US4414511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low resistance, fluid replenishing, reference cell and method for using same in structure-to-soil electrical surveys
Assignee: HARCO Corp A CORP OF OH
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Filing: 1980-08-11
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2000-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A reference cell for conducting closely spaced buried structure-to-soil electrical surveys uses a soil contact cell adapted to be mounted on the lower end of a pole or cane to be held by the surveyor walking over the right-of-way of the buried structure such as an underground pipeline. The cell includes a fluid chamber on the lower end of the pole or cane and includes on the lower end of the chamber a ground contact pad. A spring loaded bottom wall or boot closes the chamber and is operative to reduce the volume of the chamber when the lower end of the chamber is forced by the pole into contact with the ground above the buried structure. The reduction in volume of the chamber forces fluid through the contact pad to the ground to insure good electrical contact. Fluid in the chamber may be continuously replenished by a make-up supply carried by the surveyor which is drawn from the supply by return of the boot to its unstressed state. The ground contact pad may be porous and/or provided with a fluid flow opening which is opened when the pad is forced against the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles G. Waits
- 👤 Karl W. Nicholas
- 👤 James B. Bushman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/15; G01V3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A reference cell assembly for conducting electrical earth surveys comprising a liquid-metal cell, means to support the cell and periodically to move the cell to force it against the earth and then to remove it from the earth, and means coupled with respect to the cell for automatically responding to such movement for automatically supplying make-up liquid to the cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A reference cell assembly for conducting electrical earth surveys comprising a liquid-metal cell, means to support the cell and periodically to move the cell to force it against the earth and then to remove it from the earth, and means coupled with respect to the cell for automatically responding to such movement for automatically supplying make-up liquid to the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cell as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cell comprises a canister on the lower end of a pole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein a wall of the canister is in the form of a spring loaded diaphragm operative to vary the volume of said canister in response to such movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wall is the bottom wall, and a porous earth contact pad in the center of said wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 4 including at least one hole in said pad, and means responsive to the forcing of the cell against the earth to open said hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 5 including means responsive to the removal of the cell from the earth to close the hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 4 including at least one hole in such pad, valve means operative to open and close said hole in response to forcing it against the earth and removing it from the earth, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said valve means includes a plunger actuator projecting below said pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a check valve in the top of said cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cell assembly as set forth in claim 9, including a liquid make-up supply connected to said cell, said check valve being between said cell and supply permitting liquid to flow only from said supply to said cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cell is a copper-copper sulfate cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cell is a silver-silver chloride cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cell as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cell includes a flexible boot on the lower end thereof with a volute spring embedded therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A reference cell assembly for conducting electrical earth surveys comprising a liquid-metal cell, means to support the cell and to move the cell periodically to force it against the earth and then to remove it from the earth, an earth contact pad on the lower end of the cell, at least one hole in said pad, closure means for normally closing said hole, and means coupled with respect to the cell for automatically responding to the forcing of the cell against the earth to effect operation of said closure means to open said hole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A reference cell assembly for conducting electrical earth surveys comprising a liquid-metal cell, means to support the cell and to move the cell periodically to force it against the earth and then to remove it from the earth, an earth contact pad on the lower end of the cell, at least one hole in said pad, closure means for normally closing said hole, and means coupled with respect to the cell for automatically responding to the forcing of the cell against the earth to effect operation of said closure means to open said hole.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A reference cell assembly as set forth in claim 14 including means responsive to removing it from the earth to close said hole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 15 said closure means comprising valve means operative to open and close said hole.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means responsive comprising a plunger actuator projecting below said paid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
A reference cell for conducting electrical surveys of buried structures comprising a pole, a fluid chamber on the lower end of said pole, electrical means electrically coupled to fluid in said fluid chamber for electrically coupling the same with respect to survey equipment to effect such survey, a spring loaded wall closing such chamber operative to enlarge the volume of such chamber when said pole is lifted from contact with the ground above such buried structure, wherein said wall is the bottom wall and includes a porous ground contact paid in said bottom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
A reference cell for conducting electrical surveys of buried structures comprising a pole, a fluid chamber on the lower end of said pole, electrical means electrically coupled to fluid in said fluid chamber for electrically coupling the same with respect to survey equipment to effect such survey, a spring loaded wall closing such chamber operative to enlarge the volume of such chamber when said pole is lifted from contact with the ground above such buried structure, wherein said wall is the bottom wall and includes a porous ground contact paid in said bottom.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 18 including a make-up supply of fluid, and means to draw such fluid into the chamber when said volume is enlarged.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cell is a copper-copper sulfate or silver-silver chloride cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 19 including a check valve between the supply and chamber permitting flow only to the chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 19 wherein such make-up supply of fluid is air.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A reference cell as set forth in claim 18 wherein said wall comprises a boot with a volute spring embedded therein.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of buried structures comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected with respect to the structure, and periodically forcing the cell against the earth to obtain electrical potential difference information and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement, and utilizing such volume change to automatically replenish the supply of fluid in such cell.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of buried structures comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected with respect to the structure, and periodically forcing the cell against the earth to obtain electrical potential difference information and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement, and utilizing such volume change to automatically replenish the supply of fluid in such cell.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to automatically replenish the supply of fluid therein, and sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to automatically replenish the supply of fluid therein, and sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to replenish the supply of fluid therein, sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth, carrying a liquid make-up supply connected to the cell, and utilizing such movement of the cell to pump liquid from the supply to the cell.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to replenish the supply of fluid therein, sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth, carrying a liquid make-up supply connected to the cell, and utilizing such movement of the cell to pump liquid from the supply to the cell.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 26 including the step of precluding liquid flow from the cell to the make-up supply.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 25 including the step of providing a porous earth contact pad on said cell, and utilizing such movement to force liquid through the pad.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to replenish the supply of fluid therein, sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth, providing a porous earth contact pad on said cell, utilizing such movement to force liquid through the pad, providing a hole in such pad, and utilizing such movement to open and close such hole. PG,34
Claim 36
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to replenish the supply of fluid therein, sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth, providing a porous earth contact pad on said cell, utilizing such movement to force liquid through the pad, providing a hole in such pad, and utilizing such movement to open and close such hole. PG,34
Claim 37
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the step of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to replenish the supply of fluid therein, and sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth, and wherein the supply of fluid replenish is air.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of a buried structure comprising the step of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected to the structure and periodically forcing the cell against the earth and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, utilizing such movement of the cell to replenish the supply of fluid therein, and sensing potential difference between the structure and the earth via such reference cell while such reference cell is engaged with the earth, and wherein the supply of fluid replenish is air.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein said cell is mounted on the lower end of a pole, and such movement is obtained manually.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 25 including the step of changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of buried structures comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected with respect to the structure, and periodically forcing the cell against the earth to obtain electrical potential difference information and removing it from the earth, changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement, providing the cell with an earth contact pad, and utilizing such volume change to force fluid through such pad.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of buried structures comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected with respect to the structure, and periodically forcing the cell against the earth to obtain electrical potential difference information and removing it from the earth, changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement, providing the cell with an earth contact pad, and utilizing such volume change to force fluid through such pad.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of buried structures comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected with respect to the structure, and periodically forcing the cell against the earth to obtain electrical potential difference information and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement, and utilizing such volume change to expel fluid from the cell.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of conducting closely spaced electrical surveys of buried structures comprising the steps of moving over the buried structure with a liquid-metal reference cell electrically connected with respect to the structure, and periodically forcing the cell against the earth to obtain electrical potential difference information and removing it from the earth, such cell having a supply of fluid therein, changing the volume of such cell in response to such movement, and utilizing such volume change to expel fluid from the cell.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |