General Electric Company

Ncr Corporation

At&t Global Information Solutions Company

Ofs Fitel, LLC

Rathindra Nahar

Bruce Joni Tomson

Steven Lee Bietz

Barry M Mergenthaler

Daniel E Hendrickson

Hongbo Zhang

Subramanyam Satyasurya Chamarti

Michael George Glazebrook

An embodiment of a system includes a utility meter having an enclosure, a first component and a second component in the enclosure, and a mounting assembly configured to couple the first and second components together in the enclosure. The mounting assembly includes a first mount having first and second prongs disposed about an intermediate space, a second mount configured to extend bi-directionally into the intermediate space between the first and second prongs in opposite first and second directions, and a snap-fit fastener. The snap-fit fastener includes first and second snap portions configured to bi-directionally engage one another in the opposite first and second directions to secure the first and second mounts.

System and method for mounting components within a utility meter

In one aspect, a modular meter disconnect relay is described. One embodiment of the relay is comprised of a base; a solenoid situated within the base, wherein the base maintains a portion of the solenoid stationary and allows a plunger of the solenoid to move within the base; a shuttle, wherein the shuttle is operably connected to and moved by the plunger of the solenoid and wherein the shuttle can be moved within the base; and, one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein the solenoid comprises a solenoid body, a spring and a magnet, wherein the spring is used to provide additional force to the plunger when moving out of the solenoid body and the magnet is used to latch the plunger when the plunger is forced to within close proximity of the magnet within the solenoid body.

Meter disconnect relay

Systems and methods for detecting the removal of a meter cover are provided. For example, a tamper-detect energy meter may include metering circuitry, a processor, a tamper detect switch, and a cover with a switch interface surface. The tamper detect switch may be triggered from an open circuit state to a closed circuit state as the switch interface surface of the cover contacts the tamper detect switch during removal.

System and method for tamper detection in a utility meter

In one aspect, a meter disconnect relay is described that is comprised of a base, an actuator, a shuttle and one or more disconnect switches. The shuttle is operably connected to and moved by a plunger of the actuator. The one or more disconnect switches can be opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein each disconnect switch is comprised of a rigid, conductive bridging section comprising at least two contacts; a conductive source portion having a source contact and a conductive load portion having a load contact.

An electric solenoid embodiment is comprised of a plunger, a solenoid body, a spring, and a magnet. An area of the solenoid body is configured to receive at least a portion of the plunger and electrical windings within the solenoid body substantially surround the area configured to receive at least a portion of the plunger such that an electrical current through the electrical windings applies force to move the plunger out of the solenoid body or to draw it within the solenoid body. The spring adaptively fits within the area configured to receive at least a portion of the plunger and within a portion of the plunger. The spring provides additional force to the plunger when moving out of the solenoid body and the magnet is used to latch the plunger when the plunger is forced to within close proximity of the magnet within the solenoid body.

Electric solenoid for a meter disconnect relay

In one aspect, a meter disconnect relay is described that is comprised of a base, an actuator, a shuttle and one or more disconnect switches. The shuttle is operably connected to and moved by a plunger of the actuator. The one or more disconnect switches can be opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein each disconnect switch is comprised of a rigid, conductive bridging section comprising at least two contacts; a conductive source portion having a source contact and a conductive load portion having a load contact, wherein one or more of the source contact, the load contact and the at least two contacts of the bridging portion are at least partially comprised of silver refractory materials.

Meter disconnect relay having silver refractory materials contacts

An antenna attachment scheme is provided, according to one aspect of the invention, for mounting an antenna to a meter. The antenna attachment scheme comprises a housing mountable to a meter. The housing comprises a top surface; an open-end; and a side surface. The side surface of the housing comprising a mounting surface for the antennae to the housing.

Antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter

A spooling tool for paying out a fiber optic cable prewound on a spool region of a drop box or on an associated spool, when installing a cable at a user's premises. In one embodiment, the tool includes a base plate and a stud projecting from one side of the plate. An elongate arbor has one end secured to the stud in such a manner as to support the arbor perpendicular to the base plate. The arbor is dimensioned to pass through an axial passage in the box so that the box pivots on the arbor when the cable is unwound by an installer. A cap mechanism at the opposite end of the arbor retains the drop box on the arbor, and applies enough drag on the box to inhibit it from free wheeling on the arbor.

Fiber optic rapid spooling tool

A checkout device with a produce guard for separating a produce item from a vertical window of the checkout device. The checkout device includes a barcode reader and a produce guard. The barcode reader includes a housing containing a vertical window, a load cell assembly in the housing, and a horizontal weigh plate supported by the load cell assembly. The produce guard includes a horizontal member between the horizontal weigh plate and the load cell assembly, including an edge, and a vertical member coupled to the edge of the horizontal member for separating a produce item on the horizontal weigh plate from the vertical window of the barcode reader.

Checkout device with produce guard

A barcode scanner window includes a frame having an aperture, and window pane disposed therein. The pane is smaller than the aperture and is bonded therein by an adhesive.

Flush scanner window

A loadcell for a weighing scale includes an elongate beam having mounting and free ends spaced apart along a beam axis to define a cantilever. The beam includes an upper surface spaced above the beam axis, and a lower surface spaced below the beam axis. A central aperture extends through the beam to define a plurality of spaced apart necks. The beam lower surface at the free end is spaced closer to the beam axis than at the mounting end to define a step. And, a plurality of strain gages are mounted to the beam adjacent to the necks for measuring strain thereat. Mounted in a scale housing, the beam free end abuts a housing mounting pad for limiting travel of the loadcell and providing overload protection therefor.

Overload protected loadcell

A checkout counter gap filler which allows liquids to pass through a gap between a checkout counter and an optical scanner, which is mounted within an aperture within the checkout counter, but prevents money and other unwanted debris from passing through the gap. The gap filler includes a rail member which is fastened along left and right sides of the scanner. The rail member includes an upper vertical portion having a bottom edge, a lower vertical portion having a top edge, and a horizontal shelf portion connecting the bottom edge of the upper vertical portion to the top edge of the lower vertical portion. The horizontal shelf portion includes a plurality of apertures which allow liquid to pass, but are small enough to prevent money and other debris from passing through.

Checkout counter gap filler

Gap filler between checkout counter and bar code scanner

A method and apparatus for handling discount coupons includes a scanner, a point of sale terminal and a coupon acceptor. In one embodiment, a coupon file manager is also included. The coupon acceptor receives coupons which have been determined to be genuine and properly related to goods being purchased. The coupons are inserted into an opening in the acceptor and are then drawn into the acceptor by a pair of aligned counter-rotating cylinders. The coupons are also marked within the acceptor to indicate that they have been used. The coupon acceptor provides a secure structure so that coupons cannot be removed therefrom except by an authorized person.

Method and apparatus for receiving, marking and retaining discount

Apparatus and method for improving the accuracy of weighing an object using a scale, when the object to be weighed may not be positioned completely on the scale, by performing a first weighing operation, slightly moving the scale on which the object is weighed, performing a second weighing operation, comparing the results, and providing an indication to the scale operator if the two results are not the same. The operator can then reposition the object to be weighed so that it is completely located on the scale, and perform a further weighing operation. The movement of the scale between weighings may be in a horizontal or vertical direction, or in a combination of the two.

Growing community of inventors

Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Rathindra Nahar