Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an adapter for an electrical meter, and more particularly to an adapter that allows for a relatively simple mechanism for disconnecting electrical service to both residential and commercial service locations. 
     Power may be disconnected at a customer&#39;s location based on any number of factors, such as due to safety issues, construction or for any other suitable reason. Electrical meters for commercial customers feature different connectors and lines than residential meters. Thus, a field technician or operator uses different equipment to disconnect service for a residential customer than is used to disconnect service for a commercial customer. Accordingly, the technician brings a variety of parts and equipment into the field to accommodate various situations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for disconnecting electrical service includes a housing to be coupled to an electric meter socket, a first stationary connector protruding from a first side of the housing, the first stationary connector configured to connect to a first line of electricity and a second stationary connector protruding from the first side of the housing, the second stationary connector configured to connect to a second line of electricity. The apparatus also includes a first moveable connector coupled to the first side of the housing, a second moveable connector coupled to the first side of the housing, and a third moveable connector coupled to the first side of the housing. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method for disconnecting electrical service at a residential or commercial location includes removing an electric meter from a meter socket and adjusting an adapter to one of a first configuration for a commercial location or a second configuration for a residential location. The method also includes coupling the adapter to the meter socket, and coupling the electric meter to the adapter. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for disconnecting electrical service includes a housing to be coupled to an electric meter socket and first and second stationary connectors protruding from a first side of the housing, wherein the first and second stationary connectors each extend substantially perpendicular to the first side of the housing. The apparatus also includes a first moveable connector coupled to the first side of the housing, a second moveable connector coupled to the first side of the housing, and a third moveable connector coupled to the first side of the housing, wherein the first, second and third moveable connectors are each configured to be substantially flush with the first side of the housing in a retracted position and to extend substantially perpendicular to the first side of the housing in an extended position 
     These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary power distribution system; 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of an adapter to be used with the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the adapter of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a power distribution system including a power source  100  that provides electrical power service to a residential or commercial building site (not shown) over two incoming line conductors  102 ,  104 . The line conductors  102 ,  104  are connected to a standard electric watt-hour meter socket  106  (also referred to as “meter receptacle”). A neutral line conductor  108  also extends from the power source  100  to the meter socket  106 . Typically, the meter socket  106  is mounted to the outer wall of the building or location of the customer. In order to measure the electrical power consumed by the building, a watt-hour meter  110  is removably attached to the meter socket  106 . 
     The meter socket  106  includes a rectangularly-shaped panel or housing  112 . A circular opening  114  is formed partially through the front end of housing  112 , wherein a plurality of suitable electrical contacts or connectors, such as sockets  116 , are mounted therein for being connected to a plurality of corresponding contacts (not shown) of the hour meter  110 . For ease of engagement, the watt-hour meter  110  includes a housing  118  which corresponds in shape and size to the opening  114  of meter socket  106 . The circuitry for measuring the electrical power consumption passing therethrough is housed within the watt-hour meter  110 . In embodiments, residential customers typically have five contacts between the hour meter  110  and the meter socket  106 . Commercial customers have seven contacts between the hour meter  110  and the meter socket  106 . Accordingly, the arrangement and number of sockets  116  varies depending on the service at the location. 
       FIG. 2  is a back view of an exemplary adapter  200  configured to be placed between the meter socket  106  and meter  110 , shown in  FIG. 1 , to disconnect electrical service to the location or building. The exemplary adapter  200  allows a technician or operator to adjust the adapter  200  to disconnect service for either residential or commercial locations. The adapter  200  includes a housing  202  with a stationary connectors  204 ,  206  and moveable connectors  208 ,  210 ,  212 . The stationary connectors  204 ,  206  are fixed conductors or jaws that protrude from a socket side  214  of the housing  202 . Accordingly, the stationary connectors  204 ,  206  are configured to be received by a meter socket  106  for residential and commercial locations. In an embodiment, such as for use in a commercial location, the moveable connectors  210  and  212  are configured to connect to neutral lines in the meter socket  106 , while the moveable connector  208  and stationary connectors  204  and  206  are configured to connect to electric lines in the meter socket  106 . 
     The moveable connectors  208 ,  210  and  212  are configured to extend and retract, depending on the application for the adapter  200 . For example, the moveable connector  208  is retracted or substantially flush with the surface of socket side  214  for an application such as at a residential location having five contacts. In addition, the moveable connector  210  is substantially flush with the surface of socket side  214  while the moveable connector  212  is extended for the residential location. For a commercial location, the moveable connectors  208  and  210  are extended while the moveable connector  212  is substantially flush with the surface of the socket side  214 . Exemplary moveable connectors  208 ,  210  and  212  are hinged conductors or jaws configured to be locked in an extended or retracted position. In a locked extended position, the connectors protrude from the surface of the socket side  214  at a substantially perpendicular angle and perform similarly to the stationary connectors  204  and  206 . In a retracted position, the connectors are substantially flush or do not protrude from the surface of the socket side  214 . In an embodiment, the moveable connectors  208 ,  210  and  212  hinge and are configured to lock in the extended or retracted position by a suitable mechanism, such as a pins, collars, biasing members at the base or any other suitable mechanism. In an embodiment, the moveable connectors  208 ,  210  and  212  are biased to extend and retract through an opening in the surface of the socket side  214  and are locked into position via a suitable mechanism. As depicted, the conductor lines  102  and  104  are electricity lines that are routed to selected connectors or sockets  116 . In addition, the neutral line  108  is connected to selected sockets  116  of the meter socket  106 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the exemplary adapter  200 . The adapter has rings  300  and  302  disposed circumferentially about the housing  202 . The rings  300  and  302  have respective locking mechanisms  304  and  306  configured to secure the rings to the meter socket  106  and meter  110 . The ring  302  and locking mechanism  306  enable movement of at least a portion of the locking mechanism  306  (also referred to as “adjustable locking mechanism”) to a raised second position  308 . As depicted, the second position  308  gives clearance for a front panel of the housing  112  to slide over the ring  302  during installation of the adapter  200  for an application such as at commercial locations, for example. In an embodiment, the front panel of the commercial meter socket  106  is removed before the meter  110  is removed. The adapter  200  is then placed on the meter socket  106  and the ring  300  and locking mechanism  304  are secured. The panel is then replaced on the meter  110  and meter socket  106  while the locking device  306  is in the second position  308 . The locking device  306  is then be moved back to the original position (shown in solid lines) and secured to the meter  110  after the meter is inserted in the adapter  200 . As depicted, the locking mechanism  304  is located inside the housing  112  when the adapter  200  is installed in commercial locations. In other embodiments, the rings  300  and  302 , along with locking mechanisms  304  and  306 , are located outside the housing  112  when the adapter  200  is installed. The service technician may have a custom key that is used to unlock the locking mechanisms  304  and  306 . The locking mechanisms  304  and  306  are configured to secure the adapter  200  to the meter socket  106  and the  110  to prevent unauthorized removal of the adapter. In an embodiment, an indicator  310  is used to identify a status of the meter socket  106 . The technician may perform one or more tests of the meter socket  106  and then change the status of the indicator  310 . For example, the status may indicate to future technicians that the meter socket  106  has failed one or more tests. The technician may adjust the status of the indicator  310  by manually sliding the indicator to show a color corresponding to the status. 
     In an embodiment, the adapter  200  provides flexibility to an operator for disconnecting electrical service at either a residential or commercial location. The moveable connectors  208 ,  210  and  212  are adjustable for use of the adapter  200  for commercial or residential applications. In an embodiment, when the moveable connectors  208  and  210  are in an extended position, they are substantially parallel to the stationary connectors  204  and  206 . In addition, when the moveable connector  212  is in the extended position, it is substantially perpendicular to the stationary connectors  204  and  206 . The flexibility of the adapter  200  simplifies the equipment and components used by technicians at customer sites, thereby reducing overall cost and time spent planning and installing equipment for disconnecting of electrical service at at variety of different applications, such as residential and commercial locations, for example. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Technology Category: 5