Patents Assigned to Ionix Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5898559
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for neutralizing electrostatic charges in non-conductive pipe, such as polyethylene pipe used in natural gas pipelines, which provides a simple and inexpensive apparatus and method to discharge, or otherwise neutralize, electrostatic charges in existing, as well as new, pipelines without requiring specialized pipe or extensive modification of existing pipelines. An apparatus according to the invention includes a housing having inlet and outlet openings and defining a hollow interior portion containing an anti-static cartridge having a cationic substance associated therewith, which, when installed in-line in a gas pipeline, functions to disperse microscopic cationic particles into the gas stream, which particles are carried through downstream pipeline components and neutralize static electrical charges accumulating on said pipeline components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ionix Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk S. Smith