Superconductor Patents (Class 29/599)
  • Patent number: 4803310
    Abstract: A multifilament superconductor having continuous, non-random pinning centers and including a plurality of parallel superconductive subfilaments of uniform cross-sectional area, the subfilaments being embedded in generally hexagonal pinning jackets, and the pinning jackets together forming a structure having a honeycomb-like cross-section, the jackets having a wall thickness that is substantially an integral multiple of the coherence length of the subfilaments in a predetermined field, the jackets together forming a plurality of continuous paths for fluxoids across the superconductor, whereby total pinning density of said superconductor is substantially increased, and the critical field strength of the superconductor is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Intermagnetics General Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Zeitlin, Michael S. Walker, Leszek R. Motowidlo
  • Patent number: 4797510
    Abstract: A method and product for coupling the ends of a pair of superconducting cored wires are provided, the core of the wires consisting essentially of a substantially unitary structure of a sintered powered superconducting compound material confined within a tubular element of a metal having an electrical conductivity of at least about 20% of that for pure copper taken as unity which metal forms a clad around the core material. The method comprises providing a pair of superconducting cored wires with the cladding material removed from an end of each of the wires to be coupled together to expose a finite length of said core material. A coupling device comprised of a tubular segment of the same metal as the cladding material is used to join the wires together, the tubular segment having disposed therein a green pellet of the superconducting material. The pellet is positioned inwardly from both ends of the tubular segment to allow for entry of the exposed end of the superconducting cored wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Amax, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Mihelich
  • Patent number: 4794688
    Abstract: A method of connecting superconducting wires have the steps of preparing a connecting superconducting wire piece, exposing the filaments of the superconducting layers to be connected and the filaments of the connecting superconducting wire piece by partially dissolving and removing the coating layers, inserting the filaments of the superconducting wires to be connected into the filaments of the connecting superconducting wire piece such that the filaments of the connecting superconducting wire piece cross and envelope the filaments of the superconducting wires to be connected, fitting a metallic connecting pipe on the region where the filaments cross each other, and crimping the metallic connecting pipe onto the crossing filaments thereby tightly fixing and connecting the exposed filaments to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Wada, Hisanao Kita, Yoshinori Karatsu, Yoji Akutsu
  • Patent number: 4791241
    Abstract: A stabilized superconducting wire comprises a multicore section having a number of filaments of superconducting compound material disposed in an alloy matrix, a stabilizing material section positioned around the multicore section, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the stabilizing material section and the multicore section and formed of an Fe-Cr alloy containing not less than 5 weight percent but not more than 25 weight percent Cr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignees: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Sumitomo Elec. Inc. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinari Ando, Masataka Nishi, Yoshikazu Takahashi, Susumu Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 4777710
    Abstract: An apparatus and method used in making wire and similar elongate members, and wire made using same, are provided wherein rods are extruded using a filled billet technique which comprises disposing the rods in a can comprising the filled billet and additional steps are employed which comprise placing the rods in adjoining side-by-side relation to define a geometric pattern and fixing together at their ends those rods defining the periphery of the pattern to define a dense pack of the rods wherein the placing and fixing steps are achieved prior to the step of disposing the rods within the can, and wherein the dense pack and hence the rods are adapted to fit snugly within the can during the disposing step and separable filler means is added between and around the rods whereby the fixing step assures that during extrustion the rods are reduced in cross-sectional area in a better controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Polymet Corporation
    Inventor: James G. Hunt
  • Patent number: 4776899
