Fault indicator

Claim 2

A submersible fault indicator structure comprising: a meter having a viewing face therein; a onepiece rigid housing with a transparent base at one end, an open mouth at the other end and a continuous sidewall therebetween, said meter mounted in said housing with the meter face viewable through the transparent base of the housing; a unitary elastomeric boot including a base end, an open mouth and a continuous wall therebetween, said boot sized to stretchably cover and engage said housing in a tight sealing fit between the sidewall of said housing and the wall of said boot, to waterproofingly seal the open mouth of said housing and to render the base of said housing visible through the mouth of said boot, and waterproofing sealing means on the interior wall of said boot for mating with the sidewall of said housing, further means in the base end of said boot for receiving and sealing the entry of a cable into said housing open mouth, and wherein said boot flares from said sealing means and extends radially outwardly beyond said housing base to comprise an open shielding hood for said base to cushion said base against shock.

Claim 3

A submersible structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are internal peripheral cushioning ribs extending inwardly from the wall, said boot engaging said housing to firmly engage said housing and external peripheral ribs on said boot cushioning said structure against shock.

Claim 4

A submersible fault indicator structure comprising: a meter having a viewing disc face therein; and including a cup-shaped one-piece, glass housing with a transparent circular base at one end, an open mouth at the other and a sidewall therebetween, said meter mounted in said housing with the meter disc viewable through the transparent base of the housing, an annular stepped flange surrounding the mouth of said housing; a one-piece bell-shaped elastomeric boot including a base end and an open mouth, said boot shaped to surround said housing in a tight stretchable fit against the sidewall thereof to completely enclose in a waterproof manner said housing mouth with the base of said housing visible through the mouth of said boot, a plurality of annular waterproofing sealing ribs on the interior wall of said boot for mating with said flange to prevent relative movement between said boot and said housing; and an enclosing ring affixed about said boot to lock said boot to said housing to prevent removal of the boot from the housing.

Claim 5

A submersible fault indicator structure comprising: a meter having a viewing disc face therein; and including a cup-shaped one-piece, glass housing with a transparent circular base at one end, an open mouth at the other and a sidewall therebetween, said meter mounted in said housing with the meter disc viewable through the transparent base of the housing, an annular stepped flange surrounding the mouth of said housing; a one-piece bell-shaped elastomeric boot including a base end and an open mouth, said boot shaped to surround said housing in a tight stretchable fit against the sidewall thereof to completely enclose in a waterproof manner said housing mouth with the base of said housing visible through the mouth of said boot, a plurality of annular waterproofing sealing ribs on the interior wall of said boot for mating with said flange to prevent relative movement between said boot and said housing; and an enclosing ring affixed about said boot to lock said boot to said housing to prevent removal of the boot from the housing.

Claim 6

A submersible structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing sidewall tapers outwardly from said base end and said boot is stretchable to mate with said housing taper, and the mouth of said boot is flared outwardly from contact with said housing and extends beyond the disc face of said housing in axial and radial direction to cushion said housing against shock.

Claim 7

A submersible structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein there are internal peripheral ribs on said boot engaging said housing to firmly cushion said housing against shock and vibration axially and radially, and annular ribs spaced along the exterior of said boot to cushion said structure against shock.

Claim 8

A submersible structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein there is a filler of potting material within said glass housing covering the moUth thereof to form a secondary sealing arrangement.

Claim 9

A submersible fault indicator for sensing current conditions in a conductor comprising: transformer means inductively coupled to the conductor, a meter having a viewing face therein; a rigid housing of water impervious material with a transparent base at one end, an open mouth at the other and a sidewall therebetween, said meter mounted in said housing with the meter face viewable through the transparent base of the housing; a circuit board connected to said meter and positioned within said housing, said board including a plurality of circuit components within a circuit connected to said transformer means by a cable extending from said housing; a unitary boot of waterproof elastomeric material including a base end and an open mouth with an enclosing sidewall therebetween, said boot sized to surround said housing and cover the open mouth of said housing in a tight sealing fit between the sidewall of said housing and the sidewall of said boot and render the base of said housing visible through the mouth of said boot with said boot otherwise surrounding said housing, a continuous peripheral waterproofing channel about the interior wall of said boot for receiving a continuous stepped flange surrounding the mouth of said housing; further sealing means on said boot for sealing the cable entry into said housing; and an enclosing strap affixing said boot to said housing to prevent removal of the boot from the housing.

Claim 10

A submersible fault indicator for sensing current conditions in a conductor comprising: transformer means inductively coupled to the conductor, a meter having a viewing face therein; a rigid housing of water impervious material with a transparent base at one end, an open mouth at the other and a sidewall therebetween, said meter mounted in said housing with the meter face viewable through the transparent base of the housing; a circuit board connected to said meter and positioned within said housing, said board including a plurality of circuit components within a circuit connected to said transformer means by a cable extending from said housing; a unitary boot of waterproof elastomeric material including a base end and an open mouth with an enclosing sidewall therebetween, said boot sized to surround said housing and cover the open mouth of said housing in a tight sealing fit between the sidewall of said housing and the sidewall of said boot and render the base of said housing visible through the mouth of said boot with said boot otherwise surrounding said housing, a continuous peripheral waterproofing channel about the interior wall of said boot for receiving a continuous stepped flange surrounding the mouth of said housing; further sealing means on said boot for sealing the cable entry into said housing; and an enclosing strap affixing said boot to said housing to prevent removal of the boot from the housing.

Claim 11

An indicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said circuit includes an integrated circuit current condition sensor.