Abstract: A system for conducting electricity including a first body, a second body configured to move relative to the first body in a primary movement direction, and one or more electrical contact modules disposed between and in contact with the first body and the second body.

Abstract: A weld pool viewing system including optical elements for enhancing the weld pool image is positioned at an angle relative to the axis of a welding torch to extract image information pertaining to the interface of the weld pool with a workpiece to control the welding parameters.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic energy (SMES) system having an axially sectioned multilayered solenoid coil immersed in a liquid helium bath contained in annular helium vessel includes as an interface between each section of the inner and outer layers of the coil and the helium vessel a finger plate assembly comprising a plurality of electrically nonconductive finger plates clamped at one end with spacers between adjacent finger plates to hanger plates welded to the helium vessel walls. The other ends of the finger plates are interleafed with the turns of the coil and clamped together with the coil turns by clamping assemblies which clamp the turns in adjacent layers of the coil. Loading bars between the layers transmit the radial loads generated by the magnetic and thermal forces acting on the coil to the finger plates.

Abstract: A spacer bar, or system of spacer bars, interposed between coil layers of a coil structure. The spacer bar comprises a block of electrical insulating material adapted to be arranged between adjacent layers of a coil. The spacer bar may comprise several spacer bar sections segmented axially and provided with flexible joints (e.g., Belleville washers) between sections to permit each section to move with the adjacent coil layers (the coil layers between which the section is interposed). The sections of the spacer bar are held together by passing a rod through holes provided through each section. Between each pair of spacer sections, a Belleville washer is installed to assure that under continued cycling (e.g., expansion and contraction of the coil), the spacer sections return to their original location. To maintain an adequate creep path at the ends of the blocks or sections, notches can be cut into a face of each block or section.

Abstract: A cryogenically coolable inductive coil including: a multicomponent conductor comprising a plurality of components, each component including a cable of conductive material having a longitudinal axis about which the cable is twisted, the cable being wrapped helically and being compacted, after wrapping, to minimize voids in the cable and to give the component a polygonal profile, the components being disposed parallel, and adjacent, to one another with mutually facing sides of adjacent components being in contact with one another; and an electrical insulating and support structure at least partially surrounding the conductor for supporting stresses induced in the conductor due to magnetic fields created by the flow of current through the conductor, the conductor and the structure being wound to form the coil.

Abstract: In an installation including a superconducting solenoid coil in the form of an annulus having a vertical axis, a first vessel having an annular form and enclosing the coil for containing a primary cryogen at a temperature sufficient to maintain the coil superconductive, and at least one second vessel having an annular form and enclosing the first vessel for containing a secondary cryogen at a selected temperature, there are provided: cryogen storage containers spaced horizontally from the coil and the vessels for receiving the cryogens contained in the vessels; and conduit systems coupled between the vessels and the storage containers for permitting the flow of cryogens therebetween.

Abstract: A cryogenically coolable inductive coil including: a multicomponent conductor comprising a plurality of components, each component including a cable of conductive material having a longitudinal axis about which the cable is twisted, the cable being wrapped helically and being compacted, after wrapping, to minimize voids in the cable and to give the component a polygonal profile, the components being disposed parallel, and adjacent, to one another with mutually facing sides of adjacent components being in contact with one another; and an electrical insulating and support structure at least partially surrounding the conductor for supporting stresses induced in the conductor due to magnetic fields created by the flow of current through the conductor, the conductor and the structure being wound to form the coil.

Abstract: A superconducting coil conductor composed of a plurality of strands (10) twisted together to form a cylindrical structure, each strand (10) being composed of a core (2) composed of a plurality of parallel filaments of a superconducting material, enclosed by a metal sheath (4) forming a matrix in which at least some of the filaments are embedded, and a tubular member (6) enclosing the sheath (4) so as to be in intimate electrical contact with the sheath (4) and support the core (2).The conductor is held in support plates (16) each presenting a U-shaped conductor support channel (20) spaced inwardly from an exterior surface of the support plate (16) which is in contact with the cryogen, and a conductor compression wedge (18) inserted in the channel (20) for holding the conductor in place.The solenoid coil further includes insulating members (38) interposed between the support plates (16) and projecting radially beyond the conductor support system.

Abstract: In a superconducting solenoid disposed in a cryogenic bath, the solenoid being in the form of a cylindrical annulus having a vertical axis and being composed of: two conductors (2,4) each containing superconductive material and each wound into a single layer helical coil; first and second support units (6) each supporting a respective conductor (2,4); and insulation members (8,12,14) composed of horizontal insulating layers (12) interposed between successive turns of each of the conductors (2,4), and vertical insulating layers (10) interposed between the first support unit (6) and the second support unit (6), the insulation members (8,12,14) being constructed such that variations in the current flowing through the conductors (2,4) produce varying magnetic fields which cause the insulation members (8,12,14) to experience heat-generating frictional movements, the support units (6) and the insulation members (8,12,14) are provided with a network of interconnected flow channels (22,24,26) communicating with the b

Abstract: An inductor with high inductance to resistance ratio capable of handling megamp currents. Sixteen coil assemblies are radially arranged into four quadrants of four coil assemblies each and jumpers are utilized to connect the quadrants in different configurations for different inductance values. Each coil assembly is made up of a plurality of nested essentially D-shaped copper conductors collectively nested within an aluminum structural support plate in which eddy currents are minimized by a interruption in the plate. The individual conductors of each coil assembly are transposed throughout a quadrant for balanced current flow. Coil bus bars as well as an input and output bus bar are connected to predetermined ones of the coil assemblies with the input and output bus bars being connected to system input and output leads. The unit is operated at cryogenic temperatures by immersion in a liquid nitrogen filled cryostat.

Abstract: A connect/disconnect switch which is partially immersed in a cryogenic coolant includes colinearly arranged electrically conducting hollow cylinders separated by an electrically insulating as well as thermally insulating support member. An electrically conducting plug member is moveable within the cylinders with the cylinders being electrically connected to bus bars. During current flow operation, an electrical path is established between the hollow cylinders by means of the moveable plug whereas when a disconnect is desired, the moveable plug is removed from contacts with at least one of the cylinders thereby breaking the electrical as well as thermal path.

Abstract: A brushless dynamoelectric machine with a molded insulating control wheel having a rim on whose inner surface the rectifiers and other components of the starting control circuitry are directly mounted. Proximate the central hub of the control wheel is mounted a resistor wheel of metal having axial apertures in which are located cartridge heater-type resistors that are interconnected to provide the starting resistor of the control circuitry. The resistor wheel has external fins that aid in dissipating heat from the resistors and also blow air onto the components mounted on the wheel rim.

Abstract: A brushless dynamoelectric machine is provided with a molded insulating control wheel having a rim on whose inner surface the rectifiers and other components of the starting control circuitry are directly mounted and an outer surface on which a wire-wound starting resistor can be provided with provision for good support and adequate ventilation of the resistor so as to achieve a more compact and less expensive to assemble control wheel.