CONTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR BATTERY MODULES

1 . An apparatus for storing one or more battery modules ( 100 ) comprising a containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) defined by opposing front and back faces ( 314 , 316 , 714 , 716 , 1014 , 1016 ), opposing side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ), and opposing top and bottom surfaces ( 310 , 312 , 522 , 532 , 710 , 712 , 1010 , 1011 , 1012 ) oriented perpendicular to the front, back, and side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ), wherein the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) has a receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) formed in the top surface ( 302 , 312 , 712 , 1011 , 1012 ) for receiving one or more battery modules ( 100 ), the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) comprising a receiving surface ( 320 , 520 , 720 , 1020 ) oriented parallel to and located between the opposing top and bottom surfaces ( 310 , 312 , 522 , 532 , 710 , 712 , 1010 , 1011 , 1012 ) for supporting the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

2 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the front and back faces ( 314 , 316 , 714 , 716 , 1014 , 1016 ) are oriented in parallel and separated by a distance that defines a width of the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ), the side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ) are oriented perpendicular to the front and back faces ( 314 , 316 , 714 , 716 , 1014 , 1016 ) and separated by a distance that defines a length of the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ), and the top and bottom surfaces ( 310 , 312 , 522 , 532 , 710 , 712 , 1010 , 1011 , 1012 ) are separated by a distance that defines a height of the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ).

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) is defined by:

a receiving front wall ( 324 , 524 , 724 , 1024 ) oriented parallel to and inward from the front face ( 314 , 714 , 1014 );

a receiving back wall ( 326 , 526 , 726 , 1026 ) oriented parallel to and inward from the back face ( 316 , 716 , 1016 ), the receiving front wall ( 324 , 524 , 724 , 1024 ) and back wall ( 326 , 526 , 726 , 1026 ) separated by a distance to define a length of the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 );

a pair of receiving side walls ( 328 , 528 , 728 , 1028 ) oriented parallel to and inward from associated ones of the side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ), the pair of receiving side walls ( 328 , 528 , 728 , 1028 ) separated by a distance to define a width of the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ); and

the receiving surface ( 320 , 520 , 720 , 1020 ) oriented perpendicular to the receiving front wall ( 324 , 524 , 724 , 1024 ), the receiving back wall ( 326 , 526 , 726 , 1026 ), and the pair of receiving sidewalls ( 328 , 528 , 728 , 1028 ), the receiving surface ( 320 , 520 , 720 , 1020 ) separated from the top surface ( 302 , 312 , 712 , 1011 , 1012 ) by a distance to define a depth of the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ).

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the depth of the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) is greater than a height of the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the depth of the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) is substantially equal to a height of the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the depth of the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) is less than a height of the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

7 . The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 6 , further comprising:

a plurality of side wall spacers ( 338 , 738 , 1036 ) that protrude inward from each of the pair of receiving side walls ( 328 , 728 , 1028 ), each side wall spacer ( 338 , 738 , 1036 ) comprising a side contact surface for contacting at least a first surface of the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) adjacent to the receiving side walls ( 328 , 528 , 728 , 1028 ); and

a plurality of front-back wall spacers ( 336 , 736 , 1034 ) protruding inward from the receiving front wall ( 324 , 524 , 724 , 1024 ) or the receiving back wall ( 326 , 526 , 726 , 1026 ), each front-back wall spacer ( 336 , 736 , 1034 ) comprising a contact surface for contacting at least a second surface of the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) adjacent to the receiving front wall ( 324 , 524 , 724 , 1024 ) or the receiving back wall ( 326 , 526 , 726 , 1026 ).

8 . The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 7 , further comprising one or more divider walls ( 330 , 530 , 730 , 1030 ) disposed within the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) and extending between the receiving front wall ( 324 , 524 , 724 , 1024 ) and the receiving back wall ( 326 , 526 , 726 , 1026 ), the one or more divider walls ( 330 , 530 , 730 , 1030 ) oriented in parallel with respect to the receiving side walls ( 328 , 528 , 728 , 1028 ) and configured to divide the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) into substantially equally spaced rows each having a substantially uniform width.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein one or more of the divider walls ( 1030 ) extend between the receiving sidewalls ( 1028 ), the divider walls ( 1030 ) oriented in parallel with respect to the front wall ( 1024 ) and the back wall ( 1026 ) and configured to divide the receiving area ( 1002 ) into substantially equally spaced columns each having a uniform length, wherein the one or more divider walls ( 1030 ) extending between the receiving sidewalls ( 1028 ) and the one or more divider walls extending between the front wall ( 1024 ) and the back wall ( 1026 ) are configured to segment the receiving area ( 1002 ) into a plurality of receiving compartments ( 1004 ) each separated from one another and configured to accommodate the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising one or more sets of dividers ( 332 , 732 ) disposed within the receiving area ( 302 , 702 ) and extending between the receiving side walls ( 328 , 728 ), each set of dividers ( 332 , 732 ) oriented in parallel with respect to the receiving front wall ( 324 , 724 ) and the receiving back wall ( 326 , 726 ) and configured to divide the receiving area ( 302 , 702 ) into equally spaced columns each having a uniform width, wherein the sets of the dividers ( 332 , 732 ) and the one or more divider walls ( 330 , 730 ) are configured to segment the receiving area ( 302 , 702 ) into a plurality of receiving compartments ( 304 , 704 ) each separated from one another and configured to accommodate the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

