Patents by Inventor Robert Slade
Robert Slade 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).
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Publication number: 20240371533Abstract: A toroidal field coil for a tokamak plasma chamber having a central column. The toroidal field coil comprises first and second high temperature superconductor. HITS, assemblies comprising a respective one or more HITS tapes for conducting electrical current parallel to an axis of the central column. Each of the HITS tapes comprises HITS material having an associated critical current that is dependent on a magnetic field at the HITS tape when the central column is in use. The central column further comprises a cooling mechanism configured to preferentially cool the first HITS assembly relative to the second HTS assembly to reduce or eliminate a difference in the critical current of the or each HITS tape of the first HITS assembly relative to the critical current of the or each HITS tape of the second HITS assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: November 7, 2024Inventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20240261657Abstract: A putting gate is disclosed that allows golfers to easily adjust the width of the gate to match their desired putting distance, while also providing the ability to add detachable extensions to the gate to create infinite possibilities in terms of gate sizes. The gate is designed to hinge on magnets or hooks, providing a unique and convenient way to adjust the width of the gate without the need for multiple gates. The use of magnets or hooks also allows for detachable extensions to be added to the gate, allowing golfers to use putting gates at much longer distances than they could before, with benefits for aim, alignment, start direction, and green reading.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2023Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventor: Robert Slade-Baker
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Patent number: 11978587Abstract: A method of manufacturing an HTS coil is provided. The method comprises winding an ITS coil cable to produce a coil having a plurality of turns. During winding of a turn of the coil, one or more HTS shunt cables are placed adjacent to the previous turn of the coil along a first arc of the coil, and then the turn is wound such that the HTS shunt cable is sandwiched between the turn and the previous turn of the coil such that current can be shared between the HTS shunt cable and the HTS coil cable.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Tokamak Energy Ltd.Inventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20230402213Abstract: A superconducting magnet comprising a field coil comprising high temperature superconducting material and having a joint; a bypass resistance comprising a non-superconducting conductive material, wherein the bypass resistance is electrically connected to the field coil on both sides of the joint; wherein the joint is openable to break the field coil such that current flowing in the superconductor flows though the bypass resistance in order to dump energy from the field coil, and wherein the superconducting magnet is configured to open the joint in response to detection of a quench in the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20230395296Abstract: A high temperature superconductor, HTS, field coil having turns comprising HTS material wound about an axis of the coil. The turns are separated from one another along a direction perpendicular to the axis by a layer of insulator material having a first resistivity at a temperature less than a generation temperature of the HTS material and a lower, second resistivity at a second temperature greater than the generation temperature of the HTS material. The HTS field coil further comprises one or more electrical conductor elements arranged to provide one or more electrically conductive pathways extending from one turn to an adjacent turn and through the layer of insulator material. In response to a voltage difference generated across the one or more electrically conductive pathways, electrical current is driven through the one or more electrical conductor elements to heat the layer of insulator material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2021Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Robert Slade, Rod Bateman, Jeroen Van Nugteren
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Publication number: 20230343498Abstract: A method of manufacturing a High Temperature Superconductor, HTS, field coil from one or more HTS tapes. Each HTS tape comprises an HTS material layer. The method comprises: winding the one or more HTS tapes about an axis to form a field coil comprising windings of HTS tape; and removing material from an axial edge of the one or more of the HTS tapes around at least a part of one or more of the windings to reduce the extent of the one or more HTS tapes along the axis of the field coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2021Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Greg Brittles, Tony Langtry, Rod Bateman, Robert Slade, Bas Van Nugteren
