Electric Meter Rear Access for Fraud Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fraudulent methods, such as short-circuiting or diverting phases of the distribution network, can reduce electricity bills, and existing electric meter designs do not adequately prevent unauthorized access or tampering with upstream connections.
Innovation Solution
An electric meter design with upstream access located on the rear face, which is inaccessible when installed against a vertical support, and downstream access on the front face, along with specific installation methods that secure the meter to a vertical support or hinge system, ensuring the upstream connections are protected from fraudulent manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upstream connection means are made accessible for installation and maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of fraud and unauthorized tampering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the connection means into two distinct segments: upstream connection means (connected to distribution network) and downstream connection means (connected to installation). Each segment has its own dedicated access point on the housing. This segmentation allows the upstream connections to be protected by positioning their access on the rear face, while downstream connections remain accessible on the front face, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the spatial dimension by positioning the upstream access on the rear face of the housing and the downstream access on the front face. This dimensional separation ensures that during normal installation against a vertical support, the upstream access becomes inaccessible, while downstream access remains available. This spatial arrangement effectively addresses the fraud risk without compromising operational ease.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the upstream access is positioned on the rear face to prevent fraud, then the fraud risk is reduced, but the ease of installation and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary action by designing the installation process to connect upstream conductors to the upstream connection means before the housing is finally fixed to the vertical support. This allows installers to access the upstream connection means during the installation phase when the rear face is still accessible, while preventing future unauthorized access once the meter is properly installed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If separate access points are provided for upstream and downstream connections, then the fraud prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it protects the internal components, provides mounting surfaces for connection means, and acts as a security barrier by positioning the upstream access on the rear face. The single housing unit performs all these functions simultaneously, avoiding the need for additional separate structures and thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving fraud prevention.
Data Source
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AI summary
Electricity meter arranged to measure the electricity consumption of an installation, the electricity meter (10) being further arranged to be connected to at least one pair of conductors comprising an upstream conductor (11) belonging to a distribution network and a downstream conductor (12) belonging to the installation, the electricity meter comprising: - a casing (13) arranged to be fixed to a vertical support, the casing comprising a rear face (18) intended to be positioned against the vertical support; - connection means integrated inside the casing and comprising, for each pair of conductors, a pair of connection means comprising an upstream connection means (20) arranged to be connected to the upstream conductor of said pair of conductors, and a downstream connection means (21) arranged to be connected to the downstream conductor of said pair of conductors;- an upstream access (25) allowing access, from outside the electric meter, to the upstream connection means, the upstream access being located on the rear face of the box.;