Abstract: A ductile, high electrical conductivity composite is made, containing alkaline earth metal-copper oxide particles (14), having a gold coating (16), within a skeletal matrix of hyperconducting aluminum (22) enclosed by a metallic sheath (12).

Abstract: A method and flux pump for inducing electrical energy from superconducting and ferromagnetic material comprising initially magnetizing said ferromagnetic material, and applying heat to raise the ferromagnetic material above its magnetic transition temperature, so as to cause a loss of magnetization and induce a current in a superconducting circuit.

Abstract: A composite hyperconductor for use at cryogenic temperatures and particularly well suited for AC applications employs at least one filament of conductor having an extremely low electrical resistance at cryogenic temperatures, a strengthening matrix surrounding the conductor, and a barrier for electrically insulating the conductor from the matrix while providing for efficient heat transfer therebetween and/or serving as a diffusion barrier to prevent contamination of the high purity conductor during processing. The preferred composite hyperconductor for space applications comprises an ultra high purity aluminum conducting filament, a aluminum alloy matrix and a boron nitride barrier.

Abstract: A magnetic displacement transducer system for measuring the movement of a member includes an elongated permanent magnet which is mechanically coupled to the member so that the magnet moves parallel to its axis. A magnet-position sensor assembly, which includes at least one magnetometer having an elongated ferromagnetic core with a coil wrapped around it, is positioned adjacent the magnet so that the axis of the core and coil intersects the axis of the magnet at right angles. A pair of wires carry a sinusoidal excitation current to the assembly, convey the second harmonic from the assembly, and deliver a DC biasing current to the assembly in order to null the component of the permanent magnet's field that is perpendicular to the axis of the magnet. The value of the DC biasing current is measured to obtain the displacement of the member.

Abstract: A detector operable to detect cracks in a rotating member generates an alternating eddy current in the rotating member with an external coil surrounding the rotating member. A pick-up coil senses changes in the magnetic field of the eddy current due to a crack. The frequency of the excitation current is very much lower than the frequency of rotation of the rotating member and a plurality of samples are taken for each degree location. The output signal of the pick-up coil is comprised of both the crack indicative component and a residual or induced magnetism component. The signal is processed so as to extract the desired crack indicative component.

Abstract: A winding for superconducting inductive apparatus having one or more sets of main and auxiliary superconducting windings connected in parallel, with the auxiliary winding being disposed in a field-free region of the main winding. The main and auxiliary windings are arranged such that the main winding carries substantially all of the normal operating current of the apparatus and the auxiliary winding, which is located in a field-free region, carries overload currents of the apparatus. The volume of the main windings may thus be reduced, reducing the hysteresis and eddy current losses of the apparatus during normal operation, while incorporating a built-in safety factor to withstand excessive overloads.

Abstract: A power generation system is taught utilizing a ferromagnetic material contained in a tape and rotatably disposed in a triangular configuration around a series of pulleys. The entire system is under water in the ocean so as to utilize the temperature differentials available between just below the surface of the ocean and approximately 100 meters below. The tape which is ferromagnetic passes through superconducting coils having parallel fields and thereby providing a very large magnetic field. The lower portion of the ferromagnetic tape, which is cooled by the ocean, experiences greater magnetization than the upper warmer portions of the magnetic tape. The lower portion of the tape experiencing greater magnetization is pulled up into the magnetic field and thereby causes movement of the tape. As the tape moves upward it is warmed by the ocean currents with the result that a lower portion of the tape now experiences the greater magnetization. This therefore causes continual movement.

Abstract: Iron or other ferromagnetic material is utilized in the rotor core of a dynamoelectric machine having a superconductive field winding. A parallel connection arrangement of the winding in combination with a plurality of current dividing resistance elements provides a sinusoidal distribution of current density across the circumference of the rotor. The magnetic field associated with the sinusoidal current distribution is reduced in critical interior regions of the winding by the demagnetizing field produced by the magnetic poles of the ferromagnetic core, thereby allowing a larger current to flow in the winding without destroying superconductivity. The two fields add in regions exterior to the winding, thereby providing a net increase in the useful external field obtained from a given amount of superconductive material.

Abstract: A superconductive field winding is provided for the rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. The winding consists of a number of multi-turn coils of a superconductive conductor which are wound about the periphery of the rotor thereby defining at least one pole pair. Selected coils of each pole pair are series-connected in groups of two coils or more and all of the series connected coil groups are connected in parallel one to another. Resistance elements connected in series with the parallel connected coils cause the current density of coil conductors disposed in regions of high field intensity to be reduced in relation to the current density of conductors lying in regions of low field intensity, thereby allowing the use of higher source current. A net increase in the useful external magnetic field is therefore obtained for a given amount of superconductive material.