Back to results
US 6,187,161 B1Granted
Reference cell
AssigneeCorrpro Companies, Inc.
InventorsJames B. Bushman, William P. Carlson, Richard E. Say
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeCorrpro Companies, Inc.
InventorsJames B. Bushman, William P. Carlson, Richard E. Say
Estimating the term…
An integrated cell and the test station is disclosed in a unitary package which includes internally encapsulated wiring connections at both the cell and test station. The cell and test station are tethered together by a flexible bungee tube which can be coiled and which can elongate or contract. The flexible tube provides a variable length and wide lateral flexibility. The tube also provides a convenient means to encapsulate the connections at both the cell and test station. The cell has a unique core formed by a double junction ceramic capsule. A pure copper coil element is positioned in the capsule in a super saturated solution of copper sulphate, for example. The capsule is sealed and the coil or element is electrically connected to a lead extending through the tube, and the end of the tube is encapsulated sealing the connection. The capsule is joined to one end of the bungee tube and the entire end is embedded in a stabilized hygroscopic gel which contains additional salt crystals. The entire cell end of the tube is contained in a microporous filter bag, which is in turn secured to the lower end of the tube. The test station comprises a section of rigid plastic tube with a slightly domed cap. Brass rivets are recessed in the top of the dome and connected to appropriate wiring inside the dome. The interior of the test station is then encapsulated fully sealing the wiring connections, and connecting the rigid tube to the bungee tube.
In combination, a reference cell and test station for buried metal structures, said test station and cell being physically interconnected together by a flexible tether tube, said tube being capable of axial contraction and extension, an electrical lead interconnecting said cell and test station through said tube, said lead being longer than the maximum extension of the tube whereby any tension on said electrical lead is avoided, and wherein each electrical connection of said lead is encapsulated.
A reference cell and test station combination for buried or submerged metal structures comprising an elongated conduit, an ion permeable cell exposed at one end of said conduit but connected and sealed with respect thereto, and a test station at the other end, an electrical lead extending from said cell to said test station through said conduit, and at least one additional lead extending from said test station, at least partly through said conduit, and adapted to be connected electrically to a metal structure, said conduit, cell, test station, and leads being prepackaged for installation as a unit.
A reference cell comprising a ceramic capsule containing a saturated salt solution, a conductive wire in said solution and extending from said capsule, a flexible tube having one end connected to said capsule through a reduced tubular fitting, said wire being connected to a lead in said tube, said wire-lead connection being encapsulated in plastic, and said encapsulating plastic firmly securing said tube to said capsule.
A test station comprising a rigid tube adapted to project at least partly from an electrolyte, electrical leads within said tube extending to a buried or submerged structure and a reference cell respectively, electrical contact points projecting through said tube and internally connected to said leads, said internal connections being totally encapsulated.
A cell for measuring the electrical potential of structures buried in electrolyte comprising an electrolyte exposable cell, a test station adapted to project above the surface of the electrolyte and providing readily accessible test reading terminals, said test station and cell being tethered together by a bungee tube, said bungee tube including an electrical lead extending therethrough, and connected at each end to said cell and test station respectively, each connection being encapsulated within the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.