Modular watthour meter socket and test switch

• US 7,189,109 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): DUVERNE, JEAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/956,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20050122094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 439/517, 439/146, 439/167, 439/508, 361/111, 361/118, 361/127, 361/120, 361/126, 361641-646, 324/156, 324/110
• US Class Current: 439/517
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use

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.

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.

2. The watthour meter of claim 1 wherein the receiver means comprises:

a receptacle for receiving the locking head of the tie in a fixed position.

3. The watthour meter of claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed in the receiver means, a first aperture alignable with a bore in the locking head of the tie for receiving the end of the strap of the tie.

4. The watthour meter of claim 3 further comprising:

a second aperture aligned with the bore in the locking head for receiving the end of the tie after the tie has passed through the bore in the locking head.

5. The watthour meter of claim 4 further comprising:

a second aperture opening to a pocket on an exterior surface of the base.

6. The watthour meter of claim 5 wherein the pocket comprises:

a ramp surface for directing the end of the tie away from the base.

7. The watthour meter of claim 2 wherein the receiver means comprises:

a third aperture for receiving the strap of the tie when the tie is mounted in the receptacle.

8. The watthour meter of claim 7 further comprising:

a projection carried in the receiver means for engaging the strap to hold the tie in the receptacle.

9. The watthour meter of claim 1 further comprising:

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

means, carried on the base, for fixedly receiving the fastener and electrically insulating the fastener from metering components mounted on the base.

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.

13. The watthour meter of claim 12 wherein:

the opening extending through the base is wider at an inner end than at an opposed outer end.

14. The watthour meter of claim 13 wherein:

the openings extending through the base and the dome at disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to the base.

15. The watthour meter of claim 12 wherein the connecting pin comprises:

a stem; and

latch means, carried on the stem, for latching the pin to one of the base and the dome.

16. The watthour meter of claim 15 wherein the latch means comprises:

a bendable arm carried on the stem.

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.

20. The watthour meter of claim 19 wherein:

the opening extending through the base is wider at an inner end than an opposed outer end.

21. The watthour meter of claim 20 wherein:

the aligned openings extending through the base and the dome at disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to the base.

22. The watthour meter of claim 19 wherein the pin comprises:

a stem extending between an inner end and an outer end of the pin; and

latch means, carried on the stem, for latching the pin to one of the base and the dome.

23. The watthour meter of claim 22 wherein the latch means comprises:

a bendable arm carried on the stem.