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Patent number: 11776721Abstract: A superconducting magnet comprising: a field coil comprising high temperature superconducting material and having a joint; a bypass resistance comprising a non-superconducting conductive material, wherein the bypass resistance is electrically connected to the field coil on both sides of the joint; wherein the joint is openable to break the field coil such that current flowing in the superconductor flows though the bypass resistance in order to dump energy from the field coil, and wherein the superconducting magnet is configured to open the joint in response to detection of a quench in the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Tokamak Energy LtdInventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20230285801Abstract: The present disclosure provides computer-implemented methods and apparatus for determining one or more parameters of a golf swing in order to allow a user to optimise their stroke/swing/technique. The methods comprise the calibration of a device installed in a golf club with respect to a user device, allowing for the identification of the axes of a swing frame and thereby allowing motion detected by the installed device to be transposed into a useful orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Robert Slade-Baker, Jason Newell, Souad Hadj-Said
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Patent number: 11749434Abstract: A method of detecting pre-quench conditions in a superconducting magnet comprising an HTS field coil. The field coil comprises a plurality of turns comprising HTS material and metallic stabilizer; and conductive material connecting the turns such that current can be shared radially between turns via the conductive material. Strain is monitored for the HTS field coil and/or support structures of the HTS field coil. The monitored strain is compared to an expected strain during normal operation of the magnet. In response to the comparison, it is determined whether the field coil is in pre-quench conditions. A similar method is provided where the magnetic field of the HTS field coil is monitored to detect pre-quench conditions, instead of the strain.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Tokamak Energy LtdInventors: Robert Slade, Rod Bateman
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Publication number: 20230005627Abstract: A first wall structure for a plasma chamber (200). The first wall structure comprises and inner wall (201) and a solid deposit (202). The inner wall is formed from a refractory metal or an alloy or composite thereof and has a plurality of pores. The solid deposit in thermal contact with the inner wall, such that the plurality of pores provide a passage from an exterior of the first wall structure to the deposit. The deposit consists of a material having a boiling point less than a melting point of the refractory metal. The first wall structure is configured such that at a normal operating temperature of the first wall structure, the deposit is solid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Robert Slade, Daniel Inglesias
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Publication number: 20220384073Abstract: A method of detecting pre-quench conditions in a superconducting magnet comprising an HTS field coil. The field coil comprises a plurality of turns comprising HTS material and metallic stabilizer; and conductive material connecting the turns such that current can be shared radially between turns via the conductive material. Strain is monitored for the HTS field coil and/or support structures of the HTS field coil. The monitored strain is compared to an expected strain during normal operation of the magnet. In response to the comparison, it is determined whether the field coil is in pre-quench conditions. A similar method is provided where the magnetic field of the HTS field coil is monitored to detect pre-quench conditions, instead of the strain.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2020Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Robert Slade, Rod Bateman
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Patent number: 11469022Abstract: A device comprising a high temperature superconductor, HTS, circuit; wherein the HTS circuit comprises: a quenchable section comprising HTS material and connected in series to other elements of the HTS circuit, the HTS material comprising a stack of HTS takes comprising at least one HTS tape; the device further comprising: a quenching system configured to quench the HTS material in the quenchable section; a quench protection system configured to detect temperature rises in the HTS circuit and, in response to detection of a temperature rise, cause the quenching system to quench the superconducting material in the quenchable section in order to dump stored magnetic energy from the HTS circuit into the quenchable section; wherein the HTS circuit is configured such that, when in use, the magnetic field on the or each HTS tape is substantially parallel to a a-b plane of the HTS tape, and the quenching system is configured to quench the HTS material by producing an additional magnetic field along the length of theType: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Tokamak Energy Ltd.Inventor: Robert Slade
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Patent number: 11398329Abstract: A partially insulating layer for use in an HTS magnet coil. The partially insulating layer comprises an insulating body 401 having within it a set of linking tracks and a set of pickup tracks. Each linking track is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to first and second surfaces of the partially insulating layer, in order to provide an electrical path between said first and second surfaces. Each pickup track is electrically conductive and is inductively coupled to a respective linking track, and electrically isolated from the first and second surfaces. Each of the pickup tracks is configured for connection to a current measuring device in order to measure a current induced in the pickup track by a change in current flowing in the respective linking track.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Tokamak Energy Ltd.Inventors: Rod Bateman, Robert Slade, Bas Van Nugteren
