UNINTERUPTABLE POWER SUPPLY ENCLOSURE AND BATTERY LOCKER

Abstract

An enclosure, which includes a box portion having a top wall, the top wall having at least one fan and at least one baffle; and a lid portion, which fits over the top wall of the box portion and creates at least one passage extending along a front wall and/or a back wall of the enclosure to allow airflow from within the box portion of the enclosure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 61/298,512 filed Jan. 26, 2010, and U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 61/336,860 filed Jan. 26, 2010, which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to any type of enclosure that is fan cooled, and more particularly to an uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker for use in the telecommunications industry, including but not limited to broadband node locations supporting remote deployment of network electronics, including power supply batteries and RF components, and which dissipates heat from said enclosure and battery locker.

BACKGROUND

For telecommunication locations supporting remote deployment of network electronics, a power supply enclosure is often needed. Typically, the power supply will be batteries and/or cells, which comprise electrodes and an ion-conducting electrolyte positioned therebetween. When such a battery pack is charged or discharged, heat is produced which, if uncontrolled, can have a significant impact on the life and performance of the battery pack as a whole as well as the individual cells that form the battery pack.

In addition, it can be appreciated that the high voltage battery packs are adaptable to receive and deliver high and fast rates of current. Accordingly, it is also critical to maintain the temperature of the battery packs within a defined operating range to maximize the performance and life span of the battery pack. To maintain the batteries at a desired temperature, a temperature control system is often provided within the battery pack for passing cool or hot air only over the external surfaces of the battery packs, wherein the cool air picks up heat from and between the cells and loses its cooling capacity, thereby creating cooler battery temperatures near the inlet and hotter temperatures near the outlet. As a result, significant temperature variances can occur from one battery cell to the adjacent battery cell, thereby detrimentally affecting the performance and life span of the battery pack.

Conventionally, cooling systems pass cool air only over the external surfaces of the batteries. Thus, the air picks up heat from battery to battery and loses its cooling capacity. This arrangement inherently creates cooler battery temperatures near the inlet and hotter temperatures near the outlet. Another drawback associated with the conventional systems relates to the airflow being uncontrolled thereby resulting in unbalanced airflow wherein air does not flow past each cell at the same rate and same temperature.

As a result, significant temperature variances can occur from one cell to the next, which is detrimental to performance of the battery pack. In order for the batteries to be properly charged, the cells must be below a desired threshold temperature and the differential temperature between the cells in the battery pack should be minimized. However, depending on the thermal path to ambient, different cells will reach different temperatures. Further, for the same reasons, different cells reach different temperatures during the charging process. Accordingly, if one cell is at an increased temperature with respect to the other cells, its charge or discharge efficiency will be different, and, therefore, it may charge or discharge faster than the other cells. This will lead to a decline in the performance of the entire pack.

As such, there is a constant need in the area of a battery art for an improved design of a battery pack that provides an even cooling of the battery packs with balanced air management cooling system wherein each cell receives a similar temperature and flow of inlet air to remove the undesired heat of each cell, effective packaging characteristics, structural integrity and improved heat absorption thereby eliminating problems associated with current designs of prior art battery packs having cooling systems. It can be appreciated that when fans are specified in most battery lockers and/or enclosures, the fan support system typically blocks most of the normal convection airflow, which stagnates the internal airflow allowing the enclosure to heat up at a more rapid rate.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an enclosure as shown in the attached drawings, which includes a power source which activates at least one fan upon reaching a predetermined temperature and/or includes at least one and/or a plurality of solar panels, which provide a source of energy to one or more fans from sunrise to sunset and/or parameters including outside and/or internal temperature within the enclosure, time of day, and time of year.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an enclosure comprises: a box portion having a top wall, the top wall having at least one fan and at least one baffle; and a lid portion, which fits over the top wall of the box portion and creates at least one passage extending along a front wall and a back wall of the enclosure to allow airflow from within the box portion of the enclosure.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, an enclosure comprises: a box portion, the box portion comprising a base, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a back wall, and wherein the box portion has a top wall having at least one thermostatically controlled fan and at least one baffle extending along a top edge of the top wall adjacent to the front wall and/or a top edge of the back wall of the box portion; a lid portion, the lid portion comprising a lower wall, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a back wall, and wherein the lid portion fits over the top wall of the box portion and creates at least one passage extending along the front wall and/or the back wall of the enclosure and regulates the flow of air and/or heat from the box portion; and wherein the at least one baffle has an inner portion for passive ventilation from within an inner portion of the box portion of the enclosure.

