Corrosion detector

• US 4,280,124 A
• Filed: 10/12/1978
• Issued: 07/21/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James W. Wuertele
• Original Assignee: James W. Wuertele
• Inventors: Wuertele, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/950,663
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 340/650, 340/651, 307/95, 307/327, 307/416, 324/51, 324/65 CR, 324/127, 324/102, 204/196, 204/147
• US Class Current: 340/650
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/02 Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/14 Indicating direction of current; Indicating polarity of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/18 Measuring resistance to earth , i.e. line to ground

Abstract

A corrosion detector for use in detecting corrosion currents in the form of AC and DC leakage currents which occur in a marina. The detector monitors AC power and ground lines or other conductive lines interconnected between boats in a marina and includes a transducer to detect leakage currents which occur in the boats connected to the power lines. The detector provides either an alarm signal or displays the damage rate and location to indicate corrosion currents in one or more of the boats in a harbor.

Claims

1. A maritime corrosion detector comprising:

transducer means for detecting leakage electrical current in a conductor connected to one or more boats and for generating a first control signal representing the occurrence, level and polarized condition of said detected leakage current,

means responsive to said first control signal for generating a second control signal representing whether said leakage current is AC or DC leakage current,

means responsive to said first control signal for generating a third control signal corresponding to the polarized condition of said DC leakage current, and

means responsive to said first, second and third control signals for generating a fourth control signal representing the corrosive activity of said detected leakage current.

2. A detector as in claim 1 further including digital display means for displaying the magnitude of said corrosion current.

3. A detector as in claim 2 further including means for detecting the magnitude of the resultant corrosion from said detected leakage current.

4. A detector as in claim 1 further including test means for testing said detector.

5. A detector as in claim 1 further including alarm means for generating an alarm signal when leakage current is detected in one or more of said boats.

6. A maritime corrosion detector comprising:

transducer means for detecting leakage electrical current in a conductor connected to one or more boats and for generating a first control signal representing the polarized condition and level of said detected leakage current,

means responsive to said first control signal for generating a second control signal representing whether said leakage current is AC or DC leakage current,

means responsive to said first control signal for generating a third control signal corresponding to the polarized condition of said DC leakage current, and

means responsive to said first, second and third control signals for generating a fourth control signal representing the corrosive activity of said detected leakage current.

7. A maritime corrosion current detector comprising:

transducer means for detecting leakage electrical current in a conductor connected to one or more boats and for generating a first control signal representing the level and polarized condition of said detected leakage current,

means for generating a second control signal representing whether said detected leakage current is AC or DC leakage current,

means for generating a third control signal corresponding to the polarized condition of said DC leakage current, and

means for generating a fourth control signal representing the rate of corrosive activity of said detected leakage current.

8. A maritime corrosion current detector comprising:

transducer means for detecting AC or DC leakage electrical current in a conductor connected to one or more boats in a marina and for generating a first control signal representing the occurrence, level, and polarized condition of said detected leakage current,

means responsive to said first control signal for generating a second control signal representing the rate of corrosive activity of said detected leakage current, and

means responsive to said second control signal for generating an alarm signal thereby indicating the occurrence of said corrosive activity.

9. A maritime corrosion current detector comprising:

transducer means for detecting AC or DC leakage electrical current in a conductor providing power to one or more boats and for generating a first control signal representing the occurrence, level and polarized condition of said leakage current,

means responsive to said first control signal for generating a second control signal corresponding to the peak value of said first control signal, and

means responsive to said first and second control signals for generating a third control signal corresponding to the magnitude of said first control signal thereby representing the corrosive activity of said detected leakage current.

10. A corrosion current detector comprising:

transducer means for detecting leakage electrical current in a conductor and for generating a first control signal representing the magnitude and polarized condition of said leakage current,

means for generating a second control signal representing whether said leakage current is AC or DC leakage current,

means for generating a third control signal corresponding to the polarized condition of said DC leakage current, and

means for generating a fourth control signal representing the corrosive activity of said detected leakage current.