MXPA98010366A - Supply connector bars for middle center - Google Patents

Abstract

Angle members forming the vertically extending supply connector bars (29) in a meter center (1) have arcuate displacements (39) such that flanges (67) at the ends of horizontally extending tenant connector bars (59) forming tenant blade contacts (71) that are vertically aligned with supply blade contacts (43) in straight sections (41) of the outwardly projecting flanges (31) of the supply rod connector (29) members . Meter plug assemblies (15) have meter jaws without double-ended bracket (121), one pair (121-1) of which is inserted into the supply rod connector contacts (43) and another pair ( 121-2) from which it is inserted into tenant connector bar blade contacts (71), and into which the meters (11) are inserted. The double-ended, non-fastener gauge jaws (121) are fabricated from flat, elongate members (123) having end sections (127) bent into and diverging from straight center sections (125), and end sections (12). ) that extend toward each other from the end sections (127) and converge slightly toward the center sections (125). Spring pins (131) grasp the end sections (129) of the pair of elongated members to form the double-ended, non-fastener gauge jaws (121). The center sections (125) of the jaws (121) have laterally displaced offset lengths (141) which adjust toward and lock the jaws (121) in openings (137) in a plug plate (13).

Description

SUPPLY CODE BARS FOR MEASURING CENTER Background of the Invention Field of the Invention This invention relates to electric power distribution systems, and more particularly to meter centers in which the energy delivered to multiple users is measured separately. Specifically, it refers to the supply connection bars which are connected to the power supply connection busbars of the power distribution system and to which the meters are connected. Background Information Metering centers are used to measure the electrical energy delivered to multiple tenants from a common feeder system. Typically, the meter center includes an upright cabinet that forms a housing divided into meter compartments and disconnect switch side by side. Feeder feeder bars, typically three-phase and one neutral connecting bars connected to the power supply company lines, extend horizontally through the back of the cabinet. The meter compartment has a pair of vertical supply connecting bars, connected to a selected pair of feeder phase connecting bars by means of phase balancers, so called because connections with selected phases can be made to generally balance the current busbar feeder phase. Vertical or supply connector bars may include a neutral connector bar if the meters have a neutral connection. A pair of tenant connector bars for each measured circuit extend horizontally from the disconnect switch compartment to the meter compartment. A meter plug mounts a meter in the meter compartment for each tenant circuit and electrically connects the meter to the supply connector bars and the tenant connector bars. Electrical connections commonly used in the meter plug include jaws that are inserted, single ended, which are linked by blades in the meter. The connectors that incorporate the jaws that are inserted are bolted to the plug plate and either to a supply connector bar or a tenant connector bar. The four connectors that conduct energy have a total of about 20 connections bolted in the current path. Such connections require manpower to complete and are subject to heating if they become loose. Providing adequate free space between and routing for vertically spaced, orthogonally oriented, closely spaced connecting bars and tenants presents additional challenges in the design of measuring centers. Furthermore, adequate support must be provided for the plug and the connecting bars to withstand the forces applied during installation and removal of the meter, particularly to prevent the connecting bars from shorting. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved gauging center that eliminates current carrying joints that require fasteners that may loosen between the gauges and the supply and tenant connecting rods. There is also a need for such an improved meter center that reduces the labor required to install and remove the meter plugs. There is an additional need for such a meter center in which the components are held firmly to prevent displacement during installation and removal of the plug assemblies and meters. There is a more particular need for connecting rods for gauging centers that can be used with clampless jaws, which are fitted by pin, to make electrical and mechanical connections to the connecting rods. There is a further need for such connecting bars adapted for use with non-fastener jaws, which are pin-fit, which are sturdy but which are easily manufactured and supported. There is an additional need for supply connector bars that accommodate jaws without a bra, which are adjusted per pin, for tenant connector bars as well. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other needs are met by the invention, which is directed to supply connecting bars for supplying electric power through meters that are inserted into a plurality of sets of tenant connector bars in the meter center. The connecting rods of the invention comprise elongate angle members, formed by first and second orthogonal flanges having a common edge, the first flanges serving as supply rod connector contacts for meters that are inserted into spicy places therein. Preferably, the first flange is tapered towards a free edge to form the supply connector bar blade contacts in the spaced locations. Preferably, the elongated members comprising the supply connecting rods have straight sections alternating with laterally displaced sections. Preferably, the spaced locations serving as supply rod connector contacts are located in straight sections of the first flanges. Also preferably, these laterally displaced sections are displaced in the plane of the second flanges and are generally arched. Where the supply rod-bar blade contacts are located in the straight sections of the elongated members, the displaced sections accommodate tenter connector bars that extend generally transversely to the straight sections of the elongated members and ending in terminal tabs forming tenant blade contacts. The displaced sections are laterally offset by a magnitude that accommodates for alignment of the tenant blade contacts with the supply rod connector contacts in the straight sections of the first flanges of the elongated members. Where supply connector bars are used with a meter center having feeder feeder bars with phase balancers, the second flanges have means connectors connecting the second flanges to a selected feeder bus through a phase balancer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a center meter according to the invention shown, with one of the meters removed. Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the upper part of the measuring center of Figure 1, with the front covers removed. Figure 3 is a horizontal view in sections through the measuring center, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, through the measuring center, taken at along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is an isometric view of a supply connecting rod that is part of the measuring center. Figure 5A is a fragmentary view in sections through an integral blade contact formed in the supply connecting rod. Figure 6 is an isometric view of the rear tenant connector bar of the measuring center. Figure 7 is an isometric view of a front tenant connector bar. Figure 8 is an isometric view of a molded base insulator which forms part of the modular insulating supports for the supply and tenant connector bars. Figure 9 is an isometric view of two additional modular units of the modular insulating supports. Figure 10 is an isometric view of yet another one of the units of the modular insulating supports. Figure 11 is an elevational view with some sectioned parts showing the units of figures 8 and 9 underlined. Figure 12 is a front elevational view with some parts in section of a support formed by enclosing the units of Figures 8 and 10. Figure 13 is a side elevational view of an elongated member formed that forms part of a jaw that is Insert without bra, double end, according to the invention. Fig. 14 is a rear elevational view of the elongated member of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the elongated member of Figs. 13 and 14. Fig. 16 is a front elevational view of a jaw that is double end insert formed from two of the elongated members of figures 13-15. Figure 17 is a top plan view of a plug assembly incorporating three of the double-ended, non-fastener-inserted jaws shown in Figure 16. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the plug assembly, taken along line 18-18 of Figure 17. Figure 19 is an isometric view of an insulating support of a set of supports according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 20 is an isometric view of a second insulator support of the assembly. Figure 21 is an isometric view of a third insulating support of the assembly. Figure 22 is a top plan view of a tip shunt according to the invention. Figure 23 is a side elevational view of the tip shunt of Figure 22. Figure 24 is a plan view of a plug assembly including tip shunts of the type shown in Figures 22 and 23. Figure 25 is a side elevational view of the plug assembly of Figure 24. Description of Preferred Embodiments With reference to Figures 1-4, the meter center 1 of the invention includes a cabinet 3 which forms a housing having a wall internal longitudinal 5, which divides the housing into a meter compartment 7 and a disconnect switch compartment 9. Mounted in the meter compartment 7 in a manner to be described below are several meters 11, one for each tenant circuit that measure yourself Each tenant circuit is provided with a disconnect switch 13, which may be a circuit breaker mounted in the disconnect switch compartment 9. The meters 11 are held and electrically connected by pin assemblies 15. Although the exemplary meter center accommodates Four tenant circuits, each served by its own meter, it can be seen that the invention is applicable to meter centers that service other numbers of tenant circuits. Power is supplied to the meter center 1 by means of feeder busbars 17 connected to an energy distribution system (not shown) of the electricity supply company. In the exemplary measuring center, the feeder connecting bars include three phase-connecting bars 17A-17C and one neutral connecting rod 17N. These feeder feeder bars 17 extend horizontally through the cabinet 3 and are mounted on a rear wall 19 by means of vertically extending, spaced insulating supports 21. Each of the feeder connecting