Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
  • H01H9/32—Insulating body insertable between contacts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
  • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
  • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
  • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
  • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
  • H01H50/56—Contact spring sets
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R11/00—Electromechanical arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. of consumption
  • G01R11/02—Constructional details

Definitions

• the present subject matter relates to switches. More specifically, the present subject matter relates to operating mechanisms that may be employed with spring type, contact carrying switches especially as may be employed to switch high current.
• AMR automated meter reading
• networks that provide metrology devices capable of tracking, storing, and reporting data on many aspects of meter operation and power consumption or generation.
• AMR automated meter reading
• a single residential electricity meter may also be configured to collect and transmit data relevant to other utility usage in a residential environment, including natural gas and water usage in addition to electrical usage. Such electricity meters are sometimes also referred to as revenue meters, watt-hour meters, and/or utility meters.
• the service disconnect circuit includes a self- contained switch mounted within the base portion of the metering unit.
• a service disconnect circuit can be found in U.S. Patent No. 7,130,722 (Soni), which concerns an adapter apparatus containing a disconnect switch.
• the adapter device is configured for placement between the meter and the meter socket so that neither the meter nor the socket has to be modified to accommodate the adapter.
• the high current circuit described herein as an exemplary environment in which the wedge, in accordance with present disclosure, may be employed, is a low material usage system comprised of components that integrally function as the current carrying conductors and the circuit interruption mechanics for an electricity meter.
• the high current switching device is configured to provide physical support for a flux-concentrating core so that when incorporated in a meter base, the flux- concentrating core is positioned to focus a flux field onto a Hall cell mounted on the metrology printed circuit board (PCB).
• the high current circuit elements correspond to a line side terminal assembly and a load side terminal assembly.
• the line side and load side terminal assemblies respectively may be electrically connected or separated by one or more contact pairs.
• four contact pairs may be provided with one contact of each of the four pairs positioned on a contact supporting bar coupled to the line side terminal assembly, and the other contact of each of the four pairs of contacts positioned on one end of one of four spring members. The other end of each of the four spring members is attached to the load side terminal.
• the spring members supporting contacts on one end thereof are provided in pairs such that current flowing from the line side terminal to the load side terminal is respectively divided into two sets of two parallel paths on each side of the contact supporting member.
• the switch formed by the plurality of contact pairs may be opened by forcing an insulative wedge, in accordance with present disclosure, between portions of the spring pairs to thereby separate the corresponding contacts, thereby interrupting any current flow through the high current circuit elements.
• Wedge devices constructed in accordance with the present disclosure may be provided singularly, or in pairs or in multiples in order to enable opening of plural power lines simultaneously.
• the wedges may be incorporated as a single actuator device and operated by a single operating device, for example a solenoid device, to simultaneously open both lines in a residential installation or plural phases (for example, the "A" and "C” phases) of a three phase installation.
• a single operating device for example a solenoid device
• the wedges themselves are contoured to maximize energy transfer from a magnetically latching solenoid to the springs. Such improvement results in a reduction on the requirements of total energy that must be provided from a solenoid driver circuit in order to accomplish a full solenoid stroke.
• Such contouring of the wedge contact separating surfaces results in reductions of requirements on capacitance, voltage, and series resistance, all of which relate to cost and material advantages.
• the wedge surfaces may be provided with plural sloped portions such that a first portion is provided with a relatively lower slope while a second portion is provided with a relatively higher slope.
• Such contouring also takes into consideration the differences in pulling capacity of fully extended solenoids versus those approaching the end of their travel paths.
• a further positive aspect of the presently disclosed wedge device is the provision of molded-in relief.
• Wedges in accordance with present technology, may be formed of, for example, molded plastic or other relatively soft insulating material.
• the springs on which the switch contacts are to be mounted are often formed by relatively hard stamped copper stock. Stamping of copper stock in such manner often results in sharp edges.
• Relieving (Le 1 , removing) selected portions of the wedge results in a spring that can not gouge the wedge because the relieved area is recessed from the wedge surface, in order to provide a space in which possible sharp edges may enter without hard to the wedge. This, in turn, decreases long term friction between the contact carrying spring and the wedge due to elimination of the possibility of the rough spring edges rubbing across the wedge. Relieving the wedge in such present manner, especially if done during the molding process, significantly reduces costs by eliminating any requirement for edge processing of the stamped copper stock forming the contact supporting spring.
• One present exemplary embodiment relates to a wedge shaped actuator device configured to provide separation of spring supported electrical contacts in an electrical switch.
