Patent ID: 11929637
Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN POWER PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G  Y | IPC G  H

Claim 7:
8. An intermediate disconnect section mountable on a meter base having a source connector coupled to a load, the intermediate disconnect section configured to receive a meter, for use with a utility power source and an alternate power source, the intermediate disconnect section comprising:
(a) a utility power breaker having a closed state in which the utility power source is coupled to the source connector of the meter base through the meter and an open state in which the utility power source decoupled from the source connector of the meter base;
(b) an alternate power breaker having a closed state in which the alternate power source is coupled to the source connector of the meter base;
(c) a switching mechanism that selectively opens and closes the utility power breaker and that selectively opens and closes the alternate power breaker, so as to be in exactly one of a first state, a second state or a third state, in which the utility power breaker is closed and the alternate power breaker is open while in the first state; the utility power breaker is open and the alternate power breaker is closed while in the second state; and the utility power breaker is open and the alternate power breaker is open while in the third state;
(d) a frame that supports the utility power breaker, the alternate power breaker, a rack and a pinion;
(e) a rod extending from the switching mechanism and supporting a lever; and
(f) a locking device that secures the lever when the locking mechanism is in the third state, the lever having an elongated portion that defines a lever opening having an opening width and running along a length of the elongated portion so as to be bounded by two oppositely-disposed walls, each of the two oppositely-disposed walls defining a hole passing therethrough in which the holes are aligned with each other, the locking device including:
(i) a key hingedly attached to the frame, the key having an end portion that has a key width that is narrower than the opening width, the key positioned so that the end portion is rotatable so as to extend outwardly through the lever opening when the lever is in the off position; and
(ii) a pin that passes through the holes so as to keep the key extended outwardly through the lever opening, thereby preventing the lever from exiting the off position.