Patents by Inventor William S. Stogner

William S. Stogner 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: 5918470
    Abstract: A recondensing zero boiloff superconducting magnet assembly utilizing a cryocooler with a compressible indium gasket positioned between the cryocooler and the recondenser and with the gasket containing a plurality of spaced parallel grid wires with interconnecting web segments of a lesser thickness interconnecting the mid sections of ends of adjacent wires to facilitate compression of the gasket to control improved thermal conductivity while minimizing the pressure and forces on the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: In-Hua Xu, Daniel C. Woods, William S. Stogner
  • Patent number: 5828280
    Abstract: A passive non-electric pressure control system for a superconducting magnet cryogen vessel to maintain internal pressure above the outside pressure to avoid cryopumping utilizes a passive thermal conductor extending from the outside atmosphere into the vessel. The selective amount of penetration of the thermal conductor into the cryogen vessel controls the amount of heat transferred to the interior of the vessel and thus controls the internal pressure of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John W. Spivey, Jr., William S. Stogner, Daniel C. Woods
  • Patent number: 5369387
    Abstract: A power coupling assembly for superconducting magnets includes a conduit with insulating tubes around each power lead, with the tubing passing through a plug at the upper end of the conduit and extending only part way to the lower end. Cryogen gas flowing from the magnet chamber into the conduit is forced to flow through the multiple tubes to cool the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Woods, William S. Stogner
  • Patent number: 5307037
    Abstract: A flexible castellated joint is included in the shim lead assembly electrically connecting the cryostat pressure vessel and the outer vacuum vessel in a superconducting magnet to accommodate relative motion between the two vessels during transportation of the superconducting magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Woods, William S. Stogner
  • Patent number: 5291739
    Abstract: An adjustable alignment assembly for a cryogen venting system for a superconducting magnet including a radially adjustable floating flange connection with a cryogenic seal to enable precise alignment of the cryostat vent pipe with the ceiling vent pipe of the room in which the superconducting magnet is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Woods, William S. Stogner, Robert R. Carey
  • Patent number: 5291168
    Abstract: Power couplings are provided from outside the shell of a superconducting magnet through the intervening space and through the cryogen pressure vessel to the magnet coils within the vessel. The multi-pin shim magnet connector is replaceable without cutting the vessel open and the shim and main magnet main coil connectors include central apertures through which cryogen boil-off gas is flowed before venting to cool the connectors and reduce boil-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Woods, William S. Stogner, David R. Turner
  • Patent number: 5099215
    Abstract: The device is provided for detachably coupling a power source to a lead pin of the superconducting magnet, the magnet being located in a cryostat using helium and the lead pin being in the region of helium vapor. Device includes a split connector formed to engage the pin, an elongated rod joined to the connector in conductive relationship, and a torque tube positioned around the rod in rotatable relationship. The tube is rotated, a nut joined to the tube and positioned around split connector causes the connector to tightly grip the pin. The device is configured to direct a flow of helium vapor along a path which is proximate to the interface between the connector and pin, to remove heat from the interface and thereby reduce resistance to current flow across the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Woods, William S. Stogner
  • Patent number: 4848103
    Abstract: A cryostat is provided comprising a closed cylindrical vacuum vessel and a helium vessel situated inside the vacuum vessel. The helium vessel has four mounting supports on either circular face of the helium vessel, with two supports on the upper portion and two supports on the lower portion. Eight composite straps are provided with one end of each of four of the straps rotatably mounted to each of the mounting supports on each end face of the helium vessel. The other end of the straps are mounted through a clevis arrangement to the helium vessel. The straps on each face are parallel to the circular end faces of the vacuum vessel and the helium vessel. The straps symmetrically located about the vertical and horizontal axes of the helium vessel. The radial suspension provided does not move the axial centerline of the helium vessel relative to the axial centerline of the vacuum vessel when the temperature of the cryostat varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Pelc, William S. Stogner