United States Patent [11] 3,582,531

72 Inventor Albert P. Sheelor 1856,506 5/1932 Preston ........................ 17416

110 South Barranco, Covina, Calif. 91722 2,068,545 l/1937 Haig............................. 74/7
(21) Appl. No. 886,417
(22 Filed Dec. 18, 1969 FOREIGN PATENTS
(45) Patented June 1, 1971 785, 88 5/1935 France ......................... 6/
Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 264,349 (1927 Great Britain................ 71
756,194, Aug. 29, 1968, now abandoned. 400,739 1 1/1933 Great Britain................ 61
This application Dec. 18, 1969, Ser. No. 413,914 7/1934 Great Britain................ 71
886,417 Primary Examiner-Laramie E. Askin
Attorney-Herbert E. Kidder
54 ELECTROCHEMICAL GROUNDING ROD
7 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig. ABSTRACT: An electrical grounding device comprising a
(52) U.S. Cl........................................................ 17416 metal pipe capped and perforated at both ends and filled with
(5ll int. Cl......................................................... H01r 3/06 deliquescent salts which dissolve to form an electrolyte. The
(50 Field of Search............................................ 17416, 7; pipe is buried vertically in the ground with only the perforated
204/196; 34.3/846, 849 upper end protruding above the surface, to which electrical
circuits are connected. Atmospheric air enters and leaves the
(56) References Cited pipe through the exposed perforations, and moisture is con
UNITED STATES PATENTS tinually taken out of the air by the deliquescent material, dis
984, 75 2/91 l Yarian.......................... 174/7 solving some of the salts. The resultant solution leaks out
l, 77,180 31916 Garton..... -- - --- 17417
through the perforations in the bottom of the pipe, penetrating
1783,035 1 1/1930 Borden......................... 174/7 and moistening the soil with electrolyte to provide a low re
sistance electrical path to ground.

