Circuit breaker switch apparatus
First Claim
1. A circuit breaker switch apparatus mountable in a watthour meter socket, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
line and load contact terminals mounted in the housing;
power disconnect means, disposed in the housing and having a plurality of switchable contacts switchable between an electrically conductive closed position and an electrically disconnected open position for electrically connecting at least one line contact terminal to one of the load contact terminals, the power disconnect means automatically switching the switchable contacts to the open position when the rate of power through the power disconnect means exceeds a preset level of power; and
means, carried on the power disconnect means, for maintaining the switchable contacts in the open position as long as a trigger signal is applied to the power disconnect means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit breaker switch apparatus pluggable into a watthour meter socket includes at least one set of line and load contact terminals and a power disconnect for completing an electrical circuit between at least one line terminal and one load terminal. The power disconnect switch is responsive to a trigger signal to switch switchable contacts to an open position and maintains the switchable contacts in the open position as long as the trigger signal is present. The power disconnect switch is mountable in the socket adapter housing by a snap-in connection. Load jaw contacts are mounted on rigid bus bars which are connectable to the power disconnect switch by a snap-in connection. An insulating shield surrounds the line and load jaw contacts and conductors while providing apertures to allow the insertion of watthour meter blade terminals therethrough into contact with the jaw contacts.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A circuit breaker switch apparatus mountable in a watthour meter socket, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; line and load contact terminals mounted in the housing; power disconnect means, disposed in the housing and having a plurality of switchable contacts switchable between an electrically conductive closed position and an electrically disconnected open position for electrically connecting at least one line contact terminal to one of the load contact terminals, the power disconnect means automatically switching the switchable contacts to the open position when the rate of power through the power disconnect means exceeds a preset level of power; and means, carried on the power disconnect means, for maintaining the switchable contacts in the open position as long as a trigger signal is applied to the power disconnect means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A circuit breaker switch apparatus usable with a watthour meter socket adapter having socket jaw contacts, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; line and load jaw contacts disposed in the housing and adapted to receive blade terminals of a watthour meter in a releasable snap in electrical connection; line blade terminals electrically connected to the line jaw contacts and having an end portion extending exteriorly of the housing for releasable engagement with watthour meter socket jaw contacts; load blade terminals mounted in the housing and adapted to releasably engage watthour meter socket jaw contacts; line jaw contacts mounted in the housing for releasably engaging blade terminals of a watthour meter; power disconnect means disposed in the housing and having a plurality of switchable contacts switchable between an electrically conductive closed position and an electrically disconnected open position; means for electrically connecting one of the line jaw contacts and the load jaw contacts to the switchable contacts of the power disconnect means and for electrically connecting the switchable contacts of the power disconnect means to the respective one of the line blade terminals and the load blade terminals such that the position of the switchable contacts of the power disconnect means determines the application and non-application of electrical power between the line and load jaw contacts and the line and load blade terminals, respectively; a movable external actuator carried on the power disconnect means in a plane parallel to and spaced from a base of the housing on which the power disconnect means is mounted and switchable between two positions in conjunction with switching of the switchable contacts between open and closed positions; and a one-piece plunger having one end movably disposed externally of housing of the socket adapter when the switchable contacts of the power disconnect means are in the open position, the plunger coupled to the actuator for manually moving the switchable contacts of the power disconnect means to the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A circuit breaker switch apparatus mountable in a watthour meter socket, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; line and load contact terminals mounted in the housing; power disconnect means having a plurality of switchable contacts switchable between an electrically conductive closed position and an electrically disconnected open position for electrically connecting at least one line contact terminal to one of the load contact terminals, the power disconnect means automatically switching the switchable contacts to the open position when the rate of power through the power disconnect means exceeds a preset level of power; and means for removably mounting the power disconnect means in the housing in a snap-in connection. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A circuit breaker switch apparatus mountable in a watthour meter socket adapter, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; line and load contact terminals mounted in the housing; conductors connected to the line and load contact terminals; power disconnect means, disposed in the housing and having a plurality of switchable contacts switchable between an electrically conductive closed position and an electrically disconnected open position for electrically connecting two of the line contact terminals and the load contact terminals, the power disconnect means automatically switching the switchable contacts to the open position when the rate of power through the power disconnect means exceeds a preset level of power; and an electrically insulating shield means, mounted within the housing and surrounding substantially all of the line and load contact terminals, for shielding the line and load contact terminals, the shield including a plurality of apertures, each aperture aligned with one of the line and load contact terminals for allowing a watthour meter blade terminal to be inserted therethrough into contact with one of the line and load contact terminals, the shield means having a cutout on one surface, the cutout exposing the power disconnect means.
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Specification