AUTOMATIC BY-PASS DEVICE FOR A WATT HOUR METER SOCKET

摘要

A socket for a watt-hour meter is provided with an automatic by-pass means to prevent interruption of power to a load when the watt-hour meter is removed from the socket. The by-pass means comprises a pair of identical by-passing devices each having a pair of contact brackets. An end portion of one bracket of each pair is connected to a line terminal of the meter socket and an end portion of the other bracket of each pair is connected to a load terminal of the meter socket. An insulating contact housing is supported on the other end portions of the brackets of each pair, which other end portions are spaced apart to serve as stationary contacts. A spring-loaded bridging contact contained within each housing is driven away from the spaced end portions of the associated contact brackets by a plunger engageable with the watt-hour meter and is released when the meter is removed from the socket to bridge the spaced end portions of the associated contact brackets to complete a current path between the line and load terminals.