High expansibility electric energy metering box adopting modular plug-in structure

Abstract

The application discloses a high-expansion electric energy metering box adopting a modular plug-in structure, comprising a main box body and an expansion box body, which are electrically connected by nesting plug-in of a butt male head and a butt female head. The main box body and the expansion box body are both equipped with a butt module, which comprises a sealing assembly, an extension assembly, a locking assembly and a driving assembly. The sealing assembly is used for sealing and protecting the butt male / female head, the extension assembly controls the extension and adjustment of the butt male / female head, the locking assembly realizes posture positioning and locking, and the driving assembly provides power connection. When butting, the sealing assembly is first opened and locked, and then the extension assembly extends the butt male / female head to realize butt and locking. When disassembling, the extension assembly and the sealing assembly are sequentially automatically reset after being unlocked. Through the modular sealing and extension linkage design, the application realizes the rapid assembly and disassembly of the expansion box body, and effectively improves the flexibility, convenience and environmental adaptability of electric energy metering under the temporary power supply scene of the construction site.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electricity metering box technology, specifically a highly expandable electricity metering box with a modular plug-in structure. Background Technology

[0002] As a key device in power systems for electricity metering and distribution, the technological development of electricity metering boxes continues to attract industry attention. In application scenarios such as construction sites and temporary power supply, frequent movement of electrical equipment creates an urgent need for flexible expansion capabilities of metering boxes. Traditional metering boxes are mostly fixed designs. When adding power circuits, it usually requires rewiring, installing independent metering boxes, or modifying the original boxes. This is not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but also easily leads to messy wiring on site, increasing safety hazards and management difficulties.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, some existing technologies attempt to improve upon them through modular design. For example, some solutions propose a single-meter box structure that can be plugged into each other. Multiple single-meter boxes are connected and electrically linked via male and female connectors on the side of the box, eliminating the need for wiring connections. Other solutions disclose wall-mounted box designs, claiming the ability to arbitrarily combine various functional boxes to expand installation capacity and add functionality. Furthermore, modular quick-connect clamps and other technologies are also being applied to metering boxes to improve the convenience and reliability of wiring.

[0004] However, existing modular metering box solutions still have shortcomings in terms of ease of expansion and splicing, as well as operational safety. Specifically, in most solutions, the electrical connectors (such as male and female plugs) between the boxes are exposed to the external environment for extended periods, making them susceptible to dust and rain corrosion when not in use, affecting the reliability and lifespan of the electrical connections. Furthermore, when assembling or disassembling expansion boxes, the extension and retraction of connectors lack a unified modular control mechanism with sealing protection and positioning locking functions, making the operation process inconvenient and failing to effectively guarantee the sealing and protection performance of the mating parts. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings in the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a highly expandable power metering box with a modular plug-in structure, which realizes controllable extension and retraction, sealing protection and posture locking of the male and female connectors, and aims to optimize the assembly and disassembly process of the expansion box, and improve the expansion flexibility and safety of the power metering box.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to achieve the above objectives is: a highly expandable power metering box with a modular plug-in structure, comprising a main box and an expansion box that is matched and combined with the main box. The main box and the expansion box are respectively provided with a male connector and a female connector that are nested and plugged in. The male connector and the female connector are used to realize the electrical connection of the power metering equipment and switching equipment assembled in the main box and the expansion box.

[0007] It also includes a docking module assembled into the main housing and the expansion housing. The docking module is used to adjust the extension and retraction state of the male and female docking heads. The docking module includes a sealing component, a telescopic component, a locking component, and a driving component. The sealing component is used to seal and protect the male or female docking head. The telescopic component is used to control the extension and retraction adjustment of the male or female docking head. Locking components are installed on both the sealing component and the telescopic component. The driving component is poweredly connected to the sealing component and the telescopic component.