• Such present embodiment preferably may comprise an insulated wedge configured with plural contoured sides to maximize transfer of energy from a drive solenoid to the contact carrying springs.
• portions of such wedge may be relieved to allow for uninhibited movement of such wedge over side surfaces of the contact carrying springs to avoid digging in from the side edges of such springs.
• such plural contoured sides of such sedge shaped actuator device may comprise plural sloped portions such that a first portion is provided with a relatively lower slope while a second portion is provided with a relatively higher slope.
• a present wedge shaped actuator device may further include a plurality of such insulated wedges, configured to simultaneously and respectively separate multiple contacts.
• such insulated wedge may have a generally Y-shaped cross-section and/or such insulated wedge may comprise molded plastic.
• Various present embodiments may include various combinations, for example, further including a drive solenoid associated with such insulated wedge, and directly integrated with a high current switching circuit within a utility meter.
• Another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter relates to a utility meter having a service disconnect switch integrated into the base thereof.
• such meter may comprise a metrology board; a base integrally including high current circuit elements corresponding to a line side terminal assembly and a load side terminal assembly, each respectively configured for insertion into a utility meter socket; contacts associated with such line side terminal assembly; at least two pairs of spring elements respectively connected at one end thereof to the meter load terminal, with the opposite ends of such spring elements carrying contacts configured for cooperation with such line side terminal assembly contacts, so as to form contact pairs of a switch; a solenoid having a movable actuator; and an insulative wedge configured to be moved by such movable actuator for travel between portions of the spring element pairs to thereby separate corresponding contact pairs, for interrupting any current flow through such high current circuit elements.
• Such insulative wedge preferably may have plural contoured sides which comprise plural sloped portions such that a first portion is provided with a relatively lower slope while a second portion is provided with a relatively higher slope, for maximizing transfer of energy from such solenoid to such contact carrying springs.
• such an exemplary utility meter may further include at least two pairs of such contact pairs; and at least a pair of such wedges respectively associated with such movable actuator and configured so as to respectively separate such contact pairs.
• such insulative wedge may comprise molded plastic, with portions thereof relieved to allow for uninhibited movement of such wedge over side surfaces of the contact carrying springs to avoid digging in from the side edges of such springs. Still further, such insulative wedge in certain instances may include a Y-shaped cross-section.
• One exemplary method relates to providing a utility meter with a service disconnect switch integrated into the base thereof, including providing a meter having a metrology board; a base integrally including high current circuit elements corresponding to a line side terminal assembly and a load side terminal assembly, each respectively configured for insertion into a utility meter socket; contacts associated with such line side terminal assembly; at least two pairs of spring elements respectively connected at one end thereof to the meter load terminal, with the opposite ends of such spring elements carrying contacts configured for cooperation with such line side terminal assembly contacts, so as to form contact pairs of a switch; a solenoid having a movable actuator; and an insulative wedge configured to be moved by such movable actuator for travel between portions of the spring element pairs to thereby separate corresponding contact pairs, for interrupting any current flow through such high current circuit elements.
• Such method preferably further includes forming such insulative wedge with plural contoured sides which comprise plural sloped portions such that a first portion is provided with a relatively lower slope while a second portion is provided with a relatively higher slope, with such slopes selected so as to maximize transfer of energy from such solenoid to such contact carrying springs based on drive characteristics of such solenoid.
• present methodologies may further include providing such meter with at least two pairs of such contact pairs; and providing at least a pair of such wedges respectively associated with such movable actuator and configured so as to respectively separate such contact pairs.
• such insulative wedge may be formed of molded plastic, with portions thereof relieved to allow for uninhibited movement of such wedge over side surfaces of the contact carrying springs to avoid digging in from the side edges of such springs.
• such insulative wedge may be formed with a Y-shaped cross-section.
• Figure 1 illustrates an oblique top and side view of an exemplary dual wedge, wedge/actuator in accordance with present technology
• Figure 2 illustrates a central line cross-section of an exemplary present wedge/actuator, taken along section line 2-2 of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 illustrates in cross-section an enlarged view of one exemplary wedge of the present exemplary dual wedge, wedge actuator, and more fully illustrates the dual slope aspects of such present exemplary wedge;
• Figure 4 illustrates and represents present exemplary methodology for using a wedge/actuator in accordance with present technology, in order to simultaneously separate multiple contacts in combination with a pair of high current metrology switches;
• Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary dual wedge, wedge/actuator in accordance with present technology in use with a pair of mechanical current circuit elements fully integrated within an exemplary and representative meter assembly.
