US3247337A - Combined meter and circuit breaker assembly - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1966 A. wlEGl-:L 3,247,337

COMBINED METER AND CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSEMBLY Filed July l, 1963 UIL F/g. 3 V44 l 60 /6 F/g. 2

I g Louis A. Wiegel INVENTOR.

{VlllilH/a BY L 1 um MMWMW United States Patent O 3,247,337 COMBINED METER AND CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSEMBLY Louis A. Wiegel, Box 2103, rlando, Fla. Filed July 1, 1963, Ser. No. 291,966 8 Claims. (Cl. 20u-44) rl`|his invention relates to a combined meter assembly and electrical circuit breaker arrangement and involves certain improvements over my prior copending application Serial No. 261,992, led March 1, 1963.

It' is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide facilities whereby electrical power or service being supplied to a building may be cut off only by authorized personnel without the necessity for such personnel to enter the building for such purpose.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide facilities whereby electrical service may be cut off only by authorized personnel with a minimum of effort from a location external to the building to which the electrical service is being supplied.

A still further object of the present invention constituting an improvement over the invention disclosed in the aforementioned prior copending application, is to provide ya single key-operated device mounted in combination with the conventional meter housing whereby authorized personnel may alternatively unlock the cover associated with the meter housing without disturbing the condition of the circuit breaker or to permit actuation of the circuit breaker for cutting off the supply of power without removal of the meter housing cover.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention involves an assembly of a meter within the usual meter housing having secured thereto an auxiliary switch housing within which the circuit breaker is mounted. A lock mechanism slidably mounted within the switch housing is arranged to hold the cover of the switch housing locked thereto and is also operative when displaced by a sufricient amount to actuate the circuit breaker, but only after a hingedly mounted closure member for the switch housing is released and opened so as to simultaneously unlock the cover from the meter housing. A tumbler-type of lock device is therefore mounted on the switch housing and exposed through its closure member so as to enable authorized personnel to displace it in opposite angular directions in order to either unlock the meter housing cover or actuate the circuit breaker. In this way, the presence of a single exposed key-operated lock device having the aforementioned dual function, will conceal the circuit breaker function associated therewith.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the combined meter and circuit breaker assembly of the present invention shown mounted externally of a building at any typical location.

FIGUR-E 2 is an enlarged partial sectional View taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 2-2 in FGURE 1.

IFIGURIE 3 is a partial front elevational view of the assembly with the lower housing cover in an elevated position.

FIGURES 4A and 4B are enlarged sectional views of portions of the assembly in conditions different from that shown in FIGURE 2.

