Anode construction for use in cathodic protection for water softeners and filters

Claim 1

MEANS FOR THE CATHODIC PROTECTION OF METAL TANK CONTAINING A DEEP STRATIFIED BED OF LOOSELY PACKED SOLID PARTICLES INCLUDING CATION EXCHANGE MATERIALS BY REVERSAL OF CURRENT FLOW AND BY FORMATION OF A CALCAREOUS COATING ON THE INTERIOR THEREOF, COMPRISING A SACRIFICIAL GALVANIC ANODE PROJECTING LENGTHWISE IN THE TANK AND THROUGH THE SOLID PARTICLES IN THE TANK AND SPACED EQUIDISTANT FROM THE ENCOMPASSING INTERIOR SIDE WALLS OF THE TANK, A METAL PLUG MOUNTED IN THE BASE OF THE TANK FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING THE LOWER END OF THE ANODE AND MAINTAINING THE ANODE IN THE TANK, A METAL SLEEVE HAVING ITS LOWER END ANCHORED IN THE PLUG AND ITS OTHER END PROJECING ABOVE AND A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYOND THE END OF THE PLUG, AN ABRASIVE-RESISTANT INSULATING SLEEVE TIGHTLY ENCOMPASSING THE SUPPORT END OF THE ANODE BETWEEN THE ANODE AND THE METAL SLEEVE FOR INSULATING THE ANODE FROM THIS METAL SLEEVE, SAID INSULATING SLEEVE EXTENDING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYOND THE UPPER END OF THE PLUG AND BEYOND THE UPPER END OF THE METAL SLEEVE WHEREBY TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF CURRENT FROM THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE ANODE TO THE METAL SLEEVE AND PLUG, A METAL COLLAR TIGHTLY ENCOMPASSING THE UPPER END OF THE INSULATING SLEEVE WHEREBY THIS SLEEVE IS MAINTAINED TIGHTLY SEALED ABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF THE ANODE TO PREVENT THE LEAKAGE OF WATER BETWEEN IT AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE ANODE, A METAL CORE IN SAID ANODE, AND MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING THE PLUG AND TANK TO THE ANODE.