Patent ID: 8227692

Claim:
An explosion-proof housing for containing an electrical meter having a visual display comprising: a first housing portion having a first sidewall with an inner face defining a first chamber having an open end, a closed top having a transparent window, and a first threaded portion about the open end of the first sidewall; a second housing portion having: a second sidewall with an inner face defining a second chamber having an open end and a closed bottom portion, the bottom portion having a mounting surface and at least one mounting flange integral therewith and operative to attach the housing to a mounting structure; at least one port integral with the second sidewall and communicating with the second chamber and to which an electrical conduit can be attached; a second threaded portion about the open end of the second sidewall that is matable with the first threaded portion to provide an air and/or water-tight seal between the first and second housing portions; and a plurality of elongated ribs that are spaced apart about the periphery of the inner face of the second sidewall; wherein each of the spaced apart ribs is integral with or fixedly attached to the inner face of the second sidewall and extends laterally from the inner face of the second sidewall into the second chamber and longitudinally from the open end of the chamber to the bottom of the second chamber, each end of the respective ribs facing the open end of the second chamber defining a mounting surface; and an inner mounting assembly for supporting the electrical meter in the second housing portion, and having a first peripheral wall including a plurality of recesses about the periphery thereof configured to be slidably fitted around and cooperative with the plurality of ribs to orient the inner mounting assembly and the electrical meter supported thereon in the second housing portion in different rotational positions in the second chamber, at least some of the recesses having a mounting end attachable to the mounting surface of respective ones of the ribs to secure the inner mounting assembly to the second housing portion in an intended rotational position such that the electrical meter supported in the housing is in a readable orientation irrespective of the orientation of the housing mounted to a mounting structure.