lReferring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the assembly of the present invention generally 3,247,337 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 referred to by reference numeral is mounted on the outside wall 12 of a buildin-g to which electrical energy is being supplied from the electrical power conduit 14. Accordingly, a power cable connection 16 extends from the assembly 10 through an opening in the wall 12 for conducting electrical energy. The assembly 10 is therefore made up of a meter portion generally referred to by reference numeral 1'8 by means of which the amount of energy being consumed may be periodically recorded from outside the building so as to enable the utility company to compute the appropriate charge without entry into the building. The meter housing portion 1S is of a construction that is conventional but has attached thereto and also secured in any suitable manner to the wall 1,2, a switch housing portion 20 within which a circuit breaker is mounted so that the electrical connection through which power is supplied internally of the building, may be interrupted without entry into the building when the power utility company is forced to cut olf the supply of energy. lThe meter portion 1-8 is therefore provided with the usual meter housing 22 having a cover member 24 associated there-with. The cover member 24 therefore mounts a projecting transparent portion 26 through which the dials of the meter located within the housing 22, are visible. It will be appreciated, that this housing cover 24 is removable from the housing 22 so as to expose the meter parts therewithin when repair or servicing thereof is required. The switch housing portion 20 may therefore be either an extension of the housing 22 or be separately made but secure to the housing 22. However, a separate cover or closure member 28 is associated `with the switch housing porti-on 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular, it will be observed that the switch housing 30 yassociated with the switch housing portion 20, is provided with spaced hinges 32 adjacent the upper end thereof for pivotally mounting the closure member 28 thereon. Also secured to the switch housing 30 by fasteners 31 as shown in FIGURE 3 and concealed therewithin by the closure member 28, is a conventional-type of circuit breaker 34 having the usual type of actuator element 36 projecting therefrom. The front portion of the switch housing 30 has secured thereto a mounting plate 38 to which the circuit breaker body 34 is secured and extends rearwardly therefrom. rlhe actuator element 36 on the other hand, projects forwardly therefrom. Also secured to the lower portion of the mounting plate 38, by means of the fastener element 40, is a guide element 42 including an upper projecting guide portion 44 and a lower -apertured portion 46 disposed behind a laterally extending flange 48 against which the lower portion of the closure member 28 abuts. The guide member 42 thereby slidably mounts an elongated lock bar assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 50 by means of which the closure member 28 may be locked to the switch Yhousing 30. Also provided. in the closure member 28, is an opening through which a tumbler-type of lock device 52 is exposed, the lock device 52 being mounted on the mounting plate 38 by fasteners 39 on one lateral side of the lock bar assembly 50 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. Thus, with the closure member 28 locked in closed position, the lock device S2 will be exposed so that a key 54 as shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 2, may be inserted.

rIhe lock bar assembly 50 includes a lower section 56 having an offset end portion 58 which is projectable through alined apertures in the guide portion 46 and in the switch housing 30 into a recess formed within a lock limit member 60 secured to the lower flange portion of the closure member 2S. Accordingly, the member 60 will -be alined with the elongated bar assembly to receive the lower end portion 58 thereof for locking the closure member 2f8to` the'housing'Zt) as well as to limit its downward displacement to the position shown in FIG. 2. The lower section 56 of the bar assembly is connected to the pla-te 38 together with .an upper section 62 by means of the slide coupling assembly 64. The upper section is provided with an upper offset end portion 66 which is projectable through alined apertures in the central top portion 68 of the switch housing 30 and the lower llange portion 70 of the meter housing -cover 24. The cover 24 will thereby be locked to the housing when the upper end portion 66 of the lock bar assembly projects through the aperture therein as shown in FIGURE 2. The end portion `66 of the lock bar assembly may however be withdrawn so as to permit removal of the cover 24 by pivotal displacement of the cover member 28 so that the upper inwardly projecting ange portion 72 thereof may engage a. projecting stud "74 on the upper section 62v of the 4lock bar assembly in order to 'effect its downward displacement to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4A. It will also be noted, in FIGURE 2, that downward displacement of the lock bar assembly would be prevented by the member 60 within which the lower end portion 58 is received. Thus, with the closure member 28 locked by the lock bar assembly, unlocking of the cover 24 for removal -thereof is not possible nor is it possible to actuate the circuit breaker.

