Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for connecting a current carrying conductor cable to a permanent anode comprising a cup-shaped housing made from a chemically inert, electrically conductive material having a closed end portion, a side wall extending from the closed end portion, the side wall having a free end forming an open end portion, the side wall having a thickness which is generally uniform along its length, an electrically conductive plug member secured in said housing having one end adjacent said closed end and having a second end facing toward said open end while being substantially removed from the open end, said plug member having an electrical connection means to provide for electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and a chemically insulating material entirely within said housing rounding said electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and filling said cup-shaped housing to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for connecting a current carrying conductor cable to a permanent anode comprising a cup-shaped housing made from a chemically inert, electrically conductive material having a closed end portion, a side wall extending from the closed end portion, the side wall having a free end forming an open end portion, the side wall having a thickness which is generally uniform along its length, an electrically conductive plug member secured in said housing having one end adjacent said closed end and having a second end facing toward said open end while being substantially removed from the open end, said plug member having an electrical connection means to provide for electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and a chemically insulating material entirely within said housing rounding said electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and filling said cup-shaped housing to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An anode connector as set forth in claim 1 in which said chemically inert, electrically conductive, material is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, columbium, and titanium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An anode connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein said electrical connection means comprises an aperture in which the conductor cable is inserted and soldered thereto to provide a low resistance connection between the plug member and the conductor cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the plug has a given height and the aperture extends in the direction of and is approximately one third of the height.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system for connecting a current carrying conductor cable with a chemically inert insulating covering to a permanent anode in an electrolyte comprising a cup-shaped housing made from a chemically inert, electrically conductive metal having a closed end portion, a side wall extending from the closed end portion, the side wall having a free end forming an open end portion, the side wall having a thickness which is generally uniform along its length, an electrically conductive plug member secured in said housing having one end adjacent said closed end and having a second end facing toward said open end while being substantially removed from the open end, said plug member having an aperture therein, a conductor cable in said aperture inserted and soldered to the plug member to provide a low resistance electrical connection, and a chemically insulating material surrounding said electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and filling said cup-shaped housing to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system for connecting a current carrying conductor cable with a chemically inert insulating covering to a permanent anode in an electrolyte comprising a cup-shaped housing made from a chemically inert, electrically conductive metal having a closed end portion, a side wall extending from the closed end portion, the side wall having a free end forming an open end portion, the side wall having a thickness which is generally uniform along its length, an electrically conductive plug member secured in said housing having one end adjacent said closed end and having a second end facing toward said open end while being substantially removed from the open end, said plug member having an aperture therein, a conductor cable in said aperture inserted and soldered to the plug member to provide a low resistance electrical connection, and a chemically insulating material surrounding said electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and filling said cup-shaped housing to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An anode connector as set forth in claim 5 in which said chemically inert metal is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, columbium, and titanium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An anode connector as set forth in claim 6 further including a chemically inert strap member for joining said apparatus to said anode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An anode connector as set forth in claim 7 in which said electrically conductive plug member is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
An anode connector for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system for connecting a current carrying cable to a permanent anode comprising a clad cup-shaped housing having a closed end portion and an open end portion with an outside layer made from a chemically inert metal and an inside layer made from an electrically conductive material, an electrically conductive plug member secured in said housing having one end adjacent said closed end in contact with said inside layer and having a second end facing toward said open end while being substantially removed from the open end, said plug member having an aperture therein in which the conductor cable is inserted and soldered thereto to provide a low resistance electrical connection, and a chemically insulating material surrounding said electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and filling said cup-shaped housing to completely cover said inside layer and to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
An anode connector for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system for connecting a current carrying cable to a permanent anode comprising a clad cup-shaped housing having a closed end portion and an open end portion with an outside layer made from a chemically inert metal and an inside layer made from an electrically conductive material, an electrically conductive plug member secured in said housing having one end adjacent said closed end in contact with said inside layer and having a second end facing toward said open end while being substantially removed from the open end, said plug member having an aperture therein in which the conductor cable is inserted and soldered thereto to provide a low resistance electrical connection, and a chemically insulating material surrounding said electrical connection between said conductor cable and said plug member and filling said cup-shaped housing to completely cover said inside layer and to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system comprising the combination of a permanent anode member, a current carrying conductor cable having a chemically inert insulating covering and an anode connector comprising a generally cup-shaped housing made from a chemically inert, electrically conductive metal having a closed end portion comprising a bottom wall, a side wall extending from the closed end portion, the side wall having a free end forming an open end portion, the side and bottom walls having a generally uniform thickness, an electrically conductive plug member secured in the housing having one end adjacent said closed end and having a second end facing toward the open end while being substantially removed from the open end, the plug member having an electrical connection means to provide for electrical connection between the conductor cable and the plug member and a chemical insulating material in the housing surrounding said electrical connection between the conductor cable and the plug member and substantially filling the cup-shaped housing to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system comprising the combination of a permanent anode member, a current carrying conductor cable having a chemically inert insulating covering and an anode connector comprising a generally cup-shaped housing made from a chemically inert, electrically conductive metal having a closed end portion comprising a bottom wall, a side wall extending from the closed end portion, the side wall having a free end forming an open end portion, the side and bottom walls having a generally uniform thickness, an electrically conductive plug member secured in the housing having one end adjacent said closed end and having a second end facing toward the open end while being substantially removed from the open end, the plug member having an electrical connection means to provide for electrical connection between the conductor cable and the plug member and a chemical insulating material in the housing surrounding said electrical connection between the conductor cable and the plug member and substantially filling the cup-shaped housing to provide a tight, leak-proof seal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the chemical insulating material is slightly recessed from the open end portion of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the connector is welded to the anode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the connector is welded to a strap member formed of the same material as that of the housing, and the strap member is welded to the anode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the chemically inert material is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, columbium and titanium.