Abstract: An apparatus for reducing end effect in anodes used in cathodic protection systems for underground metallic structures and in which the anodes are surrounded by and are in intimate engagement with a carbonaceous material so that an impressed current which is supplied to the anode is discharged from the anode in a substantially uniform current discharge density which is maintained at a level that is electronically conducted by the carbonaceous backfill to the earth. The anode includes an elongated body of electrically conducting material having a plurality of non-conducting segments which separate the body into conducting areas of non-uniform size and which take advantage of mutual interference between adjacent conducting areas to substantially prevent electrolytic current discharge from the anode.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of making a connection between an electrical conductor and an anode so that the conductor is attached to the anode to supply electrical energy thereto for use in cathodic protection systems. The apparatus includes male and female members of electrical conducting material having cooperating frusto-conical surfaces and such members are received within a bore in an anode. Normally the male member is connected to the electrical conductor and is positioned at the bottom of the bore after which the female member is forced over the male member which causes the female member to expand into intimate engagement with the side walls of the bore. The method includes the steps of placing a male member having a frusto-conical outer surface into a bore of an anode and then forcing a female member having a cooperating frusto-conical inner surface onto the male member to cause the female member to expand into intimate engagement with the walls of the bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of preventing end effect in deep well impressed current anodes surrounded by a carbonaceous backfill in which the opposite ends of an elongated slender anode are of non-conducting material and the remainder of the anode includes a plurality of alternating segments of conducting and non-conducting material along substantially the entire surface length of the anode. The anode is connected to a source of impressed electrical current and the non-conducting segments cause a substantially constant impressed current density to be transferred from each of the conducting segments along the length of the anode as an electronic discharge and substantially prevents any electrolytic discharge therefrom.