In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, a method of venting air from an enclosure comprises directing a flow of air from within the enclosure over at least one curved surface or through a venturi to create a lower pressure area at an opening on an upper portion of the enclosure.

The details of one or more embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure in the form of a uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the top portion of the uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure 100 in the form of a uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the enclosure 100 comprises a box portion 110, and a lid portion 120. The box portion 110 includes a base (or base wall) 112, a pair of front walls 114, 115, a pair of sidewalls 116, and a back wall 118. The pair of front walls 114, 115, is preferably configured to open outward to disclose an inner portion 102 of the box portion 110 of the enclosure 100. The inner portion 102 of the enclosure 100 preferably includes one or more compartments, such as batteries, network electronics, and/or RF components, which can be deployed in remote and/or non-remote locations.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the enclosure 100 also includes a top wall (or baffle wall) 130 as shown in FIG. 2. The top wall (or baffle wall) 130 includes an upper edge 132, which is located within an inner portion of the lid portion 120 of the enclosure 100, and a lower edge 134, which is located within the inner portion 102 of the box portion 110. It can be appreciated that the top wall (or baffle wall) 130 can be either an upper wall or panel (or top wall) of the box portion, or alternatively, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the baffle wall 130 can be a lower wall or panel of the lid portion 120 of the enclosure 100.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the front walls 114, 115 of the box portion 110 are hinged to an outer front edge of the sidewalls 116 of the box portion 110 for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position. Each of the front walls 114, 115 preferably includes a locking mechanism 106, which prevents the pair of front walls 114, 115 from moving between the open position and the closed position without unlocking the locking mechanism 106.

The lid portion 120 includes a top wall 122, a front wall 124 (or front walls 124, 125), a pair of sidewalls 126, and a back wall 128. The top wall 122, 123 is preferably a single wall (or panel), however, it can be appreciated that the top wall 122, 123 can be comprised of a pair of top walls, 122, 123, which correspond to the front walls 114, 115, of the box portion 110, such that each inner compartment has a designated lid portion 120. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the front walls 124, 125 of the lid portion 120 have a height greater than the corresponding back wall 128 of the lid portion 120.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, at least one solar panel 104 is attached or fixed to an outer surface of the lid portion 120. The at least one soar panel 104 provides a source of energy to power the at least one fan (or fan system) 160 and/or other electronic components within the enclosure 100 as shown in FIGS. 2-4. For example, the at least one solar panel 104 can be attached to an outer surface of the top wall 122, 123 of the lid portion 120 of the enclosure 100. The enclosure 100 can also be fitted with a mounting template (or plate) 111 attached to the base wall 112 of the box portion 110 for concrete pad installations.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker (or enclosure) 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the at least one inner portion (or compartment) 102 of enclosure 100 includes at least one shelve (or tray) 140, which is configured to hold or house at least one battery 150. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the inner portion 102 of the enclosure 100 includes a plurality of slide out shelves (or trays) 142 configured to hold or house at least one battery 140 per shelve or tray 142. It can be appreciated that in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the at least one shelve 140 is adjustable.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the at least one battery 140 is one or more batteries, which are comprised of a group of two or more cells connected together to furnish electric current. It can be appreciated that in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the at least one battery 140 can be a single cell source that furnishes electric current.

The lid portion 120 of the enclosure 100 includes at least one fan 160 and at least one baffle 170, 174, and more preferably a pair of baffles 170, 174, each having a curved surface 172, 176 extending along a top edge 132 of the top wall 130 adjacent to the front wall 124 and/or the top edge 132 of the back wall 118 of the box portion 110 of the enclosure 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the lid portion 120 fits over the front wall 114 of the box portion 110 and in combination with the baffles 170, 174, a pair of passages (or baffle openings) 180, 182 are created adjacent to an upper portion of the front wall 114 and the back wall 118 of the box portion 110 of the enclosure 100. The pair of passages (or baffle openings) 180, 182 allows the flow of air and/or heat from the inner portion 102 of the enclosure 100.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, each of the baffles 170, 174 is preferably a plate or panels having a raised portions thereto, which includes a curved surface (or curvature) 172, 176 thereto, which deflects and regulates the flow of air from within the enclosure 100. Each of the baffles 170, 174 preferably extends from one sidewall 126 to the opposite sidewall 126 (or compartment divider) of the box portion 110 (or lid portion 120) of the enclosure 100. However, it can be appreciated that in accordance with another exemplary embodiment, each of the baffles 170, 174 extends only a portion of the length (or distance) from one sidewall 116, 126 to the other sidewall (or compartment divider) 116, 126. For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, each of the baffles 170, 174 extends approximately 50% to 100% of the distance from one sidewall 116, 126 to the other sidewall (or compartment divider) 116, 126. In addition, each of the baffles 170, 174 is preferably centered (i.e., longitudinally or length-wise) between the sidewalls (and/or compartment dividers) 116, 126, and/or adjacent to the at least one fan 160.

