Abstract: A cost effective apparatus and method for levitating a diamagnetic material using a magnetic field produced by a superconducting magnet. Concentric superconducting coils produces magnetic fields when energized with current. The magnetic fields of the coils combine to produce an operational magnetic field for levitating the diamagnetic material inside a central bore.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling movement of an object through a medium using a magnetic field by combining the magnetic field of a primary electromagnetic coil having a central axis with the magnetic fields of a plurality of secondary electromagnetic coils having axes generally parallel to the central axis of the primary coil and positioned within the primary coil to produce an operational magnetic field by which movement of the object in a medium is controlled outside of the primary coil.

Abstract: A cost effective apparatus and method for levitating a diamagnetic material using a magnetic field produced by a superconducting magnet. Concentric superconducting coils produces magnetic fields when energized with current. The magnetic fields of the coils combine to produce an operational magnetic field for levitating the diamagnetic material inside a central bore.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling movement of an object through a medium using a magnetic field by combining the magnetic field of a primary electromagnetic coil having a central axis with the magnetic fields of a plurality of secondary electromagnetic coils having axes generally parallel to the central axis of the primary coil and positioned within the primary coil to produce an operational magnetic field by which movement of the object in a medium is controlled outside of the primary coil.

Abstract: A thermal plug which provides an electrical connection between first and second regions at different temperatures includes a plurality of interleaved heat transfer resistive laminae and heat conductive laminae. The laminae are stacked together to form a laminate and a plurality of superconducting strands are attached to the stack such that they are in thermal contact with the laminate. The superconducting strands are also in electrical contact with a conductor (e.g., a low temperature superconductor), in the first region and a conductor in the second region to allow the supply and withdrawal of electrical energy to and from the conductor in the first region.

Abstract: A superconducting energy storage magnet is constructed for mounting in relatively shallow trenches or tunnels to provide superconductive energy storage for applications such as power system load leveling. The magnet includes composite superconductors arranged in substantially planar coil layers around a central axis. A first and second coil layer have an inner support structure between them to which the conductors of the layers are engaged. The inner support structure carries the magnetically induced forces on the conductors of the coils. The net radial magnetically induced force is opposed by the rigid structural material of the inner support structure and by support struts which extend from the periphery of the inner support structure to a surrounding support wall such as the wall of a trench. The conductors in each layer, and the inner support structure between them, have matching vertically (axially) undulating ripples over the circumference of the magnet.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet is formed having composite conductors arrayed in coils having turns which lie on a surface defining substantially a frustum of a cone. The conical angle with respect to the central axis is preferably selected such that the magnetic pressure on the coil at the widest portion of the cone is substantially zero. The magnet structure is adapted for use as an energy storage magnet mounted in an earthen trench or tunnel where the strength the surrounding soil is lower at the top of the trench or tunnel than at the bottom. The composite conductor may be formed having a ripple shape to minimize stresses during charge up and discharge and has a shape for each ripple selected such that the conductor undergoes a minimum amount of bending during the charge and discharge cycle.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter has a transformer with a highly coupled primary and secondary, a first switch connected in series between a current source and the primary, a second switch connected across the current source in parallel with the first switch and the primary, a rectifier connected to rectify the output of the secondary, an energy storage device such as a capacitor connected to receive the output from the rectifier, and a load connected to receive output voltage across the capacitor. The current source which provides the substantially constant current can be a superconducting storage magnet. The first and second switches are controlled to alternately open and close to provide current through the primary of the transformer to recharge the energy storage device. When voltage across the energy storage capacitor reaches a minimum level, the one of the first and second switches which was closed is opened and the other is closed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic projectile launcher has a barrel (10) formed with parallel firing rails (13, 14) and separate supply conductors (18, 19) which are connected to the firing rails to supply firing current to one and receive the firing current from the other. The supply conductors (18, 19) are formed about the bore (11) of the barrel as sectors of a cylinder and are coaxial with one another such that current in adjacent portions of the two supply conductors flow in opposite directions. Very little time varying magnetic field is produced within the bore of the barrel (11) or outside of the supply conductors (18, 19) as a result of firing currents flowing in the supply conductors and in the firing rails. The magnetic field which accelerates a projectile through the bore is provided from a persistent magnet (26), which may be superconducting, formed about the bore in a dipole configuration to provide a constant magnetic field substantially transverse to the path of the projectile through the barrel.

Abstract: A superconducting energy storage magnet is formed having inner (13) and outer (14) coils which are supported and restrained by an inner support structure (15) comprised of thermal and electrically conductive rails (33) which engage and parallel the turns of composite conductors (30, 31) in the two coils. Each of the support rails (33) is electrically isolated from adjacent support rails by insulating spacers (33) between layers and an insulating spacer (35) between the rails for the inner and outer coils. The spacing between turns in the inner and outer coils preferably progressively decreases toward the top and bottom ends of the magnet in a manner to best direct the magnetically induced forces on the composite conductors (30, 31) into the inner support structure. The two layer coil structure causes the forces on the conductors when current is flowing therethrough to be directed primarily inwardly toward the inner support structure (15).

Abstract: A radial magnetic field gradient applied from an elongated central source is traversed parallel to the elongation by a turbulent flow of a slurried mixture of magnetic and nonmagnetic components in the presence of a force thereon opposing in direction the attractive force of the magnetic field upon the magnetic components whereby the respective components are separated by the disparate forces and the flow acts to continuously advance the separation and direct separated components toward related collecting stations.