Terminal Block Patents (Class 361/669)
  • Patent number: 10620242
    Abstract: A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: E.J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus
  • Patent number: 10218307
    Abstract: A connection box for solar panels to enable the use of multiple types of passive and active covers for different functionalities in the junction box built into the panel to which the connection box is fixedly attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Zvi Alon, Ron Hadar, Mordechay Avrutsky
  • Patent number: 10020627
    Abstract: A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: E.J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus
  • Patent number: 9868404
    Abstract: A camera for mounting on a vehicle includes a front housing member having a lens, an imaging element and a circuit board, with the circuit board includes a set of front electrical connectors. A rear housing member mates with the front housing member along a first axis. The rear housing member includes a set of rear electrical connectors that, with the rear housing member mated with the front housing member, directly contact the front electrical connectors without use of a jumper. One set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of male electrical connectors and the other set of the sets of front and rear electrical connectors is a set of female electrical connectors. Each female electrical connector has jaw structure including first and second jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Sesti, Steven V. Byrne
  • Publication number: 20150036268
    Abstract: An electric junction includes an insulated junction block including a passage therein for receiving a conductive insert having a plurality of passages for coupling wires from a utility meter socket with service wires. Several coupling mechanisms for coupling the junction block with the utility meter box provide improved and efficient installation and service of the electric junction. Additionally, a method is disclosed for replacing existing junction blocks with the junction block according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Erick William Rudaitis
  • Patent number: 8902599
    Abstract: An external structure of an outdoor electronic apparatus for packaging a circuit board having a power line is provided. The external structure includes a housing having an opening and a waterproof gasket. The waterproof gasket includes a main body, a platform portion, a first protrusion, and a bushing portion. The main body covers the opening. The platform portion, located at the inner side of the main body, extends into the housing from the opening. The platform portion seals the opening and tightly fits with the housing. The first protrusion is located on the platform portion for abutting against the circuit board. The bushing portion, located at the outer side of the main body, has a channel. The channel passes through the main body and the platform portion and can be passed through by the power line. The bushing portion and the power line tightly fit to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Heng Chao, Jui-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 8581450
    Abstract: A system and method that offers the provision too rapidly and safely connect electrical generation sources, including inverters used by solar collecting panels, or wind turbines, and backup hydrocarbon fueled generators or any other supplemental power sources including storage batteries, fuel cells and future electric automobiles. Thus enabling the feeding of power to all circuits in the home or small business, not just isolated circuits in a structure. The system is compliant with electric codes, requires no costly rewiring inside the structure or in the electrical circuit panel and can be accomplished entirely from the outside of the home or small business adjacent to the electric service meter for the home or small business structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Renewable Energy Technology Group (RETG)
    Inventor: Michael Leonard Mathiowetz
  • Patent number: 8028653
    Abstract: A filament post used in plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition has an outer shell and an inner post. An electrical potential is applied only to the inner post to ensure that there is no impact on the plasma density and the carbon film properties. The inner post and the outer shell are electrically insulated by ceramic insulators, such that no electrical potential is applied to outer shell. The stress generated in the carbon film is directly related to the electrical potential of the surface to which the film is deposited. The carbon film deposited on the outer shell of the post is not highly stressed, which significantly reduces film delamination from the filament post surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Eric Hwang, Jinliu Wang, Richard Longstreth White
  • Patent number: 7796375
    Abstract: A basepan assembly for hook-on attachment onto a metering device is provided including a basepan support having at least two insert latches disposed at a first end and a side flange disposed at a second opposite end. A basepan body is provided being insertable onto said basepan support and including an inside wall configured to be attachable to a barrier of the metering device, as well as an outside wall, a bus stab chamber, and a hold-down insert configured to be attachable to the basepan body, the hold-down insert further having a side barrier. A top load stab having a first end affixable to the hold-down insert is provided and a bottom load stab insertable within said bus stab chamber is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7643631
    Abstract: An enclosure used with a system for delivering broadband service, including standard telephone service and telephone/DSL service, to a subscriber. The system includes a pair gain system, a cross-connect system, and a service distribution system. The enclosure is a retro-fit enclosure that incorporates the service distribution system into an existing cross-connect enclosure in a cost-effective and aesthetic manner. The service distribution system is operably located such that the standard telephone service and telephone/DSL service are routed from the service distribution system to the subscriber without being routed through the cross-connect system. The service distribution systems include terminating modules and switching modules. In some embodiments, the switching modules include protector plugs that protect the system from over-voltages and/or over-currents, and provides upstream and downstream diagnostic testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090120607
    Abstract: A plurality of cooling units for cooling electrical components can be disposed in close proximity to one another in confined spaces with minimal space conflict, due to the design of the cooling units that allows for staggered position of connection fittings. Also, the cooling units can be selectively arranged in a plurality of configurations with respect to one another, while being fluidly connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Peter CHEON, AnKuk SONG, JeaSung PARK, Eungsoon LEE, Tim HUNTING
  • Patent number: 7483261
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling panel wherein a passage is formed by bonding together a bottom heat radiation plate having a groove formed therein and a top heat radiation plate, and a circulation pump circulating refrigerant within the passage. The top heat radiation plate is provided with an outlet port through which the refrigerant flows out from the passage to the circulation pump and an inlet port through which the refrigerant flows in from the circulation pump to the passage. The circulation pump is fixed onto the top heat radiation plate of the cooling panel so that the suction port and discharge port are aligned with the outlet port and inlet port, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Mikubo, Sakae Kitajo, Atsushi Ochi, Mitsuru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7375981
    Abstract: An electric power distribution and control apparatus has a stack of conductive plates each having a plurality of spaced contact pads and conductive traces connecting the contact pads to others of the pads. At least one of the plates has contact terminals for connection to electrical components for supply of electrical current. An array of contact pins pass through holes in the plates at a respective one of the contact pads such that the array of pins provides connection between selected contact pads of different selected conductive plates. An electronic system for connection to a communication bus is added to the above known system by providing a main circuit board having the electronic components thereon, a mapping circuit board having a plurality of contact pads thereon arranged for connection to respective ones of the array of pins and a header having a male pin array and a female socket array connecting the main printed circuit board and the mapping circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Vansco Electronics LP
    Inventor: Kevin Dickson
  • Patent number: 6316932
    Abstract: An A-base utility meter cover assembly is described. The meter cover assembly is fabricated of a thermoplastic injection molding material, such as polycarbonate, and includes a base cover covered by a terminal cover. In one embodiment, the base cover includes a terminal block cavity for receiving a utility meter terminal block, and two locking tabs and a snap portion which engage openings through the terminal cover when the base cover and terminal cover are in an assembled configuration. In the assembled configuration, a dam and deflectors on the terminal cover are aligned with ribs on the base to form a continuous barrier against water flow into the terminal block cavity. The configuration of the locking tabs and snap portion also protect against tampering with meter electronics by preventing removal of the terminal cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Horan, Andre Theriault
  • Patent number: 6242698
    Abstract: A cable management system includes an adapter plate disposed between a panel and a cabling component, such as a wiring block or wiring trough. The adapter plate includes a first plurality of fasteners and a first plurality of alignment pins extending orthogonally from a first surface, and second plurality of fasteners and a second plurality of alignment pins extending orthogonally from a second surface. The first plurality of fasteners engage tabs formed on the panel and the second plurality of fasteners engage features formed on the cabling component. The first plurality of alignment pins are disposed to engage alignment apertures formed in the panel. The second plurality of alignment pins are disposed to engage alignment apertures formed in the cabling component. The adapter plate can include an abutment portion disposed to abut the panel and cooperate with the first plurality of fasteners to position the adapter plate relative to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Phillips Baker, III, Golam Mabud Choudhury, Theodore Alan Conorich, Lyndon Dee Ensz, Wayne Scott Filus, William John Ivan, John Anthony Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 5982611
