CORROSION PREVENTION CONNECTOR FOR POTABLE WATER PIPING SYSTEMS

Abstract

Provided is a corrosion prevention connector for preventing corrosion and pinhole leaks in potable water copper or lead piping systems. A length of copper, iron, or lead pipe is surrounded by a galvanize made of a metal or metal alloy less noble than, e.g., iron alloy, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and/or alloys thereof. The galvanize is metallurgically attached to the length of copper or lead pipe. When the corrosion prevention connector is electrically attached to the copper or lead piping systems at one end and attached to a plastic (or other non-electrically conductive material) main or lateral at the other end, the potable water copper or lead piping system is maintained at a potential above the cathodic redox reaction potential of the chemical reaction between copper or lead pipes and the purification chemicals contained in the potable water. Thus, preventing the internal pipe corrosion and pinhole leeks caused by the redox chemical reaction between the pipe interior and the protective concentration of purification chemicals intentionally left in the purified drinking water. The connector also acts as a sacrificial anode to protect the exterior of the pipe from corrosion.

Claims

1. A corrosion prevention connector for a potable water piping system, wherein the potable water piping system comprises non-conductive mains and/or laterals and a piping system, the piping system comprising an intake pipe, the corrosion prevention connector comprising: a. a pipe sized to fit a non-conductive main and/or lateral at a first end and sized to fit the intake pipe at a second end; b. a galvanize surrounding a portion of the copper pipe; and c. whereby the pipe is comprised of lead, iron, or copper.

2. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 1, wherein the galvanize is comprised of a metal less noble than copper.

3. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 2, wherein the galvanize is comprised of iron, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, or an alloy thereof.

4. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive main and/or lateral is comprised of plastic.

5. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 1, wherein the piping system is maintained at a voltage above the reduction potential of copper when the first end of the corrosion prevention connector is connected to the non-conductive main and/or lateral and the second end of the corrosion prevention connector is electrically connected to the intake pipe.

6. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 1, wherein the piping system is comprised of copper or lead.

7. A corrosion prevention potable water system, comprising: a. at least one non-conductive main and/or lateral, b. a piping system, c. a corrosion prevention connector electrically connected to the piping system and connected to the at least one non-conductive main and/or lateral, wherein the corrosion prevention connector comprises: 1. a pipe; 2. a galvanize surrounding a portion of the copper pipe; 3. wherein the pipe is comprised of copper, iron, or lead. d. whereby potable water flows from the at least one non-conductive main and/or lateral through the corrosion prevention connector and into the piping system; e. a plurality of water purification chemicals; f. a cathodic redox reaction potential between the plurality of water purification chemicals and the corrosion prevention connector; g. whereby the piping system is comprised of copper or lead; and h. whereby the piping system is maintained at a voltage above the cathodic redox reaction potential between the plurality of water purification chemicals and the corrosion prevention connector.

8. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 6, wherein the galvanize is comprised of a metal less noble than iron.

9. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 7, wherein the galvanize is comprised of iron, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, or an alloy thereof.

10. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 6, wherein the non-conductive main and/or lateral is comprised of plastic.

11. The corrosion prevention connector of claim 6, further comprising a second corrosion prevention connector connected between the piping system and ground.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a corrosion prevention connector according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates an example copper pipe potable water system in which the corrosion prevention connector may be used.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a corrosion prevention connector connected to a plumbing system and supply line according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments.

[0039] The systems and methods disclosed herein for preventing corrosion of copper and lead piping and the prevention of copper pipe pin holes comprise electrically attaching a dedicated cathodic corrosion protection system to the copper, and lead, potable water piping systems. The passive cathodic corrosion protection system may be composed of a sacrificial anode made of a metal or metal alloy, which is less noble than copper or lead. The anode is in contact with the ground and electrically connected to the copper or lead pipe system. The sacrificial anode maintains the copper or lead piping system at a voltage above the reduction potentials of copper and lead in the potable water environment, thus making the redox chemical reaction between the copper and lead pipes and the potable water cathodic, and thus preventing the interior corrosion of the copper and lead piping systems.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an example of a corrosion prevention connector 10 according to the principles of the present invention. Copper pipe 20 is shown in cross-section. Galvanize 30 surrounds a section of copper pipe 20, leaving bare copper at the top and bottom of copper pipe 20. Galvanize 30 may be made of a metal or metal alloy less noble and/or more reactive than copper, e.g., a metal or metal alloy such as iron, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, or alloys thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other materials that may be used. Iron metal may be used for more benign conditions, but zinc, aluminum alloy, magnesium, or titanium may be required for more electrically resistant grounding medium and/or larger area piping systems. The pipe 20 may also be comprised of iron rather than copper. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the metal core of copper pipe 20 may be iron rather than copper.

