US2534449A - Reversible jaw for meter boxes and the like - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1950. JQHANSSQN 2,534,449

REVERSIBLE JAW FOR METER BOXES AND THELIKE Filed March 3, 1949 i aten ted 15cc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE J AW FOR METER BOXES AND THE LIKE Ernest G. Johansson, Belmont, Mass., assignor to Anchor Manufacturing Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 3, 1949, Serial No. 79,382

8 Claims. 1 This invention relates to electrical connection boxes and more particularly to boxes of the type having jaws adapted to connect with the correlated blades of an electric meter.

Objects of this invention are to provide an electrical connection box which provides mechanical support for an electric meter, which 'conjointly connects the meter to its associated electric circuits, which accommodates the meter when mounted in eithera vertical or horizontal position, which maintains the connecting jaws in proper spaced relationship to mate with the correlated meter blades, which incorporates jaw spacing means of such configuration as to be readily manufactured from weather resistant insulating materials including ceramic, which is rugged and weather resistant, which is simple to install, and which advances the art generally.

In a broad aspect the invention contemplates a connection box for an electric meterof the projects the body of a bolt. The end of the bolt projecting beyond the jaw bottom portion en.

gages athreaded aperture of a nut with a' tab;

type having one or more contact blades for com- 'pleting the circuit thereto comprising a casing "to which is secured an insulating block. A conducting strap having an aperture therein'and -a plurality of recesses equally distanced from the y axis of the aperture is mounted upon theblock.

A jaw assembly adapted to receive the blade'includes a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the strap with an aperture aligned with the strap aperture through which apertures projects the body of a bolt. The projecting end of the bolt engages a threaded aperture of a nut with a tab for selectively engaging one of the recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned with respect to the strap to accommodate the blade of the meter.

In another aspect the invention contemplates a connection box for an electric meter comprising a casing having a closed end with an insulating block secured thereto. An aperture in each end.

of the block is aligned with an aperture in a re- 'spective conducting strap, which also has two :recesses equally distanced from the axis of its aperture angularly spaced 90 degrees from each other. Fastened to each strap is a respective jaw assembly which is adapted to receive a correlated meter blade. Each jaw assembly includes a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the correlated strap with aperture aligned with the strap aperture through which aperture projects the body of a bolt. The end of the bolt projecting beyond the jaw bottom portion engages a threaded aperture of a nut with a tab for selectively engaging one or the other of the recesses whereby each jaw can be positioned to to receive a correlated blade is mountedfo companying drawing in which accommodate the meter with the casing mounted in either a vertical or horizontal position.

In a further aspect of the invention the connection box comprises a casing to which is secured an insulating block having two centricall'y located recesses therein. Two conducting straps are mounted on the respective ends of the block.- Each of the straps includes a finger at one end thereof for engaging a correlated block reces'srfajnf aperture through the other end thereoLan'd a plurality of recesses equally distancedfronithe' Y axis of said aperture. A jaw assembly adap ed" of the respective straps. Each jaw assem cludes a jaw having a bottom portion a' tt" the correlated strap with an' aperture; w with the strap aperture through which aper for selectively engaging one or the other of the; v strap recesses whereby the jaw can be positionedwith respect to the strap to accommodate the correlated blade of the meter.

In a specific aspect the connection box pomprises a casing having a closed end with .aninsulating block secured thereto. The block has two centrically located recesses therein and an aperture through each end thereof.

Two .conducting straps are mounted on the respective ends;

of the block. Each of the straps has a finger at one end thereof for engaging a correlated reces-- yin the block and an aperture through'theothcr end thereof aligned with the correlated blockaperture. The apertured end of each strap. has; two recesses equally distanced from the axis at "said'aperture angularly spaced degrees from each other. A jaw assembly adapted to receive a correlated blade is mounted on each of the re- 7 law member having a bottom portion abutting Fig. l is a front elevation view of the. connection box;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the insulating block;

Fig. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the jaw assembly arranged to accommodate a meter blade when the casing is mounted vertically; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the jaw assembly arranged to accommodate a meter blade when the casing is mounted horizontally.

In the particular embodimentof the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration the connection box comprises a casing Ill (Fig. 1) having a substantially cylindrical shell or wall H with a closed rear end 12. The front end oithecasing I is open and is provided with an outwardly extending flange l3 which is adapted to connect with a similar flange of a meter M as will be described in detail hereinafter. Two diametrically opposed apertures are provided in the wall II to accommodate the end of therespective bushings which are secured to the casing by'sw'aging as 'at"|6'. Each of'thefbushings [4 has an internal thread" ll (Fig. 2) "for "engaging the external threadson the endor a conduit Cwherebythe "electrical conductors (not shown) connecting "with the meter are carried to the connection box. Permanently riveted to the end l2 as at I is a plate lflhaving an offset central portion [9 (Fig 1)ffor avoiding 'a knockout'2l in the casing end ,llwhich may be removed to provide an aperture Iqtgiafbushing similar to it whenever it is desir- .able to introduce the connecting conductors through the'end rathertha'rithrough 'the wan of thecasing l3. 'Fastened to the end 12 and proseating through an aperture in the offset portion ls'or theplate la is a terminarzo for connecting a'grfamding conductor (not shown) for the cas- At the ends of the plate 18 are secured there- 'ispective insulating blocks" 22. Each block' 22 r is "securedby'ascrew23 which projects through an .fl r ure 24 (Fig. 3) in a central barrier 26 to v ps a a r ue a d tl eor e a ede jofthe D1ate'l8'. As shown in Fig.3, a slotted "aperture 21 is provided in each end of the block 2:ror ascrewzapr a jaw assembly 30, the aperture being enlarged as at 29 (Fig. 2) to accomf'modate thescrew head.