11 . The apparatus of any one of claims 3 - 10 , further comprising a plurality of divider wall spacers ( 334 , 734 , 1032 ) that protrude outward from one or more surfaces of the one or more divider walls ( 330 , 730 , 1030 ) toward the opposing receiving side walls ( 328 , 728 , 1028 ), each divider wall spacer ( 334 , 734 , 1032 ) comprising a surface for contacting one or more surfaces of the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) adjacent to the one or more divider walls ( 330 , 730 , 1030 ).

12 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 11 , further comprising a plurality of ribs ( 322 , 722 , 723 , 1022 , 1023 ) protruding from the receiving surface ( 320 , 720 , 1020 ) to provide a spacer between the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) and the receiving surface ( 320 , 720 , 1020 ).

13 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 12 , wherein the bottom surface ( 310 , 532 , 710 ) of the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 1000 ) rests upon a ground surface.

14 . The apparatus of any one of claim 1 - 5 or 7 - 12 , wherein the containment tray ( 300 , 700 ) is stacked upon a top surface ( 312 , 712 ) of another containment tray ( 300 , 700 ) and provides a cover for one or more battery modules ( 100 ) within the receiving area ( 302 , 702 ) of the other containment tray ( 300 , 700 ) underneath.

15 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 13 , wherein a top surface ( 522 ) of the containment tray ( 500 ) is configured to support at least a portion of a lid ( 410 , 1000 ′) for covering the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) within the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ).

16 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 15 , wherein the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) further comprises one or more openings extending through the front and back faces ( 314 , 316 , 714 , 716 , 1014 , 1016 ) or one or more openings extending through opposing side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ).

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the openings are fork openings ( 306 , 406 , 706 ) configured to receive forks from a fork lift.

18 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 17 , wherein the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) further comprises one or more conduit terminals for connecting the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) to one another.

19 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 18 , wherein the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) further comprises one or more conduit terminals for connecting the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) to an electronic device.

20 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 19 , wherein the containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) further comprises a flame retardant material.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the flame retardant material comprises at least one of high-density polyethylene or polypropylene.

22 . A containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) comprising:

two or more containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) stacked in a parallel orientation to form a stack, each containment tray ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) comprising:

opposing front and back faces ( 314 , 316 , 714 , 716 , 1014 , 1016 ), opposing side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ), and opposing top and bottom surfaces ( 310 , 312 , 522 , 532 , 710 , 712 , 1010 , 1011 , 1012 ), wherein the opposing top and bottom surfaces ( 310 , 312 , 522 , 532 , 710 , 712 , 1010 , 1011 , 1012 ) are oriented perpendicular to the opposing front and back faces ( 314 , 316 , 714 , 716 , 1014 , 1016 ) and the opposing side faces ( 318 , 718 , 1018 ); and

a receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) configured to receive one or more battery modules ( 100 ), the receiving area ( 302 , 518 , 702 , 1002 ) comprising a receiving surface ( 320 , 520 , 720 , 1020 ) oriented parallel to and located between the opposing top and bottom surfaces ( 310 , 312 , 522 , 532 , 710 , 712 , 1010 , 1011 , 1012 ) for supporting the one or more battery modules ( 100 ).

23 . The containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) of claim 22 , further comprising one or more containment lids ( 410 , 800 , 1000 ′) each oriented parallel to the two or more containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) and configured to cover the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) within the receiving areas of the containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ), the containment lids ( 410 , 800 , 1000 ′) and the two or more containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) stacked in an alternating repeating pattern.

24 . The containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) of claim 22 or 23 , wherein at least one of the two or more containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) includes one or more openings.

25 . The containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) of claim 24 , wherein the one or more openings are slots for receiving forks from a forklift.

26 . The containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) of any one of claims 22 - 25 , further comprising a base ( 402 ) or support member ( 1006 , 1008 ) resting upon a ground surface and configured to support the bottom surface ( 532 , 1010 ) of the containment tray ( 500 , 1000 ) at the bottom of the stack.

27 . The containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) of any one of claims 21 - 26 , further comprising one or more conduit terminals disposed at one or more of the containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) for connecting the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) to one another.

28 . The containment system ( 200 , 400 , 600 , 900 ) of any one of claims 21 - 27 , further comprising one or more conduit terminals disposed at one or more of the containment trays ( 300 , 500 , 700 , 1000 ) for connecting the one or more battery modules ( 100 ) to an electronic device.