Electricity meter forms module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9921245-B2
Application number	US-201615197012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 1, 2015
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

An improved meter base assembly supports the various meter forms used in modern electrical energy distribution systems. The disclosed assembly combines a customized design for each meter form with a universal base used in a plurality of meter forms to create a meter base assembly that is optimized for best performance while maintaining a reduced part cost. In addition, the concept allows the meter terminals to be attached to the meter base assembly without any hardware, may reduce assembly errors, allows for simplified assembly that may be automated, and speeds up the creation of future meter designs.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An electrical energy meter base assembly, comprising:
a universal base comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of base openings shaped to receive a plurality of meter terminals and configured to enable the universal base to support a plurality of meter forms; and
a plurality of forms modules, each forms module of the forms modules adapted to support a specific meter form of the meter forms, a first one of the specific meter form is different from a second one of the specific meter form, wherein each forms module comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface comprising mechanical features to support meter components used in the specific meter form,
wherein a selected one of the forms modules is coupled to the universal base so that the forms module outer surface abuts the universal base inner surface.

2. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the universal base further comprises a plurality of base keys that project from the universal base inner surface and are positioned to one side of, and parallel to, a long axis of each of the base openings, each of the base keys being shaped to fit within a corresponding one of a plurality of keyhole slots in the forms module,
each forms module further comprising the keyhole slots, wherein each of the keyhole slots comprise a first opening shaped and positioned to receive a corresponding one of the base keys projecting from the universal base inner surface,
wherein the outer surface of the selected one of the forms modules abuts the inner surface of the universal base such that each of the base keys is disposed inside a respective one of the keyhole slots in the forms module.

3. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of keyhole slots of the forms module further comprise:
meter terminal keyhole slots adapted to retain the meter terminals used in the specific meter form, each of the meter terminals having notches on opposite edges thereof, the meter terminal keyhole slots each comprising the first opening configured to receive one of the meter terminals when one of the meter terminals is inserted into the first opening, and an adjacent narrower second opening shaped to receive the notches on the one of the meter terminals after the one of the meter terminals is moved laterally from the first opening into the second opening to prevent the one of the meter terminals from moving axially relative to the forms module, and
other keyhole slots, each of the other keyhole slots is not configured with the adjacent narrower second opening of the meter terminal keyhole slots,
the forms module further comprising terminal keys that project from the forms module outer surface and are positioned to one side of, and parallel to, the long axis of each the other keyhole slots, wherein each of the terminal keys is shaped to fit within a respective one of a first portion of the base openings in the universal base,
wherein the outer surface of the selected one of the forms modules abuts the inner surface of the universal base such that each of the terminal keys is disposed inside the respective one of the first portion of the base openings in the universal base, and each of the meter terminals is disposed inside a respective one of a second portion of the base openings in the universal base.

4. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the universal base and the forms module are each molded from a glass reinforced thermoplastic resin.

5. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is one of either Syndiotactic Polystyrene or Polybutylene Terephthalate.

6. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the forms module outer surface comprises grooves that are shaped and configured to accept voltage conductors of the meter components used in the specific meter form.

7. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the universal base further comprise universal base attachment features and each forms module further comprise forms module attachment features.

8. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the universal base attachment features comprise holes, and each forms module attachment features comprise posts, each of the posts project from the forms module outer surface and is shaped and located to fit within a corresponding one of the holes in the universal base.

9. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the selected one of the forms modules is attached to the universal base by heat staking each of the posts within the corresponding one of the holes.

10. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the selected one of the forms modules is attached to the universal base by ultrasonic welding each of the posts within the corresponding one of the holes.

11. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the selected one of the forms modules is attached to the universal base by ultrasonic staking each of the posts within the corresponding one of the holes.

12. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the selected one of the forms modules is attached to the universal base by using adhesive to retain each of the posts within the corresponding one of the holes.

13. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each forms module further comprises a hanger support feature configured to provide mechanical support for a meter hanger, and the universal base further comprises a hanger opening shaped to receive the hanger support feature, wherein the forms module outer surface at the hanger support feature substantially aligns with the universal base outer surface.

14. The electrical energy meter base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the forms module inner surface mechanical features consist only the mechanical features necessary to support the meter components used in the specific meter form.

15. An electrical energy meter base assembly, comprising:
a universal base configured to support a plurality of meter forms, the universal base defining an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the universal base comprising a plurality of terminal slots that extend from the universal base inner surface to the universal base outer surface, the universal base further comprising a base keys that project from the universal base inner surface and are positioned to one side of, and parallel to, a long axis of each of the terminal slots; and
a plurality of forms modules, each forms module of the forms modules configured to support a specific meter form of the meter forms, a first one of the specific meter form is different from a second one of the specific meter form, the specific meter form based on meter components utilized in the specific meter form, each forms module defining an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, each forms module comprising a plurality of keyhole slots that extend from the forms module inner surface to the forms module outer surface,
wherein a selected one of the form modules is coupled to the universal base so that the forms module outer surface abuts the universal base inner surface such that each of the base keys is disposed inside a respective one of the keyhole slots.

16. The electrical energy meter base assembly of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of keyhole slots of the forms m

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Loy Garry M

Classifications

• G01R22/065

  related to mechanical aspects · CPC title

• B29C65/08

  using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} · CPC title

• B29L2031/3481

  Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements · CPC title

• B29C65/606

  the rivets being integral with one of the parts to be joined, i.e. staking · CPC title

• B29C66/54

  Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles · CPC title