Meter Housing Rear Recess for Cable Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing meter housings face challenges in simplified mechanical and electrical installation, especially when multiple housings are adjacent and additional modules are required, due to complex cable routing in limited spaces.

Innovation Solution

The meter housing design features a front and rear housing part with an open recess at the meter assembly station, allowing lines for wired communication to be routed and protected within the housing, enabling space-saving installation and secure line management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional modules are installed in meter housings, then functionality and adaptability are improved, but cable routing complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcable routing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cable access opening in the rear housing wall, creating a new spatial dimension for cable entry. This allows cables to approach the additional module from the rear direction rather than requiring complex routing through the front or side, effectively adding a dimensional pathway that simplifies installation when multiple modules are present

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If multiple meter housings are arranged adjacently, then space utilization is improved, but cable management difficulty and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cable access function by providing dedicated cable access openings in the rear housing wall that are spatially separated from the main housing body. This segmentation allows each meter housing to manage its own cables independently through the rear opening, preventing cable entanglement and simplifying installation when multiple housings are arranged adjacently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If cables are routed externally between meter housings, then installation flexibility is maintained, but protection of sensitive components and aesthetic appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidcomponent protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests the cable routing path within the housing structure itself by creating a cable access opening that leads from the rear exterior into the interior space. This allows cables to be routed through the housing wall and concealed within the housing structure, providing protection while maintaining installation flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3789774A1Meter housing
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 SEMAX AG
  • EP3789774A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3789774A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3789774A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A meter housing (1) according to the present invention for a device for recording the consumption of a utility, such as electricity, water, heat, cold, or gas, comprises a front housing part (2a) which completely encloses an interior space (3) of the meter housing (1) with a rear housing part (2b), wherein this interior space (3) contains a consumption recording device with an associated evaluation unit in an inaccessible manner, the rear housing part (2b) being oriented on its side facing away from the front housing part (2a) towards a meter mounting location, wherein a connection unit (5) for the consumption is arranged on a first housing wall (4a) of this rear housing part (2b) projecting into the interior space (3), and wherein the rear housing part (2b) has a second housing wall (4b) opposite the first housing wall (4a).and the first housing wall (4a) is connected to the second housing wall (4b) via a third housing wall (4c) and a fourth housing wall (4d), wherein the rear housing part (2b) has a first recess (6) open to the meter mounting location on its side facing the meter mounting location, which first recess (6) is designed such that one or more lines (7a, b, c, d, e) can be arranged in it, and which line (7a, b, c, d, e) can be covered with the meter housing (1) at the meter mounting location in a way that makes it inaccessible from the outside.