    Abstract: An improved multifilament superconductor is fabricated by the method in which a tin rod or tin based alloy rod is clad with a copper based alloy tube, the thus obtained copper-clad rod is further clad with a niobium based alloy tube, and a copper material is applied as a stabilizer on an outer peripheral surface of the niobium based alloy tube to form a composite. This composite is then reduced and thermally treated at a temperature ranging from 640.degree. to 770.degree. C. to thereby form an Nb.sub.3 Sn superconductor composite with a filament tube therein. At least one of the copper based alloy tube and the niobium based alloy tube contains 0.1-5.0 at. % titanium, and in addition, the tin based alloy rod may contain 0.1-3.5 at. % titanium. The tin is contained in the copper-clad rod at weight % of about 25-85, preferably 30-80 weight %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Showa Electric Wire and Cable Company Limited
    Inventors: Satoru Murase, Hachio Shiraki, Eigen Suzuki, Masamitsu Ichihara, Yoshimasa Kamisada, Nobuo Aoki, Tomoyuki Kumano
  • Patent number: 4767470
    Abstract: A process for producing a Ti-containing Nb.sub.3 Sn composite superconductor which comprises working a composite composed of a Cu matrix, a Sn core placed centrally of the matrix and Nb cores disposed around the Sn core and heat-treating the worked composite, said Sn core containing 0 to 30 atomic % of Ti and said Nb cores containing 0.1 to 5 atomic % of Ti on an average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: National Research Institute for Metals
    Inventors: Kyoji Tachikawa, Hisashi Sekine, Shoji Miyashita
  • Patent number: 4765055
    Abstract: A method of inexpensively fabricating a superconducting cavity having thin, clean, and smooth superconductive films of excellent resonance characteristics, and the steps of forming a first thin film layer made of hydrogen transmission-preventive metal on the outer periphery of the core made of a metal having a higher ionization tendency than hydrogen in the electrochemical series, then forming a second thin film layer of superconducting material on the outer periphery of the first thin film layer, forming a third thin film layer made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity and a high bondabilty on the outside of the second thin film layer, forming a reinforced coating layer of stabilizing metal through composite fiber plated with copper on tungsten fiber on the third thin film layer, forming a cooling pipe on the outside, and then removing the core and the first thin film layer by dissolving with the surface of the superconductor being a replica of the core surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ozaki, Isamu Ohishi, Norimasa Sato, Yasuzou Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4763404
    Abstract: A low current superconducting magnet, and a method of fabrication, having improved protection against quench damage. The magnet utilizes the technique of forming a twisted cable of a plurality of substantially parallel superconductor wires and then winding this cable in turns to form the desired magnet configuration. A curable potting material such as an epoxy is applied during winding so as to substantially fill all interstices between the wires. After winding the ends of the wires are connected so as to put each wire in a series array. The intermixing of the wires throughout the magnet winding, together with the heat transfer characteristics of the potting material, provides for many parallel paths for heat conduction to a cryogenic fluid to reduce potential thermal damage. Furthermore, a voltage limiting device, such as a diode pair, is connected across the adjacent ends of each wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Cryomagnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Coffey, Robert W. McGhee, David L. Coffey
  • Patent number: 4758813
    Abstract: NMR bias magnet apparatus employing permanent magnets and methods therefor are provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. According to the present invention a plurality of insulating sleeves which may be rotated are disposed about the periphery of a structure having a curvilinear cross section such as a cylinder. Each of the plurality of insulating sleeves are filled with stacks of slabs of permanent magnet material forming slugs and having an anisotropic axis of magnetic orientation aligned at an azimuth corresponding to a=2.phi.. The length of slug sections or even of individual slabs within each sleeve may be varied for purposes of introducing desired harmonics, as may the manner in which each sleeve is filled, so long as quadrature symmetry is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Field Effects, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald F. Holsinger, Robert L. Gluckstern, John C. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4757161
    Abstract: A composite superconductor comprises a matrix of an alloy which is normally conductive at operating temperatures with the alloy being copper and another alloying element. Several superconducting filaments are embedded in the matrix with these filaments being formed by a diffusion reaction between at least two elements. An aluminum jacket surrounds the matrix. A barrier layer formed from at least one intermetallic copper-aluminum compound is disposed between the aluminum jacket and the alloy matrix. The aluminum jacket may be formed by extrusion at an elevated temperature with the boundary layer between the aluminum jacket and the alloy matrix being concurrently formed by diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Wilhelm, Karl Wohlleben
  • Patent number: 4752654
    Abstract: The present invention provides an intermetallic compound-based, composite superconductor suitable for use in superconducting coils for a high magnetic field, where the superconductive part is formed by thermal diffusion reaction, and which has such a structure that a metal layer of high melting point and high resistance is provided at the outermost periphery of a strand comprising a plurality of filaments containing a superconductive compound formed by diffusion reaction with the surrounding matrix, a stabilizer surrounding the matrix, and a diffusion barrier provided between the stabilizer and the matrix for preventing diffusion of superconductive compound-forming element in the matrix from diffusion into the stabilizer during the diffusion reaction, and the coupling current induced between the intermetallic compound-based superconductive wire members can be reduced by the provision of the metal layer of high melting point and high resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Iida, Naofumi Tada
  • Patent number: 4748737
    Abstract: A method of removing tenacious oxide film from particulates, such as submicron sized superconductor powder, to enhance the electrical characteristics of superconductor wire fabricated from the powder. The method includes removing the oxide film with an alkali metal, or a hydroxide of an alkali metal, and coating or plating the particles with a metal whose oxide is easily reduced just prior to use, such as by annealing the coated particulate in hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert G. Charles, Graham A. Whitlow, Alan T. Male
  • Patent number: 4746581
    Abstract: A multifilamentary, copper or copper alloy clad superconductive wire, comprising a superconductive, intermetallic compound Nb.sub.3 Sn or V.sub.3 Ga, having an A-15 crystal structure, and at least one additive metal from the group consisting of rare earth elements of atomic number 57 to 71, Th, U, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Cu, Ag, Al, and Pt. The additive is present in the wire within the A-15 phase in the form of uniformly and finely distributed, at least partially undissolved axially parallel inclusions at grain boundaries of the crystals and/or at an interface between the A-15 phase and the copper or copper alloy, or at an interface between the A-15 phase and a separate phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventor: Rene Flukiger
  • Patent number: 4746373
    Abstract: A powder having a predetermined composition is filled in a tube. The tube is drawn to obtain a wire and the wire is rolled to obtain a tape-like starting body. Then, a laser beam is irradiated on the part of the tape to heat and melt the part of the tape. The starting body is rapidly heated and then cooled, thereby the part of the starting body is melted and solidified to form a compound superconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, National Research Institute for Metals
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamada, Satoru Murase, Mitsuo Sasaki, Ei Nakamura, Hiroaki Kumakura, Kazumasa Togano, Kyoji Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 4743713
    Abstract: An aluminum-stabilized Nb.sub.3 Sn superconductor and process for producing same, utilizing ultrapure aluminum. Ductile components are co-drawn with aluminum to produce a conductor suitable for winding magnets. After winding, the conductor is heated to convert it to the brittle Nb.sub.3 Sn superconductor phase, using a temperature high enough to perform the transformation but still below the melting point of the aluminum. This results in reaction of substantially all of the niobium, while providing stabilization and react-in-place features which are beneficial in the fabrication of magnets utilizing superconducting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Ronald M. Scanlan
  • Patent number: 4723355
    Abstract: Superconductors having a high proportion of stabilization material are produced by first forming a composite member composed of pieces of stabilization material and rods of stabilization material containing cores of superconductive material and this composite member is deformed to reduce the cross section by extrusion and drawing. To increase the proportion of stabilization material, the composite material is subsequently introduced into an enveloping tube composed of stabilization material and the resulting assembly is deformed to final dimensions by means of further drawing processes. Breaks of the superconductive filaments are avoided by providing adequate amounts of stabilization material in the central region of the composite member. The result is that filament superconductors having a high proportion of stabilization material can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Both, Hans Hillmann, Walter Breuer
  • Patent number: 4722134
    Abstract: A bar magnet is provided comprising a billet of superconducting material in a superconducting condition and having an established magnetic field. The bar magnet is formed by exposing the billet of superconducting material to a magnetic field of the desired extent and shape while the superconducting material is above its critical temperature. While being exposed to the magnetic field, the billet of superconducting material is lowered to its critical temperature so as to stabilize the intensity and pattern of the field. The magnetic field is them removed from the billet of material and the billet maintained at or below the critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Maranatha Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4713878
    Abstract: A method for joining multifilamentary superconductive wire comprises disposing the ends of the wires in a hot liquid metal stripping bath for removal of the metal matrix. In particular, in the present invention the ends of the wires to be joined are agitated within this bath to assure complete removal of the metal matrix. The liberated superconductive filaments are then disposed in a solder bath and then inserted into a mold which is filled with hot liquid superconductive solder which is allowed to solidify around the filamentary conductors after which the mold is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Kumpitsch, James P. Retersdorf
  • Patent number: 4704249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a superconducting wire, using, e.g., Chevrel phases as superconductors, in particular PbMo.sub.6 S.sub.8. Until now, it was not possible to produce superconducting wires from such materials in a technically usable quality. According to the process of the invention, the superconducting Chevrel phase is loaded vacuum-tight into a molybdenum shell and the unit is advantageously sealed in another jacket made of steel. The powdery superconducting phase has an average grain size of less than 1 .mu.m. For shaping the superconducting wire, the unit is extruded in a first process step at temperatures between 1000.degree. and 1600.degree. C. and reduced in cross section in excess of 1:10, and subsequently further treated in a plurality of process steps by additional extruding and/or hot drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: Schwarzkopf Development Corporation
    Inventor: Wolfgang Glatzle
  • Patent number: 4694567
    Abstract: For manufacturing a gradiometer having a three-dimensional structure for a device for measuring magnetic fields with field intensities down to below 10.sup.-10 T, the superconducting gradiometer coils are arranged on a support body and are coupled by means of superconducting connecting lines and a coupling coil to a superconducting quantum interference element (SQUID) which is located on a substrate body of its own. These gradiometers should be capable of being linked to the respectively assigned SQUID in a simple manner. For this purpose, the gradiometer coils and at least the associated connecting lines are applied onto a common three-dimensional support body in at least one coating operation which is either preceded by a lithographic process for the fixation of the position of the corresponding conductor runs, or is followed by an etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gabriel M. Daalmans
  • Patent number: 4693000
    Abstract: For manufacturing a gradiometer having a three-dimensional structure for a single or multi-channel device for measuring magnetic fields with field intensities to below 10.sup.-10 T, the superconducting gradiometer coils of predetermined dimensions lying in different planes are connected to each other via superconducting connecting lines and are coupled to at least one superconducting quantum interference element (SQUID). The connecting lines are designed in a simple manner. First, the gradiometer coils are applied in spaced position, with the connecting lines running between the coils, to an at least largely planar flexible substrate body. Then, the substrate body is bent such that the three-dimensional gradiometer structure is obtained. For the substrate body, a thin polyimide foil, in particular, can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eckhardt Hoenig
  • Patent number: 4694269
    Abstract: A magnet system for providing a localized, substantially homogeneous magnetic field for use in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The magnet system includes a vacuum vessel defining a bore for receiving the subject of the imaging. It further includes a cryogenic containment vessel supported within the vacuum vessel. A single coil or "simple" solenoid is positioned within the containment vessel for providing the magnetic field. This coil includes a winding made up of thousands of turns of small superconductive wire, with the winding having a modular geometry including a plurality of axially spaced wire modules. The coil further includes an insulative substance, having a greater coefficient of thermal contraction than that of the wire, distributed in the winding. As the temperature of the coil is reduced from room temperature to its cryogenic operating temperature, the development of localized stress concentrations of sufficient magnitude to rupture the wire, are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: GA Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sibley C. Burnett, John R. Purcell, M. Harlan Horner
