Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Metal or metal alloy
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-13
2003-04-15
Phasge, Arun S. (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Metal or metal alloy
C205S740000, C204S196010, C204S196370
Reexamination Certificate
active
06547952
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to an apparatus and method for inhibiting the fouling of an underwater surface and, more particularly, to a combination of a metallic coating and a protective glass coating which permits electrons to pass through the protective coating between the metal coating and the seawater while inhibiting the transfer of ions between the metallic coating and the seawater, whereby gaseous chlorine is formed on and in the vicinity of the protective coating to inhibit the growth of organic material on the surface of the underwater object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Throughout the following discussion of the prior art and the description of the present invention, the unwanted growth on a ship's hull or other underwater surface will be referred to as fouling. Although fouling is primarily a biological phenomenon, its implications relate to engineering. Due to an increase in the resistance to movement of the hull through water, fouling of the hulls of ships results in a reduction in speed, an increase in the cost of fuel, and losses in both time and money in the application of remedial measures.
Underwater surfaces rapidly absorb organic material, referred to as conditioning films, which may influence the subsequent settlement of microorganisms. Bacteria and diatoms are soon present after immersion in water, resulting in a slime that covers the submerged surface. Following the establishment of the micro fouling slime layer, macro fouling rapidly develops. The macro fouling community is often described as either soft fouling or hard fouling. Soft fouling comprises algae and invertebrates such as soft corals, sponges, anemones, tunicates, and hydroids while hard fouling comprises invertebrates such as barnacles, mussels, and tubeworms.
Various toxic and non-toxic solutions have been attempted. Both ultrasonic (e.g. 14 kHz) and low frequency (e.g. 30 Hz) sound waves inhibit barnacle settlement and may have application to fouling control in certain circumstances. These and many other anti-fouling techniques are described in an article written by Maureen Callow in the publication titled “Chemistry and Industry” at Section 5, pg. 123, on Mar. 5, 1990.
As described in the Baltimore Business Journal, Vol. 10, No. 47, Section 1, pg. 3 on Apr. 23, 1993, McCormick & Company has discovered that its red pepper extracts are natural repellents of barnacles and zebra mussels. A coating of this type has been tested, and it has been determined that it repels both barnacles and zebra mussels which have become costly nuisances in the Great Lake Region by clogging intake pipes for power plants and water treatment plants. It is estimated that several billion dollars in damage will be caused by zebra mussels before the turn of the century.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,980, which issued to Zarate, et al on Jul. 2, 1996, discloses a vibrational anti-fouling system. The system produces vibrations in an underwater structure for the purpose of inhibiting the attachment of aquatic life forms to the structure. The system includes a controller which drives one or more transducers. The transducer comprises a housing, one end of which is closed by a resilient diaphragm. An electromagnet with soft magnetic core is contained in the housing spaced from the unsupported portion of the diaphragm. The unsupported portion of the diaphragm is mounted over an underwater structure. In operation, the electromagnet is excited with a current pulse, which deforms the diaphragm so that the housing moves towards the structure. As the current drops off, the diaphragm is restored to its original shape and the housing moves away from the structure imparting a vibrational force to the structure. The transducer includes an elastic membrane to compensate the changes in temperature and pressure commonly found when working underwater. The magnetic cores positioned in the transducers are saturated by current pulses generated by the controller to eliminate the effects of component variations and allow multiple units to be connected to the controller without changes in sound levels. The system is highly resistant to electrolytic corrosion since, most of the time, there is no voltage difference between the resonators, wires and ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,397, which issued to Urroz on Jan. 31, 1995, describes a method and apparatus for keeping a body surface, which is in contact with water, free of fouling. A sound wave is generated for keeping a surface free of scale, fouling and dirt by the adherence of organisms such as marine life, the surface being part of the body that is in contact with water. The method comprising of steps of generating and emitting from at least one location of the body, at least one high frequency sound wave train forming, adjacent to the body surface, a vibrating field encircling the body surface. The molecular energy of the water within the field is increased to generate a drastic drop in the density of the water as well as the density of the cells of the organisms entering the vibrating field. This alters the habitat of the organisms and discourages the organisms from adhering to the body surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,075, which issued to Piper on Nov. 15, 1977, discloses a marine life growth inhibitor device. The device is used for inhibiting marine life on the outer surface of submerged object such as boat. The device includes a controller connected to a source of electrical power and a plurality of speakers electrically connected to the controller and attached at predetermined locations on the interior of the boat's hull, whereby vibrations may be transmitted through the hull. The controller may also include a transformer for reducing the voltage of the alternating current power source. Each of the plurality of speakers has a speaker diaphragm having first and second speaker diaphragm sides. Each of the speakers is mounted in a speaker housing secured to the hull of the boat for enabling transfer of acoustical energy from both the first and second side of the speaker diagram to the boat hull to inhibit the growth of marine life on the exterior surface of the boat hull. The speakers are selected to produce acoustical vibration in the audible range.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,011, which issued to Rabbette on Sep. 1, 1992, discloses a method and apparatus for inhibiting barnacle growth on boats. The system for inhibiting growth of barnacles and other marine life on the hull of a boat includes a plurality of transducers or vibrators mounted on the hull and alternately energized at a frequency of 25 Hertz through a power source preferably the boat battery, and a control system. The system has two selectable operating modes. One is continuous and the other is periodic. Also, when the voltage of the battery falls below a predetermined level, transducers are automatically deenergized to allow charging of the battery after which the transducers are energized.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,241,512, which issued to Green on Mar. 22, 1966, describes an anti-fouling, barnacles, algae, eliminator. The apparatus is intended for boats and, in particular, comprises a pair of copper bus bars or electrodes, or a pair of perforated tubes, or both the electrodes and perforated tubes positioned on opposite sides of the keel of a boat whereby copper ions, chlorine gas or bubbles, or combination of the ions and chlorine gas produced bubbles that float upward from the keel on both sides thereof following the contour lines of the boat hull cleaning the surface thereof and removing barnacles, algae, and other foreign and undesirable matter.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,852, which issued to Anderson on Dec. 7, 1971, describes a marine anti-fouling system. The system is intended for use with boat and ship hulls having a keel and sides diverging upwardly therefrom. The anti-fouling system comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated anode electrode components each mounted externally on one side of the hull substantially adjacent the keel and lengthwise thereof. It also comprise
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
Phasge Arun S,.
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