[0008] Based on the above technical solutions, to facilitate the assembly of power metering equipment and switching equipment in the main enclosure and expansion enclosure, and to facilitate the operation of the docking module to control the assembly and docking of the main enclosure and expansion enclosure, the following technical solutions are provided: Both the main enclosure and the expansion enclosure are equipped with sealed doors on their front sides. The sealed doors are equipped with lockable door handles and observation windows.

[0009] Based on the above technical solutions, and to meet the needs of electricity metering and improve the scalability of electricity metering boxes, the following technical solutions are provided: Both sides of the expansion box are equipped with the docking module. The two sets of docking modules are respectively equipped with male and female docking heads arranged on both sides inside the expansion box. The male and female docking heads provided in the two adjacent sets of expansion boxes can be nested and plugged in.

[0010] Based on the above technical solutions, in order to ensure precise docking between the main enclosure and the expansion enclosure, as well as between adjacent expansion enclosures, and thus ensure precise assembly of the male and female connectors, the following technical solutions are provided: The outer wall of the main housing is provided with a vertically arranged sliding groove, and the two sides of the expansion housing are respectively provided with a slide rail and the sliding groove, and the slide rail and the sliding groove can be slidably connected.

[0011] Based on the above technical solutions, in order to ensure that the sealing components can be stably assembled in the main housing and the expansion housing, and to achieve effective sealing of the male or female connectors housed inside, the following technical solutions are provided: Both the main housing and the expansion housing have storage cavities, and the docking module, the male docking head, and the female docking head are all assembled into the storage cavities.

[0012] The sealing assembly includes a cylindrical sealing post, which is rotatably mounted to the port of the receiving cavity and keeps in a sealed fit with the receiving cavity. The sealing post has a radially arranged telescopic opening, through which the male or female connector can extend into the receiving cavity and be sealed to the telescopic opening. The locking assembly is mounted at the axis of the sealing post.

[0013] Based on the above technical solutions, in order to ensure that the telescopic component can be stably assembled in the storage cavity and drive the male or female connector to move stably in and out of the cavity, the following technical solutions are provided: Both the male and female connectors are slidably installed into the corresponding storage cavities. The telescopic assembly includes a crankshaft and a connecting rod. The crankshaft is rotatably installed into the storage cavity. One end of the connecting rod is hinged to the crankshaft, and the other end of the connecting rod is hinged to either the male or female connector. The locking assembly is mounted at the center of the crankshaft.

[0014] Based on the above technical solutions, in order to ensure that the locking assembly can be stably assembled on the sealing column and crankshaft, the following technical solutions are provided: The locking assembly includes a ratchet mechanism, a locking gear, a locking key, a support spring, and a return torsion spring. The sealing post and the crankshaft are respectively connected to the input ends of the two sets of ratchet mechanisms. The output end of the ratchet mechanism is equipped with a locking gear. The locking key is slidably installed in the receiving cavity and driven by the support spring to achieve nested locking with the locking gear. The return torsion spring is installed on both the sealing post and the crankshaft.

[0015] Based on the above technical solutions, in order to facilitate the unlocking of the locking component and enable the sealing component and telescopic component to unlock under the action of the return torsion spring, the following technical solution is provided: The locking key has a wedge-shaped groove, and both sets of locking components also include an unlocking key. The end of the unlocking key is provided with a wedge-shaped head that is nested with the wedge-shaped groove. The two sets of unlocking keys are fixedly combined by a connector. The connector is slidably installed in the storage cavity and is connected to a return spring. The return spring drives the connector and separates the wedge-shaped head from the wedge-shaped groove.

[0016] To ensure the stable assembly of the drive component within the storage cavity and to achieve power connection with the sealing and telescopic components, the following technical solution is provided: The drive assembly includes handwheel A and handwheel B rotatably mounted in the storage cavity. Drive bevel gear A and drive bevel gear B are coaxially fixed to the shaft centers of handwheel A and handwheel B, respectively. Transmission bevel gear A, which meshes with drive bevel gear A, is fixed to the shaft center of the sealing column. Transmission bevel gear B, which meshes with drive bevel gear B, is fixed to the shaft center of the crankshaft.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. This solution utilizes matching sliding grooves and rails on the main enclosure and expansion enclosures, combined with a nested plug-in design for male and female connectors, enabling the expansion enclosures to be quickly assembled to one side of the main enclosure or expanded step by step. When new electrical equipment arrives at the construction site, only the corresponding expansion enclosure needs to be installed and the connection completed to achieve electrical connection and independent metering; the equipment can also be quickly dismantled when it is removed from the site, without the need to re-lay cables or modify the main line. This design effectively solves the problems of traditional fixed metering boxes requiring rewiring due to insufficient circuits and long modification periods, greatly improving the flexibility and convenience of power distribution system adjustments in temporary power supply scenarios.

[0018] 2. In existing modular metering boxes, electrical connectors are often directly exposed to the outside of the box when not in a mating state, making them susceptible to corrosion from rain and dust at the construction site, leading to increased contact resistance or decreased insulation performance. This solution provides each male or female connector with an independent sealing assembly including a sealing post. When not in use, the sealing post rotates to seal the port of the receiving cavity, completely sealing the male or female connector inside the cavity and effectively preventing the intrusion of external moisture and dust. When mating is required, the sealing post rotates open first, and then the telescopic component pushes the connector out, maintaining a tight seal with the telescopic opening on the sealing post even after extension. This sequential action mechanism of opening first, extending later, and automatically closing after retraction ensures environmental sealing throughout the electrical connection process, significantly reducing the risk of short circuits caused by moisture and dust.

[0019] 3. In this design, the open state of the sealing component and the extended state of the telescopic component are positioned and maintained by two independent locking components. The locking components utilize the unidirectional transmission characteristics of a ratchet mechanism and the nested locking key and locking gear to ensure stable locking after the sealing column opens 90° and the crankshaft rotates 180°. This prevents accidental closing or retraction due to vibration or the spring force of the return torsion spring, ensuring the precise and stable position of the male and female connectors during docking operations and effectively preventing overheating or arcing failures caused by poor contact. Simultaneously, when the expansion housing needs to be separated and removed, the locking key is disengaged via the unlocking lever, allowing the telescopic component and sealing component to automatically reset in a retracted-closed sequence under the drive of the return torsion spring. This one-button unlocking and sequential reset design avoids jamming or damage that may occur from manually pushing the connector back, ensuring safe operation and clear logic.

[0020] 4. The drive component in this solution uses a handwheel and bevel gear transmission, and the locking component is also a purely mechanical structure. The operation and locking of the entire docking module do not rely on external control power supplies or complex electronic components. In construction sites where voltage fluctuations, temporary power outages, or complex electromagnetic interference are common, the mechanical structure offers extremely high reliability, is unaffected by power outages, and is less prone to malfunctions due to environmental influences. This ensures that the electricity metering box can be stably and safely expanded and assembled under various harsh working conditions. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a detailed schematic diagram of the docking module, male connector, and female connector in this invention; Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the assembly of various components inside the storage cavity; Figure 4 A structural diagram showing the assembly of various components of the docking module; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the sealing assembly and its mounting components; Figure 6 A structural diagram showing the assembly of the telescopic component and its mounting parts. Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the sealing assembly, telescopic assembly, locking assembly, and drive assembly in their disassembled state.

