A tamper-proof locking structure for electricity meters

Abstract

This utility model belongs to the field of electricity meter technology, specifically relating to an anti-tampering locking structure for electricity meters. The structure includes an electricity meter base, a main meter housing, a terminal protective cover, and an anti-tampering lock pin. It addresses the problems of traditional locking structures being easily disassembled and leaving no obvious traces after tampering. The terminal protective cover is connected to the main meter housing, with a guide sleeve extending from its mounting hole. The electricity meter base has a locking groove coaxial with the guide sleeve. The anti-tampering lock pin has a head, a fracture induction section, an anti-rotation engagement section, and a one-way locking section arranged axially. After assembly, the anti-rotation engagement section simultaneously engages with the corresponding cavities of the guide sleeve and the locking groove, while the one-way locking section forms a one-way interference fit that allows insertion but not removal. This utility model effectively prevents the lock pin from rotating and being pulled out axially. Forced disassembly will produce obvious damage marks, thus improving the anti-tampering capability of the electricity meter terminal protective cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of electricity meter technology, specifically relating to an anti-tampering locking structure for electricity meters. Background Technology

[0002] Electricity meters are commonly used metering devices in power systems, widely applied in residential, industrial, and commercial settings, primarily for measuring electricity consumption. Electricity meters are equipped with terminal protective covers to shield the wiring terminals, ensuring electrical safety and preventing unauthorized alterations to the wiring.

[0003] However, most commercially available electricity meter terminal protective covers use traditional lead-sealed screws and ordinary locking pins for fastening. These locking structures can be disassembled by rotating them with tools. After unauthorized personnel open the protective cover and tamper with the wiring, they leave almost no obvious traces, making supervision difficult and demonstrating weak tamper-proof capabilities. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a highly reliable tamper-proof locking structure for electricity meters that can retain evidence of tampering. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention solves the problems mentioned in the background art by setting an anti-tampering lock pin with a fracture induction section, an anti-rotation matching section and a one-way locking section, and by using a terminal protective cover, an energy meter base and an adapter cavity structure on the main housing of the instrument to achieve the effects of anti-rotation, one-way anti-pull-out and disassembly leaving traces.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows: an anti-tampering locking structure for an electricity meter, including an electricity meter base, and further comprising: The tamper-proof lock pin has, from top to bottom, a head, a breakage induction section, an anti-rotation engagement section, and a one-way locking section. Terminal protective cover is connected to the main housing of the instrument. It has a mounting hole and a guide sleeve extending from the mounting hole to the base of the energy meter. The guide sleeve has an upper receiving cavity adapted to the fracture induction section and a lower anti-rotation cavity adapted to the anti-rotation matching section. The base of the energy meter is provided with a locking groove coaxially with the guide sleeve. The locking groove is provided with a base anti-rotation cavity and a one-way locking cavity respectively adapted to the anti-rotation matching section and the one-way locking section. After the tamper-proof locking pin is inserted into the guide sleeve and the locking groove, the anti-rotation mating section simultaneously engages with the lower anti-rotation cavity and the base anti-rotation cavity, and the one-way locking section and the one-way locking cavity form a one-way irreversible interference fit.

[0006] The present invention is further configured such that the fracture induction section is a fracture induction groove formed on the anti-tampering lock rod.

[0007] The present invention is further configured such that the top of the mounting hole of the terminal protective cover is provided with a head receiving groove, the head of the anti-tampering lock nail is housed in the head receiving groove, and there is no tool mating structure on the head surface.

[0008] The present invention is further configured such that the outer diameter of the rod segment in which the fracture induction section is located is greater than the outer diameter of the anti-rotation mating section.

[0009] The present invention is further configured such that the anti-rotation mating section is a columnar structure with a polygonal cross-section.

[0010] The present invention is further configured such that the one-way locking section is composed of multiple layers of conical rings with diameters decreasing sequentially from top to bottom, and the outer edges of each conical ring form radial locking edges.

[0011] The present invention is further configured such that the terminal protective cover is connected to the main housing of the instrument via a hinged structure.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects that this utility model can achieve are: 1. By interlocking the anti-rotation section of the anti-tamper lock pin with the corresponding cavity of the guide sleeve and the energy meter base, the circumferential rotation of the lock pin is restricted, thus improving the anti-rotation and detachment capability.

[0013] 2. By forming a one-way irreversible interference fit between the tamper-proof locking section of the locking pin and the one-way locking cavity of the base, the locking pin is prevented from being pulled out axially, thus improving the locking stability.

[0014] 3. By creating a directional fracture structure through the fracture-inducing segment on the anti-tamper lock stud, clear damage marks will be left when forcibly disassembled, thus improving the tamper detection effect. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the anti-tamper lock nail of this utility model.

[0016] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Electricity meter base; 2. Anti-tampering lock pin; 20. Head; 21. Fracture induction section; 210. Fracture induction groove; 22. Anti-rotation mating section; 23. One-way locking section; 3. Terminal protective cover; 4. Instrument main housing; 5. Guide sleeve; 6. Upper receiving cavity; 7. Lower anti-rotation cavity; 8. Locking groove; 80. Base anti-rotation cavity; 81. One-way locking cavity; 9. Head receiving groove; 10. Conical ring. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. See also: Figure 1-3 : Example 1:

[0018] This embodiment provides an anti-tampering locking structure for an electricity meter, including an electricity meter base 1, and further comprising: The tamper-proof lock pin 2 has, from top to bottom, a head 20, a fracture induction section 21, an anti-rotation engagement section 22, and a one-way locking section 23; Terminal protective cover 3 is connected to the main housing 4 of the instrument. It has a mounting hole and a guide sleeve 5 extends from the mounting hole to the base 1 of the energy meter. The guide sleeve 5 has an upper receiving cavity 6 adapted to the fracture induction section 21 and a lower anti-rotation cavity 7 adapted to the anti-rotation matching section 22. The base 1 of the electricity meter is provided with a locking groove 8 coaxial with the guide sleeve 5. The locking groove 8 is provided with a base anti-rotation cavity 80 and a one-way locking cavity 81 that are respectively adapted to the anti-rotation fitting section 22 and the one-way locking section 23. After the tamper-proof locking pin 2 is inserted into the guide sleeve 5 and the locking groove 8, the anti-rotation mating section 22 simultaneously engages with the lower anti-rotation cavity 7 and the base anti-rotation cavity 80, and the one-way locking section 23 and the one-way locking cavity 81 form a one-way irreversible interference fit.

[0019] This embodiment is applied to the terminal protection area of ​​an electricity meter, and the whole consists of four parts: the main housing 4 of the meter, the base 1 of the electricity meter, the terminal protective cover 3, and the anti-tampering locking pin 2. The terminal protective cover 3, as a protective component for the terminal, can be opened and closed, and is locked after being closed by the anti-tampering locking pin 2. The overall structure relies on the cooperation between the various components to achieve the effect of preventing disassembly and tampering. It should be noted that the unidirectional irreversible interference fit means that the structure can only be inserted axially and cannot be pulled out in the opposite direction.

[0020] The base 1 of the electricity meter is located at the lower part of the electricity meter and together with the main housing 4 of the meter, forms the overall outer shell structure of the electricity meter, mainly used to support the wiring terminals of the electricity meter. A locking groove 8 is provided on the end face of the base 1 facing the terminal protective cover 3. The locking groove 8 extends vertically, and its internal space forms a base anti-rotation cavity 80 and a one-way locking cavity 81 from top to bottom. The base anti-rotation cavity 80 is located in the upper area of ​​the locking groove 8, and the internal contour of the cavity is used to match the shape of the corresponding rod. The one-way locking cavity 81 is located in the lower area of ​​the locking groove 8, and the cavity structure is used to achieve one-way clamping of the rod. The overall axis of the locking groove 8 coincides with the axis of the corresponding structure on the terminal protective cover 3.

[0021] The terminal protective cover 3 is a cover-type structure that can completely cover the wiring terminals of the energy meter when closed, providing physical protection for live parts. One edge of the terminal protective cover 3 is connected to the main housing 4 of the meter via a hinge structure, while the remaining area is a free end. A mounting hole is provided on the surface of the free end. A tubular guide sleeve 5 extends integrally from the mounting hole towards the energy meter base 1. The guide sleeve 5 is arranged along the axis of the locking groove 8, and its internal space is divided from top to bottom into an upper receiving cavity 6 and a lower anti-rotation cavity 7. The internal contour of the upper receiving cavity 6 is used to adapt to the upper section structure of the corresponding rod, and the internal contour of the lower anti-rotation cavity 7 is used to match the shape of the corresponding rod. A head 20 receiving cavity is also machined at the top of the mounting hole. This cavity is recessed on the outer surface of the terminal protective cover 3 to accommodate the top structure of the locking rod. When the terminal protective cover 3 is rotated around the hinge to a fully closed state, the mounting hole, the guide sleeve 5, and the locking groove 8 on the energy meter base 1 will be coaxially aligned.

[0022] The tamper-proof locking pin 2 is an integral long rod structure and is the core component for locking and tamper-proofing. The rod, along its length, is divided into a head 20, a fracture induction section 21, an anti-rotation mating section 22, and a one-way locking section 23 from top to bottom. The top of the locking pin is the head 20, which is entirely housed within the head 20 receiving cavity of the terminal protective cover 3. The outer surface of the head 20 lacks screwdriver slots, wrench holders, or other structures that allow tools to apply force, making it impossible to clamp or twist the head 20 using conventional tools. Below the head 20 is the fracture induction section 21. The outer diameter of this section is larger than that of the anti-rotation mating section 22 below. A fracture induction groove 210 is formed on the rod body. The fracture induction section 21 is entirely located inside the upper receiving cavity 6 of the guide sleeve 5. The function of this structure is to cause the rod to fracture at this location when subjected to external forces exceeding the normal range. Below the fracture induction section 21 is the anti-rotation mating section 22. The rod in this section is a columnar structure with a polygonal cross-section. The rod is simultaneously embedded in the lower anti-rotation cavity 7 of the guide sleeve 5 and the base anti-rotation cavity 80 of the energy meter base 1. The outer wall of the rod fits against the inner wall of the two cavities, thereby restricting the entire locking nail from circumferential rotation. The lowest part of the locking pin is a one-way locking section 23, which is composed of multiple tapered rings 10 whose diameter gradually decreases from top to bottom, stacked one after another. The outer edge of each tapered ring 10 forms a radial retaining edge. The one-way locking section 23 is placed inside the one-way locking cavity 81 of the energy meter base 1. This structure and the one-way locking cavity 81 cooperate to form a one-way irreversible interference fit: when the rod is inserted axially downward, the tapered ring 10 can undergo a small deformation and pass smoothly through the cavity. When the rod is subjected to an axial upward pulling force, the radial retaining edge of the outer edge of the tapered ring 10 will jam against the inner wall of the cavity, preventing the rod from being pulled out.

[0023] During assembly, the terminal protective cover 3 is first flipped around the hinge to the closed position, so that the guide sleeve 5 and the locking groove 8 of the energy meter base 1 are coaxial. Then, the anti-tampering locking pin 2 is inserted downward along the axis from one end of the head 20. The locking pin passes through the receiving cavity of the head 20, the mounting hole, and the guide sleeve 5 in sequence, and finally extends into the inside of the locking groove 8. During the insertion process, the conical ring 10 of the one-way locking section 23 is deformed by the pressure of the inner wall of the cavity and smoothly enters the one-way locking cavity 81. When the locking pin is fully assembled, the anti-rotation mating section 22 simultaneously engages with the lower anti-rotation cavity 7 and the base anti-rotation cavity 80. The one-way locking section 23 returns to its shape and forms a tight fit with the one-way locking cavity 81. The fracture induction section 21 remains inside the upper receiving cavity 6, and the head 20 is completely housed in the receiving cavity of the head 20. The entire assembly operation is completed.

[0024] When the device is in normal use, the terminal protective cover 3 remains closed, and the anti-tampering locking pin 2 is positioned through the cooperation of multiple cavities. The fit between the anti-rotation mating section 22 and the two anti-rotation cavities prevents the anti-tampering locking pin 2 from rotating circumferentially; the interference fit between the one-way locking section 23 and the one-way locking cavity 81 prevents the anti-tampering locking pin 2 from being pulled out axially; the locking pin limits the terminal protective cover 3, and the terminal protective cover 3 is blocked by the locking pin and cannot be flipped open around the hinge, so the terminal is always in a protected state of being shielded.

[0025] If anyone attempts to pry or pull the tamper-proof lock pin 2 or forcibly open the terminal protective cover 3 without authorization, the external force will be concentrated on the fracture induction section 21 of the tamper-proof lock pin 2. Under the influence of the external force, the fracture induction section 21 will break along the fracture induction groove 210. After the lock pin breaks, obvious damage marks will be formed, which visually shows that the device has been disassembled without authorization, and the upper part of the broken lock pin can no longer play a locking role.

[0026] When power workers need to perform routine maintenance or repairs on the electricity meter terminals, they can apply external force to the tamper-proof locking pin 2 to cause the fracture induction section 21 to break. The upper part of the locking pin can then be removed from the guide sleeve 5. At this point, the terminal protective cover 3 loses the locking pin's restraint and can be opened normally around the hinge, allowing workers to access the terminals for work. After the work is completed, the terminal protective cover 3 is closed again, a new tamper-proof locking pin 2 is replaced, and the assembly is completed, restoring the device to its locked and protective state.

[0027] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present utility model. Therefore, all equivalent changes made to the structure, shape, and principle of the present utility model should be covered within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An electricity meter anti-tampering locking structure, comprising an electricity meter base (1) and a meter main housing (4), characterized in that, Also includes: The tamper-proof lock pin (2) is provided with a head (20), a fracture induction section (21), an anti-rotation mating section (22) and a one-way locking section (23) from top to bottom. Terminal protective cover (3) is connected to the main housing (4) of the instrument. It has a mounting hole and a guide sleeve (5) extends from the mounting hole to the base (1) of the energy meter. The guide sleeve (5) has an upper receiving cavity (6) adapted to the fracture induction section (21) and a lower anti-rotation cavity (7) adapted to the anti-rotation matching section (22). The base (1) of the energy meter is provided with a locking groove (8) coaxial with the guide sleeve (5). The locking groove (8) is provided with a base anti-rotation cavity (80) and a one-way locking cavity (81) respectively adapted to the anti-rotation matching section (22) and the one-way locking section (23). After the anti-tampering lock pin (2) is inserted into the guide sleeve (5) and the locking groove (8), the anti-rotation mating section (22) simultaneously engages with the lower anti-rotation cavity (7) and the base anti-rotation cavity (80), and the one-way locking section (23) and the one-way locking cavity (81) form a one-way irreversible interference fit.

2. The tamper-resistant locking structure of the electric energy meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fracture induction section (21) is a fracture induction groove (210) opened on the anti-tampering lock nail (2) rod.

3. The tamper-resistant locking structure of the electric energy meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal protective cover (3) has a head (20) receiving groove at the top of the mounting hole. The head (20) of the anti-tamper lock nail (2) is stored in the head (20) receiving groove, and there is no tool fitting structure on the surface of the head (20).

4. The tamper-resistant locking structure of the electric energy meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the rod segment where the fracture induction section (21) is located is greater than the outer diameter of the anti-rotation mating section (22).

5. The tamper-resistant locking structure of an electric energy meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The anti-rotation section (22) is a columnar structure with a polygonal cross-section.

6. The tamper-resistant locking structure of an electric energy meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one-way locking section (23) is composed of multiple tapered rings (10) with diameters decreasing sequentially from top to bottom, and the outer edges of each tapered ring (10) form radial locking edges.

7. The tamper-resistant locking structure of an electric energy meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal protective cover (3) is connected to the main housing (4) of the instrument via a hinge structure.

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