Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02828327 2015-07-21
HOT-PLUGGING CONNECTION TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY
METER
[00011 The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application
No.
201110046950.4 filed with the Chinese Patent Office on February 28, 2011 and
entitled "HOT-
S PLUGGING CONNECTION TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY METER".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The application relates to a device providing a hot-plugging connecting
mode for an
electric energy meter, and particularly to a hot-plugging connecting terminal
for an electric
energy meter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Presently, a known electric energy meter connecting terminal is located
at a bottom part
of an electric energy meter and is exposed, and is connected with wires into
or out of the electric
energy meter through tightening screws. However, such connecting mode induces
following
problems and disadvantages: 1. the power supply to a user needs to be
interrupted during
replacing the electric energy meter, which may cause inconvenience and some
losses to the user;
2. the exposed connecting terminals provides an opportunity of electricity
stealing for criminals,
which may cause economic loss to power supply enterprises or other users; and
3. the connection
between the electric energy meter and the wires into/out of the electric
energy meter are achieved
manually by tightening screws one by one, which has some disadvantage such as
low speed and
low efficiency, even causing the possibility of misconnection in the circuit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided in the application a hot-plugging connecting terminal for an
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electric energy meter, in order to solve problems in the conventional electric
energy meter that
power supply needs to be interrupted in replacing operation, an electric
energy meter terminal
is exposed and an operation of replacing of the electric energy meter is
complicated with a
lower efficiency.
[0005] A technical solution of the invention for solving the above problems is
to provide a
hot-plugging connecting terminal for an electric energy meter, including an
electric energy
meter terminal and a base terminal, wherein the electric energy meter terminal
includes a
metallic conductor and an insulator, the metallic conductor is longer than the
insulator; the
base terminal includes a terminal connecting part and a housing part, the
terminal connecting
part includes two elastic metallic conductors symmetrically arranged and in
contact with each
other.
[0006] Preferably, the metallic conductor includes a straight part and a
bending part, the
straight part and the bending part being of an integral structure, and the
insulator is of a
straight structure;
wherein the straight part of the metallic conductor and the insulator closely
snuggle
against each other; and the bending part of the metallic conductor covers a
front end part of
the insulator.
[0007] Preferably, the two elastic metallic conductors are two J-shaped
elastic metallic
conductors arranged oppositely to each other.
[0008] Preferably, the electric energy meter terminal has a thickness greater
than that of the
base terminal.
[0009] Preferably, the housing part includes four housing side walls, and a
housing upper
wall and a housing lower wall each adjoining the four housing side walls; and
the terminal
connecting part closely abuts against the four housing side walls.
[0010] Preferably, the housing upper wall and/or the housing lower wall are/is
each provided
with a groove guiding rail configured to restrict entering and exiting
directions of the electric
energy meter terminal.
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[0011] Preferably, the housing is made of insulating material.
[0012] Preferably, the electric energy meter terminal is arranged in a groove
of a lower part
of the electric energy meter.
[0013] Preferably, the base terminal is provided with a protrusion fitted with
the groove of
the lower part of the electric energy meter.
[0014] Since the hot-plugging terminal is of a modular design, various
connecting modes,
such as a single-phase connecting mode, a three-phase connecting mode and the
like, can be
achieved by increasing or decreasing the number of the electric energy meter
terminals and
the base terminals and changing the position thereof. Thus, the cost of
production can be
reduced. Since the terminal can be inserted or pulled out without the need for
using any tool,
and an operator do not directly touch the conducting part, the speed of
replacing of the electric
energy meter is increased; a technical requirement is lowered; and safety of
the operator can
be ensured. Furthermore, since steps of manually selecting circuit, tightening
with screws and
so on are omitted, the electric energy meter terminal can be provide on a back
part of the
electric energy meter, and the circuit connected to the base terminal can also
be arranged on a
back face of the base. Further, with a protruding edge around the base and the
housing of the
electric energy meter, all the terminals and the circuit are entirely
shielded, which increases
difficulty in electricity stealing.
