Battery backup installation for electric meter
First Claim
1. A battery installation for an electric meter, said electric meter including a cover, comprising:
- a battery replacement hatch in said cover;
means for retaining a battery within said cover in a location accessible through said battery replacement hatch;
means for permitting at least partly withdrawing said battery through said battery replacement hatch without disconnecting battery power from said electric meter;
said electric meter including an electronic register module which is removable from a remainder of said electric meter;
said electronic register module containing volatile memory elements whose contents would be lost in the event that electric power is not maintained to said electronic register module; and
said means for permitting at least partly withdrawing includes means for permitting said battery to remain connected to said electronic register module when said electronic register module is removed from said remainder of said electric meter, whereby said electric power is maintained to prevent loss of data in said volatile memory elements when said electronic register module is removed from said electric meter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery backup installation for a time of use register for an electric meter is mounted within a case of the electric meter. The case includes a hatch which permits removal and replacement of the battery without requiring removal of the case from the meter. In one embodiment, the battery is installed in a battery clip on the face plate of the meter where it is accessible through the hatch. An extra length of wires from the battery permits the battery, and its mating connectors, to be withdrawn through the hatch for replacement thereof. In a second embodiment of the invention, the battery is captured in a door of the hatch and is withdrawn from the meter by the action of opening the hatch. In this embodiment, the hatch may be hinged or not hinged. Battery replacement is facilitated while the electronic register module is separated from line-supplied power. An auxiliary battery provides an auxiliary source of backup power during batterychange.
54 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A battery installation for an electric meter, said electric meter including a cover, comprising:
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a battery replacement hatch in said cover; means for retaining a battery within said cover in a location accessible through said battery replacement hatch; means for permitting at least partly withdrawing said battery through said battery replacement hatch without disconnecting battery power from said electric meter; said electric meter including an electronic register module which is removable from a remainder of said electric meter; said electronic register module containing volatile memory elements whose contents would be lost in the event that electric power is not maintained to said electronic register module; and said means for permitting at least partly withdrawing includes means for permitting said battery to remain connected to said electronic register module when said electronic register module is removed from said remainder of said electric meter, whereby said electric power is maintained to prevent loss of data in said volatile memory elements when said electronic register module is removed from said electric meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification