# US 5,347,212 A · System and method of use for conducting a neutral corrosion survey > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,347,212 A - Document ID: US5347212A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/942,688 - Filed: 1992-09-09 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-09-09 - Inventors: Craig D. Bass; Richard D. Valenti, Jr.; Emer C. Flounders, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347212A ## CPC - G01R 31/58: Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72) - G01N 17/00: Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light - G01R 31/08: Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks - G01R 31/088: {Aspects of digital computing} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system and method for testing underground electric cables, while in service, for active corrosion and degree of neutral loss. The method is conducted by applying a non-harmonic selected frequency signal to the neutral(s) of the underground cable connecting a pair of structures, e.g., power transformers, from a variable frequency generator of the system. The test is conducted by a surveyor wearing foot electrodes which contact the earth as the surveyor walks along the earth over the cable in a close interval steps. At each step, direct current (DC) potentials are monitored by a voltmeter between a copper-copper sulfate electrode carried by the surveyor and brought into contact with the ground at each step and the transformer ground. The potential of the gradients between the foot electrodes at the selective frequency and at the native alternating current (AC) is also measured by the voltmeter. These measurements are recorded at a stationary location on a digital data logger and/or computer. At all points of direct current or selective frequency potential abnormalities, a waveform is recorded of both potentials, as well as peak-to-peak potential measurements, maximum potential, minimum potential, mean potential, frequency, rms voltage, and soil resistivity to generate a continuous corrosion and condition profile of the entire length of cable including permanent land features. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for non-intrusively testing the status of corrosion of at least one neutral conductor of an underground electrical cable forming a portion of an electrical distribution system, said cable additionally comprising at least one primary conductor carrying AC current therethrough when said cable is in service providing normal electrical utility power to said distribution system, said neutral conductor of said cable being connected between a pair of electrically grounded structures, said method for testing being accomplished while leaving said cable in normal operation and comprising the steps of: (a) impressing an electrical test signal of a predetermined frequency between said grounded structures while said cable is in service providing normal electrical utility power to said distribution system via said primary conductor to impress said test signal on said neutral conductor while leaving said neutral conductor connected to said structures so that said neutral conductor remains grounded, (b) causing a pair of electrically conductive probes to contact the ground located over said underground cable at relatively closely spaced intervals while said test signal is impressed on said neutral conductor, and (c) measuring the voltage gradients produced by said test signal in the ground by using monitoring means coupled to said spaced electrically conductive probes while said probes are n contact with the ground and while said primary conductor is carrying said AC current therethrough. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of measuring the resistivity of the ground at selected locations above said underground cable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of measuring the native AC ground voltages produced by said AC current in said primary conductor at said closely spaced intervals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of measuring the DC potentials at said closely spaced intervals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 where said closely spaced intervals are continuous along the path of said cable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 where said closely spaced intervals are continuous along the path of said cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 where said closely spaced intervals are continuous along the path of said cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 where said closely spaced intervals are continuous along the path of said cable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical probes are arranged to be worn on the feet of a person. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said measurements are made as said person walks along the ground over the path of said cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said intervals are within the range of 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) to 3.0 feet (0.91 meters). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said measured voltage gradients are utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said measured voltage gradients and measured ground resistivities are utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said measured voltage gradients and measured native AC ground voltages are utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said measured voltage gradients and measured DC potentials are utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said measured native AC ground voltages are also utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said measured native DC potentials are also utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said ground resistivities voltages are also utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said DC potentials are also utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of measuring the resistivity of the ground at selected locations above said underground cable, measuring the native AC ground voltages produced by said AC current in said primary conductor at said closely spaced intervals, and measuring the DC potentials at said closely spaced intervals. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 where said measured voltage gradients, measured ground resistivities, measured native AC, and measured DC potentials are utilized to provide an indication of abnormalities in the underground cable. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising recording said measured voltage gradients. ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 additionally comprising recording said measured voltage gradients and said measured ground resistivities. ### Claim 24 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 additionally comprising recording said measured voltage gradients and said measured native AC ground voltages. ### Claim 25 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 additionally comprising recording said measured voltage gradients and said measured DC potentials. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 additionally comprising recording said measured voltage gradients, measured ground resistivities, measured native AC, and measured DC ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined frequency is selectable, and wherein said monitoring means is tuned to said selected frequency. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said selected frequency is less than approximately 500 Hz. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein said selected frequency is less than approximately 500 Hz. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein said test signal is less than approximately 15 amperes. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said test signal is less than approximately 15 amperes. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein said test signal is less than approximately 15 amperes. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means measures the rms voltage and the peak-to-peak voltage of said gradient. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said neutral conductor of said electrical cable is bare. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said neutral conductor of said electrical cable is disposed concentrically about said primary conductor. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 wherein said neutral conductor of said electrical cable is disposed concentrically about said primary conductor. ### Claim 37 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 additionally comprising recording permanent land features of the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 38 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 additionally comprising recording permanent land features of the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 39 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 additionally comprising recording permanent land features of the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 40 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 additionally comprising recording permanent land features of the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26 additionally comprising recording permanent land features of the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 additionally comprising recording permanent land features of the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 43 A non-intrusive testing system for determining the status of corrosion of at least one neutral conductor of an underground electrical cable forming a portion of an electrical distribution system, said cable additionally comprising at least one primary conductor carrying AC current therethrough when said cable is in service providing normal electrical utility power to said distribution system, said neutral conductor of said cable being connected between a pair of electrically grounded structures, said testing system being arranged for use with said cable while said cable is in normal operation and comprising: (a) first means for impressing an electrical test signal of a predetermined frequency between said grounded structures while said cable is in service providing normal electrical utility power to said distribution system to impress said test signal on said neutral conductor while leaving said neutral conductor connected to said structures so that said neutral conductor remains grounded, (b) a pair of electrically conductive probes arranged to be brought into contact with the ground located over said underground cable at relatively closely spaced intervals while said test signal is impressed on said neutral conductor, and (c) monitoring means coupled to said pair of electrically conductive probes for measuring the voltage gradients produced by said test signal in the ground while said probes are in contact with the ground and while said primary conductor is carrying said AC current therethrough. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 additionally comprising means for recording said measured voltage gradients. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said probes are arranged to be mounted on the feet of a person. ### Claim 46 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 additionally comprising electrode means for measuring the DC potential at said closely spaced intervals. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The system of claim 46 wherein said electrode means comprises a copper-copper sulfate reference electrode. ### Claim 48 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said first means comprises a variable frequency generator. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48 wherein said variable frequency generator is connected between said structures, with one side of said variable frequency generator being grounded. ### Claim 50 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said monitoring means is tunable to said predetermined frequency. ### Claim 51 (depends on 46) The system of claim 46 wherein said monitoring means is tunable to said predetermined frequency. ### Claim 52 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said monitoring means measures the rms voltage and the peak-to-peak voltage of said gradient. ### Claim 53 (depends on 50) The system of claim 50 wherein said monitoring means measures the rms voltage and the peak-to-peak voltage of said gradient. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The system of claim 51 wherein said monitoring means measures the rms voltage and the peak-to-peak voltage of said gradient. ### Claim 55 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said monitoring means is located in a vehicle arranged to traverse the ground adjacent the path of said underground cable. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The system of claim 55 additionally comprising means for recording said measured voltage gradients, said recording means being located in said vehicle. ### Claim 57 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said first means is capable of providing a test signal whose frequency is within the range of 20 to 1000 Hz. ### Claim 58 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43 wherein said first means is capable of providing a test signal of up to 500 watts. ### Claim 59 (depends on 47) The system of claim 47 wherein said first means is capable of providing a test signal of up to 500 watts. ### Claim 60 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48 wherein said first means is capable of providing a test signal whose frequency is within the range of 20 to 1000 Hz. ### Claim 61 (depends on 57) The system of claim 57 wherein said first means is capable of providing a test signal of up to 500 watts. ### Claim 62 (depends on 60) The system of claim 60 wherein said first means is capable of providing a test signal of up to 500 watts.