Segmented Electric Meter Housing for Live Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric meters require removal from service for maintenance, causing inconvenience, regulatory issues, and safety concerns due to line voltage and current, with current solutions leading to service interruptions and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
An electric meter design featuring a meter body engageable with a socket without breaking a first seal, and an outer cover that can be removed without disconnecting from the socket, allowing access to internal components for maintenance without exposing line voltage or current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the meter is removed from service for maintenance, then access to internal components is achieved, but service interruption occurs and safety risks increase due to line voltage exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The meter housing is divided into two separable parts: a fixed meter body that remains engaged with the meter socket and maintains electrical connection, and a removable outer cover that provides access to internal components. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access the electronic components, circuit boards, and other internal elements by simply removing the outer cover, while the meter remains connected to the power supply and continues to measure electricity consumption.
2Ease of repair
If the meter is removed from service for maintenance, then access to internal components is achieved, but safety concerns arise due to line voltage and current
Solution Approach 1:
The housing segmentation isolates the high-voltage components within the fixed meter body that remains connected to the power supply, while the removable outer cover contains only low-voltage electronic components and control elements. This design allows maintenance personnel to work on the meter's electronic systems without exposing themselves to dangerous line voltage and current.
3Ease of repair
If the meter is removed from service for maintenance, then access to internal components is achieved, but cost and manpower increase
Solution Approach 1:
The removable outer cover design enables rapid access to internal components without the time-consuming process of completely disassembling the meter or arranging for its removal from the service location. Maintenance personnel can quickly remove the cover, perform necessary repairs or inspections, and replace the cover, significantly reducing maintenance time and improving productivity.
4Ease of repair
If the meter is removed from service for maintenance, then access to internal components is achieved, but regulatory issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed meter body maintains continuous engagement with the meter socket and uninterrupted electrical connection, ensuring that the meter remains in an active, measurable state throughout the maintenance process. This eliminates regulatory issues related to service interruption and simplifies compliance with utility regulations that require continuous meter operation and accurate electricity consumption measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of an electric meter are described herein. In some embodiments, the electric meter includes a meter body suitable to enclose an electric meter assembly, engageable with a meter socket which cannot be removed from the meter socket without breaking of a first seal. The electric meter also includes an outer cover engaged with the meter body to be removable from the meter body without removal of the meter body from the meter socket and without breaking of the first seal, wherein the meter body and the outer cover are dimensioned and arranged such that removal of the outer cover from the meter body provides access to test, repair manipulate, or replace one or more internal components disposed on or within the meter body.