The details of the jaw assembly m are more clearly illustrated in the enlarged isometric views fiihIFlg'sJ'l and 5. Eachjaw assembly 30 includes a "conducting" strap 3|, a jaw member 32 and a 'rectangulanhut 33 having a"tab 35 projecting from; nefof' the shorter sides thereof selectively lto en'gage either slot'35a or 35b in the endofthe strap an as will be describedfin detailheriein- 111 V Qne end of the strap 3| is formed into a can:

necting terminal or 1118 34 which is substantially cubical in shape, two opposing sides thereof being "eliminated so that a conductor(notshownifcan be inserted therein. The, conductor" is secured. by a set screw 36 which threadingly engages an 'aperture in the top of the lug'34. The bottom "portion of the lug 34 is provided with jafinger :31 which projects downwardly'into a recess 38 in the block 22. The opposite end'of the strap 3| is provided with an aperture 39 forerig'aging the body of the screw 28 whereby: the strap rests upon the top of the blOCkjZ with" its 111% adjacent the central insulating, barrier 26. A similar barrier 4| (Fig. "1) extends" ntr'mauy'; fromthe d of the barrier 25 so that it is'aa aam which projects the screw 28 so that said bottom portion abuts the top surface of the strap 3|.

The rectangular nut 33 is provided with a threaded aperture 43 for engaging the end of the screw 28 and @is proportioned to fit snugly between the spring portions 43 of the jaw member 32 so that there is substantially no relative rotary movement therebetween. The tab 35 projects downwardly over the edge of the bottom 42 of the jaw member 32,toengageselectively either the recess sea or 352). Whenjthe jaw member 32 and the straps! are assembled as inFigJl, the tab 35 engages. the recess 35a so that thejjaw assembly 30 is positioned to accommodate the correlated meter blade whenth'e casing H1 is connected to the vertically.disposedconduits C as 'i's'shown in Fig. l. .The recess 35b. is, angularly spaced at degrees from the recess35aandthe respectivebottoms thereof are equally distanced from'the axis of'th'e aperture39'. When the'ca'sihg I0 is connected to horizontally disposed conduits C,'lthe jaw assembly 30 is arran edwith the tab engaging the recess"35b1as".isshown in"Fig.l 5 so that the meter blades'are accommodatedthereby. With the above, arrangement of the l jaw assembly 30, it is possiblefquickly and easily to change the orientation itnereor so that the'connection box will accommodatethebladesfbf a meter M with the be): disposed in either a vertical or horizontal position. I I

. To provide adequate contact between the meter blades and the correlative jawassemblies "3 0, the

spacing between such" assemblies mustbe closelyniaint'ained. With'the box positioned as in- Fig.'

1,the horizontal spacing introduces noparticular. problem as it is determined largely by the distance between the tapped holes'in the plate I!) rp'r the 'scfv'vs ]e meni jr ii fifis reed rmelntained within close limits whenthelplate is stamped. The vertical spacing H between the i aw assemblies at is a e it pri a ri thelml n facturing tolerances of respective insul ing blocks 22. As these blocks 22- are, for insulating properties; dielectric and mechanical ;strength a h r. e istan e. prsiereb pfa cera material. the problem; of maintaining the ldiq ewe ca sette ;nemesis is a seriousone. The relative positions of theiaw assemblies an is therefore maintained "a. the

e Whih project m ghe eas sage- ,trically positionedTwithrespect to-the bloc 22, apertures s ated s le homema- "fereiwifih'tfie Sp i flin in 9 therec sses v- As the dimension between the; recesses 38d hfe rsieeisme erea. allowable" limits during manutacture than tl ie 1 m a er;qifiin itbe wesh. haslettdl ren tures 21.

"The box is installed verticallyv or horiaontally depending li bn the .conduit'fconfiguration by 'con'diiits'C are coupled to the box by means oi the bushings l4 and the electrical conductors drawn therethrough. The jaw assemblies 30 are oriented to accommodate the meter blades by removing the insulating blocks 20 from the box by disengaging the screws 23 from the plate I B. The screws 28 are loosened and the tab 35 inserted in the recess 35a or 35b asrequired. The screws 28 are then tightened and the insulating blocks 22 reinstalled in the box. The meter M is connected by inserting the blades in the correlated jaw assemblies 30 until its flange I3a abuts the mating flange [3, the flanges being maintained in this position by the clamp band i. I ----It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

i 1. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a blade for completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing, an insulating block secured to said casing, a conducting strap mounted on said block having an aperture therein and a plurality of recesses equally distanced from the axis of said aperture, and a jaw assembly adapted to receive said blade; in cluding a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the strap with an aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engaging one of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned with respect to the strap to accommodate the blade of the meter.

2. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a blade for completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing having a closed end, an insulating block secured to said end and having an aperture therethrough, a conducting strap having an aperture aligned with said block aperture and a plurality of recesses equally distanced from the axis of said apertures, and a jaw assembly adapted to receive said blade including a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the strap with an aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engaging one of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned with respect to the strap to accommodate the blade of the meter.

3. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a blade for completing the circult thereto comprising a casing, an insulating block secured to said casing, a conducting strap mounted on said block having an aperture therein and two recesses equally distanced from the axis of said apertures angularly spaced 90 degrees from each other, and a jaw assembly adapted to receive said blade including a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the strap with an aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engaging one or the other of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned to accommodate the pleting the circuit thereto comprising a casing,

an insulating block secured to said casing, a con ducting strap mounted on each of the respective ends of said block having an aperturetherein and a plurality of recesses equally distanced from the axis of said aperture, and a jaw as-. sembly adapted to receive a correlatedblade; mounted on each of said respective straps, each.

jaw assembly including a jaw member having. a

bottom portion abutting the correlated strap. with an aperture aligned with said strap aper-.

ture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded.

aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engaging one.

of said recesses whereby the jaw can be positioned with respect to the strap to accommodate the correlated blade of the meter.

5. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a plurality of blades for completing the-circuit thereto comprising a casing having a closed end, an insulating block secured to said end and having an aperture in each end thereof, two conducting straps each having an aperture aligned with one of said block respective apertures and a plurality of recesses equally distanced from the axis of its aperture, and a jaw assembly adapted to receive a correlated blade mounted on each of said respective straps, each jaw assembly including a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the correlated strap with an aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion, and a tab for selectively engaging one of said recesses whereby each jaw can be positioned with respect to the strap to accommodate the correlated blade of the meter.

6. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a plurality of blades for completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing having a closed end, an insulating block secured to said end and having an aperture in each end thereof, two conducting straps each having an aperture aligned with one of said respective block apertures and two recesses equally distanced from the axis of its respective aperture angularly spaced degrees from each other, and a jaw assembly adapted to receive a correlated blade mounted on each of said respective straps, each jaw assembly including a jaw member having a bottom portion abutting the correlated strap with aperture aligned with said strap aperture, a bolt having a body projecting through said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture 4 for engaging the end of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said jaw bottom portion and a tab for selectively engaging one or the other of said recesses whereby each jaw can be positioned to accommodate the meter with the casing mounted in either a vertical or horizontal position.

7. A connection box for an electric meter of the type having a plurality of blades for completing the circuit thereto comprising a casing, an insulating block secured to said casing having two centrically located recesses therein, two conducting straps mounted on the respective ends of said block each -.having a finger at one end thereof engaging a correlated recess, an aperture through the other end "thereof, and a plurality of aperture, a bolthaving abodyuprojecting through i said aligned apertures, and a nut having a threaded aperture for engaging the end of the boltprejectingthrough the aperture in said jaw bottom portion canda tab for selectively engaging one 'or'the other of vsaid strap recesses whereby theja w can :beripositioned with respect to the strap-to accommodate the correlated blade of the-meter.

8. ii' connection box for an electric meter of the type having aipluralityof blades for completing the :circuit thereto comprising a casing having a closed end, an insulating block secured to said end having two centrically located recesses therein and having'an aperture through each end thereof, two-conducting straps each having a flng er'at oneend thereof engaging a vcorrelated recess and an aperture through the other end thereof aligned-with the correlated block aperture, the apertured endrof each stra having two 8 recesses equally distanced from the axis of :said aperture angularly spaced 90 degrees from-"each other, land --a jaw *assembly adapted to receive at correlated blade'mounted on eacho'f saidrespeotive strapspeach jaw assembly including agjaw member having a bottom portion abutting the correlated :strap with an aperture aligned with saidlstrapraperture, abolt having a bodyvinrojecting through :said aligned :aperture, and a .inut

having -a threaded-apertureior engaging theend of the bolt projecting through the aperture in said. jaw "bottom portion anda tab for selectively engaging Tone orthe other of said recesses whereby each jaw can be positioned to accommodate the rmeter with the casing mounted in either verticalror horizontal position.

v ERNEST G. .JOHANSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of "this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,249,247 Thomas Dec. 4,1917 1,351,191 .tSi'clon Aug. 31, .1920 2,118,607 .Johnson May 24,\.193 8 2,145,557 LRypinski v Jan. .31,11939

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