Upon activation of the at least one fan 160, the air from within the box portion 110 of the enclosure 100 is forced (or drawn) from within the inner portion 102 of the enclosure 100, and pushed by the at least one fan 160 over the curvature 172, 176 of the baffles 170, 174. The airflow from within the inner compartment (or inner portion) 102 flows over and clings to the curvature 172, 176 of the baffles 170, 174, (also known as the “Coanda” effect) to provide additional ventilation to the enclosure 100. In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, each of the baffles 170, 174 also preferably includes a hollow inner portion 171, 175, which provides for passive ventilation from the inner portion 102 of the box portion 110 of the enclosure 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hollow inner portions 171, 175 of the each of the baffles 170, 174 allows a higher volume of early airflow to escape from the enclosure 100 initially, which keeps the internal temperature of the internal portion 102 of the enclosure 100 at a lower temperature for a longer period of time prior to the activation of at least one fan 160.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the at least one fan 160 is preferably at least one or more thermostatically controlled fans. For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the enclosure 100 includes at least two thermostatically control fans 160. It can also be appreciated that when the passive ventilation can no longer keep the temperature of the internal compartment or inner portion below a predetermined fan activation temperature, the at least one thermostatically controlled fan 160 is activated and causes the airflow to flow over and cling to the curvature 172, 176 of the baffles 170, 174. In addition, it can be appreciated that the speed of the airflow (as shown by “Bernoulli's Principle”) creates a low pressure area at the baffle openings 180, 182 and draws even more air to flow through the thermostatically controlled fans 160 and the inner portion 102 of the enclosure 100 than would normally be obtained from a locker (or enclosure) with fans only. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the venting of air from the enclosure 100 can be performed by directing a flow of air from within the enclosure 100 over at least one curved surface and/or through a venturi to create a lower pressure area at an opening 180, 182 on an upper portion of the enclosure 100.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the enclosure 100 includes a power supply (or source) 144, which is configurable to operate the at least one fan 160 and other components contained within the enclosure or enclosure 100. The enclosure 100 also preferably includes network electronics 146 which are housed within the enclosure and/or alternatively, in separate housing. The network electronics 146 can include multiple fiber optic/splice equipment with fiber optic cable cradles for various cable sizes (not shown), and/or a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature within the enclosure 100. Upon reaching a set temperature, the temperature sensor activates the at least one fan 160, which begins the ventilation and cooling of the inner portion 102 of the enclosure 100.

It can be appreciated that the power source 144 in conjunction with the network electronics 146 can be configured such that the power source activates at least one fan 160 upon reaching a predetermined temperature and/or includes at least one and/or a plurality of solar panels 104, which provide a source of energy to one or more fans 160 from sunrise to sunset and/or other set parameters such as outside and/or internal temperature within the enclosure, time of day, and time of year. For example, the at least one fan 160 and more preferably at least two fans 160 are activated based on a predetermined fan activation temperature and powered by an internal power source. Alternatively, upon reaching the predetermined fan activation temperature, the at least one fan 160 can be activated and a signal can be sent to a central office warning of the possibility of a shut down of internal components within the enclosure 100. The internal components can include batteries and/or power supply configurations, and network electronics including RF components.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the at least one fan 160 is preferably powered by the solar panels 104 attached to the lid portion 120 and/or another source of alternative energy. The at least one fan 160 can also powered by a DC (i.e. direct current) power source, and/or another source of power, which is external and/or internal of the enclosure 100 when the power provided by the solar panels 104 and/or alternative source of energy is not available. For example, upon setting of the sun (i.e., at night), the at least one fan 160 can be powered by a DC power source.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the uninteruptable power supply enclosure and battery locker (or enclosure) 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment along the line A-A of FIG. 2. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the at least one fan 160 is preferably at least two fans 160, which are located within the top wall (or baffle wall) 130 of the box portion 110. The at least two fans 160 are preferably equally spaced apart from one another and the corresponding walls 114, 116, 118 to maximize the heat dissipation performance of the fans 160.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the lid portion 120 is preferably hinged 190 to the box portion 110 across an upper edge of the back walls 118, 128 of the box portion 110 and lid portion 120 for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position