Key-operated facilities are therefore provided including the lock device 52 and stmcture on the lock bar assembly whereby the cover 24 and the closure member 2S may be unlocked and also for actuating the circuit breaker from the closed circuit position illustrated in kFIGURES 2 and 3 to an open circuit position. Secured to the inner axial end o1 the lock device 52, is an angularly displaceable element 76. It will be appreciated, that angular displacement of this element may be effected only by insertion of the proper key 54 into the lock device. Accordingly, a lock actuating stud 78 is 'secured to the lower section 56 of the lock bar assembly so that when the displaceable element 76 lis displaced by ithe key-operated lock device in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG- URE 3, the lower section of the lock bar assembly may be upwardly displaced relative to the slide assembly 64 to the position shown in FIG. 3 so as to withdraw the lower end portion 58 from the member 60. I-t will be noted however, that the lower switch actuating stud 80 secured to the lock bar just below the actuating element 36, will have no eiect on the circuit breaker when upwardly displaced.. Accordingly, clockwise displacement of the element 76 will be operative to only unlock the closure member 2% from the switch housing 3i). Counterclockwise displacement of the element 76 into engagement with the lower lock actuating stud 82 will not be effective to displace the lock ybar assembly in a downward direction any further from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 so that actuation of the actuating element 36 by the upper switch actuating stud S4 is not possible until the closure member 2S is opened so as to permit further downward displacement of the lock bar assembly 50. It will therefore be apparent, that the element 76 must be initially displaced in a clockwise direction so as to unlock the closure member 28. Thereafter, pivotal upward displacement of the closure member 28 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 will cause the ange portion 72 thereof to engage the stud 74 so that the upper section 62 of the lock bar assembly will be downwardly displaced relative to the slide assembly 64 a sufficient distance to withdraw the upper end portion `66 from the cover member 24 as shown in FIGURE 3. In this manner, authorized personnel may remove the cover member 24 for repair of the meter within the meter portion I8 of the assembly. However, if the circuit breaker 34 is to be actuated in order to cut off the electrical energy, the .lock device 52 is then actuated in a counterclock-wise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 so that the element 76 will downwardly displace the locking bar assembly and thereby pivot-ally displace the actuating element 36 so as t-o position the circuit breaker in an open circuit condition. This may be effected without removal of the meter housing cover 24 which may then be relocked by upward displacement of the upper section 62 of the locking bar assembly by the llange portion '72 engaging the offset portion 66 as shown in FIG. 4A, when the closure member 28 is being closed. The key-operated element 76 is then again displaced in a counterclockwise direction to relock the closure member in its closed position.

From the foregoing description, the construction and utility of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that by use of a single keyoperated device, the covers associated with the meter housings may be unlocked for opening of the housing if desired or for subsequent actuation of the circuit breaker after which the covers may be relocked. It will therefore be appreciated that the construction of the present invention fullls an important need in enabling authorized personnel to cut off electrical yservice `to a building without entry thereof in an effortless manner. Also, rca-establishment of electrical service by unauthorized persons Vis both discouraged and rendered difficult since the arrangement of the present invention requires in addition to a proper key, knowledge of the operational procedure for actuating the circuit breaker.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modication-s and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventio-n to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with -a meter housing having a cover and a meter mounted in the housing through which electrical connections are established externally of a building for supply of electrical energy internally of the building; a circuit breaker operatively mounted on the meter housing for interrupting said electrical connections in an open condition thereof to cut oil said supply of electrical energy, lock means operative when ysaid circuit breaker is in an operative condition to lock the cover to the housing, common key-operated means engageable with the lock means and the circuit breaker for alternatively unlocking the lock means and actuating the circuit breaker without removal of the cover, a switch housing secured to the meter housing and enclosing the circuit breaker therein, a closure member operatively mounted on the switch housing having means engageable with the lock means for withdrawal thereof from the meter housing in response to opening of the closure member to permit removal ofthe cover therefrom.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said lock means comprises, an elongated bar assembly having opposite portions displaceable within limits, guide means secured to said switch housing and aligned with an aperture in said cover through which one of said end portions is extended to lock the cover to the meter housing, and limit means secured to said closure means for receiving the other end portion of the bar assembly to hold the closure means closed and prevent actuation of the circuit breaker.

3. The combination of claim Z wherein said keyoperated means includes a key receiving lock device rotatably mounted by the switch housing, an angularly displaceableelement connected to the lock device for displacement in two directions, means mounted on the lock means and engageable by the angularly displaceable element for unlocking thereof in one direction of displacement to permit displacement of the element in the other direction, and means mounted on the lock means` for actuating the circuit breaker to another operative condia tion upon displacement of the element in said other direction.

