Patent ID: 7655861

Claim:
A system for grounding an item to earth and dispersing electrical energy, comprising: a. at least one elongated conductive ground rod having a desired length and outer diameter; b. a conductive grounding plate defining at least one insertion hole with a corresponding conductive tubular sleeve guide having an open annulus end and an inner diameter no less than the outer diameter of the at least one ground rod, the tubular sleeve guide conductively affixed to the grounding plate superposed about a perimeter of the insertion hole, and the open annulus end of the tubular sleeve guide adapted to receive the at least one ground rod and to guide it along the tubular sleeve guide and through the at least one insertion hole while maintaining electrical contact between the ground rod and the tubular sleeve guide; c. wherein, the at least one ground rod is sufficiently elongated relative to the tubular sleeve guide so that when the grounding plate is placed in a desired location on the earth, the at least one ground rod extends beyond the tubular sleeve guide when inserted within the tubular sleeve guide so as to be capable of contacting earth; d. an exothermic mold having at least one side surface, a bottom surface, a top surface, and defining a cavity comprising a guide receptacle in the bottom surface adapted to receive the tubular sleeve guide, an ignition cavity in communication with the tubular sleeve guide, a mold cavity opening to the top surface for receiving a shot of exothermic weld material, a passage connecting the mold cavity and the ignition cavity, a lid for a covering the mold cavity; e. further wherein, the at least one ground rod and the annulus end of the tubular sleeve guide are configured to fit within the guide receptacle of the exothermic mold capable of supporting exothermic welding of the at least one ground rod to the tubular sleeve guide, whereby a durable and permanent connection can be made between the ground rod and tubular sleeve guide; f. at least one conductive lead affixed to the grounding plate by durable exothermic weld and capable of conductive contact with an item to be grounded; and g. wherein, the at least one ground rod is configured so as to extend a desired horizontal distance beyond the grounding plate when inserted into the at least one tubular sleeve guide.