Method and means for the prevention of electrolytic corrosion

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTROLYTIC OPERATION IN WHICH AN ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION IS CONNECTED IN A DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUIT AND IN WHICH SAID ELECTROLYTE IS CAUSED TO FLOW THROUGH A CIRCULATION SYSTEM, THE METHOD OF PREVENTING ELECTROLYTIC CORROSION BY STRAY ELECTRIC CURRENTS OF EQUIPMENT HANDLING SAID ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION IN THE CIRCULATION SYSTEM WHICH COMPRISES INSULATING SAID EQUIPMENT FROM GROUND, INSULATING SAID EQUIPMENT FROM ADJACENT METALLIC STRUCTURES IN THE CIRCULATING SYSTEM BY INSULATORS INTERPOSED IN THE CONDUITS OF THE CIRCULATING SYSTEM LEADING TO AND FROM SAID EQUIPMENT, SHUNTING AROUND SAID EQUIPMENT SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE STRAY ELECTRIC CURRENTS FLOWING TOWARD AND FROM IT BY A SHUNT CONNECTION CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUITS LEADING TO AND FROM SAID EQUIPMENT AT THE SIDES OF SAID INSULATORS REMOTE FROM THE EQUIPMENT, CONNECTING SAID INSULATED EQUIPMENT TO SAID D. C. CIRCUIT AT A POINT WHERE SAID CIRCUIT IS NEGATIVE RELATIVE TO THE ELECTROLYTE IN SAID EQUIPMENT, LIMITING THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT ALLOWED TO FLOW TO SAID EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE ELECTROLYTE IN CONTACT THEREWITH SO THAT NO MORE THAN THE METALLIC CONSTITUENT OF THE ELECTROLYTE IS CATHODICALLY DEPOSITED OUT OF THE SOLUTION ONTO THE INSIDE OF SAID EQUIPMENT THAN CAN BE CHEMICALLY REDISSOLVED AND WASHED AWAY BY THE SOLUTION FLOW.