Three-phase selectable energy meter

• US 8,405,383 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Agrawal, Sachin, Hack, Christian David, Wilson, David Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): BENITEZ ROSARIO, JOSHUA
• Application Number:
  US13/047,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 324/115, 324/103.R, 324/103.P, 324/114, 324137-143, 324/764.01, 324/765.01, 702 57- 60, 361662-672
• US Class Current: 324/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2433 with built-in switch

Abstract

A three-phase selection energy meter is disclosed. In one embodiment, an energy meter includes a base; a phase A terminal barrel, a phase B terminal barrel and a phase C terminal barrel; and a phase selection member movably engaged with the base, the phase selection member permitting individual selection of each of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel prohibits selection of the other two of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel.

Claims

1. A three-phase selectable energy meter comprising:

a base;

a phase A terminal barrel, a phase B terminal barrel and a phase C terminal barrel;

a phase selection member movably engaged with the base, the phase selection member permitting individual selection of each of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel prohibits selection of the other two of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel,

wherein the phase selection member includes;

a conductive strip; and

an actuation member holder movably attached to the conductive strip, the actuation member holder including three apertures respectively corresponding to the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel; and

a terminal bracket coupled to the base and the phase selection member, the terminal bracket including three apertures respectively corresponding to the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel,

wherein the three apertures of the terminal bracket are uniformly separated by a first distance,

wherein at least two of the three apertures of the actuation member holder are separated from one another by a second distance distinct from the first distance,

wherein one of the three apertures of the actuation member holder is configured to align with one of the three apertures of the terminal bracket, simultaneously mis-aligning two of the three apertures of the actuation member holder with two of the three apertures of the terminal bracket.

2. The three-phase selectable energy meter of claim 1, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel includes actuating the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel via the corresponding aperture of the terminal bracket.

3. A three-phase selectable energy meter comprising:

a base housing a phase A terminal barrel, a phase B terminal barrel and a phase C terminal barrel;

a phase selection member movably engaged with the base, the phase selection member permitting individual selection of each of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel prohibits selection of the other two of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel,

wherein the phase selection member includes;

a conductive strip; and

an actuation member holder configured to hold the actuation member, the actuation member holder movably attached to the conductive strip, the actuation member holder including three apertures respectively corresponding to the phase

A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel;

an actuation member engaged with the phase selection member and only one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel; and

a terminal bracket coupled to the base and the phase selection member, the terminal bracket including three apertures respectively corresponding to the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel;

wherein the three apertures of the terminal bracket are uniformly separated by a first distance, and

wherein at least two of the three apertures of the actuation member holder are separated from one another by a second distance distinct from the first distance, wherein one of the three apertures of the actuation member holder is configured to align with one of the three apertures of the terminal bracket, simultaneously mis-aligning two of the three apertures of the actuation member holder with two of the three apertures of the terminal bracket.

4. The three-phase selectable energy meter of claim 3, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel includes actuating the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel with the actuation member via the corresponding aperture of the terminal bracket.

5. A three-phase selectable energy meter comprising:

a base housing;

a phase A terminal barrel, a phase B terminal barrel and a phase C terminal barrel; and

a relay;

a phase selection member including a connecting strip electrically connected to the relay, the phase selection member being movably engaged with the base and permitting individual selection of each of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel prohibits selection of the other two of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel,

wherein the phase selection member includes an actuation member holder movably attached to the connecting strip, the actuation member holder including three apertures respectively corresponding to the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel; and

a terminal bracket coupled to the base and the phase selection member, the terminal bracket including three apertures respectively corresponding to the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel;

wherein the three apertures of the terminal bracket are uniformly separated by a first distance,

wherein at least two of the three apertures of the actuation member holder are separated from one another by a second distance distinct from the first distance

wherein one of the three apertures of the actuation member holder is configured to align with one of the three apertures of the terminal bracket, simultaneously mis-aligning two of the three apertures of the actuation member holder with two of the three apertures of the terminal bracket.

6. The three-phase selectable energy meter of claim 5, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel includes actuating the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel via the corresponding aperture of the terminal bracket.