Break-resistant anode assemblies for cathodic protection systems and methods of installing the same

An anode assembly arranged to be pulled through the ground for installation in a cathodic protection system, said anode assembly comprising:

• an anode comprising an elongated body having a leading end portion from which an electrical conductor extends and a trailing end portion from which an electrical conductor extends having a leading end and a trailing end, said leading end forming one end of said anode, said trailing end forming a second and opposite end of said anode;
• a nose cone comprising a tubular member comprising a sidewall having a leading portion and a trailing portion, said leading portion having an open free end and a sidewall portion tapering in a direction from said trailing portion towards said open free end, said leading end portion of said anode being located within said nose cone with said electrical conductor extending out of said open free end, and wherein said nose cone comprises a braided sleeve comprising a first plurality of closely adjacent coils, said first plurality of closely adjacent coils forming said sidewall portion of said nose cone;
• and
• at least one pulling cable fixedly secured to said nose cone, said at least one pulling cable having a leading portion and a trailing portion, said trailing portion of said at least one pulling cable extending along at least a portion of the length of said anode and through said nose cone, with said leading portion of said at least one pulling cable extending out of said open free end of said nose cone to enable said anode assembly to be pulled through the ground by a pulling force applied thereto and without any portion of said sidewall projecting outward therefrom which could impede the pulling of said anode assembly through the ground.

An anode assembly arranged to be pulled through the ground for installation in a cathodic protection system, said anode assembly comprising:

• an anode comprising an elongated body having a leading end portion from which an electrical conductor extends and a trailing end portion from which an electrical conductor extends having a leading end and a trailing end, said leading end forming one end of said anode, said trailing end forming a second and opposite end of said anode;
• a nose cone comprising a tubular member comprising a sidewall having a leading portion and a trailing portion, said leading portion having an open free end and a sidewall portion tapering in a direction from said trailing portion towards said open free end, said leading end portion of said anode being located within said nose cone with said electrical conductor extending out of said open free end;
• at least one pulling cable fixedly secured to said nose cone, said at least one pulling cable having a leading portion and a trailing portion, said trailing portion of said at least one pulling cable extending along at least a portion of the length of said anode and through said nose cone, with said leading portion of said at least one pulling cable extending out of said open free end of said nose cone to enable said anode assembly to be pulled through the ground by a pulling force applied thereto and without any portion of said sidewall projecting outward therefrom which could impede the pulling of said anode assembly through the ground, wherein said anode assembly has a predetermined pulling strength;
• and
• a break-away mechanism connected to said leading portion of said at least one pulling cable, said break-away mechanism being arranged to break if said predetermined pulling strength is reached to prevent damage to said anode assembly.

A method of installing an anode within the ground for a cathodic protection system, said method horizontal directional drilling operation comprising:

• a) providing an anode assembly comprising an anode, a soil clearing mechanism in the form of a nose cone, and at least one pulling cable, said anode comprising an elongated body having a leading end portion from which an electrical conductor extends and a trailing end portion from which an electrical conductor extends, said nose cone comprising a tubular member having a leading portion and a trailing portion, said leading portion of said nose cone having an open free end and a sidewall portion tapering in a direction from said trailing portion towards said open free end;
• b) disposing said leading portion of said anode within said nose cone with said electrical conductor extending out of said open free end and with said at least one pulling cable extending along at least a portion of the length of said anode and through said nose cone, whereupon a leading portion of said pulling cable extends out of said open free end of said nose cone;
• c) fixedly securing said nose cone to said at least one pulling cable;
• d) disposing the cable assembly within the ground during a horizontal directional drilling operation, whereupon said nose cone is in direct engagement with soil of the ground, and resistant to damage when pulled therethrough;
• and
• e) applying a pulling force to said leading portion of said at least one pulling cable to pull said anode assembly through a path in the soil of the ground to effect its installation, with said nose cone directing engaging said soil and clearing it from said path as said anode assembly is pulled through said path.

A method of installing an anode within the ground for a cathodic protection system, said method comprising:

• a) providing an anode assembly comprising an anode, a nose cone, and at least one pulling cable, said anode comprising an elongated body having a leading end portion from which an electrical conductor extends and a trailing end portion from which an electrical conductor extends, said nose cone comprising a tubular member having a leading portion and a trailing portion, said leading portion of said nose cone having an open free end and a sidewall portion tapering in a direction from said trailing portion towards said open free end;
• b) disposing said leading portion of said anode within said nose cone with said electrical conductor extending out of said open free end and with said at least one pulling cable extending along at least a portion of the length of said anode and through said nose cone, whereupon a leading portion of said pulling cable extends out of said open free end of said nose cone;
• c) fixedly securing said nose cone to said at least one pulling cable;
• d) disposing said anode assembly within the ground;
• e) applying a pulling force to said leading portion of said at least one pulling cable to pull said anode assembly through a path in the ground to effect its installation, wherein said anode assembly has a predetermined pulling strength;
• and
• f) providing a break-away mechanism connected to said portion of said at least one pulling cable extending out of said open free end of said nose cone, said break-away mechanism having a second pulling cable secured to it and being arranged to break if said predetermined pulling strength is reached to prevent damage to said anode assembly.