US3061763A - Meter adapter - Google Patents

Description

Oct 9 K. A. EKSTROM 3,061,763

METER ADAPTER Filed April 1; 1960 I 4 o. 25lg H 25 I I II II I 3 'Q' IIQI I INVENi'OR.

[7/7/182 Hasram MM l/M max/75y,

United States Patent Ofiiice 3,061,763 Patented Get. 30, 1962 3,061,763 METER ADAPTER Kenneth A. Ekstrem, 1827 Weaver Ave., Detroit 28, -Mich. Filed Apr. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 19,274 8 Claims. (Cl. 317-411) This invention relates to electrical adapters and more particularly to a new and improved ,utility watthour meter socket or adapter adapted to receive an S-type watthour meter and hold the same securely .therein so that the same, once installed in place, cannot be tampered with. This adapter facilitates the replacement of now obsolete A-type watthour meters for indoor or outdoor applications, domestic, commercial and industrial.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a new and improved electrical adapter which has a portion thereof slidable to allow access to the screws in the terminal block for the purpose .of making electrical connections only when the meter is out ofthe socket. When the meter is installed in the socket, the slide covers .the screws in the terminal block making the connections tamper-proof and movement of the slide is prevented vby the rim of the meter. The slide cannot beremoved by ordinary means. v

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following more detailed description and from the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device, partly broken away, to show how the meter is attached .thereto.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the adapter with meter removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the adapter, as shown in FIG. 2 with meterremoved and sliding segment moved inwardly to provide means for obtaining access to wiresecuring means.

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken substantially along line S5 of FIG. 2', and

FIG. 6 is a sectiontaken substantially alongline 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, thenumeral 10 designates the adapter per se which consists of a socket-like structure or shell having aperipheral flange 33, the entire structure being molded of fibre-glass, or the like, having three openings 11 therein through which securing means may be inserted to secure the adapter to a wall, or the like. A plurality of clip-mounting blocks 12, 15, in this or similar location having securingclips 13 mounted thereon, by means of screws 31, FIG. 5, threaded incopper connectors 14, 116, or similar connector arrangements are fastened to blocks 12 and 15. Integrally molded within the adapter is aterminalblock portion 18 having longitudinal openings 28 therethrough in whichbarrels 17 are mounted to receivelead wires 19 which carry current from an outside source through the meter, the same being held securely within thebarrel 17 ofconnectors 14 by means of setscrews 22 threaded inbarrel 17 accessible through openings .27. When the adapter is secured to a vertical wall or the like the openings 28 extend vertically in a direction parallel to the wall, while theopenings 27 are at right angles to the openings 28 and extend horizontally when the adapter is in place.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is provided a slide or sliding member including a slidingsegment 21 FIG. 2-showing the same in a closed position and FIG. 3 showing the segment moved to a forward, or what might be termed an open position. In the open position of the slide the segment portion lies wholly within the confines of the peripheral wall of the adapter (FIG. 3),

while in the closed position shown in FIG. 2 the segment closes the peripheral wall and forms apart thereof. The base portion of the slide includes a flatlportion extending rearwardly from .the segmental portion, which segmental portion, as stated above, is complementary to .the fixed peripheral portion of the adapter. This segment portion of the device is formed of .the same molded fibre-glass as the adapter and is formed so that the base thereof will slide in arecessed portion 24 ofterminal block 18.' The base portion of the sliding member has formedlthereon flange members 23 which in .turn ride or slide in'longitudinalrecesses 24 formed in the sides ofterminal block 18. Whensegment 21 is 'moved forward its movement is limited by the clips mounted onblocks 15, which act as a stop, and when it is returned to itsclosed position, curvedflange portions 25 on roundedperipheral wall section 32 limit its forward movement. As shown best in FIG. 1, an S-type watthour meter 26 is shown having securingmembers 32 protruding therefrom to 'engage the securingclips 13 and hold the meter in locked relationship withadapter 10. As long as the meter'is in place it will be obvious that its peripheral portion or shell, which lies within the shell of the-adapter, effectively prevents the sliding member, includingsegment 21, from moving inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3, and thus prevents access to theset screws 22.

The manner in which the device operates is as follows:

When it is desired to install an adapter the same is placed against a wall at the spot desired andscrews 30 are inserted through openings 11in the backpf the shell and screwed into the wall thereby securing the adapter to same.Sliding segment 21 is then .moved forward'int o the interior of the shell of the adapterlo, as shown in FIG. 3, and setscrews 22 are screwed out inbarrel 17 throughopenings 27 to allow-lead wires 19 tobe threaded through openings 28 so that the same may make contact with copper barrel '17, FIG. 5, after whichthe setscrews 22 are tightened throughopenings 27 and abut againstwires 19 to hold the same securely. Oncewires 19 are in place, as shown in FIG. 3, slidingsegment 21 is then moved back to its nor-m1 position, FIG. 2; and seats on theflange 25 provided on theperipheral section wall 32 of theadapter shell 10, and whenin this position setscrews 22 are completely 'covered'by the base of the slide making the connections tamper-proof. The device is then ready to receive an S-'type watthour meter 26, which seats withinperipheral wall flange 33, said meter having secured to the back thereof projections 32', which are in alignment with and are adaptedto make contact withclips 13, FIGS. 1 and 2, which locks the meter toshell 10. When the meter is in placeits' peripheral wall, which fits inside of the shell of the adapter, prevents movement of the slide, including'se'gment '21, into the interior of the shell whilethe base portion of the slide covers theopenings 27 leading to theset screw 22, thus rendering them inaccessible" as longas the meterrem-ains in place within theadapter shell. The usual electrical sealing band is then placedaround the meter and the same is tagged with a conventional meter tag usedby mostelectrical utility companies. 'When the meter has been locked in place, electric current can "then flow throughoutside lead wires 19 tocopper connectors 14 and 16, or other combinations, and then to clips 13 and on throughmeter contacts 32 tometer 26 for metering.