7-SPN GASS OR GASS

WOOL WADS
X2NZXN

8-HYGROSCOPIC AND/OR
DELIQUESCENT SALTS

A. A 7-SPUN GLASS OR GLASS

WOOL WADS
6
5
PATENTED JUN 97. 3,582,531

men
Il-6 7-SPN GLASS OR GLASS
WOOL WADS
NXXXX
WN
KXXX2N
N2

N
8-HYGROSCOPIC AND/OR
N DELIQUESCENT SALTS

N
N
NN
N
NN
N 7-SPUN GLASS OR GLASS
A
SR 6 WOO WADS

| |-5

IN VEN TO R.
ALBERT P S HEE OR
 3,582,531
1. 2
ELECTROCHEMICAL GROUNDING ROD A further object of the invention is to provide a grounding
CRoss-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS device that maintains its low resistance over a very long period
of time, and which is relatively unaffected by the moisture
. This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending ap content of the soil.
plication Ser. No. 756,194, filed Aug. 29, 1968, now aban These objects are achieved by providing a metal pipe,
doned. preferably of copper, which is capped and perforated at both
ends and filled with a quantity of metallic salts which are
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION deliquescent or hygroscopic in nature, and which dissolve to
The present invention relates to electrical grounding O
form a highly conductive, noncorrosive electrolyte. The pipe
devices, and more specifically to a grounding device for use on is buried vertically in the ground, with one end projecting
building sites to provide a secure, low resistance return ground slightly above the surface so that the holes in that end are ex
path for the complete electrical service circuits installed in the posed. The neutral ground wire of the electrical service is then
buildings. connected to the protruding end of the pipe. Atmospheric air
Heretofore, the grounding of such circuits has been accom 15 flows into and out of the pipe through the exposed holes in the
plished by the use of water pipes, which has long been recom top end of the pipe, and the deliquescent salt takes up
mended by Building and Safety authorities and their approved moisture from the air, which accumulates and then runs out
codes. In recent years, however, serious difficulties have been through the holes in the bottom end of the pipe. The moisture
encountered in some localities with galvanic interaction in dissolves some of the salt, forming an electrolyte solution that
such water and plumbing systems, and consequently those permeates the soil both vertically and horizontally to provide
concerned with the problem in this field have begun to act to an extensive area of low resistance conductivity. An important
change the codes to alleviate the situation by changing the feature of thc invention is that it continues to form this elec
present grounding practices. trolyte over a long period of time, so that the device maintains
Another important factor complicating the problem is the its effectiveness undiminished over many years.
growing use of plastic pipe, fittings, and even water meter 25 The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the in
housings, which makes, it impossible to utilize the water lines vention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
as a service grounding medium without using jumpers or other the following detailed description of the preferred embodi
alternate equipment. ment, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In addition to these practical problems, there is another fac The single FIGURE of the drawing is a partially cut away,
30 clevational view of an electrical grounding device embodying
tor that has long been recognized as an undesirable hazard of
the water pipe grounding system, and that is the danger of ac the principles of the invention.
cidental electrocution. Many lives have been lost where vic DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
tims have inadvertently touched a water pipe while in contact
with a "hot' wire. Such accidents can be prevented by isolat 35 In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a ter
ing the electrical ground circuit from the water pipes and, in minal screw that passes through a hole formed in the flattened
stead, connecting the ground (i.e., neutral) wire of the electri top end of a relatively small diameter metal tube 2, preferably
cal service to a separate grounding device buried in the soil at of copper. The terminal screw 1 forms the point of attachment
some distance from the nearest water pipe. The relatively high for the grounding wire (not shown) of the electrical service.
resistance of the soil separating the grounding device from the 40 The bottom end of the tube 2 is threaded, and screwed into
water pipes has a current-limiting effect, so that the total elec the small end of a bell reducer 3. The internally threaded large
trical current going into the victim's body is reduced to a less end of the reducer 3 is screwed onto the top end of a metal
than lethal amount. This is an important safety factor which pipe 4, which forms the main body of the device. The pipe 4 is
cannot be ignored. preferably made of copper, and is typically about 8 feet long,
In view of the above factors, building and code officials are 45 with an outside diameter of 2 inches. The bottom end of the
now considering alternative electrical service grounding pipe 4 is closed by a cap 5, and holes 6 are drilled through the
systems, with the view of establishing new approved codes to sidewalls of the pipe closely adjacent the cap 5 and top closure
specify the minimum practical requirements for maximum 3.
safety and efficiency. Contained within the pipe 4 at each end thereof are wads 7
In the United States there are many soils and climatic condi 50 of spun glass or glass wool, which scrve to prevent the con
tions, and any service grounding device, to be universally ac tents of the pipe from spilling out of the holes 6. The pipe is
ceptable, must be sufficiently versatile for use in a wide range filled with a quantity of moisture-absorbing material 8 consist
of soil conditions. For example, a high, dry desert in the ing of deliquescent or hygroscopic salts such as calcium
Mojave region of California would require a different ground chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium hydroxide, sodium
ing device capability than a scrvice ground on the edge of a 55
chloride, copper sulfate, or other salts which, alone or in com
salt marsh in Hoboken, New Jersey. bination, act to extract moisture from atmospheric air and to
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION dissolve some of the salt to form an electrolyte. This elec
trolyte solution then bleeds out of the holes 6 in the bottom of
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a 60 the pipe and spreads out by capillary action until it is dispersed
new and improved electrical grounding device of the throughout the soil for a considerable distance in all
character described which is isolated from the water pipes, so directions, forming a low resistance path of electrical conduc
that the pipes form no part of the electrical system and there tivity into the soil. Moreover, by greatly extending the effec
fore cannot cause accidental electrocution of a person who is tive size and depth function of the grounding device, the in
in contact with both a 'hot' wire and the water pipes. One ad 65 vention reduces the current density per unit area thereby
vantage of isolating the electrical ground from the water pipes eliminating or minimizing overheating of the unit during mo
is that it permits the use of plastic pipes without the necessity mentary current overloads, as in the case of a short circuit.
of using jumpers. The choice of salt used to fill the pipe 4 is governed by the
Another important object of the invention is to provide a type of soil in which the pipe is to be buried. For example, in a
very low resistance electrical path to ground, considerably 70 wet soil the choice might be copper sulfate of one-half inch ag
better than the average resistance values obtained with con gregate size; selected because of its slow dissolving rate and
ventional grounding systems using water pipes. Typically, the the fact that it is hygroscopic instead of deliquescent.
resistance of the present invention averages about 4.5 ohms, Deliquescence is not needed in a wet soil. On the other hand,
whereas the water pipe grounding system usually ranges from with a dry soil in an arid region, sodium hydroxide or calcium
10 to 25 ohms, 75 chloride might be used, either alone or mixed with sodium
 3,582,531
3. 4
chloride in the form of coarse rock salt. The deliquescent pro 4 is alternately charged with positive and negative electricity.
perty of the calcium chloride or sodium hydroxide causes it to With the neutral (ground) line of the electrical service con
take up moisture from the atmospheric air contained within nected to the grounding device of the present invention, there
the pipe, which then dissolves part of its own substance, or the is no electrical connection between the service lines and the
sodium chloride mixed therewith, to form the liquid elec water pipes of the building. Thus, the water pipes are isolated
trolyte which then leaks out into the soil and becomes from the electrical system, and it is virtually impossible for a
dispersed therein. Mixtures of calcium sulfate and calcium person to be electrocuted by touching a water pipe while in
chloride, or calcium chloride and sodium chloride in various contact with a 'hot' wire.
proportions have produced good results. While I have shown and described in considerable detail
The installation of the device at a building site is accom O what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention, it will
plished by digging a hole in the ground at the selected spot to a be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is
depth of about 7% feet, using a soil auger or water drill. The not limited to such details, but might take various other forms
pipe 4 is then lowered into the hole which, if it has been dug to within the scope of the following claims.
the correct depth, will leave only about 6 inches of the top end I claim:
of the pipe protruding above the surface of the ground. It is es 15 1. An electrochemical grounding rod for connecting the
sential only that the holes in the top end of the pipe be open to neutral ground wire of an electrical service line to the soil,
the atmosphere, Before back filling the hole, it is advisable to comprising:
provide some dampness or moisture at depth, by pouring a few a metal pipe having openings at both ends thereof and filled
gallons of water into the hole around the pipe. After back with moisture-absorbing metallic salts that are soluble in
filling the hole, the service ground wire is connected to the ter water to form a highly conductive electrolyte,
means for retaining said salts within said pipe;
minal screw 1, and the device is ready for use. said pipe being buried in the ground with one end thereof
Almost immediately, the deliquescent or hydroscopic salt 8 protruding above the surface of the ground so that said
within the pipe will begin to absorb moisture from the at openings at that end are exposed to the atmosphere,
mospheric air within the pipe. This absorption of moisture 25 thereby allowing air to flow freely into and out of the
goes on day and night, through periods of low relative humidi pipe,
ty as well as high. However, maximum moisture absorption said moisture-absorbing salts taking moisture out of the air,
takes place when the relative humidity is high, which is often which dissolves some of said salts and runs out of said
in the cool of the night, or during and after a shower. The at openings at the bottom end of the pipe, permeating the
mospheric air within the pipe is being constantly "breathed' 30 soil to make a good electrical contact between the pipe
in and out through the open holes 6 in the top end of the pipe, and the soil; and
due to changing temperature and atmospheric pressure. Thus, means for connecting said pipe to said neutral groundwire
the supply of moisture is constantly replenished, and the elec of said electrical service line.
trolyte inside the pipe and dispersed throughout the soil sur 2. An electrochemical grounding rod as in claim 1, wherein
rounding the pipe never dries out. 35 said means for retaining salts within said pipe comprises caps
A grounding device of the type described above has been in mounted on each end of the pipe, and wads of porous material
use for over 5% years at the time offiling this application, and packed within the pipe adjacent said caps, said pipe being per
its resistance to ground has remained unchanged at 4.5 ohms forated in the ends thereof where said wads are contained.
for the entire time. The National Electrical Code calls for a 3. An electrochemical grounding rod as in claim 2, wherein
maximum of 25 ohms resistance (impedance), at the time of 40 said metallic salt comprises copper sulfate.
installation, but it is not uncommon for the resistance values 4. An electrochemical grounding rod as in claim 2, wherein
of prior grounding devices to increase to many hundreds of said cap on the protruding top end of said pipe has a terminal
ohms over a period of years, owing to drying out of the soil, or screw for attachment of said neutral ground wire of said ser
corrosion of the grounding element. The grounding device of vice line.
the present invention has been dug up after being buried in the 45 5. An electrochemical grounding rod as in claim 2, wherein
soil for 6 or 8 months, with no appreciable evidence of corro said metallic salt comprises a mixture of calcium chloride and
sion. Nor was there any apparent loss of chemical salts 8, copper sulfate.
although both the contents of the pipe and the soil surround 6. An electrochemical grounding rod as in claim 2, wherein
ing it were damp. It is believed that, in time, both the inner and said metallic salt comprises a mixture of sodium chloride and a
outer surfaces of the pipe would become somewhat corroded. 50 deliquescent material.
However, the corrosion products are governed, to a large ex 7. An electrochemical grounding rod as in claim 1, wherein
tent, by the salts 8 contained within the pipe, and such corro said metallic salts comprise one or more salts selected from
sion products are therefore of relatively low resistance. Gal the group consisting of copper sulfate, calcium chloride, mag
vanic corrosion is a relatively minor problem, owing to the nesium chloride, sodium chloride, and sodium hydroxide.
fact that the electric current is AC, which means that the pipe 55

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