Abstract: The invention also provides a heating apparatus including a holder capable of holding at least one part, an electric current generator and a flux concentrator electrically connected to the electric current generator, the flux concentrator being made of a non-magneto-dielectric material and having a coil with at least one turn forming an inductor to generate an alternating magnetic field that is driven by the alternating electric field, the alternating magnetic field resonating at a frequency of at least 1 MHz in response to the alternating electric current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing system and method for manufacturing a part. A negative powder forms a holder suitable to hold particles of a positive powder in proximity to one another. A connection scheme such as heating, the use of pressure and/or a binder, when employed, connects the particles to one another to form the part.

Abstract: The invention provides a nondestructive tester that includes a coil for positioning adjacent a surface of an object, a voltage source connected to the coil to apply a forward power to the coil, a measurement circuit connected to the coil to measure a reflected power from the coil due to the forward power, and an analyzer connected to the measurement circuit and determining a result of a function of the reflected power to the forward power and utilizing a result of the function to determine whether a feature presence at or below the surface.

Abstract: A sintering apparatus comprising a container for holding small particles that contact one another, an electric current generator generating an alternating electric current and a flux concentrator having a collector positioned to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating electric current and a tip that focuses the alternating magnetic field so that the particles are exposed to the alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field heating surfaces of the particles so that they join and are fused together.

Abstract: A heating method is described. A plurality of flux concentrators and at least one part may be held in proximity to one another. One or more alternating electric current may be generated to generate a plurality of alternating magnetic fields by the respective flux concentrators.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a generator having a rotor with a rotor structure, a set of flux pumps secured to the rotor structure and a cooling system secured to the rotor structure for cooling each one of the flux pumps. The flux pump includes separate superconducting loops in separate layers with each superconducting loop including a plurality of sections in revolutions in its respective layer. Each cooling system includes a compressor, heat exchanger, expansion valve, and cryocooler inline with one another. The rotor is rotatably mounted to a stator component through a bearing. A power supply circuit includes components integrated within the rotor for providing power to the flux pump and the compressor.

Abstract: The invention also provides a heating apparatus including a holder capable of holding at least one part, an electric current generator and a flux concentrator electrically connected to the electric current generator, the flux concentrator being made of a non-magneto-dielectric material and having a coil with at least one turn forming an inductor to generate an alternating magnetic field that is driven by the alternating electric field, the alternating magnetic field resonating at a frequency of at least 1 MHz in response to the alternating electric current.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a generator having a rotor with a rotor structure, a set of flux pumps secured to the rotor structure and a cooling system secured to the rotor structure for cooling each one of the flux pumps. The flux pump includes separate superconducting loops in separate layers with each superconducting loop including a plurality of sections in revolutions in its respective layer. Each cooling system includes a compressor, heat exchanger, expansion valve, and cryocooler inline with one another. The rotor is rotatably mounted to a stator component through a bearing. A power supply circuit includes components integrated within the rotor for providing power to the flux pump and the compressor.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable impedance device including a first bus bar refrigeration system, a first bus bar thermally connected to the first bus bar refrigeration system to be maintained at a target bus bar temperature by the first bus bar refrigeration system, a variable impedance component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component electrically connected to the first bus bar and thermally connected to the component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component may be at least partially made of a material that is superconducting below a critical temperature and may be maintained at a target component temperature, wherein the target bus bar temperature may be between the 300K and critical temperature and the target component temperature may be below the critical temperature and a second bus bar connected to the variable impedance component so that current flows between the first and second leads through the variable impedance component.

Abstract: A sintering apparatus comprising a container for holding small particles that contact one another, an electric current generator generating an alternating electric current and a flux concentrator having a collector positioned to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field generated by the alternating electric current and a tip that focuses the alternating magnetic field so that the particles are exposed to the alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field heating surfaces of the particles so that they join and are fused together.

Abstract: The invention provides a flux pump that includes a plurality of superconducting materials arranged to form at least one superconducting loop, at least one of the components being made of a superconductor that includes particles made of a superconductive material and a conductive material selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material, an unbroken section of the conductive material being located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable impedance device including a first bus bar refrigeration system, a first bus bar thermally connected to the first bus bar refrigeration system to be maintained at a target bus bar temperature by the first bus bar refrigeration system, a variable impedance component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component electrically connected to the first bus bar and thermally connected to the component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component may be at least partially made of a material that is superconducting below a critical temperature and may be maintained at a target component temperature, wherein the target bus bar temperature may be between the 300K and critical temperature and the target component temperature may be below the critical temperature and a second bus bar connected to the variable impedance component so that current flows between the first and second leads through the variable impedance component.