US4322633A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine cathodic protection system
Assignee: Brunswick Corp
•
Filing: 1979-07-19
•
Granted: 1982-03-30
•
Expires: 1999-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A marine cathodic protection system maintains a submerged portion of a marine drive unit at a selected potential to reduce or eliminate corrosion thereto. An anode is energized to maintain the drive unit at a preselected constant potential in response to the sensed potential at a closely located reference electrode during normal operations. Excessive current to the anode is sensed to provide a maximum current limitation. An integrated circuit employs a highly regulated voltage source to establish precise control of the anode energization.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Staerzl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:05
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23F; C23F13/00; C23F13/02; C23F13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A cathodic protection system to maintain a submergible metal unit of a marine transportation system at a selected potential by selectively supplying electrical energy from a direct current source through a control circuit to a submergible anode located adjacent to the metal unit in response to sensed energy at a submergible reference electrode located adjacent and electrically isolated from the metal unit, wherein the improvement in said control circuit comprises means including a comparator with a first input connected to a highly regulated voltage source to establish a pre-set reference voltage and a second input providing a summing circuit connected to said highly regulated reference voltage source and to said reference electrode through an impedance-to-ground circuit to protect said reference electrode from excessive currents and to sum a reference voltage with a sensed isolated electrode potential signal to provide a controlled output in response to said sensed signal to selectively supply controlled amounts of direct current energy through a connecting circuit to said anode to maintain a pre-established voltage at said metal unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A cathodic protection system to maintain a submergible metal unit of a marine transportation system at a selected potential by selectively supplying electrical energy from a direct current source through a control circuit to a submergible anode located adjacent to the metal unit in response to sensed energy at a submergible reference electrode located adjacent and electrically isolated from the metal unit, wherein the improvement in said control circuit comprises means including a comparator with a first input connected to a highly regulated voltage source to establish a pre-set reference voltage and a second input providing a summing circuit connected to said highly regulated reference voltage source and to said reference electrode through an impedance-to-ground circuit to protect said reference electrode from excessive currents and to sum a reference voltage with a sensed isolated electrode potential signal to provide a controlled output in response to said sensed signal to selectively supply controlled amounts of direct current energy through a connecting circuit to said anode to maintain a pre-established voltage at said metal unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cathodic protection system of claim 1, wherein said regulated voltage source provides a substantially constant pre-set reference voltage substantially independent of variations within said source for efficient operation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3769521A
Cited
US3953742A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-03-29 | 1985-09-28 | 1986-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-03-29 | 1989-09-28 | 1990-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-03-29 | 1993-09-28 | 1994-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |