Electrawatch, Inc.

Eas Ip, LLC

Paul A Bell

Robert A Ross

Ryan C Dunn

Guy D Davis

Donald A Tubbs

Joshua M Parman

Bryan D Wright

Nathaniel M Brakeley

Emily A Schechter

Amber M Bryant

The invention apparatus for and a method of creating a localized warning to prevent damage to buried pipeline and other buried infrastructure using a new type of marker tape with the trade name signal tape® [hereinafter referred to as 'Signal Tape']. The disclosed Signal Tape may incorporate tracer wire and RFID technology to aid in the remote location of the Signal Tape and, thus, the buried infrastructure. Signal Tape may also incorporate Litz wire for use as tracer wire within the Signal Tape. The Signal Tape is designed to be buried just below the surface of the ground and directly over a buried infrastructure such as a pipeline. The Signal Tape incorporates a strong core material which permits the Signal Tape to be bodily removed from the soil when it is struck by excavation equipment.

Signal tape

The invention comprises portable, rugged and relatively compact electrochemical cells. Each may be removably and nondestructively secured to one surface of a substrate of indefinite size. In-situ electrochemical measurements may be made on portions of existing structures such as ships, bridges, or buildings. An electrochemical cell is disclosed which comprises an analytical chamber which can be utilized with either on-board or external potentiostats. The electrochemical cell has a mounting means which permits the cell to be secured to substrates with irregular surface morphology and to horizontal, vertical or intermediately oriented surfaces. The electrochemical cell provides a means to control the temperature of the electrolyte and the substrate area of interest to permit more accuract and consistent elecrochemical measurements. Said probe is capable of performing electrochemical measurements such as a monitoring corrosion, effectiveness, or integrity of conductive and nonconductive coatings on bare and coated metallic or conductive substrates.

Portable electrochemical cell with temperature control and surface morphology independence

The invention comprises portable, rugged and relatively compact electrochemical cells. Each cell has the ability to be removably and nondestructive secured to one surface of a substrate of indefinite size. In-situ electrochemical measurements may be made on portions of existing structures such as ships, bridges, or buildings. An electrochemical cell comprises an analytical chamber which can be utilized with potentiostats. An electrochemical cell is a self-contained portable probe comprising an electrochemical cell, an electronics component and a fluid handling component. Said probe is capable of performing electrochemical measurements by itself without the use of an external potentiostat, such as monitoring corrosion, effectiveness, or integrity of conductive and nonconductive coatings on bare and coated metallic or conductive substrates.

Portable electrochemical cells

A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing excavation damage to buried infrastructure. A plurality of excavation-sensing modules is buried near the buried infrastructure. The buried infrastructure excavation-sensing modules protect and detect buried infrastructure by emitting dense clouds of visible gas when the excavation-sensing modules are activated by impact with excavation equipment. In most instances, the visible gas will be brightly colored and it may also have a strong odor. In addition to the gas released by the modules, a loud sound may also be produced by the activated excavation-sensing module. This alerts construction crews or other workers that their excavation is nearing a protected underground structure. Once installed, no maintenance or active monitoring is required.

Passive alarm to prevent buried infrastructure damage

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Catonsville, MD, United States of America

Paul A Bell