[0022] In the diagram: 101 Main housing, 102 Expansion housing, 111 Sealed door, 112 Door handle, 113 Observation window, 121 Slide groove, 122 Slide rail, 13 Storage cavity, 131 Arc-shaped pin groove A, 132 Arc-shaped pin groove B, 21 Male connector, 22 Female connector, 23 Mounting through hole, 311 Sealing post, 312 Telescopic port, 313 Pin A, 321 Crankshaft, 322 Connecting rod, 323 Pin B, 3311 Pawl, 3312 Inner... Ratchet, 3313 Spring, 332 Locking Gear, 333 Locking Key, 3331 Snap Gear, 3332 Wedge-shaped Through Slot, 334 Support Spring, 335 Unlocking Key, 3351 Wedge Head, 3352 Connector, 3353 Return Spring, 3354 Unlocking Lever, 336 Return Torsion Spring, 341 Handwheel A, 342 Handwheel B, 343 Drive Bevel Gear A, 344 Drive Bevel Gear B, 345 Transmission Bevel Gear A, 346 Transmission Bevel Gear B. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 A highly expandable energy metering box with a modular plug-in structure includes a main box 101 and an expansion box 102 that is matched and combined with the main box 101. The main box 101 and the expansion box 102 are respectively provided with a male connector 21 and a female connector 22 that are nested and plugged in. The male connector 21 and the female connector 22 are used to realize the electrical connection of the energy metering equipment and switching equipment assembled in the main box 101 and the expansion box 102.

[0026] It also includes a docking module assembled in the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102. The docking module is used to adjust the extension and retraction state of the male docking head 21 and the female docking head 22. The docking module includes a sealing component, a telescopic component, a locking component, and a driving component. The sealing component is used to seal and protect the male docking head 21 or the female docking head 22. The telescopic component is used to control the extension and retraction adjustment of the male docking head 21 or the female docking head 22. Locking components are installed on both the sealing component and the telescopic component. The driving component is poweredly connected to the sealing component and the telescopic component.

[0027] The highly expandable power metering box provided in this solution is mainly used in temporary power supply scenarios at construction sites to meet the power connection and power metering needs of various construction equipment when entering and leaving the site. The expansion box 102 is added or removed to meet the entry and exit needs of various equipment.

[0028] The main enclosure 101 is typically used as a fixed main structure to meet the basic power consumption and metering needs of the construction site, and connects to the main power supply cable for temporary power supply to measure the total power consumption and the power consumption of the foundation equipment, and to control the on / off status of the total power supply and foundation identification.

[0029] The expansion box 102 is electrically connected to the main box 101 via male connector 21 and female connector 22 to independently meter and control the power consumption of various construction electrical equipment entering and leaving the construction site. Upon equipment arrival, the corresponding expansion box 102 can be assembled onto the main box 101, with the male and female connectors 21 and 22 matched. Upon equipment shipment, the corresponding expansion box 102 can be removed, simplifying the structure of the power metering box. This design effectively improves the neatness of wiring, the convenience of power metering, and facilitates power connection.

[0030] The docking modules installed in the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102 are used to control the sealed and retracted states and extended docking states of the corresponding male and female docking heads 21 and 22. During the docking operation between the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102, the driving component first drives the sealing component to the open state. At this time, the locking component installed on the sealing component can position and lock the sealing component to maintain its open state. Then, the driving component further controls the telescopic component to extend the male or female docking head 21 from the open sealing component and achieve mating. The locking component installed on the telescopic component can position and lock it to maintain the extended docking posture of the male or female docking head 21 or 22.

[0031] When the expansion housing 102 is removed, it is only necessary to control the installed locking component to be in the unlocked state. At this time, the telescopic component and the sealing component can be reset in sequence, the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 are in the retracted state, and the sealing component is put back into the sealing position, which has the advantage of convenient operation.

[0032] To facilitate the assembly of power metering equipment and switching equipment in the main enclosure 101 and the expansion enclosure 102, and to facilitate the operation of the docking module to control the assembly and docking of the main enclosure 101 and the expansion enclosure 102, the following technical solution is provided: Both the main enclosure 101 and the expansion enclosure 102 are equipped with a sealed door 111 on the front side. The sealed door 111 is equipped with a door handle 112 with a lock and an observation window 113.