4. In combination with a meter housing having a cover and a meter mounted in the housing through which electrical connections are established externally of a building for supply of electrical energy internally ofthe building; a circuit breaker operatively mounted on the meter housing for interrupting said electrical connections in an open condition thereof to cut ofrF said supply of electrical energy, lock means operative when said circuit breaker is in an operative condition to lock the cover to the housing, common key-operated means engageable with the lock means and the circuit breaker for alternatively unlocking the lock means and actuating the circuit breaker without removal of the cover, said lock means comprising, an elongated bar assembly having opposite portions displaceable within limits, guide means secured to said housing and aligned with an aperture in said cover through which one of said end portions is extended to lock the cover to the meter housing, and limit means for preventing withdrawal of said one end portion of the bar assembly from the aperture in the cover until released by the key-operated means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said key-operated means includes a key receiving lock device rotatably mounted by the housing, an angularly displace- `able Aelement connected to the lock device for displacement in two directions, means mounted on the lock means and engageable by the angularly displaceable element for unlocking thereof in one direction of displacement to permit displacement of the element in the other direction, and means mounted on the lock means for actuating the circuit breaker to another operative condition upon displacement of the element in said other direction.

6. in combination with a meter housing having a cover and a meter mounted in the housing through which electrical connections are established externally of a building for supply of electrical energy internally of the building; a circuit breaker operatively mounted on the meter housing for interrupting said electrical connections in an open condition thereof to cut off said supp-ly of electrical energy, lock means operative when said circuit breaker is in an operative condition to lock the cover to the heus; ing, common key-operated means engageable with the lock means and the circuit breaker for alternatively unlocking the lock means and actuating the circuit breaker without removal of the cover, said key-operated means including a key receiving lock device rotatably mounted by the angularly displaceable element for unlocking nected to the lock device for displacement in two directions, means mounted on the lock means and engageable by the angularlyl dlsplac/eable element for unlocking thereof in one direction of displacement to permit displacement of the element in the other direction, and means mounted on the lock means for actuating the circuit breaker to another operative condition upon displacement of the element in said other direction.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a switch housing secured to the meter housing and enclosing the circuit breaker therein, a closure member operatively mounted on the switch housing having means engageable with the lock means for withdrawal thereof from the meter housing in response to opening of the closure member to permit removal of the cover therefrom.

S. In combination with a housing mounting a switch device therein and having a movable closure member enclosing the switch device within the housing, key operated means comprising a lock device ixedly mounted in the housing and projecting through an opening in the closure member when in a closed position enclosing the switch device Within the housing, actuating means operatively engageable by the lock device for displacement thereof to operate the switch device, and locking means operatively connected to the actuating means for locking the closure member in the closed position thereof and preventing said displacement of the actuating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,145,764 7/1915 Fuller 20D- 44 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner. JOHN F. BURNS, I. J. BOSCO, Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A METER HOUSING HAVING A COVER AND A METER MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING THROUGH WHICH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ARE ESTABLISHED EXTERNALLY OF A BUILDING FOR SUPPLY OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY INTERNALLY OF THE BUILDING; A CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON THE METER HOUSING FOR INTERRUPTING SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS IN AN OPEN CONDITION THEREOF TO CUT OFF SAID SUPPLY OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, LOCK MEANS OPERATIVE WHEN SAID CIRCUIT BREAKER IS IN AN OPERATIVE CONDITION TO LOCK THE COVER TO THE HOUSING COMMON KEY-OPERATED MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOCK MEANS AND THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR ALTERNATIVELY UNLOCKING THE LOCK MEANS AND ACTUATING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHOUT REMOVAL OF THE COVER, A SWITCH HOUSING SECURED TO THE METER HOUSING AND ENCLOSING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER THEREIN, A CLOSURE MEMBER OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON THE SWITCH HOUSING HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOCK MEANS FOR WITHDRAWAL THEREOF FROM THE METER HOUSING IN RESPONSE TO OPENING OF THE CLOSURE MEMBER TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF THE COVER THEREFROM.

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