US3725669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Deep anode bed for cathodic protection
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-14
•
Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-12-14
Abstract
Abstract The method and apparatus for placing an impressed current or sacrificial anodes in a deep bed to provide cathodic protection of underground metallic structures and for easily replacing anodes which have been expended.
Inventors
- 👤 J Tatum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:49
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23F; C23F13/00; C23F13/02; C23F13/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
The method of making a deep anode bed for the cathodic protection of underground metallic structures comprising the steps of: drilling a deep bore hole in the earth, inserting an elongated hollow casing having a generally tubular wall of relatively rigid chemically inert non-conductive material into said bore hole, the lower portion of said casing wall having a plurality of openings therethrough, filling the annulus between the bore hole and the exterior of said casing with granular electrically conductive material to a predetermined level above the bottom of the bore hole and at least above the level of said openings, attaching at least one anode to a support means, introducing said anode and at least a portion of said support means into said casing, substantially completely filling the interior of said casing with granular electrically conductive material after said anode is in place so that the conductive material within said casing is in intimate engagement with said anode and communicates with the conductive material exteriorly of said casing through said openings, and electrically connecting said anode to a source of direct electrical energy, whereby electrical energy flows from said anode through said interior and exterior conductive material and through the earth to the metallic structure so that the underground metallic structure becomes cathodic.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
The method of making a deep anode bed for the cathodic protection of underground metallic structures comprising the steps of: drilling a deep bore hole in the earth, inserting an elongated hollow casing having a generally tubular wall of relatively rigid chemically inert non-conductive material into said bore hole, the lower portion of said casing wall having a plurality of openings therethrough, filling the annulus between the bore hole and the exterior of said casing with granular electrically conductive material to a predetermined level above the bottom of the bore hole and at least above the level of said openings, attaching at least one anode to a support means, introducing said anode and at least a portion of said support means into said casing, substantially completely filling the interior of said casing with granular electrically conductive material after said anode is in place so that the conductive material within said casing is in intimate engagement with said anode and communicates with the conductive material exteriorly of said casing through said openings, and electrically connecting said anode to a source of direct electrical energy, whereby electrical energy flows from said anode through said interior and exterior conductive material and through the earth to the metallic structure so that the underground metallic structure becomes cathodic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of introducing fluid under pressure into the granular electrically conductive material within said casing to fluidize said material after the anode has been substantially expended, applying an upward force to said support means to remove any remaining portions of the expended anode, placing a new anode within said casing so that said new anode sinks by gravity into the fluidized granular material within said casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of introducing gravel into tHe annulus between the exterior of said casing and said bore hole and on top of the granular electrically conductive material located exteriorly of said casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of compressing the granular electrically conductive material within said casing to reduce resistance to the flow of electrical energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a deep anode bed for cathodic protection of underground metallic structures in which the bed includes a bore hole, at least one anode supported at a predetermined depth within said bore hole, granular electrically conductive material substantially filling said bore hole and providing communication between said anode and the earth surrounding the bore hole, and means for supplying electrical energy to said anode so that electrical energy flows from the anode through the conductive material and the earth to the underground structures: the improvement comprising the method of replacing an expended anode including the steps of; introducing fluid under pressure into said granular conductive material to fluidize the same, controlling the flow of fluid so that granular conductive material is not discharged from the top of the bore hole, applying an upward force to the anode support to remove an expended anode from the fluidized granular material, placing a new anode within the fluidized granular material so that the new anode sinks by gravity into the bore hole, and interrupting the flow of fluid under pressure into said granular conductive material so that said granular material settles into intimate engagement with said anode and the earth surrounding the bore hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a deep anode bed for cathodic protection of underground metallic structures in which the bed includes a bore hole, at least one anode supported at a predetermined depth within said bore hole, granular electrically conductive material substantially filling said bore hole and providing communication between said anode and the earth surrounding the bore hole, and means for supplying electrical energy to said anode so that electrical energy flows from the anode through the conductive material and the earth to the underground structures: the improvement comprising the method of replacing an expended anode including the steps of; introducing fluid under pressure into said granular conductive material to fluidize the same, controlling the flow of fluid so that granular conductive material is not discharged from the top of the bore hole, applying an upward force to the anode support to remove an expended anode from the fluidized granular material, placing a new anode within the fluidized granular material so that the new anode sinks by gravity into the bore hole, and interrupting the flow of fluid under pressure into said granular conductive material so that said granular material settles into intimate engagement with said anode and the earth surrounding the bore hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for cathodically protecting underground metallic structures comprising an elongated hollow tubular rigid casing for reception within a deep bore hole, said casing having at least an upper portion constructed of substantially rigid chemically inert non-conductive material with a plurality of openings adjacent to the lower end only, at least one anode, means for suspending said anode within said casing in the area of said openings, granular electrically conductive material substantially filling said casing and intimately engaging said anode and filling the lower portion of the bore hole exteriorly of said casing at least to a level above said openings, and means for supplying direct electrical energy to said anode, whereby electrical energy flows from said anode through said first and second conductive materials and through the earth to the underground metallic structures to cause the underground structures to become cathodic and thereby substantially prevent corrosion of such structures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for cathodically protecting underground metallic structures comprising an elongated hollow tubular rigid casing for reception within a deep bore hole, said casing having at least an upper portion constructed of substantially rigid chemically inert non-conductive material with a plurality of openings adjacent to the lower end only, at least one anode, means for suspending said anode within said casing in the area of said openings, granular electrically conductive material substantially filling said casing and intimately engaging said anode and filling the lower portion of the bore hole exteriorly of said casing at least to a level above said openings, and means for supplying direct electrical energy to said anode, whereby electrical energy flows from said anode through said first and second conductive materials and through the earth to the underground metallic structures to cause the underground structures to become cathodic and thereby substantially prevent corrosion of such structures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 6 in which said casing initially includes a metallic portion connected to one end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 6 including sheet metal sleeve means covering said openings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 6 including centering means for locating said anode generally axially of said casing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 6 in which said means for supplying electrical energy to said anode includes a conductor connecting said anode to a rectifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 6 in which said openings are slanted at an inward and upward angle relative to the axis of said casing to reduce gas accumulation and to provide greater pressure on said granular electrically conductive material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2552208A
Cited
US3458643A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |