Surface mounted cathodic protection anode and method of use

Abstract

Abstract Methods of cathodically protecting structures, anode assemblies used therein and the structures protected thereby. One embodiment of the structure basically consists of a base layer of concrete and, in the case of paved structures, an overlay material disposed over the base layer. One method comprises disposing at least one elongated, electrically conductive, wire anode directly on the concrete base layer. The anode is an elongated wire of small diameter and is arranged to be connected to a source of positive potential. A strip of a mesh material having an adhesive thereon is disposed over the anode and secured directly to the concrete base so that the anode is interposed and held between the strip and the concrete base in electrical engagement therewith. Unset electrically conductive polymer concrete is then disposed over the mesh strip so that it flows through the openings in the strip to electrically conductively engage the anode and the concrete base layer to encapsulate the anode and to intimately engage the base layer. The electrically conductive polymer concrete is smoothed before it sets to form a generally flat layer strip of minimal height and not extending substantially beyond the marginal edges of the mesh strip. A thin overlay material can then be disposed over the base layer and conductive concrete material strip to form a generally smooth upper surface for the structure. Another method entails forming a preformed anode assembly having the elongated wire anode covered with an elongated strip of mesh, both encapsulated in a strip of conductive concrete. The preformed anode assembly is arranged to be adhesively secured to a structure to be cathodically protected.

Inventors

• 👤 William R. Schutt

Bibliographic Details