1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of locking rings and more particularly to the field of locking rings for electrical energy measuring devices.
2. Background Art
Electrical energy measuring devices, both single and poly-phase, are used to indicate the actual electrical power consumption by a particular customer and are well known. One of the most common of such measuring devices is the electro-mechanical induction-type watt-hour meter which is used to measure actual electrical power consumed by most residential customers. The meter is electrically connected in the electrical power supply wiring to the customer's electrical load wiring network and is located at some convenient, accessible location on the customer's premises for minimum disruption of the customers activity. Periodically the meter is read and the customer is billed or charged for the actual consumption of electrical power.
Because the meter is located on the customer premises for convenient access by a meter reader, it is also accessible by others and thereby subject to possible theft or tampering. Because, for ease and speed of installation, the meter is normally operably mounted by plugging into a mounting base, it is also easy to remove. While theft of a meter by a determined individual probably cannot be economically avoided, some tampering and vandalism may be avoided by a suitable securing locking ring. Such locking ring also serves to operably connect the meter with the mounting base for maintaining proper electrical contact between the electrical bayonet connections of the meter and the mounting base.
In the past such meter locking rings have been formed of a gapped substantially circular metal retainer having a concave securing recess which extended about substantially the entire periphery of the engaged circular flanges of the mounting base and the meter. The metal locking retainer was sufficiently elastically deformable to enable concentric installation and then maintain the adjacent flanges in continuous peripheral sealing contact to exclude dirt and moisture from the mounting base. A soft metal end securing seal clamp is then used to close and seal the gapped ends of the installed retainer ring. Should the end clamp be removed, the impressed soft metal seal is broken and tampering is immediately apparent to the person reading the meter. In the event of an indication of tampering, a false meter reading is immediately suspected and a potential unauthorized power consumption problem identified for proper resolution.
The prior art metal securing clamps are expensive, are subject to corrosion and requires the use of a special tool to emboss or form the tattle-tale tampering seal in the soft metal of the end seal clamp.