Watthour Meter Block with Safety Shield and Pre-wired Jumper Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watthour meter sockets require cumbersome jig fixtures for wiring connections and do not provide adequate finger safety during testing, as they lack a non-conductive shield to prevent contact with live components.
Innovation Solution
A watthour meter block with a non-conductive safety shield and pre-assembled wiring that uses jumper wires to connect the meter block jaws to a test switch, eliminating the need for unique fixtures and ensuring finger-safe operation by using colored wires for easy identification and connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a prior art watthour meter socket uses individual wiring bent about the perimeter of the cabinet, then the wiring can connect meter block terminals to test switch terminals, but the wiring is exposed and requires a cover to shield it
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring is routed through the interior of the meter block housing, nesting the wiring within the housing structure rather than having it externally exposed. This eliminates the need for a separate cover to shield the wiring while maintaining safe enclosure.
2Ease of operation
If the watthour meter block does not include a non-conductive shield, then the structure remains simple, but finger contact with live conductive components is possible during testing
Solution Approach 1:
A non-conductive shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the operator's fingers and the live conductive components. This shield prevents direct contact with electrical hazards while allowing the testing operation to proceed, resolving the safety issue without fundamentally redesigning the electrical connection system.
3Manufacturing precision
If unique fixtures are used for wiring connections in prior art sockets, then specific wiring configurations can be achieved, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring is pre-assembled and pre-configured within the meter block housing before final installation. This preliminary action allows the wiring to be properly configured without requiring complex fixtures during the final assembly process, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while significantly improving assembly productivity.
4Ease of manufacture
If wiring is individually bent and connected in prior art sockets, then each connection can be made, but the process requires cumbersome jig fixtures and is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wiring connections are merged into a single pre-assembled unit within the meter block housing. Instead of requiring separate fixture operations for each individual wire bending and connection, all wiring is integrated and pre-configured as one assembly, eliminating the need for cumbersome jig fixtures and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.