[0033] The sealed door 111 is hinged to the corresponding main enclosure 101 and expansion enclosure 102, and its opening and closing posture is controlled by the lockable door handle 112 to facilitate the assembly and wiring of relevant power metering equipment and switching equipment in the corresponding enclosure. A transparent panel is installed at the observation window 113 to facilitate a direct view of the power consumption status of each device.

[0034] Example 2

[0035] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2To meet the needs of electricity metering and improve the scalability of electricity metering boxes, the following technical solutions are provided: Both sides of the expansion box 102 are equipped with docking modules. The two sets of docking modules are respectively equipped with male docking heads 21 and female docking heads 22 arranged on both sides inside the expansion box 102. The male docking heads 21 and female docking heads 22 provided in the two adjacent sets of expansion boxes 102 can be nested and plugged in.

[0036] After assembling one set of expansion enclosures 102 onto one side of the main enclosure 101 and nesting the male connector 21 and female connector 22 therein, additional expansion enclosures 102 can be added to the other side of the expansion enclosures 102. Through the corresponding docking module, the female connector 22 added to the first set of expansion enclosures 102 and the male connector 21 provided in the second set of expansion enclosures 102 can be nested and docked to achieve a stable electrical connection between the enclosures.

[0037] The electrical terminals on the male connector 21 can be nested and plugged into the electrical terminals on the female connector 22, ensuring a stable electrical connection between adjacent enclosures. The wiring led out from the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 can achieve effective connection with the power metering equipment and switchgear installed in the corresponding enclosures.

[0038] To ensure precise docking between the main enclosure 101 and the expansion enclosure 102, as well as between adjacent expansion enclosures 102, and thus to ensure precise assembly of the male connector 21 and the female connector 22, the following technical solution is provided: The outer wall of the main housing 101 is provided with a vertically arranged slide groove 121, and the two sides of the expansion housing 102 are respectively provided with slide rail 122 and slide groove 121, which can be slidably connected.

[0039] By nesting and inserting the slide rail 122 and the slide groove 121, it is possible to ensure that the two adjacent sets of boxes can be nested and inserted, thereby ensuring the tight fit between the main box 101 and the expansion box 102 and the two adjacent sets of expansion boxes 102, and thus ensuring that the relatively arranged docking heads and docking female heads 22 can achieve precise docking.

[0040] A sealing gasket can also be installed on the mating surfaces of the male connector 21 and the female connector 22. After the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 move relative to each other and achieve nesting, the sealing gasket will remain sealed and fit together, thereby effectively preventing rainwater from seeping into the connection between the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 and causing a short circuit.

[0041] Mounting brackets can be installed on the back of both the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102 to facilitate the stable installation of the assembled main housing 101 and expansion housing 102, and each mounting bracket independently bears the gravity load of the corresponding housing.

[0042] Example 3

[0043] Please see Figures 2-7 To ensure the sealing assembly can be stably assembled in the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102, and to achieve effective sealing of the male connector 21 or female connector 22 housed inside, the following technical solution is provided: Both the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102 have storage cavities 13, and the docking module, the male docking head 21, and the female docking head 22 are all assembled into the storage cavity 13.

[0044] The sealing assembly includes a cylindrical sealing post 311, which is rotatably mounted to the port of the receiving cavity 13 and keeps in a sealed fit with the receiving cavity 13. The sealing post 311 has a radially arranged telescopic opening 312. The male connector 21 or the female connector 22 can pass through the telescopic opening 312, extend out of the receiving cavity 13, and achieve a sealed fit with the telescopic opening 312. A locking assembly is installed at the axis of the sealing post 311.

[0045] The port of the receiving cavity 13 is designed as an arc structure that fits in close contact with the sealing post 311. The outer surface of the sealing post 311 can be coated with sealant to ensure a tight seal between it and the port of the receiving cavity 13. The sealing post 311 can rotate stably within a 90° range. To this end, an eccentric pin A313 is provided at the end of the sealing post 311. An arc-shaped pin groove A131 is provided on the inner wall of the receiving cavity 13 to match the pin A313. The angle of the arc-shaped pin groove is set to 90° to ensure that the sealing post 311 can rotate stably within the corresponding 90° stroke.