[0041] One end of connector 10 electrically connects to existing copper and/or lead plumbing, using any standard method known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The other end of connector 10 connects to the plastic or other non-electrically conducting material supply line by standard trade practice. When properly connected, galvanize 30 maintains the copper and/or lead piping systems at a voltage above the reduction potentials of copper and lead, thus preventing the interior corrosion of the copper and lead piping systems by making the redox chemical reaction potential with the potable water cathodic. The interior of copper or iron pipe 20 may be clean bare copper, or iron, free of any galvanize, to avoid contamination of the potable water.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an example of a copper pipe potable water system in which the corrosion prevention connector may be used. Plastic main 110 provides potable water from a water source. Plastic lateral 120 provides water from plastic main 110 to a copper piping system at a point of use through service connection 130. The delivery system is comprised of plastic main 110 and plastic lateral 120, and is generally underground, as indicated by the cross hatches. Note that, for clarity, only a portion of the ground is shown crosshatched. It should be understood that the corrosion prevention connector may act as the service connection 130. In addition, the galvanized portion of the corrosion prevention connector is grounded. Further, a section of lead pipe may lay between the corrosion prevention connector and the copper or iron plumbing.

[0043] Water flows through the copper plumbing system, past solder prill 140, soldered tee 150, and soldered 90 degree elbow 160, creating turbulence at points 170. In past copper piping systems, these turbulent flow points would have provided the activation energy required to initiate a redox reaction between the copper pipes and the potable water; however the iron mains and laterals raised the potential of the copper to the level where the Redox reaction became cathodic, so that corrosion did not occur near the turbulent flow points. Note that solder prill 140, soldered tee 150, and soldered 90 degree elbow 160 are exemplary components of the system, and are only used to explain where turbulence may occur. Any number of these components, from none to many, may be present in the system.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows corrosion prevention connector 10 connected to the copper or lead plumbing and plastic supply line. Copper or iron pipe 20, with galvanize 30 surrounding it, is connected to copper, or lead, plumbing 210 and plastic pipe 220. Flow arrow 230 shows the flow of the potable water. Metallic coupling 240 electrically connects copper or iron pipe 20 to copper or lead plumbing 210. Copper pipe 20 and copper plumbing 210 may be sized to fit a standard soldered coupling. Alternatively, the metallic coupling 240 may be a reducer to accommodate pipes of different diameters. Copper pipe 20 may be of a gauge and diameter to fit with copper plumbing 210.

[0045] At the other end of copper or iron pipe 20, plastic pipe 220 is fitted to copper pipe 20 using a metallic or non-metallic coupler or any standard method known to one of ordinary skill in the art, e.g., a clamp. Plastic pipe 220 and copper pipe 20 may have common diameters to promote laminar fluid flow.

[0046] Galvanize 30 is in contact with the ground medium, e.g., soil. The ground medium provides the electrical return leg of the electrolytic circuit when the connector is acting as a sacrificial anode to protect the exterior of the copper or lead pipe. Further, it acts to protect the iron components to which it is electrically connected. The required length and thickness of galvanize 30 depends upon project requirements, such as the area and the size of the copper piping system, the location of the corrosion prevention connector, and the desired service life of the galvanize. Multiple corrosion prevention connectors 10 may my connected in tandem depending on project requirements. The inside diameter of the core pipe 20 and pipe wall thickness shall comply with project specifications.

[0047] Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of the teachings herein, will be able to generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of, or exceeding the scope of, the claimed invention. This invention is not limited to using the particular elements, materials, or components described herein, and other elements, materials, or components will be equivalent for the purposes of this invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the drawings and the descriptions herein are proffered only to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.