[0015] The application has beneficial effects that, the power supply is not
interrupted during
displacing the electric energy meter, the difficulty in electricity stealing
is increased, and the
efficiency of replacing of the electric energy meter is increased. The hot-
plugging connecting
terminal has a simple structure, without changing the internal construction of
a body of the
existing electric energy meter, thereby reducing the cost of production.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The application will be further described in conjunction with drawings
and
embodiments.
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[0017] Figure 1 is a structural view of an electric energy meter terminal.
[0018] Figure 2 is a structural view of a base terminal.
[0019] Figure 3 is a bottom view showing a state of a first step of a process
of connecting
the electric energy meter terminal and the base terminal.
[0020] Figure 4 is a bottom view showing a state of a second step of the
process of
connecting the electric energy meter terminal and the base terminal.
[0021] Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 3.
[0022] Figure 6 is a structural view of the base terminal and a housing.
[0023] Figure 7 is an arrangement diagram of the electric energy meter
terminal.
[0024] Figure 8 is an arrangement diagram of the base terminal.
[0025] Figure 9 is an isometric view of Figure 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] It should be noted that the terms "front" and "rear" used herein refer
to, in a process
of connecting an electric energy meter terminal and a base terminal, a firstly
contacting part
and a finally contacting part, respectively.
[0027] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6, Figure 1 is a structural view of an
electric energy
meter terminal; Figure 2 is a structural view of a base terminal; and Figure 6
is a structural
view of the base terminal and a housing.
[0028] A hot-plugging connecting terminal for an electric energy meter
according to the
application includes an electric energy meter terminal and a base terminal.
The electric energy
meter terminal includes a metallic conductor 1 and an insulator 2. The
electric energy meter
terminal is a hot-plugging terminal plug, and the base terminal is a hot-
plugging terminal
socket.
[0029] The metallic conductor 1 includes a straight part and a bending part.
The straight part
and the bending part are of an integral structure. The insulator 2 is of a
straight structure.
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[0030] Specifically, the straight part of the metallic conductor 1 may be
fixed with and
snuggle against the insulator 2. The bending part of the metallic conductor 1
covers a front
end part of the insulator 2.
[0031] Due to presence of the bending part of the metallic conductor 1,
referring to Figure 1,
the metallic conductor 1 is longer than the insulator 2. A front end part,
i.e., the bending part
of the metallic conductor 1 covers the front end part of the insulator 2.
Specifically, the front
end part, i.e., the bending part of the metallic conductor 1 can be columnar
in shape, with the
front end part of the insulator 2 being inserted therein. The metallic
conductor 1 is slightly
longer than the insulator 2, so that it can be assured that a head part of the
electric energy
meter terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging terminal plug) is made of metallic
material. A metallic
surface and the insulator of the electric energy meter terminal correspond to
two elastic
metallic conductors 3, respectively. A rear end part (i.e. the straight part)
of the metallic
conductor I of the electric energy meter terminal is connected to a current
coil of an
electronic element.
[0032] The base terminal includes a terminal connecting part and a housing
part 5. Referring
to Figure 2, the terminal connecting part includes two elastic metallic
conductors 3 which are
symmetrically arranged and are in contact with each other.
[0033] In an embodiment shown in Figure 2, specifically, the two elastic
metallic conductors
3 are two J-shaped elastic metallic conductors which are arranged oppositely.
The hooked
ends of the two J-shaped elastic metallic conductors are in contact with and
abut against each
other, and are closely in contact with each other through a certain pressure.
Ends not in
contact with each other of the two J-shaped elastic metallic conductors are
each connected
with load current in the circuit.
[0034] In order to clearly describe an insertion connection between the
electric energy meter
terminal and the base terminal, reference is made to Figures 3 and 4, wherein
Figure 3 is a
bottom view showing a state of a first step of a process of connecting the
electric energy
meter terminal and the base terminal, and Figure 4 is a bottom view showing a
state of a
second step of the process of connecting the electric energy meter terminal
and the base
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terminal.
[0035] Since in a series circuit, the same current flows through all connected
devices, the
current in the whole circuit may be interrupted if the circuit is disconnected
at one point,
which means that electronic elements connected in series cannot normally work.
The
hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy meter according to
the invention is a
connecting device which is used to electrically connect an electronic element
to a series
circuit or disconnect the same from the series circuit without interrupting
current.
[0036] When no plug is inserted into the base terminal, i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal socket
of the invention, current in the circuit flows through the two elastic
metallic conductors 3 of
the base terminal which are symmetrically arranged and are in contact with
each other.
[0037] In an embodiment shown in Figure 3, a state in which a front end of the
electric
energy meter terminal is just in contact with the base terminal is
specifically shown. In this
state, the current in the original circuit is partially branched through the
electric energy meter
with the original circuit remaining connected.
[0038] In an initial stage of insertion of the electric energy meter terminal
(i.e., the
hot-plugging terminal plug) into the base terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal socket), one
of the two elastic metallic conductors 3 is connected in parallel to an
electronic element
connected to the electric energy meter terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal plug), and thus
the sum of the current flowing through the one of the two elastic metallic
conductors (tongue
sheets) and the current flowing through the electronic element is the current
of the circuit.
[0039] When the electric energy meter terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal plug) is
further inserted, the two elastic metallic conductors 3 (tongue sheets) are
separated. However,
since the head part (the front end part) of the electric energy meter terminal
(i.e., the
hot-plugging terminal plug) is made of metallic material, the current remains
flow through the
two elastic metallic conductors 3 (tongue sheets) and the electronic element.
[0040] After the electric energy meter terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal plug) is
completely inserted into the base terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging terminal
socket), the
insulating part of the electric energy meter terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal plug)
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closely snuggle against a surface of one of the elastic metallic conductors 3
(tongue sheets) of
the base terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging terminal socket), while the metallic
part of the front
end part of the electric energy meter terminal (i.e., the hot-plugging
terminal plug) is away
from the elastic metallic conductor 3 (tongue sheet). Thus, the current is
interrupted between
the two elastic metallic conductors 3 (tongue sheets), and the current in the
circuit is
completely flow through the connected electronic element via the electric
energy meter
terminal, thereby electrically connecting the electronic element to the series
circuit without
interrupting the current in the circuit. As shown in Figure 4, the connection
between the
electric energy meter terminal and the base terminal is completed.
[0041] At this moment, the circuit is changed in such a way that the metallic
conductor 1 of
the electric energy meter terminal communicates with the elastic metallic
conductor 3 closely
snuggling against the metallic conductor 1 and that the original circuit is
disconnected.
[0042] The process of pulling the electronic element out of the circuit is the
reverse of the
above inserting process, and thus will not be described in detail.
[0043] With the hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy meter
according to
the embodiment of the invention, the current in the circuit is not interrupted
during insertion
or extraction of the electronic element into or from the series circuit.
[0044] Specifically, referring to Figure 6, the housing part 5 may include
four housing side
walls, and a housing upper wall 4 and a housing lower wall 5 each adjoining
the four housing
side walls. The terminal connecting part closely abuts against the four
housing side walls.
Specifically, the housing part 5 can be made of insulating material.
[0045] The housing upper wall 4 can be provided with a groove guiding rail.
Specifically,
the groove guiding rail may be arranged along a center line of the housing
upper wall 4. The
groove guiding rail is used to restrict entering and exiting directions of the
electric energy
meter terminal.
[0046] The housing lower wall 5 can also be provided with a groove guiding
rail.
Specifically, the groove guiding rail may be arranged along a center line of
the housing lower
wall 5. The groove guiding rail is used to restrict entering and exiting
directions of the electric
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energy meter terminal.
[0047] For assuring an accurate guiding, both of the housing upper wall 4 and
the housing
lower wall 5 can be provided with corresponding groove guiding rails.
Specifically, the
groove guiding rails can respectively arranged along the center lines of the
housing upper wall
4 and the housing lower wall 5. The groove guiding rails are used to restrict
the entering and
exiting directions of the electric energy meter terminal.
[0048] An opening allowing the electric energy meter terminal to enter is
provided in the
center of a housing front wall. Two ends of a housing rear wall can be each
provided with an
opening through which a wire is led out.
[0049] Reference is made to Figure 5, which is a front view of Figure 3. The
electric energy
meter terminal has a thickness greater than that of the base terminal, that is
to say, the height
of the electric energy meter terminal is slightly higher than that of the base
terminal. The
purpose of such a design is that on one hand, a poor contact which may occur
between the
electric energy meter terminal and the base terminal is avoided, and on the
other hand, the
electric energy meter terminal can be engaged with the groove guiding rail of
the housing of
the base terminal to constrain a correct connection of the electric energy
meter terminal.
[0050] Reference is made to Figures 7 and 9, wherein Figure 7 is an
arrangement diagram of
the electric energy meter terminal, and Figure 9 is an isometric view of
Figure 7.
[0051] Specifically, the electric energy meter terminal can be arranged in a
groove of a
lower part of the electric energy meter.
[0052] Reference is made to Figure 8, which is an arrangement diagram of the
base terminal.
The base terminal is arranged at a position of a lower part of a base
corresponding to the
electric energy meter terminal. The base terminal is provided with a
protrusion fitted with
the groove of the lower part of the electric energy meter. With the engagement
between the
groove of the lower part of the electric energy meter and the corresponding
protrusion of the
base, the terminal of the electric energy meter and the terminal of the base
are correctly
connected, and the connecting terminals are shielded. Besides, the protrusion
of the base may
play a role in strengthening and fixing and shielding the wire.
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[0053] The hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy meter
according to the
embodiment of the invention can have a mechanism for locking and positioning
after the plug
is completely inserted into the base.
[0054] The hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy meter
according to the
embodiment of the invention can be applied to an electronic element that needs
to be
connected in series into a circuit, such as an electric energy meter, an
ammeter and the like, by
integrally incorporating the hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric
energy meter
according to the embodiment of the invention into the electronic element, the
electronic
element can be electrically inserted into or pulled out of a series circuit,
without influencing
the application of current to other electronic elements in the circuit.
[0055] The hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy meter
according to the
embodiment of the invention can be applied to a structure of an electric
energy meter, so that
continuous power supply to users is not interrupted during replacing of the
electric energy
meter. Furthermore, in the hot-plugging operation, no specific tool is needed,
and working
efficiency and security of the replacing operation can be greatly improved.
[0056] Since the hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy
meter according to
the embodiment of the invention is of a modular design, various connecting
modes, such as a
single-phase connecting mode, a three-phase connecting mode and the like, can
be achieved
by increasing or decreasing the number of the electric energy meter terminals
and the base
terminals and changing the position thereof Thus, the cost of production can
be reduced.
Since the electric energy meter terminal can be inserted or pulled out without
the need for
using any tool, and an operator do not directly touch the conducting part, the
speed of
replacing of the electric energy meter is increased; a technical requirement
is lowered; and
safety of the operator can be ensured. Furthermore, since steps of manually
selecting circuit,
tightening with screws and so on are omitted, the electric energy meter
terminal can be
provide on a back part of the electric energy meter, and the circuit connected
to the base
terminal can also be arranged on a back face of the base. Further, with a
protruding edge
around the base and the housing of the electric energy meter, all the
terminals and the circuit
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are entirely shielded, which increases difficulty in electricity stealing.
[0057] The hot-plugging connecting terminal for the electric energy meter
according to the
invention enables uninterruptedness of the power supply during displacing the
electric energy
meter, increases the difficulty in electricity stealing, and improves the
efficiency of replacing
of the electric energy meter. The hot-plugging connecting terminal has a
simple structure,
without changing the internal construction of a body of the existing electric
energy meter,
thereby reducing the cost of production.
