US3764909A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Meter construction having rapid assembly features
Assignee: Weston Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-20
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An electric meter particularly characterized by a small number of moving parts and simplified assembly by virtue of fixed cooperating locating surfaces on the elements and sub-assemblies of the meter. A magnetic circuit including a yoke and magnet are constructed to snap into an insulating base in a predetermined position on the base. A coil assembly initially including integral elements for connection of pivot bearings or taut bands is accurately positioned for rotation on the supporting base by inserting the assembly into the base. Cooperating locating surfaces provide for accurate predetermined positioning of the axis of rotation of the coil relative to the magnetic circuit. Additional features of the meter construction reside in a direct gear drive between a zero adjust element and zero adjust knob mounted in a cover for the meter, a unique base, casing, and cover which snap together, a coil support form of unique construction and which includes motion limiting elements which limit the permissible extent of movement of the coil in the event of shock or impact to positions well within the elastic limit of the supports which mount the coil for rotation, a unique mode of terminating the end connections for the coil without the need for stripping insulation, a unique mounting arrangement for the assembled meter, a unique rear mounting scale plate which provides for easily replacing scale plates to meet the needs of the user of the meter, a meter movement of a single size adapted to be used with casings and scales of various sizes whereby the number of different parts required to form meters of different sizes is maintained at a minimum, a unique insulating material base with flexibility to permit expanding the base during assembly of the meter, and sub-assemblies, components, and elements which can be assembled in only one position and orientation to assure proper assembly of the meter.
Inventors
- 👤 D Pearson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R5/00; G01R5/02; G01R5/06; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/10; G01R1/12; G01R1/16; G01R5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base in a predetermined position relative to the base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a unitary casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first fixed, interengaging surface means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; and fixed interengaging surface means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position and to secure said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base in a predetermined position relative to the base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a unitary casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first fixed, interengaging surface means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; and fixed interengaging surface means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position and to secure said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A meter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said meter movement further includes fixed support surface means on said supporting base to accurately position said moving element for rotation about a predetermined axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A meter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said meter assembly further includes a cover for said face plate; and interengaging positioning and snap action means on said face plate and said cover to permit said cover to be snapped into position on said face plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A meter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said base includes dust seal means; said casing includes dust seal means; and said dust seal means on said base and casing cooperating with each other to exclude foreign matter from said meter assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A meter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first fixed interengaging surface means includes recess and projection means on said casing and said base to permit sliding said base into said body from a location in front of said face plate so that the base and meter movement is accurately positioned relative to the face plate and scale plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A meter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said face plate is transparent; said scale plate is mounted on a rear surface of said face plate; and said scale plate is wholly exposed relative to said meter assembly to permit rapid changing of scale plates after the meter is assembled without disassembling the assembled meter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; a cover for said face plate; interengaging positioning and securing means on said face plate and said cover to permit said cover to be snapped into position on said face plate; a zero adjust knob mounted on said cover for rotation about a predetermined axis; a zero adjust element of the meter movement being engageable by said zero adjust knob to provide a drive connection therebetween, and cooperating locating means on said zero adjust element and said base to accurately position said zero adjust element relative to said base; whereby mounting said cover on said face plate simultaneously accurately positions said zero adjust knob relative to said zero adjust element to provide a drive connection therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
231 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; a cover for said face plate; interengaging positioning and securing means on said face plate and said cover to permit said cover to be snapped into position on said face plate; a zero adjust knob mounted on said cover for rotation about a predetermined axis; a zero adjust element of the meter movement being engageable by said zero adjust knob to provide a drive connection therebetween, and cooperating locating means on said zero adjust element and said base to accurately position said zero adjust element relative to said base; whereby mounting said cover on said face plate simultaneously accurately positions said zero adjust knob relative to said zero adjust element to provide a drive connection therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; said base is generally U-shaped and includes a recess defining a dust seal portion of the base; said body of the casing includes a top wall, a rear wall, and a flange projecting from the rear wall, the flange defining a dust seal portion of the casing; said flange and recess engaging each other to seal said meter movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; said base is generally U-shaped and includes a recess defining a dust seal portion of the base; said body of the casing includes a top wall, a rear wall, and a flange projecting from the rear wall, the flange defining a dust seal portion of the casing; said flange and recess engaging each other to seal said meter movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A meter assembly according to claim 8 wherein additional dust seal means on said base and casing include interengaging recess and projection means between said top wall of said body and upper portions of said base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with saId face plate; interengaging recess and projection means on said casing and base to permit sliding said base into said body from a location in front of said face plate and to accurately position said base relative to said casing, said recess and projection means including a pair of spaced apart tracks on said body portion of said casing; and a pair of mating tracks on said base, said tracks interengaging with each other to provide for rapid accurate assembly of said base and casing by sliding said base along the tracks of the body; a scale plate having indicia thereon; and interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with saId face plate; interengaging recess and projection means on said casing and base to permit sliding said base into said body from a location in front of said face plate and to accurately position said base relative to said casing, said recess and projection means including a pair of spaced apart tracks on said body portion of said casing; and a pair of mating tracks on said base, said tracks interengaging with each other to provide for rapid accurate assembly of said base and casing by sliding said base along the tracks of the body; a scale plate having indicia thereon; and interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
173 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a transparent face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing and including, fixed projection means projecting from the rear of said face plate and which cooperate with fixed surface means on said scale plate; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to the meter movement, can be snapped into position on the rear surface of the face plate, and is exposed relative to the meter assembly to permit rapid changing of scale plates after the meter is assembled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
173 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a transparent face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing and including, fixed projection means projecting from the rear of said face plate and which cooperate with fixed surface means on said scale plate; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to the meter movement, can be snapped into position on the rear surface of the face plate, and is exposed relative to the meter assembly to permit rapid changing of scale plates after the meter is assembled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
201 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; said face plate is transparent and has first scale plate positioning projection means integral with its front surface and second scale plate positioning means integral with its rear surface; said scale plate includes positioning surface means adapted to engage said first and second positioning means to accurately position the scale plate on either the front surface or the rear surface of the face plate; whereby, said scale plate can be selectively mounted on the front of rear surface of said face plate during assembly of said meter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
201 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; said face plate is transparent and has first scale plate positioning projection means integral with its front surface and second scale plate positioning means integral with its rear surface; said scale plate includes positioning surface means adapted to engage said first and second positioning means to accurately position the scale plate on either the front surface or the rear surface of the face plate; whereby, said scale plate can be selectively mounted on the front of rear surface of said face plate during assembly of said meter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A meter assembly according to claim 12 wherein said first and second positioning means on said respective front and rear surfaces of said face plate are mirror images of each other as viewed from said surfaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A meter assembly according to claim 13 wherein said first and second positioning means are cylindrical projections integral with said face plate; and said positioning surface means of said scale are side surfaces of openings in said scale plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a hollow body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging Means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; rigid conductor means secured to said base; said hollow body having conductor receiving means; and terminal adapter means connecting said conductors to said adapter means; said body including recess means for mounting said adapter means thereon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
152 words
A meter assembly especially adapted to be rapidly assembled with the components thereof in predetermined relation to each other comprising, in combination a meter movement mounted on a supporting base, said meter movement including a moving element; a pointer mounted on said moving element for movement therewith; a casing having a face plate and a hollow body rigid with said face plate; first interengaging Means on said supporting base and casing to accurately position said base relative to said casing; a scale plate having indicia thereon; interengaging means on said scale plate and casing to accurately position said scale plate relative to said casing; whereby, said scale plate is accurately positioned relative to said meter movement; rigid conductor means secured to said base; said hollow body having conductor receiving means; and terminal adapter means connecting said conductors to said adapter means; said body including recess means for mounting said adapter means thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2612132A
Cited
US3638119A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |