Power Measuring Meter Coupling Part Patents (Class 439/517)
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Patent number: 5951324Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: James Monroe Campbell, Scot Eugene Remmert, Larry Joe Simpkins, Edward Hugh Lechleiter, Glen Clark Naugle
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Patent number: 5944555Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter electrically connects an external sealing ring and/or a metal cover ring on a watthour meter to ground. A surge ground conductor is mounted on an end mounting flange of the socket adapter housing and extends within and is joined to the housing by a first metal fastener. One end of the first metal fastener extends exteriorly of the housing and supports a first metal tab which is engaged by the metal sealing ring. A second metal fastener extends through the surge ground conductor and supports a second external tab engagable with a grounded meter socket cover. Alternately, a tab extends integrally from an upper end of the surge ground conductor for engagement with the sealing ring. In another embodiment, an annular surge ground conductor is mounted within an annular sidewall of a watthour meter socket adapter housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont
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Patent number: 5853300Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 1996Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont, Karl R. Loehr, Allen V. Pruehs, Keith C. Dropiewski
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Patent number: 5775942Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 11, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Thomas & Betts CorporationInventor: Walter Jeffcoat
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Patent number: 5762522Abstract: A fused jaw blade for use as a line or load jaw blade in a watthour meter socket adapter has a fuse body with a first lug extending from a first end and a second lug in the form of a blade terminal extending from an opposite second end. The second lug or blade terminal is adapted for releasable mounting in a watthour meter socket jaw contact. A jaw contact is formed with the first lug for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter or other electrical device therein. The jaw contact is formed by a pair of contact clips mounted on opposite sides of the first lug and having outer ends extending beyond the end of the first lug for receiving a blade terminal therein. Biasing springs are fixedly mounted to the contact clips. Alternately, a single contact clip is fixedly mounted on the first lug to form a complete jaw contact.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
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Patent number: 5704804Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter electrically connects an external sealing ring and/or a metal cover ring on a watthour meter to ground. A surge ground conductor is mounted on an end mounting flange of the socket adapter housing and extends within and is joined to the housing by a first metal fastener. One end of the first metal fastener extends exteriorly of the housing and supports a first metal tab which is engaged by the metal sealing ring. A second metal fastener extends through the surge ground conductor and supports a second external tab engagable with a grounded meter socket cover. Alternately, a tab extends integrally from an upper end of the surge ground conductor for engagement with the sealing ring. In another embodiment, an annular surge ground conductor is mounted within an annular sidewall of a watthour meter socket adapter housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1996Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont
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Patent number: 5595506Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes a plurality of rigid electrical conductors non-attachedly disposed in a housing. An electrical contact is mounted on a first end of each electrical conductor and is positioned within the housing for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter therein. A second end of each electrical conductor extends externally of the housing for insertion into terminals mounted in a watthour meter socket. An insulating sleeve mounted in the housing surrounds the portion of the electrical conductors extending externally of the housing, with the second ends of the electrical conductors extending outward from the sleeve. An electrically insulating plate is mounted within the housing spaced from a base of the housing. Apertures formed in the insulating plate receive individual electrical contacts on the conductors for positioning the electrical contacts and the electrical conductors within the housing to receive a blade terminal of a watthour meter.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1994Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Karl Loehr
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Patent number: 5588874Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Allen V. Pruehs, Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont
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Patent number: 5586913Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes a plurality of rigid electrical conductors non-attachedly disposed in a housing. An electrical contact is mounted on a first end of each electrical conductor and is positioned within the housing for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter therein. A second end of each electrical conductor extends externally of the housing for insertion into terminals mounted in a watthour meter socket. An insulating sleeve mounted in the housing surrounds the portion of the electrical conductors extending externally of the housing, with the second ends of the electrical conductors extending outward from the sleeve. An electrically insulating plate is mounted within the housing spaced from a base of the housing. Apertures formed in the insulating plate receive individual electrical contacts on the conductors for positioning the electrical contacts and the electrical conductors within the housing to receive a blade terminal of a watthour meter.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1995Date of Patent: December 24, 1996Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Karl Loehr, Allen V. Pruehs, Robert O. Learmont