In addition, the enclosure 100 is preferably constructed of galvanized steel and/or aluminum with a polyester electrostatic power paint, which provides for excellent heat dissipation.

It can be appreciated that although the system and methods as described herein are generally shown as an uninterruptable power supply or battery locker, the system and methods as described herein can be used and/or implemented with any type of enclosure 100 that is fan cooled.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention as shown is merely a preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of parts; equivalent means may be substituted for those illustrated and described; and certain features may be used independently from others without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An enclosure comprising:

a box portion having a top wall, the top wall having at least one fan and at least one baffle; and

a lid portion, which fits over the top wall of the box portion and creates at least one passage extending along a front wall and/or a back wall of the enclosure to allow airflow from within the box portion of the enclosure.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one baffle has a curvature thereto, and air pushed by the at least one fan flows over and clings to the curvature of the at least one baffle to provide additional ventilation to the enclosure, and a vented portion for passive ventilation from within the enclosure.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the lid portion comprises a top wall, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a back wall.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the box portion comprises a base, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a back wall.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the lid portion is hinged to the box portion across the back wall thereof for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one fan is at least one thermostatically controlled fan.

7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the lid portion has a greater height than the back wall of the lid portion.

8. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a solar panel attachable to an outer surface of the lid portion, which provides a source of energy to power the at least one fan.

9. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the box portion has a pair of front panels which are hinged to an outer edge of the sidewalls of the box portion for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position.

10. The enclosure of claim 9, wherein the pair of front panels has a locking mechanism, which prevents the pair of front panels from moving between the open position and the closed position without unlocking the locking mechanism.

11. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of slide out shelves, each of the plurality of slide out shelves configured to hold at least one battery.

12. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a power supply and network electronics, wherein the network electronics includes fiber optics and/or splice equipment with fiber optic cable cradles for various cable sizes and/or a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature within the enclosure.

13. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is constructed of galvanized steel and/or aluminum with a polyester electrostatic power paint for heat dissipation.

14. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a mounting template on a lower portion of the box portion of the enclosure for installation of the enclosure on a concrete pad.

15. An enclosure comprising:

a box portion, the box portion comprising a base, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a back wall, and wherein the box portion has a top wall having at least one thermostatically controlled fan and at least one baffle extending along a top edge of the top wall adjacent to the front wall and/or a top edge of the back wall of the box portion;

a lid portion, the lid portion comprising a lower wall, a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a back wall, and wherein the lid portion fits over the top wall of the box portion and creates at least one passage extending along the front wall and/or the back wall of the enclosure and regulates the flow of air and/or heat from the box portion; and

wherein the at least one baffle has a vented portion for passive ventilation from within an inner portion of the box portion of the enclosure.

16. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the front wall of the box portion has a pair of front panels which are hinged to an outer edge of the sidewalls of the box portion for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position.

17. A method of venting air from an enclosure comprising:

directing a flow of air from within the enclosure over at least one curved surface or through a venturi to create a lower pressure area at an opening on an upper portion of the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure includes:

a box portion configured to receive at least one battery, the box portion having a top wall having at least one fan and at least one baffle extending along a top edge of the top wall adjacent to a front wall and/or a top edge of a back wall of the box portion; and

a lid portion, which fits over the top wall of the box portion and creates at least one passage extending along the front wall and/or the back wall of the enclosure, which increases airflow from the box portion of the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising activating the at least one fan based on a predetermined fan activation temperature and powering the at least one fan by an internal power source.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one baffle has a curvature thereto, and air pushed by the at least one fan flows over and clings to the curvature of the at least one baffle to provide additional ventilation to the enclosure, and a vented portion for passive ventilation from within the enclosure.