bars 17 includes two 17x copper connecting rods. and 172. The connecting rod 17x is displaced at one end 23x and projects beyond the cabinet 3 at the other end 232. The end 232 extends towards the space between the displaced end 23x and an adjacent measuring center (not shown) and it is grasped by a bolt 25 to connect the feeder connecting bars of the measuring centers side by side. Vertically extending within the meter compartment 7 is a set of supply connecting rods 27 comprising a pair of laterally spaced connecting rods 29 in the form of elongated angle members having a first flange 31 and a second orthogonal flange 33 integrally joined along a common edge 35 (see also figure 5). The pair of supply connecting bars 29 is held in spaced relationship with the second flanges 33 in a common plane by means of modular insulating supports 37 which will be described in detail. These supply connecting bars 29 have offset sections 39 which preferably extend laterally in a direction parallel to the common plane formed by the second flanges 33 for a purpose to be described. Also preferably, these displaced sections 39 are arched. Between the displaced sections 39 of the supply connecting bars 29 are straight sections 41 extending in a first direction (vertically). In spaced along the first flanges 31 of the connecting rods supply 29 places are contact blade connecting rod supply, integral, 43 which are formed by chamfering the free or linkage 45 of the flanges 31 edges (see Figure 5A ). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, these supply rod connector contacts 43 are formed in the straight sections 41 of the flanges 31. The supply connecting bars 29 are electrically connected, each one, to one of the feeding connecting bars 17 by phase balancers 47. In the example, the left supply connecting rod 29L is connected to the phase feeder connecting rod A 17A by the phase balancer 47A, which is formed by a cylindrical sleeve 9 and a pin 51. The other connecting rod supply 29R is electrically connected to the phase B feeder connecting rod 17B by phase balancer 47B, which includes a Z-member 53 and bolts 55. Adjacent measuring centers (not shown) can be connected by means of similar connections to other combinations of feeder feeder bars 17A-17C to balance the phase currents in feeder feeder bars. Each of the tenant circuits for which the meter center 1 provides measured energy has a set of tenant connector bars, each of which includes a front tenant connector bar 59F and a rear tenant connector bar 59R. The buss bars tenants 59F and 59R are stacked in parallel to the common plane formed by the second flanges 33 of the connecting rods supply 29 and extend horizontally towards the compartment meter 7 from the compartment disconnect switch 9 through planes the wall 5. In the exemplary meter center 1, each set of tenant connector bars 59 is aligned with a shifted section 39 of the supply connector bars 29. Each of the tenant connector bars 59 comprises an elongated planar member. As best seen in Figures 3 and 6, the rear tenter connector bar 59R has a main section 61R, which extends behind the right supply connecting rod 29R and then extends angularly forward at 63R to a point in front from tab 33 on the left supply connector bar 29L. It then extends horizontally at 65R and terminates at a forward facing terminal flange 67R. This terminal flange 67R has a linking edge 69R extending in the first direction (vertically), which forms an integral tenant knife contact 71R. As can be seen from Figure 2, the tenant blade contact 71R projects to the displacement 39 on the left supply connecting rod 29L and is aligned in the first direction (vertically) with the supply connector bar blade contact 43 in the connector bar 29L. Similarly, the front tenant connector bars 59F, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, are each flat members having a main section 61F extending through the wall 5, a shifted section 63F which is angled backward, a horizontal section 65F and a terminal flange 67F forming on a linking edge 69F the tenant blade contact 71F which is aligned in the displaced section 39 with the corresponding supply rod-connector blade contact 43 in the displacement in the supply rod right 29R. The tenant supply connector bars 59 are stiffened by a longitudinally extending spine 73. The ends 75F and 75R of the tenant connector bars within the disconnect switch compartment 9 are supported on a molded clamp 77 and form blade contacts. for the disconnect switches 13. Figure 4 illustrates a modification of the tenant connector bars 59, where the disconnect switch blade 75 is replaced by bolts 79 for threaded connection with the disconnect switch. It can be seen that the displaced sections 39 of the supply connecting bars 29 allow the tenter knife contacts 71 to be aligned with the supply connector bar blade contacts 43. Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention the blade contacts of the supply connecting rod 43 are located in the straight sections 41 of the forwardly projecting flanges 31 of the supply connecting bars 29, and the supply blade contacts project towards the lateral displacements 39, it can be seen that the tenant blade contacts would project towards straight sections 41 of the supply connecting bars 29 but would be aligned with the displaced supply connecting rod blades. Other arrangements of the supply and tenant connector bars may also be used. For example, the first tabs on the supply connector bars do not need to be continuous, but can only be provided at the locations of the supply connector rod blade contacts. However, the continuous flange 31 is preferred because it provides increased rigidity for the supply connecting rods 29. As mentioned, the supply connecting rods 29 and the tenant connector rods 59 are supported, at least in part, by modular insulating supports 37 The components of these modular insulating supports 37 are shown in Figures 8-10. A base support member 79 is shown in Figure 8. This base support member 79 has an elongated erect body 81 and an integral mounting flange 83 with an opening 85 for a mounting screw (not shown). The body 81 has a pair of longitudinal perforations 87 which are counter-perforated from the lower part to form shoulders 88. The body 81 also has a pair of blind perforations 89 in the upper part. Figure 9 illustrates two additional modular pieces 91 and 93, which are part of the modular insulating supports 37. The member 91 is a separator having a counter-perforated aperture 87 and a single blind perforation 89. The separator 91 also has a a pair of deformable, multi-pointed, integral fingers 95 projecting axially and having beveled trimmed heads 97. The cap member 93 has a lower mounting face 99 with a stepped downward section 101. The lid also has one of the fingers deformable multi-point, integral 95 on the mounting face 99. There is also a positioning pin 103 projecting from the mounting face 99. Figure 10 shows still another modular insulating support member 105. This part 105 also has a lower mounting face 107 with a stepped, two-level downward section 109 adjacent to one end. A deformable, multi-pronged finger, integral 95 and a locating pin 103 project from the lower mounting face 107. The part 105 also has at one end a stepped groove 111. In addition, extending inwardly from the opposite end of the part. 105 is an angled groove 113. Between the angled groove 113 and the mounting face 107 is a groove 115 in the side face of the modular support member 105, which provides a suitable pulling distance on the surface of the insulator. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate how the modular parts 79, 91, 93 and 105 can be interlocked to form insulating supports with different configurations. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the separator 91 can be interlocked with the base member 79 by inserting the multi-pronged deformable fingers 95 into the separator 91 toward the counter-perforated perforation 87 in the base member. The deformable fingers 95 are tightened together when the beveled heads 97 are inserted in the perforations 87 and then expanded by linking the shoulder cutting heads 88 to encircle the separator 91 and the base member 79. The single multi-pronged deformable finger 95 in the cap member 93 then it links with the single perforation 87 in the upper part of the separator 91 to lock the cap member 93 to the separator. The locating pin 103 in the cap member 93 links the blind perforation 89 in the upper part of the separator, which prevents rotation of the cap member around the finger 95. It can be seen from FIG. 11 that the section stepped down 101 in the cap member 93 forms with the separator 91 a slit 117. As shown in Figure 12, the support member 105 can be similarly locked to a base member 79 by means of a finger 95 and the pin 103 so that the step 109 in the member 105 forms with the upper part of the base member 79 a stepped groove 119. Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that a modular insulating support 37lf formed by enclosing a base member 79 and a unit 105, holds the rear tenter connector bar 59R in the groove 119 formed between the components 79 and 105 and the bar front tenter connector 59F in the groove 111. The arcuate offset section 41 of the right supply connecting rod 29R is linked by the angular groove 113. In this particular support 37x, the base is secured to the rear wall 19 of the compartment. A similarly shaped modular support 372, also mounted on the rear wall 19, holds the front tenant connector bar 59F in the slit 111 and the displaced section 39 of the left supply connecting rod 29L in the angled slot 113. As will be appreciated, the steps in the slots 111 and 119 accommodate the ribs 73 in the tenant connector bars. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the upper set of tenter connector bars is in line with the feeder connecting bars 17B, so that the supports 37 for these connecting rods can not be secured to the rear wall 19. Consequently, as shown in FIG. Figure 4, Modular Supports 373 and 374 have a modified base member 79 'that includes a shorter body section 81'. This shorter base member 79 'is in all other respects the same as the base member 79. The base members 79' are secured to the feeder connector bars 17B with the support 373 linking the tenant connector bars 59R and 59F and the supply rod right 29R similar to that of support 37x. Similarly, the unit 105 on the support 374 holds the rear tenant connector bar 59R and the left supply connector bar 29L in the same way as the support 372, except that the base member 79 'is secured back to the connecting rod of phase B 17B. The upper ends of the supply connecting rods 29 are supported in the modular supports 375 and 376 (see Figure 2), which are configured as shown in Figure 11, with the flanges 33 of the supply connecting rods linked in the hendidu. 117. The bases of these modular supports 375 and 376 are secured to the rear wall 19 of the cabinet 3. Modular supports similar to 37x and 372 can be used to hold additional sets of tenant connector bars 59 and in those places also the connector bars of supply. The supports 377 and 378 comprise a base unit 79 and a spacer 91 with a self-tapping screw 92 which links the bore 87 in the spacer to secure the flanges 33 to the supply connecting rods 29. As previously described, a set of meter plug 15 is provided in each set of tenant connector bars 59 for mounting a meter 11 that electrically connects the tenant connector bars to the supply connector bars 29. One of the unique characteristics of the meter plug assemblies 15 is that they can be inserted into the supply connector bars 29 and tenants 59 while also providing connections that are inserted for the meters. This feature is provided primarily by the double-ended, non-fastener gauge jaws 121, which are shown in Figure 16. Each of the gauge jaws 121 includes a pair of elongated, electrically conductive, flat members 123 (see figures 13). -fifteen). These flat members 123 each have a generally straight central section 125 and end sections 127 at each end, which are bent backwards but diverge from the central section. Terminal sections 129 generally extend from each other from the end sections. The end sections 129 of the pair of elongated members 123 are gripped together in deformable confrontational relationship by a pair of spring pins 131. As shown in Fig. 16, the end sections 127 form a guide that centers the jaw in a blade contact such as the connector bar blade contact 43 which is then wedged between the end sections. As seen in Figure 13, the end sections preferably converge inward toward the center section 125 of the elongated planar members 123 at an angle. When a blade contact, such as 43, wedges the terminal sections 129 apart, the center section 125 of the flat elongate members 123 is bent outwardly. This rotates the terminal sections 129 inwardly with each other. The angle is selected such that with this rotation, the terminal sections 129 are parallel to the sides of the blade 43, thereby reducing the pressure of pulling the meter outward while maintaining a better electrical contact. Typically, this angle a may be between about two and five degrees and in exemplary meter jaws it is about three degrees. The double-ended, non-clamped meter jaws 121 are mounted on an electrically insulating plug plate 133 of the pin assembly 15, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The plug plate 133 has two 135x and 1352 pairs of openings. rectangular crossings 137. The openings of each pair 135 are aligned laterally and the corresponding openings in the two pairs are aligned vertically. Returning to Figures 13-16, the elongated, flat members 123 of the meter jaws 121 have pairs 139 of confrontation tabs 141 bent out of the plane of the center section 125. Preferably, such pairs 139 of tabs 141 are provided to along each lateral edge 143 of the flat elongated members 123. The spacing, a, between the confrontation tabs 141 is slightly smaller, but in no case greater than the thickness, t, of the plug plate 133 (see figures 13). and 18). The jaws 121 are mounted in the openings 137 by pushing one end of the jaw toward the opening. The cam surface provided by the tabs 141 adjacent to that end of the jaw tighten the elongated, flat members 123 together until those tabs pass through the opening 137 and the central sections 125 spring outwardly so that the confrontation tabs of each pair 139 link the first and second surfaces 145x and 1452 of the plug plate 133, and thereby clamp the jaws 121 in the openings 137 without the use of fasteners. By "fasteners" is meant devices such as screws and the like which require tightening to engage and which can be loosened. The central sections 125 of the elongated, flat members 123 have side extensions 147 projecting outward from the pairs of tabs 139. These side extensions link slits 149 in the corners of the openings 137. A slight space 151 is provided between the projections. sidebars 147 and the ends of the tabs 141 so that the tabs can pass through the opening and spring outwards to align the side projections 147 with the slits 149. Referring to FIG. 2, the pin assembly 15 it is assembled by aligning the pair of meter jaws 1212, with the tenant knife contacts 71R and 71F of the selected tenant circuit. In a similar manner, the pair of meter jaws 121j is aligned with the connector bar blade contacts 43 associated with the selected dwelling circuit. Pressure is then applied to the plug plate 133 to force the meter jaws to be engaged with the corresponding blade contacts. The modular supports 37 play an important role at this point in providing stable support for the supply connector bars 29 and tenants 59 so that the connector bars remain firmly in place while the pin assembly 15 is being linked. It is especially important that the connector bars 29, 59 are not diverted to the point where there may be a short circuit. The pin assembly 15 is held in place by fasteners 153 that link openings 155 and clamps 157 mounted in the cabinet. Where required, a neutral connection for the meter plug is also provided. In such cases, a neutral supply connector bar 159 extends vertically between the