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Patent number: 5577933Abstract: A watthour meter mounting apparatus, such as a socket, socket adapter and the like, has a safety shield completely enclosing the jaw contacts of the apparatus. Slots are formed in the safety shield to allow the insertion of a watthour meter blade terminal therethrough into connection with the jaw contacts. In one embodiment, a socket adapter housing includes front and back plates which are joined together and form a cavity therebetween in which the jaw terminals and the electrical conductors are disposed. Raised receptacles formed in the first plate loosely receive the jaw contacts mounted on one end of the conductors. In another embodiment, an insulating housing is mounted over the jaw contacts in a socket or socket adapter, with slots formed in the housing to allow the insertion of a watthour meter blade terminal therethrough into a jaw contact disposed within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont, Karl R. Loehr, Robert Goozen, Michael E. Lewis, Allen V. Pruehs
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Patent number: 5571031Abstract: A watthour meter mounting apparatus, such as a socket, socket adapter and the like, has a flash shield completely enclosing the jaw contacts of the apparatus. Slots are formed in the flash shield to allow the insertion of a watthour meter blade terminal therethrough into connection with the jaw contacts. In one embodiment, a socket adapter housing includes front and back plates which are joined together and form a cavity therebetween in which the jaw terminals and the electrical conductors are disposed. Raised receptacles formed in the first plate loosely receive the jaw contacts mounted on one end of the conductors. In another embodiment, an insulating housing is mounted over the jaw contacts in a socket or socket adapter, with slots formed in the housing to allow the insertion of a watthour meter blade terminal therethrough into a jaw contact disposed within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont, Karl R. Loehr, Robert Goozen, Michael E. Lewis, Allen V. Pruehs
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Patent number: 5423695Abstract: A hardened metallic ring is mounted over the exterior sidewall of the shell portion of a watthour meter socket adapter. The ring has overlapped ends which are welded together to form a circular ring with a diameter approximate the diameter of the shell. In another embodiment, a radially outward flange is formed on one annular edge of the ring to cover a peripheral edge flange of the base of the socket adapter.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1993Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, John T. Shincovich, Michael E. Lewis
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Patent number: 5404266Abstract: A single unit enclosure containing an electric power meter compartment and a power receptacles compartment is adapted for use on a temporary construction site employing underground utility cables. The meter compartment is located under the power receptacles compartment and is protected from the environment by means of the overhang provided by the access door attached to the power receptacles compartment. The incoming power cables to the enclosure are also protected by means of the access door overhang.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1994Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: General ELectric CompanyInventors: Ronald J. Orchard, Darrel A. Holtz
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Patent number: 5404269Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 22, 1993Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: Square D CompanyInventor: Gholam R. Tajali
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Patent number: 5385486Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes at least one additional jaw terminal for receiving one blade terminal of a plurality of blade terminals of a watthour meter, which blade terminals are provided in a greater number than the available jaw terminals in a watthour meter socket which normally receive the line and load blade terminals of the watthour meter. The additional blade terminal extends through and outward from the watthour meter socket adapter housing. An electrical connector is mounted on the additional blade terminal externally of the watthour meter socket adapter housing for electrically receiving an electrical conductor in the socket adapter not normally connected to the line and load jaw and blade terminals in the socket adapter. A jumper is disposed within the watthour meter socket adapter housing and extends between selected additional jaw and blade terminals in the watthour meter socket adapter.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1994Date of Patent: January 31, 1995Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Michael E. Lewis, Karl R. Loehr, Allen V. Pruchs
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Patent number: 5364290Abstract: A base for an electric utility watt-hour meter made from a polycarbonate material preferably reinforced with glass fiber and ultraviolet light stabilized. The molded base receives current terminals that have outwardly directed lugs engaging one face of the base and there are locking arms on the other side of the base resiliently biased against the lug to engage a locking formation thereon. The base has a knife-edge rib extending about its periphery to sealingly engage a front edge face of a cup shaped transparent cover for the meter. A metal ring joins the cover to the base the metal ring being a band with a first series of lugs struck out and directed inwardly to engage the flange on the cover and a second group of tabs struck outwardly and bent inwardly to engage the bayonet ramp surfaces on the base.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Schlumberger Canada LimitedInventor: Marinus Hartman
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Patent number: 5314353Abstract: An adapter is provided for adapting a voltage or phase rotation indicator for use with multiphase electrical power. The adapter allows the phase rotation indicator to be used in situations where it might not otherwise be used, such as when the power conductors are not contained in a power meter box. The adapter may also be used as a protective carrying or transport cover for the indicator when the indicator is not in use.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1993Date of Patent: May 24, 1994Assignee: Houston Industries IncorporatedInventor: Otto H. Schroeder
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Patent number: 5207595Abstract: A terminal cover removably mountable on a watthour meter socket adapter includes an arm having an outwardly extending flange which is disposed in proximity with a sealing ring when the sealing ring is disposed about the mating mounting flange of a watthour meter and the rim of the socket adapter to lockingly mount the terminal cover on the socket adapter via the lock device carried by the sealing ring. In one embodiment, the flange on the arm has a predetermined length to engage a notch in the sealing ring to prevent rotation of the sealing ring. In another embodiment, the length of the flange on the arm is selected such that the flange lies between the sealing ring and the socket adapter housing to lockingly retain the terminal cover on the socket adapter housing when the sealing ring is locked about the mounting flange of the watthour meter and the rim of the socket adapter.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1992Date of Patent: May 4, 1993Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert O. Learmont, Darrell A. Robinson, Albert K. Langdon, Allen V. Pruehs, Robert Goozen
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Patent number: 5181166Abstract: A securing mechanism for an electricity metering device (30) including a housing (34) having a cavity, a cover (36) positioned on the housing (34) and enclosing said cavity, the cover (36) including hinge pins (120,122) for attaching the cover (36) to the corresponding hinge slots (80,82) on the housing (34) and a sealing screw (126) connected to the cover (36) for releasably securing the cover (36) to the housing (34). The sealing screw (126) is threaded through a hole (124) in the cover (36), and includes an opening (158), and the cover further includes a lug (162) defining a second opening (164) positioned for cooperation and registration with the first opening (158) when the sealing screw (126) has secured the cover (36) to the housing (34).Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1991Date of Patent: January 19, 1993Assignee: Schlumberger Canada LimitedInventor: Chesley R. Howell
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Patent number: 5129841Abstract: Plug-and-jack electrical connector terminal with a blade-like plug terminal portion at one end and a slit-like jack terminal portion at the opposite end. The respective connector portions have at their mutually interconnecting ends preferably flat surfaces adapted to be juxtaposed to one another and to be interconnected, preferably disengageably, by fastener means preferably through bores therein.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1991Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Inventors: Edward F. Allina, Stanley F. Allina, Jr.
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Patent number: 5033973Abstract: A service disconnect adapter mounted between a plug-in meter socket and a watthour meter. The service disconnect adapter has blades mounted on a base which engage terminals in the socket. Watthour blade receiving fingers are formed in the service disconnect adapter to receive and frictionally engage watthour meter blades. The service disconnect adapter electrically isolates the socket load terminals from the watthour meter blades to disconnect the watthour meter from the load side terminals of the socket. The blades are angularly offset from the watthour meter blade receiving fingers in the adapter to mount the watthour meter at an angle from its normal mounting position.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1990Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Allen V. Pruehs, Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont, Robert Goozen, Michael Lewis
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Patent number: 4944692Abstract: Electrical plug-in connectors with modified jaws to receive a conducting blade therebetween. Electrical connection is improved by increasing the curvature radius of a generally S-shaped contacting jaw's free end and/or its spring bias toward a cooperating rigid jaw end, and by providing a flat contacting surface on the face of such free end to parallel a flat contacting surface on the rigid jaw end.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1989Date of Patent: July 31, 1990Inventor: Edward F. Allina
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Patent number: 4892485Abstract: An adapter plate interposed between a single phase meter and a three phase meter outlet to benefit from the more economical operation of a single phase meter when the premises no longer requires the three phase outlet power. The adapter plate includes a sleeve having a barrier and four blades which contact four 120 volt clips operatively connected to 120 volt power at the outlet site. The adpater blades include four clips oriented to receive a single phase meter. Two of the clips are offset from two of the blades to which they are connected so that the single phase meter can be aligned with the three phase outlet socket and thereby accurately monitor power used on the premises. Three legs defining the 200 volt leg wired to the premises are effectively isolated by the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1988Date of Patent: January 9, 1990Inventor: Victor L. Patton
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Patent number: 4690483Abstract: A terminal base assembly for an electric meter characterized by an insulating base with a jaw terminal for receiving a mating blade terminal of a meter, an electric conductor for conducting current to the jaw terminal, a mounting clip for releasably mounting the jaw terminal in the hole and including offset side walls adjacent to facing walls of the hole and in face-to-face contact with the opposite sides of the jaw terminal, and fastening means securing the jaw terminal, the electric conductor, and the mounting clip together.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1986Date of Patent: September 1, 1987Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: George M. Carris