Modular watthour meter socket and test switch
First Claim
1. A watthour meter comprising:
- a base;
a dome coupled to the base;
metering components mounted within the base and the dome; and
tamper detection means for detecting tampering with the watthour meter, the tamper detecting means including a flexible tie having a strap engagable in a loop through apertures in the joined base and dome, the tie having a locking head for non-releasably receiving the strap.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A watthour meter has, in one aspect, a flexible seal with a locking head carried on the meter base and a strap extending from the head and disposable in a loop around and through apertures in juxtaposed mounting flanges of the meter base and the meter dome to lockably join the dome and base. A tamper detector is carried on a blade moveably extending through the base. Movement of the blade during separation of the meter from the meter socket jaw contacts triggers the tamper detector. A connecting pin extends through aligned openings in the base and the dome to non-separably join the base and the dome. The pin engages a tamper signaling switch to provide an indication of a change of in pin state during a tamper event.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A watthour meter comprising:
-
a base; a dome coupled to the base; metering components mounted within the base and the dome; and tamper detection means for detecting tampering with the watthour meter, the tamper detecting means including a flexible tie having a strap engagable in a loop through apertures in the joined base and dome, the tie having a locking head for non-releasably receiving the strap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A watthour meter comprising:
-
a base; a dome coupled to the base; metering components mounted within the base and the dome; tamper detection means for detecting tampering with the watthour meter; a hanger adapted for hanging the watthour meter prior to installation of the watthour in the meter socket; a fastener mounted on the base and pivotally attaching the hanger to the base; and a post formed in the base and receiving the threaded fastener, the post having a closed exterior on a portion extending from the base for electrically insulating the fastener from metering components mounted on the base.
-
-
11. A watthour meter comprising:
-
a base; a dome coupled to the base; metering components mounted within the base and the dome; and tamper detection means for detecting tampering with the watthour meter, the tamper detection means including means for providing a recognizable indication of separation of the watthour meter from a meter socket jaw contact after the watthour meter has been connected to the jaw contact in the meter socket;
the indication providing means including;at least one blade adaptable to be connected to a meter socket jaw contact, the blade moveably carried in the base; and tamper signaling means, responsive to movement of the blade upon separation of the watthour meter from the meter socket jaw contact, for generating a tamper detect signal, the tamper signaling means including; a switch having a moveable plunger, the switch fixed to the blade to position the plunger in proximity with the base to detect movement of the base relative to the blade; and a switchable contact in the switch responsive to plunger movement for providing a signal upon detection of movement of the blade relative to the base.
-
-
12. A watthour meter comprising:
-
a base; a dome coupled to the base; metering components mounted within the base and the dome; and tamper detection means for detecting tampering with the watthour meter, the tamperer detection means including; aligned openings formed through the base and the dome, and having an end opening to an interior of the coupled base and dome; a connecting pin mountable through the aligned openings and latched to at least one of the base and the dome, the connecting pin having an inner end; and tamper event signal generating means, mounted within the coupled base and dome, for generating a signal upon a change in position of the inner end of the pin. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A watthour meter comprising:
-
a base carrying metering components; a cover coupled to the base; a hanger adapted for hanging the watthour meter prior to installation of the watthour in the meter socket; fastener means coupled to the base in a location for pivotally attaching the hanger to the base for pivotal movement between a storage position completely within a periphery of the base and a use position in which a portion of the hanger extends beyond the periphery of the base; and means, carried on the base, for fixedly receiving the fastener and electrically insulating the fastener from metering components mounted on the base.
-
-
18. A watthour meter comprising:
-
a base carrying metering components; a dome coupled to the base; and tamper detection means for providing a recognizable indication of separation of a watthour meter from a meter socket jaw contact after the watthour meter has been connected to the jaw contact in the meter socket, the tamper detection means including; at least one blade adaptable to be connected to a meter socket jaw contact, the blade moveably carried in the base; and tamper signaling means, responsive to movement of the blade upon separation of the watthour meter from the meter socket jaw contact, for generating a tamper detection signal, the tamper signaling means including; a switch having a moveable plunger, the switch fixed to the blade to position the plunger in proximity with the base to detect movement of the base relative to the blade; and a switchable contact in the switch and responsive to plunger movement for providing a signal upon detection of movement of the blade relative to the base.
-
-
19. A watthour meter comprising:
-
abase; a dome coupled to the base; metering components mounted within the base and the dome; and tamper detection means for detecting tampering with the watthour meter, the tamper detection means including; aligned openings formed through the base and the dome, the aligned openings having an end opening to an interior of the coupled base and dome; a connecting pin mountable through the aligned openings and latched to at least one of the base and the dome, the connecting pin having an inner end; and tamper event signal generating means, mounted within the coupled base and dome, for generating a signal upon a change in position of the inner end of the connecting pin. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification