Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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THIS INVENTION relates to a mul-ti-func-tional service
unit for trailer parks, camping areas, marinas, jetties,
wharves and like installa-tions as we].l as building sites.
In such -trailer parks, marlnas, building sites and -the
like, essen-tial services comprising water, electrical power
and lighting are fre~uently provided as separate systems. The
resultant combination of hoses, pipes, cable and suppor-ts is
inconvenient in use, expensive to ins-tall and main-tain and is
usually unsightly in appearance. In oraer to alleviate such
problems, it has previously been proposed to provide a service
uni-t comprising a number of electrical power outlets and a
power consumption meter in a single box or separate boxes on
a support pole. Electrical wiring may be provided to the
boxes via a conduit attached to the exterior of the pole or
via the hollow space within a tubular pole. A water pipe with
tap affixed may also be attached to the exterior of the support
pole if re~uired In one type of prior art service unit, a
power outlet box, a meter box, a water pipe and appropriate
connecting condui-ts are integrally cast within a shaped
concrete structure.
Of the prior art service units previously available
most have been designed to suit a particular location in a
campsite, trailer park, building site etc. and to provide a
very limited number of services. Such service un.its are
usually expensive to install and extremely difficult to
~ maintain. Apart from the possibility of mounting additional
: boxes to the post-mounted service unit, none of the prior art
units has contemplated a device which combines the features of
ease of installation, ease of maintenance and the flexibility
to accommodate a wide range of service functions within a
simple, inexpensive and aesthetically accep-table struc-ture.
A further difriculty associated with the prior art
service unit installations is that normally only three power
outlets are permitted on one power circuit, with the fuses
located at a main switchboard centre remote from the service
785;
unit. This makes it very di~Ficu]t to locate -the correct
fuse for a faulty power outlet. In addition, it is
difficult to provide effective safety circuits for such
outlets e.g. if the electrical insulation is damaged or
water enters the outlet. Similarly, all the lights for
a campsite, trailer park, marina, building site or the
like normally share a common fuse, so that in the case of
a single power circuit fault, or iE the fuse blows, -the
whole area is blacked ou-t un-til the faulty circui-t or fuse
is repaired.
A number of fur-ther difficulties appear -to have
been inherent in prior art service units in that they are
prone to damage by vandals or by impact from vehicles or
marine vessels. Many of the prior art devices have
exposed power meters, switches, distribu-tion outlets and
lightswhich may be easily damaged by vandals and many have
exposed mounting bolts, screws and the like which permit
unauthorized tampering. A particular disadvantage
associated with prior art units is the manner in which
they are mounted to a ground surface, jetty, marina
pontoon or the like. Most devices are rigidly mounted to
a base by bolting or by casting in a concrete base. In
the event that a vehicle or marine vessel accldentally
contacts such a rigidly mounted service unit, the unit
itself may be severely damaged or if mounted on a jetty
or marina pontoon, the jetty or pontoon may suffer
damage of a most expensive nature. As in most prior art
units, the power and water conduits are rigidly mounted
to the service unit, impact damage by a vessel or vehicle
may cause the power and water supply conduits to be
severed thus creating a grossly unsafe condition.
Another most important weakness of the prior
art service unit lies in the fact that access to the
meter power can readily be had by unauthorized users.
Now, uncontrolled use of power by unauthorized consumers
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in a caravan park~ mari~a or the like~ can add
substantially to the o~erhead cost of running such an
operation~ It is thexe~ore a ~ery important feature of
the present invention to pro~ide metered power for
authorized consumers only, whereby to enable a strict
control of operating cost The present invention thus
offers this essential feature by providing lockable access
doors which prevent unauthorized users of power from using
power at the expense of another caravan park of marine user.
The present invention has been conceived with
the aim of alleviating the above mentioned problems and
to provide a simple, inexpensive and aesthetically
acceptable service unit, capable of providing a wide
range of services and at the same time providing an
easily maintainable unit suitable to any locati~n
requiring a service unit.
According to one aspect, the present invention
is broadly claimed herein as a service unit for controlled
distribution through individually lockable doors, and Eor
individual metering, of electrical services to a plurality
of authorized users comprising: a weatherproof hollow
body, transparent windows in the walls of said hollow
body, power distribution means for distributing electrical
power from a power conduit connected thereto to a plurality
of electric power receptacles, a plurality of electrical
meters for measuring the power consumed through the
electrical power receptacles by each authorized user,
said meters being readable through said windows, said
electric power receptacles, said power distribution means,
and said electric meters being located entirely within
said hollow body~ a plurality of openings in said hollow
body, each opening being associated with at least one
electrical power receptacle, each receptacle being
accessible through an opening, lockable access door
means for lockably securing each opening so that only
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8S
authorized users ~ave access through said door to at
least one electrical power receptacle located there-
behind.
According to a seconcl aspect, the inv~ntion is
claimed as a service unit for controlled distribution
through individually Lockable doors, and for indi~idual
metering, of electrical services to a plurality of
authorized users comprising, a weatherproof hollow body,
transparent windows in the walls of said hollow body,
power distribution means for distributing electrical
power from a power conduit connected thereto to a plurality
of electric power receptacles, a plurality of electrical
meters for measuring the power consumed through the
electrical power receptacles by said authori~ed user, said
meters being readable through said windows, said e].ectric
power receptacles, said power distribution means, and said
electric meters being located entirely within said hollow
body, a plurality of openings in said holLow body, each
opening being associated with at least one electrical
power receptacle, e~ch receptacle being accessible
through an opening~-lockable access door means for
lockably securing each opening so that only authori~ed
users have access through said door to at least one
electrical power receptacle located therebehind, said
door means when locked preventing electrical dis-
connection of an electrical conduit connected to an
electric power receptacle located behind said door means,
a removable frame located within said hollow body, and
at least said electric meters being mounted on said frame
and removable therewith.
The unit may comprise frangible mpunting means
for mounti.ng the hollow body on a supportin~ surface, this
mounting means possibly having frangible mounting bolts.
More preferab:Ly, the frangible mounting means comprises a
mounting base with frangible lugs.
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The frangible mounting means ~ay co~prise an
essentially hollow, walled mounting base with inwardly
extending mounting lugs adjacent its upper edges. Some
of the lugs may be adapted for connection to cor-
responding mounting lugs or a mounting plate formed in
the base portion of the body and additional lugs are
provided for mounting the service unit to a base,
Certain of the lugs are adapted by dimension, to
preferentially fracture in the event of impact. The
frangible base may also be provided with a plurality of
apertures to permit ingress of ventilating air or egress
of water in the event of flooding. Alternatively, the
frangible mounting means may comprise frangible mounting
bolts or the like, Such bolts may be formed from
relatively low tensile materials, for example nylon,
aluminum, brass or like materials.
The service unit may be pro~ided wit~ a
plurality of power metering means and power distribution
outlets to provide independent service to a pluxality
of users.
Each po~er distribution outlet may be connected
to a separate circuit comprising a power consumption
meter, a circuit breaker and an indicator means to
indicate a tripped circuit breaker.
Preferably the lighting means comprises a~
incandescent of fluorescent light mounted adjacent the
upper part of the body. Depending on the location of
the service unit, i.e. at a compsite, trailer park,
marina, wharf, jetty or the like,
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7~35
the lighting means may be provided wi-th a sui-table diffuser
means or reflector means.
Preferably the ligh-ting means i,s providecl in the top
or cap portion of the service unit and is adapted to provide
downwardly directed diffuse :Ligh-t abou-t all or a portion of
the service unit. The lighting means may also be adapted to
provide interior lighting for -the service unit. Additionally
or alterna-tively, the lighting means may comprise an exterior
light mounted atop -the service unit.
Site iden-tlfication means such as an .i11uminated
numher or other indiciae may also be incorpora-ted in the
exterior ligh-t diffuser as well as appropria-tely coloured seg~
ments for night-time marine navigation purposes if applicable.
The lighting means may additionally or alternatively
comprise a "foot~light" mounted adjacent the lower part of
the body and may be downwaxdly directed by, for example,
mounting the light behind a louvred cover plate. The light~
ing means of the service unit is preferably connected in a
circuit with a circuit breaker and an indicator to indicate a
tripped circuit breaker. In an alterna-tive embodiment of the
invention, the lighting means may be actuable by a light-
sensitive switching means.
In a most preferred arrangement, the lighting means
is mounted within the top or cap portion of the service unit,
the top or cap portion being adapted to extend beyond the
walls of the unit to form an outwardly extending rim. The
rim may act as a protective cover for the lighting means and
permit the light to be directed downwardly as required.
Apertures are arranged in the body to permit ease of
installation of the various service components and also to
permit ease of access for maintenance purposes. The
aperture covers may ~e releasably secured to the body by any
suitable means such as screws, bolts or the like and are
preferably of the type which discourage unauthorized tamper~
ing or removal.
s
Preferahly, -the service componen-ts are moun-ted on a
frame which may be withdrawn from the top of the service
unit to permit replacemen-t or maintenance of the service
components.
The body of -the service unit may be cons-tructed from
any suitable material, preferably of a non-corrosive and
generally main-tenance free ma-terial such as aluminum, plastics
etc.
The body may ~or example be fabricated from shee-t
ma-terial, cast, moulded or ex-truded -to the required shape and
dimensions. Suitahle materials for forming -the body may
comprise aluminum and i-ts alloys, polyeth~lene, polypropylene,
polybutylene, nylon, rigid PVC, polyesters, epoxies,
polyurethanes and the like or fibreglass reinforced synthetic
?5 resins.
The aperture covers may be formed from the same
material as the body of the service unit, or if appropriate
may comprise a transparent material such as glass or acrylic
; compounds to permit visual inspection of electric power
2 0 meters to determine power consumption or to permit inspection
of other service components for maintenance purposes.
~ ost preferably the hody may be formed from a cast
aluminum cap,-formed sheet aluminum walls and a cast aluminum
base portion. The cap walls and base portion may be suitably
25 connected by welding, gluing, rivetting, bolting, screwing etc.
A wide range of additional services may be connected
to the service unit according to the invention. Such
additional services may include:-
telephone;
communications antennae connections of various
impedances;
battery chargillg facilities of various voltages e.g.
6v, 12V, 24v, 32v;
intercom;
piped music, news, weather reports;
'78~5
~,
an alr blower adapted on an outlet side to provide
via a suitable hose or conduit a source of heated air for
use in cold climates to heat tents, -trailers, boats e-tc. and
optionally adapted to provide on an inle-t side air suction
suitable for vacuum cleaniny purposes;
fire extinguisher;
fire hoses (connec-ted, if desired to a source of
water, CO2, foam etc.~.
Preferably,one or more aper-ture covers is hinyedly
mounted on the body and secured by a key-operated locking
means. Such lockahle covers, are weatherproof and are
preferably provided to permit authorized access to the
service outlet connections.
To enable the invention -to be fully understood,
various embodiments of the invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. :L-3 show a front in-terior view, side interior
view and a front external view respectively of a simplified
form of a service unit suitable for two service consumers.
FIGS. 4-9 illustrate a left elevation, front elevation,
right elevation, rear elevation, fron-t perspective and top
plan views respectively of a most preferred embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a base por-tion of -the
body of a most preferred embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the base portion
of FIG. 10 along the line A~A.
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a
frangi~le base according to the inven-tion.
FIGS, 13 and 14 are cross~sectional views of the
base of FIG. 12 alony the lines B-B and C-C respectively.
FIG. 15 illustrates a removable frame according -to
another embodiment of the invention.
EIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment
of the invention illustratiny a preferred method of
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installa-tion.
Fig. 17 illustrates a modified ~orm of the
invention incorporating a support standard for a power
distribution lead.
In Figs. 1-3 the unit has a substantially
rectangular hollow body 1 cast from a corrosion resistant
aluminum alloy. The body 1 has an inte~rally cast base 2
which can be bolted directly to a jetty, wharf, e-tc. or
to a cast concrete base set in the ground via a number of
frangible portions (not shown) through which bolts may be
inserted.
The upper portion of the body 1 is provided with
removable access covers 3 to enable access to the service
components inside the body 1.
A light 4 is mounted on a standard 5 on the top
of the body 1 and is surrounded by a translucent
Japanese Lantern style light diffuser 6. A circuit
breaker 7 is wired in the elec-trical circuit of the light
and is provided inside the body, access for wiring and
installation being gained via an access cover 3 (not
shown) at the rear of body 1.
A.C. power outlets 8 are provided within the
body 1 and are accessed via lockable hinged access cover or
door 9 so-that only authorized users rnay have access to
the power outlets. The power outlets 8 are connec-ted in
circuit with circuit breakers 10 mounted internally of the
body 1. Each outlet is provided with a ]cey-operable switch
(not shown). Should any of the circuit breakers be tripped,
indicator lights 11 mounted on cover 9 are illuminated to
indicate a fault. Reset buttons 12 are provided in cover 9
to permit resettin~ of the circuit breakers. Watt meters
14 are connected in c:lrcuit with power outlets 8 to measure
individual power consumption Erom each outlet. Access
covers 3 are provided adjacent the me-ters 14 in the front
and back faces of body 1 to permit ease of installation
and maintenance. The front access covers are made from
glass or transparent acrylic plastics sheet to
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permi-t reading of -the meters 14.
Water -taps 13 are provided on the side walls, each
having outlets -to enable connec-tion to wa-ter hoses. (A
single -tap i5 shown in FIG. 1 and none in F~G. 2 for the
purpose of clarity~.
An access cover 3 (not shown~ is provided in -the rear
wall of hodv 1 to enahle access to the water pipes. The
plumbing functions of the service uni-t are isolated from the
electrical functions hy a ha~-Ele plate 15 -to prevent ingress
of water. Louvres in a lower access cover enable an in-ternal
- light (not shown~ in -the body 1 to provide lightlng for
pedestrians near the service unit.
In a modified form of the uni-t, additional services
such as telephone, intercom, communications antennae may be
provided by additional sockets in body 1 behind access cover
9, and/or a built-in intercom speaker and controls may be
provided in the front wall of the body and are protec-ted by a
lockable weatherproof cover.
LNG, LPG or town gas may also be provided via a meter-
ing device and suitable connections.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the
consumption meters ~or various services such as AC power,
DC hattery charging, gas etc. may be substituted by coin-
operated metering devices.
The outlet of a battery charger mounted in the body 1
may also be protected by a lockable wea-therproof cover.
A fire extinguisher and/or a retrac-table fire hose
reel can be mounted on the side walls of or within the body 1
to be readily available in any outbreak of fire.
~ooks for -the storage of hoses or o-ther items can also
be provided on the side walls of the housing and a lockable
storage cabinet can ~so be provided within body 1. Other
services, if required, can readily be provided either
externally or internally of the unit.
35 FIGS~ illustrate the external features of a most
8~
preferred embodiment of the invention which comprises a
eap portion which may be suitably formed from cast
aluminum. A socket 21 is provided to permit mounting
of a lighting means or a standard to support a lighting
means or other device if required. Body 22 is preferably
formed from sheet material such as aluminum and may be
suitably shaped by, Eor example bending. A base portion
23 may also be suitably cast from aluminum and -the
entire assembly comprising cap, body and base portion may
be joined by welding, gluing, rivetting, bol-ting,
screwing ete. Loekable aecess eovers or doors 24 may be
suitably loeated in -the body 22 for aeeess to the
interior thereof. Loekable aceess eover or door 25
(illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8) whieh provides aceess to
power or o-ther serviee distribution means is preferably
provided with apertures 26 to permit power leads or
other service leads to be connected to the distribution
means and seeured by loeking access eover 25. The
apertures 26 in loekable aeeess cover 25 are of such a
dimension that when the cover is locked it is not per-
missible to withdraw or diseonneet a power lead con-
neeted by say a plug and soeket arrangement to the power
dis~ribution means. Most preferably, -the cover 25 and
the aperture 26 are so designed that when -the cover is
loeked it is not possible to eleetrieally disconnect the
plug and soeket assembly merely by pulling on the power
lead. Covers 2~ and 25 may be attached to body 22 by
suitable hinges and preferably permit water-tight closure.
Faucets 28 may be attached to the service unit to provide
a souree of water. E'iys. 5 and 8 illustra-te transparent
eovers 27 to permit reading of power meters mounted
within the serviee unit.
Fig. 10 illustrates a east base portion 30
ineorporating mounting lugs 31 and a separating flange 32,
the purpose of whieh will be deseribed later.
g _
Fig. 11 illustrates a cross-section of the
base portion of Fig. 10 along the line A-~. ~ stepped
rim 33 is provided to engage with the body of the
service unit.
Fig. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a
frangible base according to the invention. The base 40
is preerably cast in aluminum and includes lugs 41 for
mounting to a supporting surface. Frangible lugs 42
are provided to correspond with the base portion on the
service uni-t to permit mounting there-to. I'he lugs are
suitably dimensioned to permit breakage from the base 40
when a service unit ~ _ __ 7
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7i35
mounted thereto is subjected to impact hut are sufficiently
s-turdy to otherwise support the service unit for normal use.
A separating flange 43 is provided to correspond with
flange 32 of base por-tion 30 in FIG. 10.
FIGS. 13 and 1~ illustrate cross sections along the
lines ~-B and C-C respectively of FIG. 12. Apertures 4~ may
be provided about the lower periphery of base 40 as well as
the lower part of flange 43 to permit ingress of ventilatin~ air
and/or egress of water in the event of flooding.
FIG. 15 illustrates a fur-ther embodiment of the
invention wherein cer-tain of the service components, particul-
arly the electrical components are mounted on a removable
frame which is adap-ted to he secured wi~hin the hody 51 by
for example screws mounted in flanges (not shown) about the
15 inner periphery of the access apertures 52. Components such
as circuit breakers 53, power meters 54 and other components
(not shown~ may be suitably arranged on the frame to suit the
particular re~uirements of the service unit. Only certain of
the components have been illustrated :Eor the sake of
simplicity hut it will be readily obvious that power
distribution sockets, switches, reset devices, etc. would be
mounted in the re~ion 55 to correspond with access cover 56.
A junction box (not shown~ may be provided for example at the
rear of the circuit breakers 53 for connection of the primary
electrical power.
FIG. 16 illustrates the method of installation of a
service unit according to the invention. A base surface 60
which may comprise a cast concrete base set into the ground
surface of a campsite or on a jetty, marina pontoon or the
like or other suitable surface may be provided with suitably
positioned service conduits such as electrical and
communications conduit(s~ 61 and/or wa-ter conduit 62 extend-
ing for a short dis-tance from the surface 60. A frangible
base 63 is then mounted for example by bolting to the
surface 60 such that the power and water conduits are
separated by flange 6~. A service unit 65, pre-assembled
with the required ranye of services is then bolted to the
base 63 via the frangible lugs thereon. Water faucets 66
are then suitably connected via a T-piece an~ a flexible
hose 67 -to water conduit 62. Chamber 68 is formed by
partition 69, corresponding base portion flange 70 and
frangible base flange 64 to isolate -the elec-trical components
in the event of a burst wa-ter pipe be-tween -the faucets 66 and
the conduit 62. ~n excess length of power and/or
communications cable 71 is then connected to a junction box
72 mounted on component mounting frame 73. In the embodiment
illustrated are circui-t breakers 74, power meters 75, power
distribution socke-ts 76 and power switches 77. A light 78
may be mounted within the cap 7~ in the peripheral rim
portion 80 ex-tending beyond the wall of the service unit
body. The light may be protected from weather or
unauthorized tampering by a transparent or translucent
diffuser 81 extending be-tween rim 80 and the unit body.
One or more lights may be provided in the rim portion
around the periphery of the body depending on particular
requirements.
In the event that a service unit such as that
illustrated in FIG. 16 suffers heavy impact from a motor
vehicle or a marine vessel, the frangible lugs 42 (shown in
FIG. 121are severed, permitting the service unit to fall on
one side suffering little if any damage to the body or the
service components contained therein. The flexible water,
electrical and other couplings such a~ communications wiring
permit the unit to fall in the manner described without
damaging the couplings and permit the unit to continue
functioning without interrupting service or creating an
unsafe condition due to exposed electrical conductors and
gushing water. Restoration of the service unit to its
former state is simply and inexpensively achieved by
replacing base portion ~0 (shown in FIG. 12).
FIG. 17 lllus-trates an optlonal feature of the
invention whereby a power lead 82 may he suppor-ted by a
standard 83 in a socket 84 formed in the cap 85 of the
service unit. ~uch a fea-ture would be particularly
beneficial in a congested si-tuation wheremany power and/or
other leads are deployed to a number of users in, say, a
trailer park or on a work site.
As will be readily apparent, -the uni-t described
provides a strong, compact and aesthetic~lly pleasing
service unit which can provide a plurality of essential and
optional services for one or more consumers at a campsite,
trailer park, jetty, marina, wharf or the like or a building
site.
It will be apparent to a skilled addressee that
various changes and modifications may be made to the
embodiment described without departing from the spirit and
: scope of the present invention.
