US 12,392,808 B2
Socket based disconnect with surge protection
Mark Matyac, Lawrenceville, GA (US)
Assigned to North American Power Products, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/640,527
Filed by Mark Matyac, Lawrenceville, GA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/049810
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 4, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/050457, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/897,752, filed on Sep. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0334157 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G01R 22/06 (2006.01); G01R 1/04 (2006.01); H01C 7/12 (2006.01); H01H 71/10 (2006.01); H02B 1/04 (2006.01); H02H 9/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 22/061 (2013.01) [G01R 1/0416 (2013.01); H01C 7/12 (2013.01); H01H 71/1009 (2013.01); H02B 1/04 (2013.01); H02H 9/04 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An intermediate disconnect section for mounting on a meter base having a source connector and a load connector, adapted for mounting of an electricity meter having a source connection couplable to the source connector and a load connection couplable to the load connector, comprising:
(a) a platform;
(b) a first source coupling mounted on the platform and adapted to be electrically coupled to the source connector of the meter base;
(c) a second source coupling mounted on the platform and adapted to be electrically coupled to the source connection of the electricity meter;
(d) a first load coupling mounted on the platform and adapted to be electrically coupled to the load connector of the meter base;
(e) a second load coupling mounted on the platform and adapted to be electrically coupled to the load connection of the electricity meter and electrically coupled to the first load coupling;
(f) a switch mounted on the platform and adapted selectively to couple and decouple the first source coupling to and from the second source coupling; and
(g) a switching mechanism that is configured to open and close the switch and that includes a device that is external to the platform that allows a user to open and close the switch manually, wherein the switching mechanism comprises:
(i) a rod including a threaded portion;
(ii) a lateral movement member that includes a portion that is complimentarily-threaded to and engaged with the threaded portion of the rod, so that rotation of the rod causes lateral movement of the lateral movement member, the lateral movement member engaged with the switch and positioned so as to cause the switch to open when the lateral movement member is in a first position and to cause the switch to close when the lateral movement member is in a second position, different from the first position; and
(iii) a handle affixed to the rod and positioned outside of the platform, the handle configured to apply rotational motion to the rod so as to cause the lateral movement of the lateral movement member, thereby selectively closing and opening the switch.