It will be seen from the above description that there has been disclosed herein a practical indoor or outdoor meter adapter of simple, yet unique construction providing a slide portion which allows access to the screws in the terminal block for the purpose of securing electrical connection only when the meter is out of the socket and is so formed that when the meter is installed in the socket, the slide covers the screws in the terminal block making the connection tamper-proof. The slide cannot be removed by ordinary means in either the open or closed position.

While I have described and illustrated a satisfactory device that has proven highly successful in practical operation, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to specific constructional details shown and described, but that many changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim:

1. An adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold in locked relations-hip an electric metering device, comprising a shell, meter-securing means mounted within said shell, a terminal block portion formed integrally with said shell having openings therein to receive electric wires and means for securing said wires in lock-ed relationship with said terminal block portion, a slidable member including a segment portion and a base portion adapted to be moved forward in said block to allow access to said wire-securing means in said terminal block and to be moved back to its normal or closed position in said block to cover said wire-securing means, said sliding segment portion forming a continuation of the shell wall of the adapter in its rearward or normal position, and the base thereof covering the wire securing means in said terminal block, and said base when the segment is in its forward position being removed from said securing means, allowing access thereto.

2. An adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold in locked relationship an electric metering device having securing means thereon, comprising a shell having a peripheral flange formed integral there with, clips mounted within said shell, electric contacts connecting said clip members, a terminal block formed integrally withsaid shell having barrels therein to receive electric wires and means to secure said wires in said barrels, a slidable member including a segment portion and a base portion integral therewith adapted to slide back and forth within said terminal block to allow access to and to cover said wire securing means, said meter securing means being in alignment with said securing clips in said shell so that when said electric wires in said barrels in said terminal block have been locked into place and said sliding segment is returned to its closed position, said meter may be lock-ed to said shell, said sliding segment portion forming a continuation of the shell wall of the adapter in its rearward or normal position, and the base thereof covering the wire securing means in said terminal block, and said base when the segment is in its forward position being removed from said securing means, allowing access thereto.

3. An adapter as set forth inclaim 2 in which the terminal block contains a plurality of barrels running longitudinally therethrough to receive electric wires, and a corresponding number of vertical openings leading into said barrels having securing means therein to hold said wires securely in said barrels.

4. A meter adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold in locked relationship an electric meten ing device having securing means thereon, comprising a shell or socket having a peripheral flange formed integral therewith, clip-mounting blocks having clips secured thereto mounted in said socket, a terminal block formed integrally with said socket having barrels therein to receive electric wires and means to secure said wires in said barrels, electric contact members connecting said clip mounting block and said barrels, a slidable member including a segment portion and a base portion integral therewith adapted to slide back and forth within said terminal block to allow access to and to cover said wire securing means, said meter securing means being in alignment with said securing clips in said shell or socket so that when said electric wires in said barrels in said terminal block have been locked into place and said sliding segment is returned to its closed position, said meter may be secured to said shell or socket by interlocking said meter-securing means and said clips in said shell or socket making said electrical connections tamper-proof, said sliding segment portion forming a continuation of the shell wall of the adapter in its rearward or normal position, and the base thereof covering the wire securing means in said terminal block, and said base when the segment is in its forward position being removed from said securing means, allowing access thereto.

5. An adapter as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the adapter shell is composed of reinforced plastic.

6. An adapter as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the terminal block and sliding member are composed of reinforced plastic.

7. An adapter as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the forward movement of the slide is limited by contact with certain of said clips within the adapter shell and forward movement is wholly prevented when the meter is in place Within the adapter.

8. An adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold in locked relationship an electric metering device such adapter comprising a shell, meter-securing means mounted within said shell, a terminal block portion formed integrally with said shell having openings therein to receive electric wires and means for securing said wires in locked relationship with said terminal block portion, a slidable member including a segment portion and a base portion adapted to be moved forward in said block to allow access to said wire-securing means in said terminal block and to be moved back to its normal or closed position in said block to cover said wire-securing means, said sliding segment portion forming a continuation of the shell wall of the adapter in its rearward or normal position, and the base thereof covering the wire securing means in said terminal block, and said base when the segment is in its forward position being removed from said securing means, allowing access thereto, said slide being prevented from forward movement into the shell of the wall of the metering device when the metering device is assembled with the adapter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,755 Reynolds May 16, 1944 2,691,693 Lewis Oct. 12, 1954 2,695,923 Lajeunesse Nov. 30, 1954 2,907,927 Fisher Oct. 6, 1959

Images