    Abstract: Angle members forming the vertically extending supply buses in a meter center have arcuate offsets so that flanges on the ends of horizontally extending tenant buses form tenant stab contacts which are vertically aligned with supply stab contacts on straight sections of the outwardly projecting flanges of the supply bus angle members. Meter socket assemblies have double ended fastenerless meter jaws one pair of which plug onto the supply bus stab contacts and another pair of which plug onto the tenant bus stab contacts, and into which the meters are plugged. The double ended fastenerless meter jaws are fabricated from a pair of elongated flat members having end sections bent back on and diverging from straight center sections, and terminal sections which extend toward each other from the end sections and converge slightly toward the center sections. Spring clips clamp the terminal sections of the pair of elongated members in compliant confronting relationship to form the double ended fastenerless meter jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James Monroe Campbell, Scot Eugene Remmert, Larry Joe Simpkins, Edward Hugh Lechleiter, Glen Clark Naugle
  • Patent number: 5853300
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter 310 includes a plurality of current jaw contacts 290 and potential jaw contacts 10 mounted between front and rear housings 314, 312, with each jaw contact 290, 10 surrounding by a receptacle 422, 70 in the front housing 314. An aperture in each receptacle 422, 70 allows insertion of a meter blade terminal into the jaw contact. An electrical conductor extends from each jaw contact 290, 10 to an individual terminal 102 mounted in a terminal portion of the front and rear housings 314, 312. Apertures in the front housing 314 allow insertion of a tool into engagement with a fastener 112 carried on each terminal 290, 10 for fixedly joining a terminal clip 116 mounted a conductor 132 extending from the jaw contacts to an external conductor 138 inserted through openings in the bottom of the front and rear housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont, Karl R. Loehr, Allen V. Pruehs, Keith C. Dropiewski
  • Patent number: 5775942
    Abstract: A clamp jaw/lever bypass meter socket includes an insulative base and a plurality of line and load end jaw-type releasable contacts for receiving the blades of a meter. Each of the contacts includes a stationary contact and a movable contact pivotally coupled to the stationary contact. The meter socket also includes a spring biasing said movable contact to be in a clamped position with the stationary contact. The meter socket includes a meter bypass having bypass cams coupled to a manually rotatable shaft. The bypass cams are movable from an operating position whereby the jaw-type contacts one clamped and current flows through a meter and a bypass position in which the bypass cams are electrically shorting the line and load contacts for the same phase for changing or testing a meter without service interruption. Both the stationary and movable contacts are a one-piece construction. The movable contacts include supplemental contact arms so that current is divided between the stationary and movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Jeffcoat
  • Patent number: 5588874
    Abstract: A watthour meter adapter includes jaw contacts for receiving blade terminals of a plug-in watthour meter. Apertures formed in an annular side wall of the adapter housing receive external line and load conductors therethrough. A terminal block disposed within the annular side wall at a lower portion of the housing receives the external line and load conductors as well as internal electrical conductors connected at opposite ends to the jaw contacts. A slot formed in a bottom wall of the housing receives a fastener to mount the housing to an external support surface. The terminal block and terminal connections as well as the mounting fastener are completely contained within and covered by a watthour meter when a watthour meter is mounted on the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen V. Pruehs, Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont
  • Patent number: 5414590
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical distribution board and meter socket assembly. The distribution board includes a framework for a meter compartment which is partially defined by a side panels, a bottom electrically insulating barrier and by a bus. The distribution board also includes an opening through each side panel and between each side face of the framework and the bottom barrier. The opening is of sufficient size to allow electrical connections therethrough. An L-shaped insulating barrier connects to the bottom barrier and is disposed in front of the bus. The meter socket assembly includes a socket pan, a socket molding assembly for an electrical meter, a test block assembly, and a plurality of load terminals adapted for electrically connecting to branch lines which overlap one another and extend from the load terminals in a direction generally parallel to the bottom edge. The meter socket assembly also includes a plurality of line terminals adapted for electrically connecting to line bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Gholam R. Tajali
  • Patent number: 5404269
    Abstract: The present invention provides a meter socket pan and assembly for connection of an electrical meter between a line bus terminal and a branch load terminal. The pan includes a one-piece support base having a generally flat front face and a back face, and a top, bottom and side edges. The base is made of a non-conductive plastic material adapted to support the electrical meter. A socket base is integrally formed on one end of the front face of the support base. The socket base electrically and mechanically connects to an electrical meter. A test base is integrally formed on the opposite end of the front face of the support base. The test base secures thereto a line and load terminal. The test base also reversibly closes the circuit between the line and load terminals. The socket pan also electrically connects the socket base and the reversibly closing test base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Gholam R. Tajali