Low profile insulated battery enclosure incorporating a step/work surface

Abstract

A remote equipment site may include a cabinet that houses electronic equipment and a work platform positioned adjacent to the cabinet and below at least one door of the cabinet. The at least one door of the cabinet may open outwardly from a side surface of the cabinet without contacting the work platform. The work platform may include a bottom portion configured to house an array of batteries that provide power to the electronic equipment. At least one power cable may be configured to provide power from the array of batteries to the electronic equipment, and an opening may be provided in the work platform for the at least one power cable to extend from the work platform to the electronic equipment. Additionally, the work platform may include a top portion that is removably attached to the bottom portion and that forms a work platform surface.

1 . A remote equipment site, comprising:
 a cabinet that houses electronic equipment, the cabinet comprising a top surface, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one door operable to open outwardly from one of the plurality of side surfaces; and   a work platform positioned adjacent to the cabinet and below the at least one door, wherein the at least one door does not contact the work platform when the at least one door is opened, and wherein the work platform comprises:
 a bottom portion configured to house an array of batteries that provide power to the electronic equipment housed inside the cabinet; 
 at least one power cable configured to provide power from the array of batteries to the electronic equipment; 
 an opening for the at least one power cable to extend from the work platform to the electronic equipment; and 
 a top portion removably attached to the bottom portion and that forms a work platform surface. 
   
   
   
       2 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein at least one person may rest on the work platform surface and access the electronic equipment housed within the cabinet. 
   
   
       3 . The remote equipment site of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion and the at least one person are at least partially supported by the array of batteries disposed in the bottom portion. 
   
   
       4 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the work platform further comprises a sealed cover insulation material disposed substantially between the array of batteries and the top portion. 
   
   
       5 . The remote equipment site of  claim 4 , wherein the work platform further comprises an electrically isolating layer disposed between the array of batteries and the sealed cover insulation material. 
   
   
       6 . The remote equipment site of  claim 5 , wherein the sealed cover insulation material comprises a Thermax sheathing insulation material. 
   
   
       7 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises one or more vent holes through which gases are permitted to escape. 
   
   
       8 . The remote equipment site of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion comprises one or more overhanging surfaces, and wherein the one or more vent holes are disposed on the one or more overhanging surfaces. 
   
   
       9 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the work platform further comprises an insulating material disposed substantially between the array of batteries and one or more sides of the bottom portion. 
   
   
       10 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the work platform further comprises a non-skid surface formed on a top surface of the top portion, and wherein the non-skid surface comprises a paint or epoxy that is applied to the top surface. 
   
   
       11 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the work platform further comprises a non-skid surface formed on a top surface of the top portion, and wherein the non-skid surface comprises at least one of (i) a plurality of grooves formed into the top portion or (ii) a plurality of raised portions formed into the top portion. 
   
   
       12 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the work platform is comprised of plastic or aluminum. 
   
   
       13 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the work platform further comprises one or more cooling fins extending upwardly from the bottom of the bottom portion and operable to transfer heat from the array of batteries. 
   
   
       14 . The remote equipment site of  claim 1 , wherein the array of batteries comprises a plurality of layers of batteries. 
   
   
       15 . A remote equipment site, comprising:
 a cabinet that houses electronic equipment, the cabinet comprising a top surface, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one door operable to open outwardly from one of the plurality of side surfaces; and   a work platform positioned adjacent to the cabinet and below the at least one door, wherein the at least one door does not contact the work platform when the at least one door is opened, and wherein the work platform comprises:
 a bottom portion configured to house an array of batteries that provide power to the electronic equipment housed inside the cabinet; and 
 a top portion removably attached to the bottom portion and that forms a work platform surface, 
 wherein at least one person may rest on the work platform surface and access the electronic equipment housed within the cabinet. 
   
   
   
       16 . The remote equipment site of  claim 15 , wherein the top portion and the at least one person are at least partially supported by the array of batteries disposed in the bottom portion. 
   
   
       17 . The remote equipment site of  claim 15 , wherein the work platform further comprises at least one power cable configured to provide power from the array of batteries to the electronic equipment. 
   
   
       18 . The remote equipment site of  claim 17 , wherein the work platform further comprises an opening for the at least one power cable to extend from the work platform to the electronic equipment. 
   
   
       19 . The remote equipment site of  claim 15 , wherein the work platform further comprises a sealed cover insulation material disposed substantially between the array of batteries and the top portion. 
   
   
       20 . The remote equipment site of  claim 19 , wherein the work platform further comprises an electrically isolating layer disposed between the array of batteries and the sealed cover insulation material.