Abstract A direct current circuit including a pair of ground electrodes and an electrolytically conductive earth formation therebetween is normally fixedly connected to the high voltage direct current output terminals of a power rectifier. The unidirectional voltage supplied to the terminals through the power rectifier is variable and the power rectifier may be disconnected by control means in its alternating current input circuit. A bias voltage of normal polarity and predetermined low magnitude is supplied to the output terminals by a low voltage battery and blocking rectifier in series circuit relation connected directly across the terminals in opposing relation to the voltage supplied through the power rectifier. Battery charge is maintained through a current limiting impedance of high resistance connected across the blocking rectifier.
Inventors
👤 Charles H Titus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-30 18:34
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In combination, a direct current load circuit having a pair of input terminals and including two electrodes spaced apart in an environment including an electrolytically conductive fluid, the space between said electrodes being subject to local generation of low inverse potentials and said electrodes being subject to reverse current resulting therefrom, a power rectifier having high voltage direct current output terminals connected to said load circuit input terminals, switching means for disabling said power rectifier without disconnecting said input terminals from said load circuit, and means for maintaining a low unidirectional voltage of normal polarity across said input terminals when said power rectifier is disabled comprising a low voltage battery and a unilateral conducting device fixedly connected in series circuit relation across said input terminals in opposing voltage relation to the high voltage supplied through said power rectifier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In combination, a direct current load circuit having a pair of input terminals and including two electrodes spaced apart in an environment including an electrolytically conductive fluid, the space between said electrodes being subject to local generation of low inverse potentials and said electrodes being subject to reverse current resulting therefrom, a power rectifier having high voltage direct current output terminals connected to said load circuit input terminals, switching means for disabling said power rectifier without disconnecting said input terminals from said load circuit, and means for maintaining a low unidirectional voltage of normal polarity across said input terminals when said power rectifier is disabled comprising a low voltage battery and a unilateral conducting device fixedly connected in series circuit relation across said input terminals in opposing voltage relation to the high voltage supplied through said power rectifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the high voltage output terminals of said power rectifier are fixedly connected to said load circuit input terminals and said disabling means comprises switching means for deenergizing the input circuit of said power rectifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are conductively associated with an electrically conductive earth formation including saline water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein high voltage at the output terminals of said power rectifier is of the order of at least several hundred volts and the low voltage of said battery is substantially less than 100 volts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said unilateral conducting device is a diode connected in blocking relation with respect to the output voltage of said power rectifier and a high resistance impedance element is connected in shunt circuit relation with said diode to supply charging current to said battery whenever the output voltage of said power rectifier exceeds the low battery voltage.