  • Patent number: 4687883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing multifilament superconductive wires of Nb.sub.3 Sn or V.sub.3 Ga filaments embedded in a Cu or Cu alloy matrix, with the wires containing metal additive elements from the group including Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Fe, Co, Ni in the filaments and/or in the matrix. The superconductive characteristics of the wires are predetermined for medium magnetic fields (below 12 T) as well as for high magnetic fields (12 T and above). The percentage of the additive (or additives) can be set to a predetermined value and thus the superconductive properties can be set as desired. This is accomplished by mixing metal additives in powder form with a powder of niobium or a niobium alloy, or of vanadium or a vanadium alloy, in a defined grain size and in a defined quantity. The resulting powder mixture is compacted in a container of copper or a copper alloy, the compacted container is shaped into a wire and, upon removal of the container layer, is processed further into wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Flukiger, Stephen Gauss
  • Patent number: 4673774
    Abstract: A superconductor comprises two superconducting wires butt-jointed, a superconducting doubling wire electrically and mechanically connecting the superconducting wires, and a stabilizer attached to the superconductors and the doubling wire to extend therealong, the superconductors, the doubling wire and the stabilizer together forming a superconductor of a constant cross-sectional area. A manufacturing process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Wake, Osamu Taguchi, Mitsuyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 4665611
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a superconductive electrical conductor of Nb.sub.3 Sn type comprises a step of covering an elongated core member made of Nb with a covering member made of a third element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ta, In, Hf, Al and Si. The core member covered with the covering member is covered with a tubular matrix made of a Cu-Sn alloy or a combination of Cu with Sn to form a composite wire element. Such wire elements are assembled in a tubular matrix made of a Cu-Sn alloy, Cu or a combination of Cu with Sn and reduced in diameter to form a multi-core composite wire element having a desired diameter. The assembling and reducing processing is effected at least one to form a multi-core composite wire which is then subjected to a diffusion heat-treatment to form an intermetallic compound of Nb.sub.3 Sn and the third element in the peripheral portion of the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Sadakata, Yoshimitsu Ikeno, Masaru Sugimoto, Osamu Kohno
  • Patent number: 4659007
    Abstract: A method for producing an aluminum-stabilized superconducting wire is dislcosed herein, which comprises alternately winding superconducting elementary wires and high purity wires around a core, such as an electrically insulated copper wire core, impregnating the entire wire arrangement with solder to bind the wires together and subsequently forming or drawing the wire arrangement to increase the adhesion between the wires. In another embodiment, the thus-impregnated wire arrangement is subjected to a heat treatment to recover the residual resistance ratio of the aluminum. The impregnated wire arrangement is characterized by having a high mechanical toughness and improved electrical contact for greater electrical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology, Sumitomo Electric Indus, Ltd
    Inventors: Toshitada Onishi, Hiroshi Tateishi, Kenichi Koyama, Shigeo Saito, Masayuki Nagata
  • Patent number: 4654961
    Abstract: In a superconductive coil having no bobbin in its inside, there is provided a method for producing a superconducting coil having a good cooling ability. The method is characterized in that the superconducting coil is formed around a bobbin, a support cylinder is fitted around the outer periphery of the bobbin and thereafter, the bobbin is removed apart from the coil. A desired prestress may be applied from the support cylinder to the outer periphery of the coil. Therefore, it is possible to improve a thermal conductance and prevent the coil from moving during the superconducting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Asano, Isao Kurita, Isamu Kamishita
  • Patent number: 4652697
    Abstract: An aluminum-stabilized superconducting wire comprises an aluminum member, a copper member, and a first diffusion barrier layer formed between the aluminum member and the copper member. The copper member contains a plurality of bundles each having a multiplicity of fine filaments of Nb.sub.3 Sn embedded in a copper alloy and a second diffusion barrier layer surrounding the copper alloy. Preferably, the ratio m in the cross-sectional areas between the first diffusion barrier layer and the aluminum member is selected to meet the condition of 0.03.ltoreq.m<3. The aluminum member is disposed at the central portion of the superconducting wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventors: Toshinari Ando, Yoshikazu Takahashi, Masataka Nishi, Susumu Shimamoto, Katsuzo Aihara, Naofumi Tada
  • Patent number: 4646428
