TERMINAL BLOCK FOR INTERCONNECTION OF DPGS POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS VIA METER COLLAR

• US 20150325984A1
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Connectder LLC, Infinite Invention Inc.
• Original Assignee: Connectder LLC
• Inventors: Knauer, Jon, Schroeder, John, Iaconangelo, Al, Konstantinos, Josh, Lewis, Ben, Koeppel, Adam, Fulton, Whit
• Granted Patent: US 9,595,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/90 adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/03 for energy meters
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/04 Mounting thereon of switches or of other devices in general, the switch or device having, or being without, casing
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/063 with tamper resistant sealing device
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/20 Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards installations of bus-bars H02G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/28 dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/08 Connection boxes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers

Abstract

Technologies are generally described for a pocket junction box system. In an example, a pocket junction box is configured to fit inside a meter collar. The pocket junction box includes a first set of electrical terminals on a rear surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with wire leads inside the meter collar, and a second set of electrical terminals on a front surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with field wire leads outside the meter collar. The pocket junction box may further include at least one current transducer and at least one microprocessor for monitoring the power flow through the pocket junction box. A front casing is attached to the front surface of the pocket junction box and connected to the second set of electrical terminals. The front casing may include a communications circuit board for communicating with a meter data management system.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a pocket junction box configured to fit inside a meter collar, wherein the pocket junction box includes;

a first set of electrical terminals on a rear surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with wire leads connected to busbars inside the meter collar; and

a second set of electrical terminals on a front surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with field wire leads outside the meter collar; and

a front casing attached to the front surface of the pocket junction box and connected to the second set of electrical terminals.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear cover for covering the rear surface of the pocket junction box; and

a front cover for covering a front surface of the front casing.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the front cover includes a tamper resistant seal.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gasket configured to form a weatherproof seal between the pocket junction box and the front casing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pocket junction box further includes:

at least one current transducer; and

at least one microprocessor for monitoring the output of the at least one current transducer to measure the power flow through the pocket junction box.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of electrical terminals includes a data contact terminal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the front casing includes a communications circuit board for communicating with a meter data management system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications circuit board can be removed while the system is connected to active electrical voltage and replaced with a second communications circuit board.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the front casing includes an externally exposed socket to receive an electrical and/or data plug.

10. A pocket junction box configured to fit inside a meter collar, comprising:

a first set of electrical terminals on a rear surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with wire leads connected to busbars inside the meter collar; and

a second set of electrical terminals on a front surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with field wire leads outside the meter collar.

11. The pocket junction box of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one current transducer; and

at least one microprocessor for monitoring the output of the at least one current transducer to measure the power flow through the pocket junction box.

12. The pocket junction box of claim 10, wherein the second set of electrical terminals includes a data contact terminal.

13. The pocket junction box of claim 12, wherein the data contact terminal communicates with a meter data management system.

14. A meter collar, comprising:

a pocket junction box positioned inside the meter collar, wherein the pocket junction box includes;

a first set of electrical terminals on a rear surface of the pocket junction box coupled to busbars inside the meter collar; and

a second set of electrical terminals on a front surface of the pocket junction box for interfacing with field wire leads outside the meter collar; and

a front casing attached to the front surface of the pocket junction box and connected to the second set of electrical terminals.

15. The meter collar of claim 14, wherein the pocket junction box further includes:

at least one current transducer; and

at least one microprocessor for monitoring the output of the at least one current transducer to measure the power flow through the pocket junction box.

16. The meter collar of claim 14, wherein the second set of electrical terminals includes a data contact terminal.

17. The meter collar of claim 14, wherein the front casing includes a communications circuit board for communicating with a meter data management system.

18. The meter collar of claim 14, further comprising:

a rear cover for covering the rear surface of the pocket junction box; and

a front cover for covering a front surface of the front casing.

19. The meter collar of claim 18, wherein the front cover includes a tamper resistant seal.

20. The meter collar of claim 14, further comprising a gasket configured to form a weatherproof seal between the pocket junction box and the front casing.