supply phase connector bars 29R and 29L. As shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the neutral supply connecting rod 159 is mechanically supported by and electrically connected to the neutral feeder connector bar 17N by means of a connector 161. As can be seen from figures 3, 17 and 18, the plug plates 133 have vertically extending slits 163 and 165 on each face 145x, 1452. The neutral bar 159 is secured in the slot 165 in the rear faces 1452 of each of the plug plates 133. by means of fasteners 167 extending through openings 169 in the plug plate. The pin plates 133 also have housings horizontally housed 171 intersecting the vertical slits 163. As shown in Fig. 2, a jaw without a single-ended fastener 173 is seated in the horizontal slit 171 on the front face of the plate. pin 133 by means of a fastener 175. The single-ended neutral jaw 173 is aligned with the left-handed and double-ended supply jaws, tenant, but rotated 90 °. A connector 177 seated in the rear horizontal slot 171 electrically connects the neutral jaw 173 with the neutral connecting rod 159. Alternatively, the neutral jaw 173 may extend to the right in the slot 171, or up or down in the Slit 163, depending on the orientation of the neutral blade on the meter to be used. Although fasteners of the prior art are used in the exemplary embodiment of the invention for neutral connections, the neutral currents are typically low and therefore do not generate the same concerns as the fasteners in the phase current paths. Referring to Figure 1, the meters 11 have a pair of supply blades 179 that link the pair of meter jaws 121x in the plug assembly 15 connected to the supply connector bars 29, a pair of meter-occupancy blades 181 connecting the tenant meter jaws 1212 in the plug assembly, and a horizontally oriented neutral blade 183 that links the neutral jaw 173. The blades 179, 181 and 183 not only electrically connect the meter between the supply connecting bars 29 and tenants 59, but also mechanically hold meter 11 in place. The meter 11 sits on a support ring 185, which is formed in a faceplate 187 mounted to the brackets 157 through displaced platforms 189 by means of fasteners 191 that also pass through the plug plates 133 (see FIG. 3). ). The modular brackets 37 also provide stability for the supply connector bars 29 and tenants 59 when the meters 11 are being inserted and removed. An alternative form of insulating supports is illustrated in Figures 19-21. In this embodiment of the invention, three separate insulating supports 193, 195 and 197 are each molded as one piece. Each of these supports may have a flattened erect member 199 limited around its edges by a flange 201 that gives the supports an I-beam construction that provides strength and rigidity. This tab tabs at 203 to link a base 205 having a notch 207 for a fastener to secure the support within the closure or to the feeder connector bar. The base 205 'on the shorter support 195 extends laterally from both sides of the flattened member 199 to provide a more stable base. The edge tab 201 tapers outward on both sides 203 and 203 'to join this wider base. The one piece holder 193 has a pair of stepped grooves 111 'and 119' on one side, corresponding to and spaced the same distance as the slits 111 and 119 in the modular support shown in Figure 112. A slit 113 'extends at an angle through the other side of the flattened member and corresponds to the slit 113. The tab of edge 201 is continuous around the edges of slits 111 ', 113' and 119 '. The one-piece support 193 is similar in height and can be used in place of the supports 37x and 372 shown in Figure 3, which comprise a set including the high base module 79 of Figure 8, and the member 105 shown in figure 10, which jointly make the support shown in figure 12. The one-piece support 195 shown in the figure 29 may be used in place of the supports 373 and 374 shown in Figure 4, which are made of a short base member 79 'and the modular unit 105. This support also has stepped grooves 111' and 119 'in addition to a slit. 113 'to hold the tenant and supply connector bars. Rather than having a slit such as 207 in the mounting base, the support 195 has a staple 208 in a cylindrical male 210 towards which a fastener (not shown) is threaded from below. The one-piece holder 197 shown in Figure 21 can be used in place of the supports 377 and 378 shown in Figure 2. A cylindrical section 209 accommodates a bore 211 in the upper face, which receives the mounting screw 92. As the bases 205 have a notch 207 for only one fastener, a pin 214 is molded in the lower part of the supports 193, 195 and 197 to fix the supports rotationally. It is often desirable to remove a meter 11 without interrupting the power to the tenant connector bars. Tip drifts 213 provided for this purpose are shown in Figures 22 and 23. The tip bypass member 213 is a deformable, electrically conductive U-shaped member having a pair of legs 215. Legs 215 have a parallel Z-shaped configuration with terminal sections 215T extending between elongate, deformable members 123 of the double-ended, non-fastener gauge jaws 121. The central sections 215C of the legs seat on the plug plate 133 and are formed with semi-recesses. circular pieces 217 through which a fastener 219 passes to firmly secure the tip bypass. The U-shaped section 215U of the tip shunt extends upward at an angle of approximately 45 ° from the plug plate for connection of a jumper wire (not shown). As shown in Figs. 24 and 25, tip taps 213 are provided in each of the double-ended, non-fastened gauge jaws 121. The terminal sections of the legs 215T are pressed together and inserted between the members. 