Patent ID: 6903540
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A hot water vessel containing water under pressure having an anode rod suspended therewithin, said anode rod being an Anode Rod Depletion Indicator consisting essentially of: a core wire arranged within an anode rod; said core wire having at least one longitudinal passageway and at least one substantially lateral passageway communicating with said longitudinal passageway at a predetermined location along the length of the core wire; actuator means in communication with an end of said longitudinal passageway; indicator means for indicating that said anode rod is depleted, said indicator means being connected to said actuator means; wherein when said anode rod is depleted to an extent sufficient to expose a predetermined amount of said core wire so that the pressurized fluid surrounding said anode rod flows into said lateral passageway and said longitudinal passageway and pressurizes until reaching a threshold pressure which triggers said actuator; said indicator means is displaced by said actuator means to a position which indicates that said anode rod is depleted; and wherein said threshold pressure which triggers said actuator is reached when the predetermined amount of exposure of the core wire is selected from at least the radius of the anode, and at least 50% of the thinnest cross section of the anode.