Patents by Inventor Julius W. Fourie

Julius W. Fourie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Current interrupter assembly
    Patent number: 7027957
    Abstract: A method for determining the influence of one of a plurality of cathodic protection circuits along a pipeline includes switching one of a plurality of cathodic protection circuits off, while the remainder of the plurality of cathodic protection circuits are left on, with a portable pipe-to-soil potential measurement unit measuring the pipe-to-soil potential along the pipeline. From these measurements, a calibration curve is generated and an apparatus for monitoring the cathodic protection circuits is strategically positioned on the pipeline. The apparatus includes a remote monitoring unit having a pipe-to-soil potential measurement unit for measuring the potential between the ground bed and pipeline. The remote monitoring unit is off except while making measurements. The remote monitoring unit may optionally include a pipeline current measurement unit connected at a second connection point on the pipeline for measuring the current passing through the pipeline between the first and second connection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: American Innovations, Ltd.
    Inventors: Julius W. Fourie, Johan Oosthuysen
  • Cathodic protection remote monitoring method and apparatus
    Publication number: 20030074162
    Abstract: A method for determining the influence of one of a plurality of cathodic protection circuits along a pipeline includes switching one of a plurality of cathodic protection circuits off, while the remainder of the plurality of cathodic protection circuits are left on, with a portable pipe-to-soil potential measurement unit measuring the pipe-to-soil potential along the pipeline. From these measurements, a calibration curve is generated and an apparatus for monitoring the cathodic protection circuits is strategically positioned on the pipeline. The apparatus includes a remote monitoring unit having a pipe-to-soil potential measurement unit for measuring the potential between the ground bed and pipeline. The remote monitoring unit is off except while making measurements. The remote monitoring unit may optionally include a pipeline current measurement unit connected at a second connection point on the pipeline for measuring the current passing through the pipeline between the first and second connection points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Envirosense, LLC
    Inventors: Julius W. Fourie, Johan Oosthuysen