Jacketed sacrificial anode cathodic protection system

In combination:

• a piling partially immersed in water and comprising steel;
• and
• a sacrificial anode cathodic protection system comprising:
• substantially rigid jacket means for surrounding a periphery of a longitudinal segment of said piling in substantially spaced apart relationship therewith, said jacket means comprising a bottom edge;
• means for lining an interior surface of said jacket means with an active metal which serves as a sacrificial anode when circuited with said steel, said lining means comprising at least one metal sheet having a plurality of apertures and an outwardly facing surface portion facing and generally flush with said jacket means interior surface and allowing the collection of oxides at the outwardly facing surface portion upon consumption of said at least one metal sheet during service as said sacrificial anode;
• means for securing said lining means to said jacket means to allow handling of said lining means and said jacket means as a unit during installation;
• means for electrically connecting said lining means with said steel;
• and
• a structural quality concrete filling cast between said lining means and said piling, said cast concrete filling adapted to fill said sheet apertures and only partially encapsulate said at least one metal sheet such that at least a part of said outwardly facing surface portion is uncovered by said cast concrete filling, wherein said concrete filling comprises an exposed surface region uncovered by said jacket means for permitting sufficient water penetration to wet said concrete filling to facilitate current flow, wherein said concrete filling exposed surface region is disposed at a position along said piling so as to be immersed in and thereby in contact with water during at least some period of a day, said concrete filling having a porosity sufficient to draw moisture therein whereby said concrete filling serves as an electrolyte to facilitate ionic current flow from said lining means to said steel.

In combination:

• a piling partially immersed in water and comprising steel reinforced concrete;
• and
• a sacrificial anode cathodic protection system comprising:
• an outer jacket having a top edge, a bottom edge, and an interior surface;
• a lining for said jacket, said lining secured to said jacket and generally flush with said jacket interior surface, said lining comprising at least one metal sheet having a plurality of apertures;
• said outer jacket and lining adapted to be installed on the piling with said at least one metal sheet in spaced apart relationship with a periphery of the piling to define a space therebetween;
• a conductor electrically circuited between said at least one metal sheet and the steel of said steel reinforced concrete;
• wherein said at least one metal sheet comprises a metal composition higher on the galvanic series than the steel of said steel reinforced concrete such that said at least one metal sheet serves as a sacrificial anode and allows the collection of oxides at a surface flush with said jacket interior surface upon consumption of said at least one metal sheet during service as said sacrificial anode, said oxides providing a wicking action to draw the water upwardly to wet the at least one metal sheet;
• and
• a structural quality concrete filling cast within said space between said at least one metal sheet and said piling, said cast concrete filling adapted to provide a structural quality fill of crevices or section losses around the periphery of said piling, said cast concrete filling further adapted to fill said sheet apertures and only partially encapsulate said at least one metal sheet, said only partial encapsulation adapted to allow a dispersion of said oxides formed upon consumption of said at least one metal sheet during service as said sacrificial anode, wherein said east concrete filling comprises a surface region, uncovered by said outer jacket, disposed at a position along said piling so as to be immersed in and thereby in contact with water during at least some period of a day for inletting sufficient water to wet said cast concrete by capillary action, whereby said cast concrete filling serves as an electrolyte to facilitate ionic current flow from said at least one metal sheet to the steel of said steel reinforced concrete.