[0046] When the sealing assembly is in the open state, its telescopic opening 312 is positioned directly opposite the port of the receiving cavity 13. At this time, the male connector 21 or female connector 22 extends out from the telescopic opening 312 and maintains a tight seal with it. When the sealing assembly is in the closed state, its telescopic opening 312 rotates 90° and is positioned within the arc structure at the port of the receiving cavity 13. The sealing post 311 effectively seals and protects the components inside the receiving cavity 13, preventing rainwater and dust from entering.

[0047] To ensure the telescopic assembly can be stably assembled in the receiving cavity 13 and to drive the male connector 21 or female connector 22 to move stably, the following technical solution is provided: Both the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 are slidably installed into the corresponding storage cavity 13. The telescopic assembly includes a crankshaft 321 and a connecting rod 322. The crankshaft 321 is rotatably installed into the storage cavity 13. One end of the connecting rod 322 is hinged to the crankshaft 321, and the other end of the connecting rod 322 is hinged to either the male connector 21 or the female connector 22. A locking assembly is installed at the axis of the crankshaft 321.

[0048] A horizontally arranged guide rail can be installed in the receiving cavity 13 to ensure that the male connector 21 or female connector 22 slides stably along the guide rail. Each telescopic assembly is provided with a connecting rod 322 hinged to the upper and lower ends of the crankshaft 321. When the crankshaft 321 is rotated, the connecting rod 322 can drive the male connector 21 or female connector 22 to slide stably along the radial direction of the sealing column 311.

[0049] Based on the structural characteristics of crankshaft 321 and connecting rod 322, when crankshaft 321 rotates 180°, the male connector 21 or female connector 22 can move from one end of the stroke to the other end. Therefore, the rotation of crankshaft 321 is set to 180°. Specifically, an eccentrically arranged pin B323 is fixed to the end of crankshaft 321, and an arc-shaped pin groove B132 is opened on the inner wall of receiving cavity 13 to maintain a sliding combination with pin B323. The angle of the arc-shaped pin groove is set to 180° to ensure that crankshaft 321 can rotate stably within the corresponding 180° stroke.

[0050] Example 4

[0051] Please see Figures 3-7 To ensure the stable assembly of the locking components on the sealing pillar 311 and crankshaft 321, the following technical solution is provided: The locking assembly includes a ratchet mechanism, a locking gear 332, a locking key 333, a support spring 334, and a return torsion spring 336. The sealing post 311 and the crankshaft 321 are respectively connected to the input ends of the two sets of ratchet mechanisms. The output end of the ratchet mechanism is equipped with a locking gear 332. The locking key 333 is slidably installed in the receiving cavity 13 and driven by the support spring 334 to achieve nested locking with the locking gear 332. The sealing post 311 and the crankshaft 321 are both equipped with return torsion springs 336.

[0052] The ratchet mechanism includes a pawl 3311 and an inner ratchet 3312. The pawl 3311, as the input end of the ratchet mechanism, is assembled to the outer periphery of the sealing post 311 and the crankshaft 321, and is always driven by the spring 3313 to maintain an outward expansion and engagement with the inner ratchet 3312. The inner ratchet 3312, as the output end, is coaxially fixed to the locking gear 332.

[0053] When the control seal 311 or crankshaft 321 rotates forward to open the receiving cavity 13 and extend the male or female connector 21, the pawl 3311 and the inner ratchet 3312 are in a relatively slipping state to ensure that the seal 311 and crankshaft 321 can operate normally and to tighten and store the elastic potential energy of the return torsion spring 336. After the posture adjustment is completed, the inner ratchet 3312 is locked and fixed by the locking gear 332 and the locking key 333. The return torsion spring 336 cannot drive the pawl 3311 on the seal 311 and crankshaft 321 to move in the opposite direction, thereby ensuring that the seal 311 and crankshaft 321 are in a positioning and locking state.