• the present subject matter is particularly concerned with the provision of wedge shaped switch operating apparatus that may be physical integrated with, among other switch types, high current switch devices integrated into an electricity meter.
• various meter types which may be used in the context of the present subject matter, which have been variously referred to as electricity meters, utility meters, revenue meters, watt-hour meters, and similar such designations.
• all such names are meant to designate a device used to measure consumption or generation of energy, more specifically, electrical energy, and may be used herein interchangeably and, in some instances, may simply be referred to as a meter.
• Figure 1 illustrates an oblique top and side view of an exemplary dual wedge, wedge/actuator generally 100 in accordance with present technology prior to integration within a meter assembly.
• wedge/actuator 100 corresponds to a top cross member 110 having end portions 112, 114 supporting generally Y-shaped cross-sectioned wedges 122, 124 by way of extension tabs 132, 134 and 136, 138, respectively.
• wedges 122, 124 are positioned such that an open space 142 is provided between end portion 114 and wedge 124.
• a similar open space (unnumbered) is provided between end portion 112 and wedge 122.
• Wedge/actuator 100 is also provided with an extension portion 116 that acts an a guide in cooperation with corresponding portions of a meter base as will be explained further below with reference to Figure 5.
• Figure 2 illustrates a central line cross-section of the present exemplary wedge/actuator taken along section line 2-2 of Figure 1.
• wedges 122, 124 of exemplary wedge/actuator 100 are generally Y-shaped in cross-section to increase efficiency of the transfer of energy from a wedge/actuator driving device, for example a solenoid, to the spring elements supporting make and break contacts that permit or interrupt, respectively, the flow of current thorough the switch.
• a wedge/actuator driving device for example a solenoid
• wedge 122 has been relieved in areas 154, 156, 158 as well as in matching areas on the hidden opposite side of wedge 122
• wedge 124 has been relieved in areas 144, 146, 148 as well as in matching areas on the hidden opposite side of wedge 124.
• relieving is meant to mean that material has been selectively removed from the wedge, or actually never provided if the wedges are molded, to allow uninhibited movement of a stamped spring element over the surface of the spring so that any rough side edges of such stamped spring elements are not permitted to dig into the surface of the wedges 122, 124.
• FIG. 3 there is illustrated in cross-section an enlarged view of present exemplary wedge 124 of the subject present dual wedge, wedge actuator 100, more fully illustrating the dual slope aspects of such present exemplary wedge.
• two differently sloped regions 162, 164 are provided on each side of wedge 124.
• a similar configuration is provided for wedge 122 and for any other of plural wedges as may be provided for any wedge/actuator 100 in accordance with present technology.
• Such differing slopes or contours maximize energy transfer from, for example, a magnetically latching solenoid switch operating drive element to the contact carrying springs of the switch.
• FIG. 4 an assembly of a pair of mechanical current circuit elements 400, 400' as may be employed in an exemplary meter device to switch current flow on and off by automatic and/or remote control in, for example, a residential utility meter.
• An exemplary solenoid 402 is provided to operate wedge/actuator 100 in accordance with present technology.
• the pair of mechanical current circuit elements 400, 400' may include a switch portion 444, 444' corresponding to a group of four contact carrying spring elements secured in pairs to each side of terminals 412, 412' of a metrology device, for example, a residential utility meter.
• the contacts carried by the spring elements of the switch portion 444, 444' may be forced away from corresponding contacts carried by a conductive support element 418, 418' by operation of wedges 122, 124 respectively upon operation of solenoid 402 in conjunction with movement of wedge/actuator 100 in the direction of arrow 410 upon energization of solenoid 402.
• wedge/actuator 100 in accordance with present technology as a portion of the switch operating elements of a pair of mechanical current circuit elements 400, 400' integrated into an exemplary representative utility meter base generally 500.
• wedge/actuator 100 includes a guide portion 116 configured to cooperate with elements 516, 518 incorporated into meter base 500.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Electromagnets (AREA)
• Measurement Of Current Or Voltage (AREA)
• Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
• Connecting Device With Holders (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-05-29 MX MX2010013150A patent/MX2010013150A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2009-05-29 WO PCT/US2009/045555 patent/WO2009146394A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-05-29 EP EP09755755.7A patent/EP2304754A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-05-29 MX MX2010013149A patent/MX2010013149A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2009-05-29 WO PCT/US2009/045554 patent/WO2009146393A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-05-29 EP EP09755754.0A patent/EP2301122B1/de active Active

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