Retrofittable battery cabinet for telecommunications enclosures

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.