Battery storage system

1. A storage rack used for storing an array of battery cells in an uninterrupted power source that at least meets the seismic testing requirements of NEBS GR-63-CORE (Issue 2, Apr. 2002), the rack comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed end supports, each end support comprising opposed vertical frame members, opposed horizontal upper and lower frame members, and a web extending substantially between the entire length of the vertical frame members and substantially between the entire length of the upper and lower horizontal frame members, the vertical frame members and horizontal frame members being permanently affixed to the web;

(b) a rail extending between the front and rear sides of the lower end of the opposed end supports, both the rails and the lower frame members of the opposed end supports including a plurality of holes through which concrete expansion anchors pass for anchoring the storage rack to a foundation;

(c) a plurality of shelves extending between the end supports; and

(d) wherein the shelves and the rail are welded to the end supports.

2. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the rail also is welded to at least one of the shelves.

3. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the shelves are welded to the webs of the end supports.

4. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the end supports include slots therein and the shelves include tabs engaged in the slots.

5. A storage rack according to claim 4 wherein the slots are in the webs of the end supports.

6. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the web of each end support further includes at least one vertical stiffening member.

7. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the lower of the horizontal frame members of each end support comprises a vertical leg, a horizontal leg, and a plurality of gussets extending between the horizontal leg and the vertical leg.

8. A storage rack according to claim 1 and further including one or more removably connected rack modules stacked atop the rack of claim 1 , each of the connected rack modules including:

(a) a pair of opposed end supports, each end support comprising opposed vertical frame members, opposed horizontal upper and lower frame members, and a web extending substantially between the entire length of the vertical frame members and substantially between the entire length of the upper and lower horizontal frame members, the vertical frame members, and horizontal frame members being permanently affixed to the web;

(b) a plurality of shelves extending between the end supports;

(c) the lower horizontal frame member of each end support being connected to the upper horizontal frame member of the end support of the rack or module therebelow; and

(d) wherein the shelves are welded to the end supports.

9. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the opposed vertical frame members, the opposed horizontal frame members, and the web of each end support are formed from a continuous sheet of material.

10. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the web of each end support includes at least one window opening therein.

11. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein the rail extends between a first vertical frame member of one end support, and a corresponding vertical frame member of the other end support.

12. A storage rack according to claim 1 comprising at least two rails, each extending between the corresponding vertical frame members of the opposed end supports.

13. A storage rack according to claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of pins downwardly extending from at least one of the plurality of shelves, each pin being configured to at least partially locate and support at least one battery cell in the array of battery cells.

14. A modular rack for supporting a plurality of battery cells in spaced arrangement in an uninterrupted power source that at least meets the seismic testing requirements of NEBS GR-63-CORE (Issue 2, Apr. 2005), the rack comprising:

(a) a base module configured to receive and support a first group of battery cells in a first spaced array, the base module comprising:

(i) a pair of opposed end supports, each end support comprising opposed vertical frame members, opposed horizontal upper and lower frame members, and a web extending substantially between the entire length of the vertical frame members and substantially between the entire length of the upper and lower horizontal frame members, the vertical frame members and horizontal frame members being permanently affixed to the web;

(ii) a rail extending between the front and rear sides of the lower end of the opposed end supports, both the rails and the lower frame members of the opposed end supports including a plurality of holes through which concrete expansion anchors pass for anchoring the storage rack to a foundation;

(iii) a plurality of shelves extending between the end supports;

(iv) wherein the shelves and rail are welded to the end supports;

(b) a first stack module configured to receive and support a second group of battery cells in a second spaced array; and

(c) wherein the first stack module is configured to be stacked atop the base module and to be removably connected thereto.

15. A modular rack according to claim 14 wherein the rail also is welded to at least one of the shelves.

16. A modular rack according to claim 14 and further comprising a second stack module configured to receive and support a third group of battery cells in a third spaced array, wherein the second stack module is configured to be stacked atop the first stack module and to be removably connected thereto.

17. A modular rack according to claim 16 and further comprising a third stack module configured to receive and support a fourth group of battery cells in a fourth spaced array, wherein the third stack module is configured to be stacked atop the second stack module and to be removably connected thereto.

18. A modular rack according to claim 16 wherein the first and second stack modules have substantially the same configuration.

19. A modular rack according to claim 17 wherein the first, second, and third stack modules have substantially the same configuration.

20. A modular rack according to claim 14 wherein the base module is configured to be removably attached to a foundation through the rails and through the lower horizontal frame members.

21. A modular rack according to claim 14 , and further comprising a plurality of pins downwardly extending from at least one of the plurality of shelves of the base module, each pin being configured to at least partially locate and support at least one battery cell in the plurality of battery cells.

22. A modular rack according to claim 14 , wherein each module is connected to the module below by at least four threaded fasteners connecting each lower horizontal frame member to the corresponding upper frame member of the module therebelow.