Abstract: A superconducting coil is mounted on a permanent non-magnetic coil form by first winding an unreacted wire onto a temporary coil form made of refractory materials which can be assembled and disassembled, reacting the wound unreacted wire at high temperatures to form a superconducting coil. The temporary coil form is disassembled and the superconducting coil is transferred to a permanent coil form made of a non-magnetic material. The temporary coil form includes a bore tube and an end flange made of a refractory material and a terminal flange made of a non-magnetic refractory material. The terminal flange is removably secured to the bore tube. The end flange is positioned next to the other end of the bore tube and held in position against the tube by means of an end plate. A terminal plate is removably positioned adjacent to the bore tube. The assembly is held together by means of an axial force on the terminal and end plates.

Abstract: A magnetic suspension system and a procedure for operating the system employ a superconducting magnet having a lift coil assembly for developing a magnetic field to interact with the magnetic field of an object to be supported about the superconducting magnet. Smaller and larger magnet coils are provided in the superconducting magnet with counter rotating flow of current to introduce a depression in a potential energy surface above the superconducting magnet, this allowing the object to seek a height at the depression for stably locating the object. The system and methodology employs a set of control coils which are energized to orient and to translate the object to maintain a desired position and orientation. Pairs of the control coils are energized to produce a tilting of the object, as in roll or pitch, or a displacement of the object relative to the vertical axis.

Abstract: A device to guide, shape, contain, or concentrate magnetic flux comprises a tube or conduit made of superconducting material to constrain the path of magnetic flux and guide it to a target volume. Below the transition point the material exhibits no resistance to electrical current flow and is impermeable to magnetic flux. In one embodiment, the superconducting material is configured into a cylindrical tube. Upon entrance into the tube the magnetic flux generated by a magnet is constrained to remain between the walls of the tube until it exits the open end where the flux passes through a target volume. In another embodiment, the magnet is situated between two hollow U-shaped arms of superconducting material. The target is situated between the opposite arms of the superconducting material. Magnetic flux generated by the magnet is confined within the U-shaped arms of the superconducting material and passes through the target volume.