    Abstract: The centers of a plurality of copper tubes are filled with tin and drawn to form Cu-Sn wires which are cabled around a core Nb wire; a plurality of these strands are provided in a copper tube, or a copper foil or finely wound copper wire; and a plurality of said tubes are packed into a copper can to form a billet which is drawn to produce a multifilament wire; and heat treatment is applied to cause the tin to diffuse and form the intermetallic Nb.sub.3 Sn at the surface of the Nb filaments to produce the ultimate superconducting wire product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Oxford Superconducting Technology
    Inventors: William G. Marancik, Seung-Ok Hong
  • Patent number: 4640005
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet, applied for a train side permanent magnet for a magnetically levitated train as one embodiment of the invention, comprises a coil structure including a superconducting wire wound into a form of a race track and impregnated with epoxy resin, an annular vessel member accommodating the coil structure, and a spacing member rigidly mounted in the vessel member so as to divide the interior thereof into first and second spaces. The coil structure is securely sealed in the first space, and the second space constitutes a liquid helium path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Mine, Takao Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 4640816
    Abstract: Bulk metastable, amorphous or fine crystalline alloy materials are produced by reacting cold-worked, mechanically deformed filamentary precursors such as metal powder mixtures or intercalated metal foils. Cold-working consolidates the metals, increases the interfacial area, lowers the free energy for reaction, and reduces at least one characteristic dimension of the metals. For example, the grains (13) of powder or the sheets of foil are clad in a container (14) to form a disc (10). The disc (10) is cold-rolled between the nip (16) of rollers (18,20) to form a flattened disc (22). The grains (13) are further elongated by further rolling to form a very thin sheet (26) of a lamellar filamentary structure (FIG. 4) containing filaments having a thickness of less than 0.01 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael Atzmon, William L. Johnson, John D. Verhoeven
  • Patent number: 4631808
    Abstract: Superconductive conductors, having as many as thousands of filaments, are joined together to form a true superconductive joint. The method is particularly applicable in the situation in which superconductive filaments are embedded in an overlying or surrounding matrix of resistive material such as copper or aluminum. The resistive material is removed by chemical dissolution to expose a length of superconductive filaments. The filaments are juxtaposed within a sleeve of superconductive material which is crimped about the exposed filaments. The connection may be completed by thermally fusing the exposed ends of the filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Donald W. Jones
  • Patent number: 4629515
    Abstract: A superconductive substance is produced by fabricating any one metal (17) of niobium and vanadium and an easily deformable metal (16) such as Cu into one piece and working it to produce a composite metallic wire, chemically dissolving and removing the easily deformable metal (16) from the composite metallic wire, and then depositing a tin or gallium-base metal (18) and applying heat treatment.Also, a process for producing a superconductive substance comprising fabricating any one metal of niobium and vanadium and an easily deformable metal such as Cu containing at least one metal of tin and gallium into one piece and working it to produce a composite metallic material, heat treating the composite metallic material to form a superconductive substance, and then chemically dissolving and removing the easily deformable metal as a non-conductive substance from the composite metallic material is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Imaizumi, Kiyoshi Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 4617789
    Abstract: Multi-strand superconducting cables adapted to be used, for example, to wind a magnet is fabricated by directing wire strands inwardly from spools disposed on the perimeter of a rotating disk and wrapping them diagonally around a tapered mandrel with a flattened cross-sectional shape with a core having a wedge-shaped channel. As the cable is pulled axially, flexibly coupled wedge-shaped pieces are continuously passed through the channel in the mandrel and inserted into the cable as an internal support therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Albert R. Borden
  • Patent number: 4611390
    Abstract: A superconducting compound cable which comprises a plurality of strands each having therein at least one filament of a superconducting compound material in the lengthwise direction of the strand, said strands being of an elliptical or flat shape in cross section, arranged in layers and stranded at a predetermined pitch in the axial direction of the cable, and the total cross-sectional area of all the strands in the cable being more than 50 percent of that of the rectangle or trapezoid circumscribed about the periphery in a cross section of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuzo Tanaka, Yoshio Furuto
  • Patent number: 4590426
