Electrical service disconnect having external interface
First Claim
1. An arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter comprising:
- a metering unit operably coupled to utility power lines, the utility power lines connected to a load, the metering unit operable to generate metering information representative of an electrical quantity regarding electrical energy delivered to the load;
a service disconnect circuit having a connected state, a disconnected state, and an armed state, said service disconnect circuit in the connected state operably coupling the utility power lines to the load, said service disconnect circuit in the disconnected state and in the armed state operably decoupling the utility power lines from the load; and
a housing assembly disposed over at least a portion of the metering unit and the service disconnect circuit, the housing assembly having at least one electronic indicator visible from outside said housing assembly and operable to provide a visual signal representative of the service disconnect circuit in the armed state, the housing assembly further including an externally accessible actuator operably connected to the service disconnect circuit to change the service disconnect switch from the armed state to the connected state.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arrangement is provided for use in an electrical utility meter that includes a metering unit, a service disconnect circuit, and a housing assembly. The service disconnect circuit has a connected state that operably couples utility power lines to a load, and a disconnected state and as armed state that operably decouples the utility power lines from the load. The housing assembly is disposed over the metering unit and the service disconnect circuit, and has at least one electronic indicator visible to an outside of the housing assembly. The electronic indicator is operable to provide a visual signal representative of the service disconnect circuit in the armed state. The housing further includes an externally accessible actuator operably connected to the service disconnect circuit to change the service disconnect switch from the armed state to the connected state.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter comprising:
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a metering unit operably coupled to utility power lines, the utility power lines connected to a load, the metering unit operable to generate metering information representative of an electrical quantity regarding electrical energy delivered to the load; a service disconnect circuit having a connected state, a disconnected state, and an armed state, said service disconnect circuit in the connected state operably coupling the utility power lines to the load, said service disconnect circuit in the disconnected state and in the armed state operably decoupling the utility power lines from the load; and a housing assembly disposed over at least a portion of the metering unit and the service disconnect circuit, the housing assembly having at least one electronic indicator visible from outside said housing assembly and operable to provide a visual signal representative of the service disconnect circuit in the armed state, the housing assembly further including an externally accessible actuator operably connected to the service disconnect circuit to change the service disconnect switch from the armed state to the connected state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. An arrangement for use in an electrical utility meter comprising at least one indicator lamp affixed to a meter housing, the at least one indicator lamp operable to provide a visual signal, the visual signal corresponding to a service disconnect circuit being in an armed state, the service disconnect circuit having the armed state, a disconnected state, and a connected state, the service disconnect circuit controllably coupled to an electrical power line to controllably disconnect and connect the electrical power line to a load.
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21. A method, comprising:
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a) placing a service disconnect circuit in an armed state, the service disconnect circuit operably coupled to an electrical power line to controllably connect and disconnect the electrical power line from a load; and b) generating a first visual signal on an electronic indicator disposed on a meter housing, the first visual signal corresponding to the placement of the service disconnect circuit in the armed state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification