Cathodic protection for water softeners and filters

Claim 1

IN A METAL TANK OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED HAVING A DEEP STRATIFIED BED OF LOSSELY PACKED SOLID PARTICLES INCLUDING CATION EXCHANGE MATERIAL AND A SACRIFICIAL GALVANIC ANODE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO AND PROJECTING INTO THE TANK AND THE BED THEREIN, A METAL OUTLET FITTING IN THE TANK AND PROVIDING CATHODIC AREAS WITH THE TANK, AND AN INTEGRAL OUTLET TUBE AND MANIFOLD OPEN AT ITS UPPER END AND THEREAT CONNECTED TO AND SUSPENDED FROM THE METAL OUTLET FITTING AND DEPENDING INTO THE TANK AND DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE PARTICLES OF THE BED SAID OUTLET AND MANIFOLD COMPRISING INSULATING MATERIAL PRESENTING A CONTINUOUS AND UNINTERUPTED INSULATING SURFACE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH WITH THE MANIFOLD BEING CLOSED AT ITS LOWER END AND ADJACENT THERETO PROVIDED WITH CLOSELY SPACED OPENINGS FOR THE UNINTERRUPTED PASSAGE OF THE TREATED WATER BUT PREVENTING THE NORMAL PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF THE MATERIAL OF THE BED.