Electricity: measuring and testing – Impedance – admittance or other quantities representative of... – Lumped type parameters
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-18
2004-11-23
Patidar, Jay (Department: 2858)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Impedance, admittance or other quantities representative of...
Lumped type parameters
C324S700000, C205S727000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06822462
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The corrosion inhibiting system of the present invention is generally related to a method for inhibiting corrosion of a component of a marine vessel and, more particularly, to a method for inhibiting galvanic corrosion of a marine propulsion device of a marine vessel which automatically adapts to the presence or absence of a workable measuring electrode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to those skilled in the art of marine vessels and marine propulsions systems that galvanic corrosion can be exacerbated by connecting the marine vessel to a shore power system without appropriate protection. Several types of cathodic protection devices are commercial available. One such type of device is available in commercial quantifies from the Mercury Marine division of the Brunswick Corporation and is referred as a mercathode system. As is also well known to those skilled in the art, faulty components in the electrical system of a marine vessel or its cathodic protection device can result in either galvanic corrosion or a dangerous condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,460, which issued to Staerzl on Jul. 9, 1985, discloses a cathodic protection controller. A control system for cathodically protecting an outboard drive unit from corrosion includes an anode and a reference electrode mounted on the drive unit. Current supplied to the anode is controlled by a transistor, which in turn is controlled by an amplifier. The amplifier is biased to maintain a relatively constant potential on the drive unit when operated in either fresh or salt water.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,879, which issued to Landreth on Jul. 24, 2001, describes an electrical integrity test system for boats. The system provides circuitry for evaluating the integrity of the boats galvanic isolator. The integrity test system includes two single reference diodes and a circuit for applying DC voltage across the reference diodes and the galvanic isolator. Another micro-controller stores the values of the voltage drops across the galvanic isolator and the voltage drops across each reference diode and subsequently determines if the voltage drop across the galvanic, isolator is that to be normally expected. If it is not, then the system informs the operator that the boat's galvanic isolator is not operating properly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,414, which issued to Brown et al on May 6, 1997, describes an automatic marine cathodic protection system using galvanic anodes. An automatic system uses sacrificial galvanic anodes to provide a controlled and optimum amount of cathodic protection against galvanic corrosion on submerged metal parts. Intermittently pulsed control circuitry enables an electro-mechanical servo system to control a resistive element interposed between the sacrificial anodes and the electrically bonded underwater parts. In an active mode of operation a current is applied directly to the anodes to quickly establish the proper level of correction which is maintained during the passive mode. Incremental corrections are made over a period of time to provide stabilization of the protection and to conserve power. A visual indication of the amount of protection is available at all times. Circuitry and indicating devices are included which facilitate location and correction of potentially harmful stray currents and to prevent loss of sacrificial anodes to nearby marine structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,465, which issued to March on Oct. 1, 1985, describes a galvanic anodes for submergible ferrous metal structures. The invention provides a detachable sacrificial anode unit comprising a rigid core, (e.g. a tubular steel member) and a body of sacrificial anode material (e.g. metals and alloys including zinc, aluminum and magnesium) surrounding and supported by the rigid core, wherein the ends of the rigid core extend beyond the ends of the body of sacrificial anode material and are adapted to be coupled to the end of another sacrificial anode unit to provide a rigid string. This invention also provides a submergible ferrous metal structure useful in a salt water environment and having a system to provide galvanic protection to the ferrous metal which system comprises a vertical oriented, rigid string of such sacrificial anode units secured to each other by threaded couplings and electrically connected to the ends thereof to such structure in a manner to provide galvanic protection to the structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,977, which issued to Wood on Jan. 6, 1976, describes a protection system for equipment and metallic fittings of non-metallic hulls of power boats. The system for protecting the personnel and the electrical equipment of power boats having non-metallic hulls and for the cathodic protection of the hulls of the metal fittings of such boats when docked and supplied from a shore-based alternating current supply, in which circuit breakers are inserted in the hot leg and the neutral leg of the shore-based alternating current supply is disclosed. It includes a polarity alarm and a polarity light socket in which is inserted a polarity light tester as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,588, and in which the negative lead of the battery ground, the equipment ground, and the neutral leg of the shore-based alternating current supply are connected electrically with both the ground plate and the bonding ground of the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,606, which issued to Wood on Dec. 30, 1975, describes a protection system for the metallic fittings non-metallic hulls of power boats. The system is intended for the cathodic protection of the metallic fittings of non-metallic hulls of power boats when such boats are docked and electrical power is supplied from a shore-based 110 volt alternating current supply. Novel circuitry, in which a battery charger is used to maintain all banks of storage batteries in operating condition, is combined with a flexible switching arrangement permitting the testing and charging of each bank of batteries, together or separately, and in which the negative leads of the battery charger, the banks of batteries, the equipment ground and the neutral leg of the shore-based alternating current supply are electrically connected with both the ground plate and the ship's bonding ground of the boat to lessen or eliminate electrolysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,521, which issued to Caldwell et al on Oct. 30, 1973, describes an impressed current cathodic protection system. The system is intended for use with a marine structure and includes an elongated supporting member which can be lowered into position adjacent the underwater structure to be protected, an underwater power supply mounted in the supporting member for converting high voltage alternating current from a source above the water's surface to low voltage direct current, one or more anodes mounted on the supporting member near the power supply, a potential controller for regulating the level of protection provided, and a reference cell for monitoring the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,409, which issued to Stephens, Jr. et al on Jan. 18, 1972, describes an electrical ground filter means for boats supplied with a shore-based source of alternating current power. An electrical ground filter means for boats or other vessels supplied with shore-based source of alternating current power has current leads and an electrical grounding lead connected between the alternating current source and a boat. The ground filter means comprises a first pair of rectifiers in series with each other, a second pair of rectifiers in series with each other and of opposite polarity with the first pair, a capacitor means, the first and second pairs of rectifiers and a capacitor means being connected electrically and parallel with each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,949, which issued to Guinn on Oct. 29, 1985, describes a marine propulsion device including cathodic protection. The marine propulsion device lower unit includes a housing having a lower portion submerged in water and defining an internal passage communicating with the water. Corrosion
Brunswick Corporation
He Amy
Lanyi WIlliam D.
Patidar Jay
LandOfFree
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