Corrosion monitoring system

• US 4,380,763 A
• Filed: 01/06/1981
• Issued: 04/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Farrar, John, Peart, Leland L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US06/222,845
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 324/65 R, 324/65 CR, 324/71 R, 324/451, 340/799, 340/870.16, 340/870.01, 340/870.27
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/02 Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement

Abstract

A system for detecting and measuring corrosive reaction of metals in an environment. The system includes: a remotely placeable sensor head containing a galvanic couple made of metals identical to those involved in the corrosion problem, with the couple coiled in the shape of a sprial; and, operatively associated electronic circuitry to amplify, integrate, and store in a non-volatile memory, e.g., a bubble type memory, for future recall the amount of galvanic current that is flowing and that has flowed when corrosion is, or has been, occurring.

Claims

1. A corrosion monitoring system, comprising:

a. means for sensing galvanic corrosion, with said means disposed in an environment where galvanic corrosion of preselected metals is to be monitored, whereby when galvanic corrosion is sensed an amount of galvanic current flows from said means, wherein said means includes a sensor head device which further includes a galvanic couple made of metals identical to said preselected metals to be monitored for galvanic conversion, with said couple coiled in the shape of a spiral and potted in a housing made of electrically insulating material; and

b. means, in electrical connection with said galvanic corrosion sensing means, for amplifying, integrating, and storing in a non-volatile memory for recalling and displaying said amount of galvanic current that is flowing and has flowed from said galvanic corrosion sensing means, wherein said amplifying, integrating, and storing means includes;

(1) amplifier means in electrical connection with said galvanic corrosion sensing means;

(1) integrator means in electrical connection with said amplifier means;

(3) non-volatile memory means in electrical connection with said integrator means, wherein this means includes a bubble memory component; and

(4) digital display means in electrical connection with said non-volatile memory means.

2. A corrosion monitoring system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said galvanic corrosion sensing means is located remotely from said means for amplifying, integrating, and storing said amount of galvanic current from said galvanic corrosion sensing means.

3. A corrosion monitoring system, comprising the following components:

a. a plurality of means for sensing galvanic corrosion disposed in a plurality of environments where galvanic corrosion of preselected materials is to be monitored, with at least one of said means disposed in at least each one of said environments, and wherein each of said plurality of these means includes a sensor head device which further includes a galvanic couple made of metals identical to said preselected metals to be monitored for galvanic corrosion, with said couple coiled in the shape of a spiral, and with said spiral coiled galvanic couple potted in a housing of electrically insulating material;

b. a plurality of buffer amplifier means, with each means of this plurality of means in electrical connection with a different one of said plurality of means for sensing galvanic corrosion;

c. a plurality of integrating means, with each means of this plurality of means in electrical connection with a different one of said plurality of buffer amplifier means;

d. a microprocessor in electrical connection with said plurality of integrating amplifier means, and

e. a readout display means in electrical connection with said microprocessor.

4. A corrosion monitoring system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of means for sensing galvanic corrosion is located remotely from said other components of said system.

5. A corrosion monitoring system, comprising:

a. means for sensing corrosion, wherein said means includes a sensor head device which further includes a galvanic couple made of any two different preselected metals, with said couple coiled in the shape of a spiral, and with said means disposed in an environment to be tested for corrosiveness, whereby when corrosion is sensed, an amount of galvanic current flows from said means; and

b. means, in electrical connection with and remotely located from said corrosion sensing means, for amplifying, integrating, and storing in a non-volatile memory for recalling and displaying said amount of galvanic current that is flowing and that has flowed from said corrosion sensing means.

6. A corrosion monitoring system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said two different preselected metals are aluminum and copper.