Method and apparatus for preventing electricity meter failure
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring and controlling an operation of a meter electrically connected between a power source and a load through a meter socket, comprising:
- detecting at least one potential failure condition of an electrical connection between the meter and the meter socket;
determining, based on the detected at least one potential failure condition, a correction time indicating an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection;
determining whether the meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time by comparing the correction time to a minimum correction time;
determining whether the meter is in the imminent failure condition based on the detected at least one potential failure condition; and
disconnecting power to the load with the meter when it is determined the meter is in the imminent failure condition.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus that monitors and controls an operation of an electricity meter. A potential failure condition of an electrical connection between an electricity meter and a meter socket in an electrical line that provides power from a power supply to an electrical load through the electricity meter, is detected. A correction time may be determined based on a temperature in a vicinity of and a current through the electrical connection, and may indicate an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection will occur. The method determines whether the electricity meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time or the information used to detect the potential failure condition of the electrical connection. The method may provide either, or both, notification of the imminent failure condition and disconnection of power to the electrical load by operating a disconnection switch.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring and controlling an operation of a meter electrically connected between a power source and a load through a meter socket, comprising:
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detecting at least one potential failure condition of an electrical connection between the meter and the meter socket; determining, based on the detected at least one potential failure condition, a correction time indicating an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection; determining whether the meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time by comparing the correction time to a minimum correction time; determining whether the meter is in the imminent failure condition based on the detected at least one potential failure condition; and disconnecting power to the load with the meter when it is determined the meter is in the imminent failure condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus that monitors and controls the operation of a meter electrically connected between a power source and a load through a meter socket, comprising:
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a detection unit configured to monitor an electrical connection between the meter and the meter socket, and detect at least one potential failure condition of the electrical connection; and a controller configured to; determine a correction time, based on the detected at least one potential failure condition of the electrical connection, that indicates an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection, determine whether the meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time by comparing the correction time to a minimum correction time, determine whether the meter is in the imminent failure condition based on the detected at least one potential failure condition, and disconnect power to the load with the meter when it is determined the meter is in the imminent failure condition. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of monitoring and controlling an operation of a meter electrically connected between a power source and a load through a meter socket, comprising:
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detecting at least one potential failure condition of an electrical connection between the meter and the meter socket; determining, based on the detected at least one potential failure condition, a correction time indicating an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection; determining whether the meter is in an imminent failure condition based on at least one of the correction time and the detected at least one potential failure condition; and disconnecting power to the load with the meter when it is determined the meter is in the imminent failure condition, wherein detecting the at least one potential failure condition comprises detecting a current through the electrical connection and a temperature in the vicinity of the electrical connection, wherein determining whether the meter is in the imminent failure condition based on the detected at least one potential failure condition includes; determining a rate of change in temperature based on the temperature in the vicinity of the electrical connection and at least one previously detected temperature in the vicinity of the electrical connection; determining a rate of change in current based on the current through the electrical connection and at least one previously detected current through the electrical connection; determining a reference rate of change in temperature based on the rate of change in current; comparing the rate of change in temperature to the reference rate of change in temperature; and determining the meter is in the imminent failure condition when rate of change in temperature is equal to or greater than the reference rate of temperature.
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24. An apparatus that monitors and controls the operation of a meter electrically connected between a power source and a load through a meter socket, comprising:
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a detection unit including at least one temperature sensor that detects a temperature in the vicinity of the electrical connection, and at least one current sensor that detects a current through the electrical connection; and a controller configured to; determine a correction time, based on the detected at least one potential failure condition of the electrical connection, that indicates an amount of time before a predicted failure of the electrical connection, determine whether the meter is in an imminent failure condition based on at least one of the correction time and the at least one potential failure condition, and disconnect power to the load with the meter when it is determined the meter is in the imminent failure condition, wherein the detection unit is configured to monitor an electrical connection between the meter and the meter socket, and detect at least one potential failure condition of the electrical connection by reading the temperature in the vicinity of electrical connection and the current through the electrical connection, wherein the controller is configured to determine the meter is in the imminent failure condition based on the detected at least one potential failure condition by determining a rate of change in temperature is greater than a reference rate of change in temperature, wherein the controller is configured to determine the reference rate of change of temperature based on a rate of change of current through the electrical connection, and wherein the rate of change in temperature is based on the temperature in the vicinity of the electrical connection and at least one previously detected temperature in the vicinity of the electrical, and the rate of change in current is based on the current through the electrical connection and at least one previously detected current through the electrical connection.
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Specification