123 of the clamp jaws without fastener 121. When released, the legs wedge outwardly to make electrical contact and mechanical linkage with the limbs 123. The fasteners 219 only prevent the tip leads from being accidentally pulled out of engagement with the limbs. 123. Before removing a meter, a switch (not shown) is connected between the jaw 121 (upper left in figure 24) connected to the supply connecting bar 29L and the jaw 121 (lower left) connected to the bar rear tenant connector 59R. Another switch (also not shown) is connected between the jaws 121 connected to the supply connecting rod 29R (upper right) and the tenant connecting rod 59F (lower right). These tip shunts also provide electrical connections without a clamp in the current path. The screws 219 only mount the tip leads 213 and are not in the current path. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details may be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangement disclosed is only illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention, to which the full scope of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof must be given.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS 1. Supply connector bars for supplying electrical power through meters that are inserted into a plurality of sets of tenant connector bars in a meter center, said supply connector bars comprising elongated angle members formed by first and second orthogonal tabs having a common edge, said first flanges serving as supply rod connector contacts for said meters which are inserted at spaced locations along them. The supply connecting rods of claim 1, wherein said first flange is tapered toward a free edge to form said supply connector bar contacts at said spaced locations. 3. The supply connecting rods of claim 1, wherein said elongate members have straight sections and laterally offset sections between said straight sections. 4. The supply connecting rods of claim 3, wherein said spaced locations serving as supply rod connector contacts are located in said straight sections of said first flanges. The supply connector bars of claim 4, wherein said first flange is tapered toward a free edge to form said supply connector bar contacts at said spaced locations. The supply connecting rods of claim 3, wherein said laterally displaced sections are offset in a plane of said second flange. The supply connecting rods of claim 6, wherein said spaced locations serving as supply rod connector contacts are located in said straight sections. 8. The supply connecting rods of claim 6, wherein said laterally displaced sections are generally arched. The supply connecting rods of claim 8, wherein said spaced locations serving as supply rod connector contacts are located in said straight sections. The supply connecting rods of claim 9, adapted for tenant connector bars generally extending transverse to said straight sections of said elongated members and terminating in terminal tabs forming tenant blade contacts, wherein said displaced sections of said elongate members are laterally offset by a magnitude to accommodate the alienation of said tenant knife contacts with said supply rod bar contacts in said straight sections of said first flanges of said elongated members. -SO- ll. The supply connecting rods of claim 1, adapted for use with a center for meters having feeder connecting rods with phase balancers, wherein said second flanges have connecting means connecting said second flanges to a selected feeder connecting rod through a balancer phase associated with the selected feeder bus bar. The supply connecting rods of claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprises holders extending through said second flanges to link said phase balancers associated with the selected feeder connecting rod. Summary Angle members forming the vertically extending supply connector bars (29) in a meter center (1) have arcuate displacements (39) such that flanges (67) at the ends of horizontally extending tenant connector bars ( 59) form tenant knife contacts (71) that are vertically aligned with supply knife contacts (43) in straight sections (41) of the outwardly projecting flanges (31) of the connecting rod angle members. (29) Meter plug assemblies (15) have gauge jaws without a bra, double ended (121), one pair (121x) of which is inserted into the supply rod connector contacts (43) and another pair (1212) of which is inserted into tenter connector bar blade contacts (71), and in which the meters (11) are inserted. The double-ended, non-fastener gauge jaws (121) are fabricated from flat, elongated members (123) having end sections (127) bent into and diverging from straight center sections (125), and end sections (12) extending toward each other from the end sections (127) and converge slightly toward the center sections (125). Spring pins (131) grasp the end sections (129) of the pair of elongate members (123) in deformable confronting relation to form the double-ended, non-fastener gauge jaws (121). The center sections (125) of the jaws (121) have opposing laterally displaced tabs (141) which fit toward and lock the jaws (121) in openings (137) in a plug plate (133).