Harco Corporation

Robert D Ashbaugh

Robert L Deskins

Gary L Matlack

An apparatus and method of conducting continuous or closely spaced buried structure-to-soil electrical surveys uses a soil contact cell adapted to be worn on the bottom of the walking field boots of a surveyor walking over the right-of-way of the buried structure such as an underground pipeline. The cell is in the form of a sandal which may readily be secured to and removed from the bottom of the boot. The cell includes an impervious upper plate and a pervious lower ground contacting flexible sole plate forming with the upper plate a flat chamber which may be filled with a loose silica sand fill or sponge material. A copper rod or strap is imbedded in the material and electrically connected through a meter carried by the surveyor to the structure through a length of economically disposable wire. The surveyor carries a supply of conductive liquid such as a copper sulfate solution which is fed into the chamber and through the porous sole plate to the ground to ensure good electrical contact as the surveyor walks the right-of-way.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Robert D Ashbaugh