External Actuator Watthour Meter Socket Adapter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical power service apparatus with internally mounted power switching devices face space constraints when employing safety shields, leading to reduced shielding effectiveness and interference issues during watthour meter installation, and lack a robust and easy-to-use external actuation mechanism for power disconnect devices.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with a pivotal rocker power switch and an actuator that includes a lever for external actuation, allowing a compact mounting of the power disconnect device and safety shield, enabling unmodified safety shield usage and robust external power control without interference, while maintaining full shielding capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a power disconnect device with cubical shape is mounted in the socket adapter housing, then the power switching function is provided, but the height from the back wall to the rocker switch exceeds the available space when a safety shield is installed
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism transforms the traditional front-facing rocker switch operation into a side-mounted external lever operation. By extending the actuation interface to the side wall of the housing, the design bypasses the depth constraint imposed by the safety shield, allowing full actuation capability while maintaining compact mounting within the available space envelope.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a safety shield is mounted over the jaw contacts and power disconnect device, then protection against inadvertent contact is provided, but the shield interferes with the back wall of the watthour meter and requires cutting away portions
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation interface is extracted from the front surface of the power disconnect device and repositioned to the side wall of the housing. This extraction allows the safety shield to remain intact and unmodified, as the actuator operates through an aperture in the side wall rather than requiring access to the front surface, thereby maintaining full shielding capabilities without complexity of modification.
3Ease of operation
If the rocker switch is mounted on the front surface of the power disconnect device, then the switching function is accessible, but the external actuation mechanism lacks robustness and ease of use
Solution Approach 1:
An external lever actuator serves as an intermediary between the user and the rocker switch mechanism. This lever provides a larger mechanical advantage and more robust actuation interface compared to direct rocker manipulation, while still effectively operating the power switching function through the coupled actuator mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a compact and safe electrical power service apparatus that allows easy installation of watthour meters without modifying the safety shield, offering robust and user-friendly external power control while maintaining effective shielding, thus addressing space constraints and interference issues.
Implementation Method 1
An actuator is pivotally disposed in the housing. The actuator has a first portion coupled to the rocker member of the power switch for joint movement with the actuator.
Data Source
AI summary
A watthour meter socket adapter includes a housing having internal jaw contacts and external blade terminals. A power switch is electrically connected between the jaw contacts and the blade terminals. A rocker member on the power switch faces a side of the housing. An actuator is mounted in the housing and has a first end coupled to the rocker member for simultaneous movement of the rocker member and the actuator. A second end of the actuator extends through an aperture in the side of the housing allowing external manipulation of the actuator and the rocker member to indicate and/or manipulate the on and off state of the power switch. An electrically insulating safety shield may be mounted over the exposed portions of the jaw contacts and the conducting elements in the housing. Optional lock features may be provided to lock the actuator in the “on” or “off” positions.