Abstract: When explosive fuels such as hydrocarbons are pumped into or out of a barge or tanker, a metallic conduit having an insulated flange therein is typically connected to the barge. The method of this invention involves connecting the barge to the earth through a barge-grounding cable, connecting the metallic conduit to the earth through a conduit-grounding cable, whereby a grounding test circuit is established with a current source connected between the earth and the grounding cables. A flange resistor is connected across the insulated flane to form a flange circuit. The currents flowing through the grounding cables are being continuously monitored in the grounding circuit to determine the presence of a broken connection or of an ineffective electric contact. A continuity test is also continuously being made of the flange insulation in the flange.

Abstract: The connector of this invention can make an arcless connection between an electric cable and a metallic object. The connector preferably is a C-clamp having a pair of opposed legs. One leg carries an adjustable clamp screw. The other leg carries a block of compressible, insulated, elastic material having a contact surface. At least one contact member has a portion thereof completely embedded in the block. The contact member has a sharply pointed tip adjacent to and facing the contact surface. By tightening the clamp screw against the metallic object, the clamping pressure will compress the block material until the pointed tip pierces the contact surface and establishes a forced electric connection between the contact member and the metallic object.