CONCRETE BALLAST BLOCK WITH IMBEDDED OR ATTACHED ANODES FOR CATHODIC PROTECTION OF THE BOLTS AND THEIR FITTINGS

Abstract: Two-parted ballastblock/counterweight (1) of the known type, round (circular), square as shown on the drawing, hexagonal, octagonal or of any other outer geometrical shape, with imbedded metallic anodes (4) which are to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the metal-bolts (3) which shall be used for attaching and fastening the ballastblocks/counterweights (1) onto a pipeline (2) which pipeline is to be placed on or into the bottom of sea or lake. The imbedded anodes (4) are in this way placed in the longitudinal direction of the bolts (3) and very close to these bolts (3) which bolts the anodes (4) shall protect against corrosion in such a way, that the galvanic field of stress becomes minimal. By forming the anodes (4) as pipes, which are to be imbedded in the ballastblock (1), ensures furthermore, that the long boltholes in the ballastblock (1) becomes straight and formstable. The anodes (4) are on the drawing shown as cylindrical pipes, but they can be made with any other geometrical cross section shape including profiled bars and the like. In the same way these imbedded anodes can be made with any other sectionalizing than that shown on the drawing, for example as bushes or bar-pieces, placed in the long boltholes, eventually directly onto the boltshanks themselves.

Description: Concrete ballast block with imbedded or attached anodes for cathodic protection of the bolts and their fittings. The invention concerns a cathodic protection device for the metal bolts/screws which are to be used for attaching and fa¬ stening two-parted ballastblocks onto pipelines which pipeli¬ nes are to be placed on or into the bottom of sea or lakes. Cathodic protection of metal parts has been known and used for many years, mainly for marine purposes. Thus, this form for protection of etalparts against corrosion has in a wide extend been used at, for example: Tn marine vessels, below the water level, at openings in the sides (boards), at rudder parts and stern tube flanges, blocks of zinc have been placed as anodes. These anodes emits metal particles as an equivalent amount of particles of the same material or an equivalent amount of par¬ ticles with the same number of ions as contained in the mentio¬ ned parts would disappear if there' was not anodes to compensate for this. Different assembling methods for the two-parted ballastblock, such as clamps, yokes, bows, clips, straps etc. has been tried, but it is acknowledged within this trade, that these methods not makes a sufficiently safe hold (grip) of ballastblocks onto for example plasticpipelines, which are to be floated out and submerged into lake - or seabottom. The experience shows, that the attachment of two-parted ballast¬ blocks onto pipelines, for example plasticpipelines, is to be done best and safest with the use of metal bolts after the well- known technique. In order to protect the mentioned bolts against corrosion, zinc - or other metalblocks which are to be attached at the outer surfaces of the ballastblock, often to the bolt ends, are used in a wide extend. The characteristic feature of my invention is, that the anodes exists of metallic pipes which are to be imbedded in the coocϊre- te - ballastblock and this metallic pipes are to be placed where the long boltholes - according to the known technique - are placed, and in such a way that the centerlines of the pipe- formed anodes, or their symmetrical axes, are identically with the centerlines of the long boltholes in the ballastblock. 5 Consequently, this feature ensures, that the anodes will not be forgotten at the attaching-/mounting operation of the ballast¬ blocks to the pipeline and the cathodic protection of the bolts become more safe and effective because the galvanic field of stress (galvanic action) becomes minimal by the fact, that the 10 anodes, placed in this way will surround the bolt shanks which bolt shanks etc. the anodes shall protect against corrosion. By* fbrming the anodes as pipes, which are to be imbedded in the ballastblock, ensures furthermore, that the long boltholes in the ballastblock becomes straight and formstable,which - until 155 now - has- been a problem for the manufacturers of the ballast¬ blocks of concrete. A simple performance for the arrangement according to the in¬ vention consist in, that the anodes consists of cylindrical pi¬ pes. This design gives the simplest and cheapest performance, 20 because the devices for fastening and positioning the anodes in the concrete ballastblock- mould can be made from very simple parts. ( elements) . According to the invention it can, however, be appropriately to make this anodes with any other geometrical cross section shape 25 " including profiled bars and the like, which are to be imbedded in the ballastblock close to the bolts or on the bolts itselves so, that the anodes surround the boltshank itself. The drawing, shows a two- parted ballastblock with imbedded ano¬ des, for cathodic protection of bolts/screws with washers and 30. nuts according to the invention, by that fig. 1 shows a two- parted ballastblock wiewed from the side in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline and fig. 2 shows the same ballastbloc with a vertical cut through the middle of the block at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the pipeline. 35 The two ballastblock- halfparts 1 are shown attached to a pipe • 2 by means of metalbolts 3. The metalbolts 3 are surrounded by metallic anodes 4 , which anodes 4 are imbedded in the ballast¬ block- halfparts 1 . In the on the drawing shown design only anodes with cylindrical pipe- shape are indicated, bu there is nothing to prevent the use of anodes with any other geometrical cross section shape and sectionalizing. such as bushes or bar- pieces, placed in the long boltholes or directly onto the boltshanks.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. Ballastblock/counterweight of concrete(1) with imbedded ano¬ des (4) for cathodic protection of the bolts/screws, washers and nuts (3) , needed for attaching and fastening two- parted ballast- blocks/counterweights (1) to a pipeline (2) which pipeline (2) is to be placed on or into the bottom of sea or lakes, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d by, that there in or at the same place for the long boltholes in the two- parted concrete ballastblocks (1) are im¬ bedded metallic anodes (4) with a cylindrical pipe- shape, which anodes (4) shall protect the bolts (3) , needed for attaching and fastening the ballastblock- halfparts (1) onto the pipelines (2), against corrosion. 2. Ballastblock/counterweight of concrete with imbedded anodes for cathodic protection of bolts according to claim 1 , c h a- r a σ t e r i z e d by, that the anodes have any other geometri¬ cal cross section shape and sectionalizing such as bushes and bars. 3. Ballastblock/counterweight ' of concrete with imbedded anodes for cathodic protection of bolts according to claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by, that the anodes are imbedded in the ballastblock/counterweight and placed directly around the boltshank.

Inventors: HANSEN SVEND MARTIN, HANSEN, SVEND, MARTIN
Applicants: HANSEN SVEND MARTIN, HANSEN, SVEND, MARTIN
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C23F13
IPC codes: C23F13, F16L1