Socket-Jaw Protection Module for Electric Meter Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric meter sockets are prone to damage from improper installation or wear, leading to arcing issues that can cause fires and result in ambiguous fault determination, necessitating a solution that does not require excessive technician time or additional tools for inspection.
Innovation Solution
A socket-jaw protection module integrated into the electric meter, featuring a sensor and computing module that collects data on the installation force and alignment of blades within the socket, providing real-time feedback and alerts to technicians to ensure proper clamping force and reduce the risk of hot sockets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection with additional tools is used to measure clamping force, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the clamping force measurement function directly into the meter socket structure by integrating a sensor between the jaw and the blade. This eliminates the need for separate external measurement tools, as the measurement capability is merged into the existing socket assembly, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The meter socket performs self-measurement of clamping force through the integrated sensor, eliminating the need for external technicians to bring additional measurement tools. The system serves its own measurement needs internally, improving ease of operation while maintaining accurate clamping force detection.
2Measurement precision
If manual inspection with additional tools is used to measure clamping force, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated sensor enables the meter socket to automatically measure and report clamping force without requiring technician intervention with external tools. This automation eliminates time-consuming manual inspection steps, significantly improving productivity while maintaining accurate measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides real-time feedback on clamping force measurements directly to the installation process, allowing technicians to immediately verify proper installation without separate measurement steps. This integrated feedback loop eliminates redundant time-consuming operations while ensuring measurement precision.
3Reliability
If integrated sensor is used to collect installation data, then reliability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is merged into the existing meter socket structure, combining the measurement function with the installation component rather than adding a completely separate system. This integration approach improves reliability by ensuring the sensor is properly positioned during installation while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through shared structural elements.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is a device, which comprises a meter portion having one or more blades, the blades configured to reside within both a premises-side opening and a utility-side opening within a socket, a supply unit connected to the meter portion, a metering unit connected to the supply unit and configured to measure an amount of electricity that passes through the meter portion, and a sensor connected to the meter portion, wherein when the meter portion is placed in the socket, the sensor collects data associated with the placing of the meter portion in the socket.