LOCK RING FOR A WATTHOUR METER APPLICATION

• US 20080266761A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E J Brooks Company
• Original Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Darrell
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/664
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/60 Adjustment provisions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/205 Ring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/443 Single stem or shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7751 With ball or roller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8838 Adjustment provisions

Abstract

A lock ring for use in mounting a watthour meter, meter socket enclosure cover or a watthour meter socket adapter to each other. The lock ring includes a ring member and a housing carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. The housing may be separate housings carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. A lock is insertable into mated first and second housing members in one of a plurality of variably selectable positions that vary the circumference of the ring member to accommodate varied circumferences of watthour meters, meter socket adapters and meter socket enclosure cover mounting rings. Finger grips are formed on the housing members to facilitate closure of the housing. A plurality of axially spaced grooves are formed in one of the members for receiving lock members carried by the lock.

Claims

1. A watthour meter mounting apparatus comprising,

a lock ring adapted for accepting a lock, the lock ring having a plurality of lock positions for varying the circumference of the lock ring to accommodate varying circumference watthour meter mounting flanges.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lock comprises:

a head and a shank, moveable lock members carried in the shank;

first and second members engageably mounted on the first and second ends of the lock ring; and

a plurality of lock engagement surfaces formed in one of the first and second members, one surface lockingly engageable with the lock members on the lock.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the plurality of lock engagement surfaces are longitudinally spaced within one of the first and second members.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the lock engagement surfaces are recessed grooves.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

one of the grooves includes a surface extending substantially 360 degrees about an interior of one of the first and second members.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

finger grip surface formed on at least one of the first and second members.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a finger grip surface formed on each of the first and second members, the finger grip surfaces being axially offset from each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

one finger grip surface is formed on an end of the other of the first and second members.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

the finger grip surface includes a wall having a finger grip surface profile; and

a rib extending between the wall and the first member.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

an exterior gripping surface formed on at least one of the first and second members to facilitate separation of the first and second members.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the first and second members substantially encompass the lock when the lock is in the locked position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the lock is a key operated lock.

13. A lock ring for mounting a watthour meter, or a watthour meter socket adapter or a meter socket enclosure to each other, the lock ring comprising;

a ring shaped member having first and second ends; and

a lock housing having first and second members carried on the first and second ends of the ring, respectively, the lock housing receiving a lock in one of a plurality of variably selectable positions that vary the circumference of the ring shaped member to accommodate varying circumference meter mounting flanges.