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Publication number: 20220215994Abstract: A method of manufacturing an HTS coil is provided. The method comprises winding an ITS coil cable to produce a coil having a plurality of turns. During winding of a turn of the coil, one or more HTS shunt cables are placed adjacent to the previous turn of the coil along a first arc of the coil, and then the turn is wound such that the HTS shunt cable is sandwiched between the turn and the previous turn of the coil such that current can be shared between the HTS shunt cable and the HTS coil cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20220172863Abstract: A cable for carrying electrical current in a coil of a magnet. The magnet comprises an HTS transport tape and a shunt assembly comprising two or more HTS shunt tapes arranged side-by-side across a face of the transport tape. Each of the transport and shunt tapes comprises a substrate layer and an HTS layer of high temperature superconductor (HTS) material, the layers of the shunt tapes extending parallel to the layers of the transport tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20220157501Abstract: A high temperature superconducting, HTS, magnet system. The HTS magnet system comprises an HTS field coil, a temperature control system, a power supply, and a controller. The HTS field coil comprises a plurality of turns comprising HTS material; and a resistive material electrically connecting the turns, such that current can be shared radially between turns via the resistive material. The temperature control system is configured to control the temperature of the coil, the temperature control system comprising at least a cryogenic cool system configured to keep the coil below a self-field critical temperature of the HTS material. The power supply is configured to supply current to the HTS field coil. The controller is configured to cause the power supply to provide a current greater than a critical current of all of the HTS material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Greg Brittles, Robert Slade, Rod Bateman
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Publication number: 20220148778Abstract: A partially insulating layer for use in an HTS magnet coil. The partially insulating layer comprises an insulating body 401 having within it a set of linking tracks and a set of pickup tracks. Each linking track is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to first and second surfaces of the partially insulating layer, in order to provide an electrical path between said first and second surfaces. Each pickup track is electrically conductive and is inductively coupled to a respective linking track, and electrically isolated from the first and second surfaces. Each of the pickup tracks is configured for connection to a current measuring device in order to measure a current induced in the pickup track by a change in current flowing in the respective linking track.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Rod Bateman, Robert Slade, Bas Van Nugteren
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Patent number: 11289253Abstract: A method of manufacturing an HTS coil is provided. The method comprises winding an HTS coil cable to produce a coil having a plurality of turns. During winding of a turn of the coil, one or more HTS shunt cables are placed adjacent to the previous turn of the coil along a first arc of the coil, and then the turn is wound such that the HTS shunt cable is sandwiched between the turn and the previous turn of the coil such that current can be shared between the HTS shunt cable and the HTS coil cable.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Tokamak Energy Ltd.Inventor: Robert Slade
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Publication number: 20220016442Abstract: An HTS magnet system comprising an HTS field coil and a power supply. The HTS field coil comprises a plurality of turns comprising HTS material and a metallic stabiliser; and an electrically conductive layer separating the turns, such that current can be shared between turns via the conductive layer. The power supply is configured to: during ramp-up of the HTS field coil, provide a first current to the HTS field coil; and during ramp-down of the HTS field coil, provide a second current to the HTS field coil opposite in direction to the first current.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2019Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Robert Slade, Bas van Nugteren
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Patent number: 11193996Abstract: There is described a magnet assembly comprising a superconducting coil, a cryogenic system, a DC voltage source, an SMPS, current leads, and a controller. The cryogenic system comprises a cryostat and is configured to maintain the superconducting coil at an operating temperature below the critical temperature of the superconductor. The DC voltage is source located outside the cryostat. The SMPS is located inside the cryostat and configured to supply power from the DC voltage source to the superconducting coil. The SMPS comprises a voltage step-down transformer having a primary and a secondary winding. The current leads connect the DC voltage source to the SMPS. The controller is configured to cause the SMPS to supply a first amount of power to the magnet in order to ramp up the magnet to operating current, and a second amount of power to the magnet during steady state operation of the magnet, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Tokamak Energy Ltd.Inventor: Robert Slade