Disconnect watthour meter socket adapter

• US 6,520,798 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E J Brooks Company
• Original Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Darrell, Goozen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEON, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/925,434
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 439/517, 439/508, 361/661, 361/663, 361/102, 361/670
• US Class Current: 439/517
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals

Abstract

A housing carries an electrical disconnect switch having movable contacts. A cover is mounted on the housing and has an opening allowing access to a control lever of the disconnect switch. Electrical conductors are connected to the disconnect switch within the housing and have a blade terminal portion extending exteriorly of the housing for connection to jaws carried on an electrical component mountable in an electrical watthour meter socket. Degassing ports are formed between the cover and the sidewall of the housing to allow any arcing gasses generated within the interior of the housing to escape from the housing. A handle is mounted centrally on the cover. An ejector handle is movably mounted on the cover and carries an ejector arm to separate the housing from an attached electrical component. A method of removing and remounting a watthour meter in a meter socket is provided, including sequence steps printed on the face of the housing.

Claims

1. An electrical service apparatus mountable in an electrical socket having jaw contacts connected to electrical power conductors, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a base and a sidewall extending from the base;

a plurality of connectors mounted through the base and having a first end extending outward from the base adapted for connection to the socket jaw contacts and an opposed second end;

an electrical disconnect switch mounted in the housing, the disconnect switch having switchable contacts connected to the second ends of the connectors to selectively connect and disconnect the connectors;

a cover mounted over one end of the side wall of the housing;

an opening formed in the cover to open access to the electrical disconnect switch;

an ejector handle mounted with respect to the cover for movement between first and second positions; and

at least one ejector arm connected to the ejector handle and extending through the cover and the housing to a distal end disposed exteriorly of the base of the housing, the distal end of the ejector arm movable with respect to the base of the housing upon movement of the ejector handle from the first position to the second position to separate the base of the housing from an attached electrical component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a biasing member disposed between the cover and a portion of the ejector handle to bias the ejector handle to the first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the ejector handle having a pair of spaced side legs extending from the cover and a central leg interconnecting opposite ends of the side legs; and

a biasing member disposed between the cover and an inner portion of each of the side legs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a primary handle having a central leg and opposed ends, the cover fixedly mounted on the cover;

the central leg of the ejector handle spaced from the central leg in the primary handle when the ejector handle is in the first position; and

wherein

the central leg of the ejector handle is moved toward the central leg of the primary handle when the ejector handle is moved toward the second position.

5. An electrical service apparatus mountable in an electrical socket having jaw contacts connected to electrical power conductors, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a base, a sidewall joined to and extending from the base, and an end wall opposed from the base;

an ejector handle mounted with respect to the end wall for movement between first and second positions; and

at least one ejector arm connected to the ejector handle and extending through the end wall and the housing to a distal end disposed exteriorly of the base of the housing, the distal end of the ejector arm movable with respect to the base of the housing upon movement of the ejector handle from the first position to the second position to separate the base of the housing from an attached electrical component.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a biasing member disposed between the end wall and a portion of the ejector handle to bias the ejector handle to the first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

the ejector handle having a pair of spaced side legs extending from the end wall and a central leg interconnecting opposite ends of the side legs; and

a biasing member disposed between the end wall and an inner portion of each of the side legs.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a primary handle having a central leg and opposed ends, the ends fixedly mounted on the end wall;

the central leg of the ejector handle spaced from the central leg of the primary handle when the ejector handle is in the first position; and

wherein

the central leg of the ejector handle is moved toward the central leg of the primary handle when the ejector handle is moved toward the second position.

9. An electrical service apparatus mountable in an electrical socket having jaw contacts connected to electrical power conductors, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a base, a sidewall extending from the base, and an end wall opposed from the base;

an ejector handle mounted with respect to the end wall for movement between first and second positions; and

at least one ejector arm connected to the ejector handle and extending to a distal end disposed exteriorly of the base of the housing, the distal end of the ejector arm movable with respect to the base of the housing upon movement of the ejector handle from the first position to the second position to initiate separation of the base of the housing from an attached electrical component.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a biasing member disposed between the end wall and a portion of the ejector handle to bias the ejector handle to the first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

the ejector handle having a pair of spaced opposed ends extending from the end wall and a central portion interconnecting the ends; and

a biasing member disposed between the end wall and each of the ends.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a primary handle having a central portion and opposed ends, the ends of the primary handle fixedly mounted on the end wall;

the central portion of the ejector handle spaced from the central portion of the primary handle when the ejector handle is in the first position; and

wherein

the central portion of the ejector handle is moved toward the central portion of the primary handle when the ejector handle is moved toward the second position.