Patent ID: 6209472
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
Apparatus for inhibiting the fouling of an underwater surface, comprising:an electric current source, which is connectable in electrical communication with said underwater surface, for causing an electrical current to be transmitted from said underwater surface and into water which is in contact with said underwater surface, said underwater surface being a hull of a watercraft and being made of an electrically nonconductive material on which an electrically conductive paint is adopted to be disposed as a coating on said underwater surface, said electrically conductive paint being connectable in electrical communication with said electric current source; anda source of electrical power connected in electrical communication with said electric current source, said underwater surface having a first surface portion and a second surface portion, said first and second surface portions being electrically insulated from each other except for said water being disposed electrically between said first and second surface portions, said first and second surface portions being connectable to said electric current source in an oscillating manner to cause said first and second surface portions to automatically reverse electrical polarities relative to each other on a periodic basis under the control of said electric current source and to create gaseous chlorine from a selected one of said first and second surface portions when said selected one of said first and second surface portions is connected electrically by said electric current source as an anode.