Electricity Meter Sealable Cover for Label Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electricity meters require complex structures with movable housing parts and separate seals to protect the compartment for the label, making them cumbersome and difficult to handle for both installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The electricity meter design incorporates a sealable cover that doubles as protection for the compartment, allowing the label to be inserted through an opening between two housing parts without needing additional movable parts, ensuring secure access only when the cover is not mounted or has been removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable housing part and separate seal are used to protect the compartment, then the compartment is protected from unauthorized access, but the structure becomes complex and handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of the sealable cover with the compartment protection function. The sealable cover is designed to simultaneously seal the opening for inserting the sign and protect the compartment containing sensitive components, eliminating the need for a separate movable housing part and separate seal mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealable cover serves multiple functions: it seals the opening for sign insertion, protects the compartment from unauthorized access, and provides a tamper-evident seal. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining protection reliability.
2Reliability
If a movable housing part and separate seal are used to protect the compartment, then the compartment is protected from unauthorized access, but handling during installation and maintenance becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the sign insertion opening seal with the compartment protection cover, the patent enables service technicians to access the compartment through the same cover used for sealing, simplifying maintenance procedures while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealable cover is designed to be removed or opened before installation is complete, allowing the sign to be inserted through the opening. After the sign is in place, the cover is sealed, providing protection without requiring additional steps during maintenance.
3Reliability
If the opening is covered by the sealable cover, then tamper-proof security is maintained, but access to the compartment requires removing the cover
Solution Approach 1:
The sealable cover serves as both a security seal and an access point. When removed or opened, it provides access to the compartment for authorized service personnel, while when sealed, it provides tamper-proof protection. This eliminates the need for separate access mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The meter has a housing with a first housing portion (10) with a viewing window (16) and a second housing portion (12). A tray is arranged behind the viewing window and between the first housing portion and the second housing portion for receiving a shield. The shield is read for reproducing numerator information by the viewing window. The tray is protected before unauthorized access. The housing is provided with an aperture, which is covered by a lockable cover (56) to insert the shield into the tray without removing the housing portions from each other.