The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 11, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 11, 2002
Julius W. Fourie, Houston, TX (US);
Johan Oosthuysen, Gauteng, ZA;
Julius W. Fourie, Houston, TX (US);
Johan Oosthuysen, Gauteng, ZA;
American Innovations, Ltd., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A method for determining the influence of one of a plurality of cathodic protection circuits along a pipeline includes switching one of a plurality of cathodic protection circuits off, while the remainder of the plurality of cathodic protection circuits are left on, with a portable pipe-to-soil potential measurement unit measuring the pipe-to-soil potential along the pipeline. From these measurements, a calibration curve is generated and an apparatus for monitoring the cathodic protection circuits is strategically positioned on the pipeline. The apparatus includes a remote monitoring unit having a pipe-to-soil potential measurement unit for measuring the potential between the ground bed and pipeline. The remote monitoring unit is off except while making measurements. The remote monitoring unit may optionally include a pipeline current measurement unit connected at a second connection point on the pipeline for measuring the current passing through the pipeline between the first and second connection points.