[0054] The locking key 333 is provided with a locking tooth 3331 that is nested and locked with the locking gear 332. The support spring 334 can push the locking key 333 to move towards the locking gear 332. When the locking tooth 3331 and the locking gear 332 are nested and inserted, the locking gear 332 can be effectively restricted from rotating, thereby preventing the locking gear 332 and the inner ratchet 3312 from rotating ineffectively, so as to achieve continuous locking of the locking gear 332.

[0055] To facilitate the unlocking of the locking assembly, enabling the sealing assembly and telescopic assembly to unlock under the action of the return torsion spring 336, the following technical solution is provided: The locking key 333 has a wedge-shaped through groove 3332. Both sets of locking components also include an unlocking key 335. The end of the unlocking key 335 is provided with a wedge-shaped head 3351 that is nested with the wedge-shaped through groove 3332. The two sets of unlocking keys 335 are fixedly combined by a connector 3352. The connector 3352 is slidably installed in the storage cavity 13 and is connected with a return spring 3353. The return spring 3353 drives the connector 3352 and separates the wedge-shaped head 3351 from the wedge-shaped through groove 3332.

[0056] The connector 3352 is provided with an unlocking lever 3354. By operating the unlocking lever 3354, the resistance of the return spring 3353 is overcome. It is not enough for the wedge head 3351 at the end of the unlocking key 335 to engage with the wedge groove 3332. This drives the locking key 333 to move in the opposite direction against the resistance of the support spring 334, so that the locking teeth 3331 and the locking gear 332 are separated, and the locking state of the inner ratchet 3312 and the locking gear 332 is canceled. At this time, the sealing column 311 and the crankshaft 321 can move in the opposite direction under the action of the corresponding return torsion spring 336 and achieve reset.

[0057] It should also be noted that during the process of the locking component being in the unlocked state and the telescopic component retracting and the sealing component sealing, since the male connector 21 or female connector 22 is arranged in the telescopic opening 312, the sealing post 311 cannot be immediately reset due to the limiting effect of the male connector 21 or female connector 22. After the male connector 21 and female connector 22 retract inward and separate from the sealing post 311, the sealing post 311 can be reset under the action of the corresponding reset torsion spring 336. This design can ensure that the telescopic component and the sealing component reset sequentially, thereby ensuring effective protection for the locking male connector or locking female connector.

[0058] Example 5

[0059] Please see Figures 3-7 To ensure the stable assembly of the drive component within the receiving cavity 13 and to achieve power connection with the sealing component and the telescopic component, the following technical solution is provided: The drive assembly includes handwheels A341 and B342 rotatably mounted in the storage cavity 13. Drive bevel gears A343 and B344 are coaxially fixed to the shafts of handwheels A341 and B342, respectively. A transmission bevel gear A345, which meshes with drive bevel gear A343, is fixed to the shaft of sealing column 311. A transmission bevel gear B346, which meshes with drive bevel gear B344, is fixed to the shaft of crankshaft 321.

[0060] When the handwheel A341 is turned, the combination of the drive bevel gear A343 and the transmission bevel gear A345 drives the sealing column 311 to rotate stably by 90°, thereby driving the sealing assembly to the open state. When the handwheel B342 is turned, the combination of the drive bevel gear B344 and the transmission bevel gear B346 drives the crankshaft 321 to rotate by 180°, thereby driving the male connector 21 or the female connector 22 to the extended state through the telescopic assembly.

[0061] It should also be noted that a mounting through hole 23 is provided at the relative position of the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 to maintain a sealed connection. When the male connector 21 and the female connector 22 are in the docking state, the bolt assembly arranged through the mounting through hole 23 can be used to further connect the two effectively and achieve a stable connection between the main housing 101 and the expansion housing 102, and between adjacent expansion housings 102.

[0062] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0063] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A highly expandable energy metering box employing a modular plug-in structure, characterized in that: It includes a main enclosure and an expansion enclosure that is matched and combined with the main enclosure. The main enclosure and the expansion enclosure are respectively provided with a male connector and a female connector that are nested and plugged in. The male connector and the female connector are used to realize the electrical connection of the power metering equipment and switching equipment assembled in the main enclosure and the expansion enclosure. It also includes a docking module assembled into the main housing and the expansion housing. The docking module is used to adjust the extension and retraction state of the male and female docking heads. The docking module includes a sealing component, a telescopic component, a locking component, and a driving component. Both the main housing and the expansion housing are provided with storage cavities, and the docking module, the male docking head, and the female docking head are all assembled into the storage cavities. The sealing assembly is used to seal and protect the male or female connector. The sealing assembly includes a cylindrical sealing post, which is rotatably installed at the port of the receiving cavity and keeps in a sealed fit with the receiving cavity. The sealing post has a radially arranged telescopic opening, through which the male or female connector can extend into the receiving cavity and be sealed to the telescopic opening. The locking assembly is mounted at the axis of the sealing post. The male and female connectors are slidably installed into the corresponding storage cavities. The telescopic assembly is used to control the extension and retraction of the male or female connectors. The telescopic assembly includes a crankshaft and a connecting rod. The crankshaft is rotatably installed into the storage cavity. One end of the connecting rod is hinged to the crankshaft, and the other end of the connecting rod is hinged to the male or female connector. The locking assembly is installed at the center of the crankshaft. Both the sealing assembly and the telescopic assembly are equipped with locking components. The locking components include a ratchet mechanism, a locking gear, a locking key, a support spring, and a return torsion spring. The sealing column and the crankshaft are respectively connected to the input ends of the two sets of ratchet mechanisms. The output end of the ratchet mechanism is equipped with a locking gear. The locking key is slidably installed in the receiving cavity and driven by the support spring to achieve nested locking with the locking gear. The return torsion spring is equipped on both the sealing column and the crankshaft. The drive assembly is poweredly connected to the sealing assembly and the telescopic assembly. The drive assembly includes a handwheel A and a handwheel B rotatably mounted in the storage cavity. Drive bevel gear A and drive bevel gear B are coaxially fixed at the shaft centers of handwheel A and handwheel B, respectively. A transmission bevel gear A that meshes with drive bevel gear A is fixed at the shaft center of the sealing column. A transmission bevel gear B that meshes with drive bevel gear B is fixed at the shaft center of the crankshaft.

2. The highly expandable energy metering box with a modular plug-in structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the main enclosure and the expansion enclosure are equipped with sealed doors on their front sides. The sealed doors are equipped with lockable door handles and observation windows.

3. The highly expandable energy metering box with a modular plug-in structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both sides of the expansion box are equipped with the docking module. The two sets of docking modules are respectively equipped with male and female docking heads arranged on both sides inside the expansion box. The male and female docking heads provided in the two adjacent sets of expansion boxes can be nested and plugged in.

4. A highly expandable energy metering box with a modular plug-in structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer wall of the main housing is provided with a vertically arranged sliding groove, and the two sides of the expansion housing are respectively provided with a slide rail and the sliding groove, and the slide rail and the sliding groove can be slidably connected.

5. A highly expandable energy metering box with a modular plug-in structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking key has a wedge-shaped groove, and both sets of locking components also include an unlocking key. The end of the unlocking key is provided with a wedge-shaped head that is nested with the wedge-shaped groove. The two sets of unlocking keys are fixedly combined by a connector. The connector is slidably installed in the storage cavity and is connected to a return spring. The return spring drives the connector and separates the wedge-shaped head from the wedge-shaped groove.

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