, and    gusset means connected to the end frames to strengthen the joint between the uprights of the end frame and base plate which lie within the footprint of the end frame.    
     
     
         2 . A frame device for supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising: 
 a pair of facing end frames,    a base plate for mounting each end frame to a support surface,    means connecting the end frames including elongated support rails for supporting a plurality of batteries,    gusset means having brace holes connected to the end frames to strengthen the joint between the uprights of the end frame and base plate which lie within the footprint of the end frame, and    the brace holes of the gusset being aligned with the brace holes on the outer vertical flange of the end frame uprights.    
     
     
         3 . A frame device for supporting batteries during seismic stress comprising: 
 a pair of end frame members, each end frame member being formed of a single sheet material shaped to define vertical side flanges and a web extending between the side flanges directly confronting batteries placed on the shelves and providing a guide for same;    means defining a plurality of openings in the web of each end frame generally aligned with the compartments formed by the shelves to provide ventilation of batteries mounted in the compartments;    channel support members secured at opposite terminal ends to the inner faces of the vertical flanges of the end frame members to position them in upstanding spaced apart relation;    shelves for supporting batteries spanning the channel support members and defining a plurality of compartments for the batteries;    a pair of anchors; and    means for securing the end frame members to the anchors including at least one gusset at the lower end of the flanges said configuration providing a relatively compact footprint and good rigidity to withstand seismic beams.    
     
     
         4 . A pair of end frames mounted in upstanding spaced apart relation by a plurality of vertically spaced elongated channel support members secured at opposite terminal ends to the vertical flanges of the end frames; 
 shelves for supporting batteries spanning the channel support members and defining a plurality of compartments for the batteries;    each end frame member being formed of a single sheet material shaped to define vertical flanges and a web extending between the end flanges;    means defining a plurality of openings in the web of each end frame generally aligned with the compartments formed by the shelves to provide ventilation of batteries mounted in the compartments;    a base assembly comprising a generally rectangular base plate having holes to secure the rack to a support surface and gussets secured to the base plate and end frame; and    means for securing the end frames to the base comprising complementary slots and tabs for accurately locating the end frames in said anchor.