Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Painter

Thomas A. Painter 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).

  • Publication number: 20250292939
    Abstract: A magnet includes a stack of a plurality of superconducting pancake wound coils having a stacking axis normal to a winding direction of the coils. The stack has axial ends and has a stack midplane relative to the stacking axis. A quench detector is provided for detecting a quench in the stack of superconducting pancake wound coils. A plurality of resistance quench heaters (RQH) are distributed symmetrically along the axis with respect to the stack midplane. Control circuitry is provided for controlling the operation of the RQH upon the detection of a quench by the quench detector. A method of quenching a magnet is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: William D. Markiewicz, Mark D. Bird, Iain R. Dixon, William Scott Marshall, Thomas A. Painter, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 12347612
    Abstract: A magnet includes a stack of a plurality of superconducting pancake wound coils having a stacking axis normal to a winding direction of the coils. The stack has axial ends and has a stack midplane relative to the stacking axis. A quench detector is provided for detecting a quench in the stack of superconducting pancake wound coils. A plurality of resistance quench heaters (RQH) are distributed symmetrically along the axis with respect to the stack midplane. Control circuitry is provided for controlling the operation of the RQH upon the detection of a quench by the quench detector. A method of quenching a magnet is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: William Denis Markiewicz, Mark D. Bird, Iain R. Dixon, William Scott Marshall, Thomas A. Painter, Peng Xu
  • Publication number: 20230298790
    Abstract: A magnet includes a stack of a plurality of superconducting pancake wound coils having a stacking axis normal to a winding direction of the coils. The stack has axial ends and has a stack midplane relative to the stacking axis. A quench detector is provided for detecting a quench in the stack of superconducting pancake wound coils. A plurality of resistance quench heaters (RQH) are distributed symmetrically along the axis with respect to the stack midplane. Control circuitry is provided for controlling the operation of the RQH upon the detection of a quench by the quench detector. A method of quenching a magnet is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: William Denis Markiewicz, Mark D. Bird, Iain R. Dixon, William Scott Marshall, Thomas A. Painter, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 7977573
    Abstract: A cable-in-conduit-conductor (CICC) joint for use with a hybrid magnet. An elongate copper member is disposed in sandwiched relation between a first and second cable that are disposed in parallel, spaced apart relation to one another. A first elongate member is disposed in overlying relation to the first cable and a second elongate member is disposed in underlying relation to the second cable. All of the parts are positioned within a joint box, and the joint box is sandwiched between first and second flat plates that are interconnected to one another by elongate bolts. Tightening the bolts compresses the parts within the joint box. A heat treatment completes the solderless joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Florida State University
    Inventors: Thomas A. Painter, Ting Xu, Scott Bole, Todd Adkins
  • Publication number: 20080242551
    Abstract: A new type of conductor well-suited for use in a superconducting electromagnet. The conductor comprises a single electrically conductive member at its core. The conductor may include concentric layers of dissimilar materials. This conductor is surrounded by a channel through which coolant—typically liquid helium—can flow. The channel is bounded by a metal conduit of sufficient strength to withstand the Lorentz forces. The metal conduit is covered by an insulator which forces the current into the desired helical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas A. Painter