Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electrical power distribution systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-21
2001-07-24
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electrical power distribution systems and devices
C361S662000, C361S663000, C361S664000, C361S672000, C174S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266233
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the distribution of electric power and is particularly directed to a temporary power center for connecting a contractor's plug-in cable to underground secondary cables such as in a residential distribution system such as during construction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are currently available a variety of temporary enclosures owned and installed by contractors for providing temporary electrical service for building construction. Two of the more common enclosures are shown in
FIGS. 1
a
and
1
b
. In the enclosure shown in
FIG. 1
a
, an electric meter
10
is located below a circuit breaker-power receptacle compartment
17
. A utility supply cable
11
is connected to the electric meter
10
and to a utility enclosure (not shown for simplicity), while the contractor's load cables
12
exit the enclosure from the circuit breaker-power receptacle compartment and extend such as to individual housing units in a housing development under construction. The enclosure is mounted to a temporary support post
13
which is typically comprised of wood or may be in the form of a pipe. In the enclosure shown in
FIG. 1
b
, a utility supply cable is run from an existing power source and is connected to an electric meter
14
which is located above a circuit breaker-power receptacle compartment
18
. A cable
15
connects the enclosure shown in
FIG. 1
b
to underground cables (not shown). This enclosure is also mounted to a temporary support post
16
. The contractor's load cables (not shown in the figure for simplicity) are run out of a lower portion of the enclosure and are available for the contractor to connect power tools.
The connection of the temporary power center to the electric utility enclosure is via cables protected by flexible waterproof conduit. The contractor's plug-in type take-off cable attachments include 90° connectors with 600 V insulated 3/c cable. This temporary electric power installation thus incorporates two separate remote enclosures, i.e., the meter connection enclosure and utility enclosure, connected by cables. This arrangement requires separate mounting arrangements for the two enclosures and presents a potential hazard in the exposed cables connecting these enclosures. In addition, the temporary mounting arrangement of the meter connection enclosure and associated exposed cables is aesthetically undesirable.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing a temporary power center for an underground residential system including an electric meter and circuit breaker-power receptacle combination disposed in a side-by-side manner in a housing which is adapted for secure attachment to an electric utility enclosure.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a weatherproof electrical enclosure having outlet receptacles with circuit breaker protection and metered power for temporary electric service.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical fixture incorporating an electric meter and a circuit breaker-power receptacle combination for direct connection to and mounting on an electric utility enclosure which affords improved safety and aesthetics.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an integrated electric meter/circuit breaker-power receptacle unit and electric utility enclosure for running power from a utility supply cable to plural electric cables such as in a housing development under construction.
This invention contemplates a power center for temporary connection of a contractor's plug-in cable to an underground electrical distribution system, wherein the electrical distribution system includes a ground-based pedestal and plural underground lines connected to the pedestal, the power center comprising a housing removably attached to an upper portion of the ground-based pedestal, the housing including first and second compartments arranged in a side-by-side manner and separated by a partition; an electric meter disposed in the first compartment and connected to the underground electrical distribution system; and a circuit breaker/power receptacle panel disposed in the second compartment and coupled to the electric meter, the circuit breaker/power receptacle panel including a receptacle for providing electric power on a temporary basis to the contractor's plug-in cable.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3440330 (1969-04-01), Sloop
patent: 3450951 (1969-06-01), Boyle
patent: 3585456 (1971-06-01), Phillips, Jr.
patent: 3761780 (1973-09-01), Plummer
patent: 4025825 (1977-05-01), Shrader
patent: 4404521 (1983-09-01), Fennell
patent: 4427172 (1984-01-01), Cooper
patent: 4864467 (1989-09-01), Byrd et al.
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patent: 5404266 (1995-04-01), Orchard et al.
patent: 5638256 (1997-06-01), Leach et al.
patent: 5726507 (1998-03-01), Tipton
patent: 5838078 (1998-11-01), Tipton
patent: 6046904 (2000-04-01), Kubat
Chervinsky Boris L.
Electrical Materials Co.
Emrich & -Dithmar
Picard Leo P.
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