Vessel Protected (e.g., Steam Boiler, Etc.) Patents (Class 204/196.37)
  • Patent number: 6224742
    Abstract: A cathodic protection system for protecting buried conducting structures, subject to corrosion such as well casings, pipe lines and the like, utilizes a plurality of pulsed D.C. current sources with the negative output terminal of each source connected to a separate structure and the positive output terminal of the sources connected to a common anode located near the structures. A control circuit synchronizes the operation of the several D.C. sources and sets the frequency and width of the output pulses. The amplitude of the output pulses from each D.C. source may be separately adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Thaddeus M. Doniguian
  • Patent number: 6214203
    Abstract: Corrosible metallic elements of pipe are protected by an anodic encasement sleeve. The anodic encasement sleeve employs an inner sacrificial anodic layer and an outer environmental barrier layer to provide both cathodic and barrier protection against corrosion. Following application of the sleeve, typically by drawing or wrapping, the anodic encasement sleeve remains substantially unbonded from the pipe, though it is electrically connected by conductive means. Because of the substantially unbonded relationship between the sacrificial anodic layer and the metallic elements of the pipe, if electrolyte is present under the environmental barrier (due to breaches, installation error, condensation, etc.), the electrolyte may enter the unbonded area between the pipe and the anodic material. This increases the ratio of anodic material to pipe available, which makes the cathodic protection more efficient and effective for an extended duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: United States Pipe Foundry
    Inventor: A. Michael Horton
  • Patent number: 6197168
    Abstract: An electrochemical stain prevention apparatus of a submerged structure comprising a submerged structure of which at least the stain prevention surface is formed of a conductive film that does not generate chlorine even by applying a potential of 5 V vs. SCE or less, a counter electrode located so as not to contact with the submerged structure, and a power supply unit for passing a direct current through the submerged structure having the conductive film formed thereon and the counter electrode. Aquatic organisms adhered to the surface of the conductive film can effectively be controlled by applying a potential of from 0.1 to 5 V vs. SCE to the submerged structure of such a stain prevention apparatus without generating chlorine. A potential applied to the conductive film of the submerged structure can be controlled with good accuracy by disposing a reference electrode between the submerged structure and the counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Pentel Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsunaga, Tsuruo Nakayama, Hitoshi Wake, Kin-ichi Ozawa, Noriyuki Nakamura, Nobuyuki Murakami, Hiromichi Takahashi, Toshihiro Takimoto, Hideo Kadoi
  • Patent number: 6183625
    Abstract: A galvanic monitor system uses two annunciators, such like light emitting diodes, to alert a boat operator of the current status of the boat's galvanic protection system. A reference electrode is used to monitor the voltage potential at a location in the water and near the component to be protected. The voltage potential of the electrode is compared to upper and lower limits to determine if the actual sensed voltage potential is above the lower limit and below the upper limit. The two annunciators lights are used to inform the operator if the protection is proper or if the component to be protected is either being over protected or under protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Staerzl
  • Patent number: 6173669
    Abstract: A marine fouling prevention system comprises two conductive surfaces and a device that alternates the direction of electric current between the two surfaces. The current is caused to flow through sea water in which the two surfaces are submerged or partially submerged. A monitor measures the current flowing from one of the two conduction surfaces and compares it to the current flowing into the other conduction surface to assure that no leakage of current of substantial quantity exists. The system applies a low magnitude current density, of approximately 0.10 to 0.50 milliamperes per square foot, for an extended duration of time of approximately 10 to 20 minutes. By alternating current direction between the two surfaces, both surfaces can be provided with sufficient chlorine gas bubbles to prevent marine growth from attaching to the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Staerzl