Patents by Inventor Michael Simpkins

Michael Simpkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11551841
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device including a plurality of superconducting magnet coils; a structural element mechanically and thermally linked to respective magnet coils to retain them in respective relative positions; and a cooling station thermally connected to a cryogenic refrigerator and to the structural element. A thermally conductive path, which passes through the structural element, is established between the cryogenic refrigerator and the superconducting magnet coils through the structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Simon Chorley, Martin Howard Hempstead, Michael Simpkins
  • Patent number: 11469021
    Abstract: A current lead for supplying current to a superconducting device, the current lead having a high temperature superconductor (HTS) conductor extending along a length of the current lead, the HTS conductor thermally and electrically joined to an electrical shunt. Voltage taps are connected to respective ends of the HTS conductor for connection to a quench heater in thermal contact with a superconducting device. A quench in the HTS conductor gives rise to a voltage appearing between the voltage taps, and the voltage is applied to the quench heater to give rise to quench within the superconducting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Simon Chorley, Michael Simpkins
  • Patent number: 11387026
    Abstract: An assembly having a cylindrical structure supported by a support structure having at least one support element, the support structure being cradle shaped, such that vertical and horizontal loads are taken largely as shear forces by respective interface surfaces which are substantially parallel to the direction of the respective load, and vertical loads are taken in a direction substantially tangential to the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: William James Bickell, Ashley Fulham, Martin Gambling, Martin Howard Hempstead, Graeme Hyson, Paul Lewis, Nicholas Mann, Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20210183551
    Abstract: An assembly having a cylindrical structure supported by a support structure having at least one support element, the support structure being cradle shaped, such that vertical and horizontal loads are taken largely as shear forces by respective interface surfaces which are substantially parallel to the direction of the respective load, and vertical loads are taken in a direction substantially tangential to the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: William James Bickell, Ashley Fulham, Martin Gambling, Martin Howard Hempstead, Graeme Hyson, Paul Lewis, Nicholas Mann, Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20210183552
    Abstract: A current lead for supplying current to a superconducting device, the current lead having a high temperature superconductor (HTS) conductor extending along a length of the current lead, the HTS conductor thermally and electrically joined to an electrical shunt. Voltage taps are connected to respective ends of the HTS conductor for connection to a quench heater in thermal contact with a superconducting device. A quench in the HTS conductor gives rise to a voltage appearing between the voltage taps, and the voltage is applied to the quench heater to give rise to quench within the superconducting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Simon Chorley, Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20210074457
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device including a plurality of superconducting magnet coils; a structural element mechanically and thermally linked to respective magnet coils to retain them in respective relative positions; and a cooling station thermally connected to a cryogenic refrigerator and to the structural element. A thermally conductive path, which passes through the structural element, is established between the cryogenic refrigerator and the superconducting magnet coils through the structural element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Simon Chorley, Martin Howard Hempstead, Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20200340626
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant cryogenically cooled system including an outer vacuum chamber defining a vacuum region in its interior volume; a cryogenic refrigerator; equipment to be cooled, housed within the vacuum region; a free volume delimited within the vacuum region and containing a cryogen; a cold plate exposed to the free volume and thermally linked to the equipment to be cooled; a heat exchanger thermally linked to a coldest stage of the refrigerator and exposed to the free volume; a cryogen buffer vessel delimiting a buffer volume; and a passage linking the buffer volume with the free volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Simon Chorley, Adam Paul Johnstone, Michael Simpkins
  • Patent number: 10712077
    Abstract: An arrangement for cryogenic cooling includes a cryogen tank, a cryogenic recondensing refrigerator arranged to cool a heat exchanger that is exposed to the interior of the cryogen tank, and an arrangement for conducting heat from a cooled article to the cryogen tank. A further cryogen tank is provided below the heat exchanger and arranged to receive cryogen liquid recondensed on the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Adam Paul Johnstone, Jonathan Noys, Michael Simpkins, John Anthony Robert Teah
  • Patent number: 10408384
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a two stage cryogenic refrigerator into a cryostat has a vacuum sock accommodates at least a part of the refrigerator, attachment means and attaches an upper part of the refrigerator to a surface of the cryostat around an opening of the vacuum sock, a thermally conductive portion of a wall of the vacuum sock that, in use, is thermally and mechanically in contact with a second cooling stage of the refrigerator, and arrangements are provided that thermally connect a first stage of the refrigerator to a thermal radiation shield of the cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Michael Simpkins
  • Patent number: 10340068
    Abstract: A current feed-through has a mounting feature, a member accessible from both sides of the mounting feature and an electrical isolator, connecting the mounting feature and the member in respective positions, to ensure mechanical integrity and electrical isolation between the mounting feature and the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Neil John Belton, Malcolm Faithfull, Michael Simpkins
  • Patent number: 10253928
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a two stage cryogenic refrigerator (17) into a cryostat, the arrangement comprising a vacuum sock (15) for accommodating at least a part of the refrigerator, attachment means (32, 34) for attaching an upper part of the refrigerator to a surface (14) of the cryostat around an opening of the vacuum sock, a thermally conductive portion (26) of a wall of the vacuum sock which, in use, is thermally and mechanically in contact with a second cooling stage (24) of the refrigerator, and arrangements (40, 42) are provided for thermally connecting a first stage (22) of the refrigerator to a thermal radiation shield (16) of the cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20190074116
    Abstract: An assembly comprising has a two-stage cryogenic refrigerator and an associated mounting arrangement, and comprising a sock having first and second stages corresponding to first and second stages of the refrigerator, wherein with the first stage of the refrigerator being in thermal contact with the first stage of the sock and the second stage of the refrigerator being in thermal contact with the second stage of the sock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Michael Simpkins, Neil Charles Tigwell, Kevin Paul Wastie
  • Publication number: 20190074117
    Abstract: An assembly comprising has a two-stage cryogenic refrigerator and an associated mounting arrangement, and comprising a sock having first and second stages corresponding to first and second stages of the refrigerator, wherein with the first stage of the refrigerator being in thermal contact with the first stage of the sock and the second stage of the refrigerator being in thermal contact with the second stage of the sock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Michael Simpkins, Neil Charles Tigwell, Kevin Paul Wastie
  • Patent number: 10181372
    Abstract: An assembly has a two-stage cryogenic refrigerator and an associated mounting arrangement, and a sock having first and second stages corresponding to first and second stages of the refrigerator, with the first stage of the refrigerator being in thermal contact with the first stage of the sock and the second stage of the refrigerator being in thermal contact with the second stage of the sock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Michael Simpkins, Neil Charles Tigwell, Kevin Paul Wastie
  • Publication number: 20180372393
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a two stage cryogenic refrigerator into a cryostat has a vacuum sock accommodates at least a part of the refrigerator, attachment means and attaches an upper part of the refrigerator to a surface of the cryostat around an opening of the vacuum sock, a thermally conductive portion of a wall of the vacuum sock that, in use, is thermally and mechanically in contact with a second cooling stage of the refrigerator, and arrangements are provided that thermally connect a first stage of the refrigerator to a thermal radiation shield of the cryostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Michael Simpkins
  • Patent number: 10041720
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet structure has a number of axially aligned superconducting inner magnet coils that form an inner magnet structure (30) and a number of superconducting outer coils each having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of each of the inner magnet coils. The inner magnet structure is enclosed within a cryogen vessel, and the outer coils are located outside of the cryogen vessel, in thermal contact with a cooling arrangement for cooling the outer coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20170299250
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet structure comprising a number of axially aligned superconducting inner magnet coils (34) making up an inner magnet structure (30) and a number of superconducting outer coils (32) each having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of each of the inner magnet coils (34). The inner magnet structure is enclosed within a cryogen vessel (12), and the outer coils are located outside of the cryogen vessel, in thermal contact with a cooling arrangement (36, 38) for cooling the outer coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20170284726
    Abstract: An arrangement for cryogenic cooling comprising a cryogen tank (14), a cryogenic recondensing refrigerator (12) arranged to cool a heat exchanger which is exposed to the interior of the cryogen tank (14) and an arrangement (16; 26) for conducting heat from a cooled article (10) to the cryogen tank. A further cryogen tank (20) is provided below the heat exchanger and arranged to receive cryogen liquid recondensed on the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Adam Paul JOHNSTONE, Jonathan NOYS, Michael SIMPKINS, John Anthony Robert TEAH
  • Patent number: 9543066
    Abstract: A cylindrical superconducting magnet has a number of axially-aligned annular coils of superconducting wire, arranged for cooling by thermal conduction through a cooled surface in mechanical contact with the coils. The coils are provided with a cryogenic radiation shield located between respective radially inner surfaces of the coils and respective axes of the coils. The cryogenic radiation shield is formed of a metal layer in thermal contact with the cooled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Simon James Calvert, Marcel Kruip, Rodrigo Ormeno, Michael Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20160314886
    Abstract: A current feed-through comprising has a mounting feature, a member accessible from both sides of the mounting feature and an electrical isolator, connecting the mounting feature and the member in respective positions, to ensure mechanical integrity and electrical isolation between the mounting feature and the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil John BELTON, Malcolm Faithfull, Michael Simpkins