    Abstract: Each of two sensor loop patterns on a cylindrical substrate produces one of, specifically B.sub.zz and B.sub.yz, of the five independent magnetic tensor gradiometer outputs as pure terms, meaning respectively dependent only upon g.sub.zz and g.sub.yz, with no admixture of other gradient terms, specifically without admixture of g.sub.xx. Such magnetic tensor gradiometer outputs are received at a current sensor device, nominally a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Each of the two sensor loop patterns is of ten segments, and is a continuous closed-loop superconducting path save only for the single break point at which the current sensor device is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Charles L. Lutes
  • Patent number: 4584547
    Abstract: The ends of a plurality of copper conductors bearing superconductive strands, for example of niobium-titanium, are treated with a liquid metal solvent to selectively remove the copper from the superconductive strands. The liberated strands of superconductor are then soldered with a superconducting solder. The joint is included in a coil which at superconducting temperatures induces a high magnetic field of 0.5 Tesla and above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Roy F. Thornton
  • Patent number: 4575927
    Abstract: A submicron-particle ductile superconductor and method of fabricating the same wherein the submicron particles (e.g., 300 Angstroms) of a superconductor (e.g., NbC) are encapsulated in a metal tube (e.g., copper) and then fabricated down to fine wire in the absence of sintering of reaction annealing. Because of the fluid-like properties of the unsintered submicron-particle powdered core, the composite fabricated wire retains ductility and resistance to fracture while exhibiting superconducting properties approaching those of the bulk material in the core. Multifilamentary composites are obtained by bundling and fabricating the bundle down in a required number of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Aleksander I. Braginski, Alan T. Male
  • Patent number: 4561175
    Abstract: Described is a method for winding a superconducting coil in a plurality of layers in a winding frame or bobbin, with a filler material placed between adjacent layers of the coil, wherein use is made of a silicon compound solidifying at ambient temperature as a filler material for fastening the conductor elements together and adjusting the interspaces between adjoining conductor elements in each layer of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 4560404
    Abstract: A method of producing a composite material of and Nb or V used for a superconductive wire comprises vacuum - melting two kinds of raw materials, 70 wt % Cu and 30 wt % Nb or V to form a melt; scattering the melt by a rotating disc to form a plurality of fine droplets each of which includes Cu and Nb or V at substantially the same compounding rate as the raw materials; and cooling rapidly the fine droplets by spraying an inert gas onto the scattering droplets thereby providing particulate bodies each of which dendrites of Nb or V are precipitated in Cu. The fine particles are compression - molded to form a molded product. The molded product is sintered to form an ingot in which the dendrites of Nb or V are dispersed homogeneously in the Cu base. The ingot is used for producing a superconductive wire, namely, it is subjected to cold rolling to reduce its sectional area, coating with Su or Ga, and diffusion heat-treating the wire to form Nb.sub.3 Sn or V.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuzo Aihara, Naofumi Tada, Yasuo Suzuki, Joo Ishihara, Toshio Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4558512
    Abstract: In a process for making a connection between superconductive wires constituted by one or more strands or filaments of superconductive material embedded in a metallic matrix, the metal constituting the matrix is previously eliminated over a certain length of wire, corresponding to the desired zone of contact between the wires, so as to expose the or each strand of these wires. Thereafter the linkage is established between the strands by exerting thereon a strong pressure, cold.The visible superconductive strands of the two wires are applied, near one another, on a support. A strip of superconductive material is then applied on the visible strands and a sheath made of a material which is a good conductor of electricity is placed around the assembly constituted by the support, the strands of the superconductive wires and the superconductive strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jacques Chaussy, Jean-Louis Genicon, Jean Mazuer, Jean Pilon, Andre Sulpice
  • Patent number: 4554731
    Abstract: A curved, shell-type magnet coil, adapted to be used in a superconducting magnet, is wound by providing a mandrel having a tubular cylindrical mid-portion terminating at both ends in tapered end portions formed with longitudinal slots having flexible fingers therebetween. An elongated electrical conductor is wound around an elongated oval-shaped pole island engaged with the outside of the cylindrical mid-portion, to form a multiplicity of oval-shaped turns engaged with a 180-degree segment of the mandrel. The coil turns have longitudinal portions with curved portions therebetween, engaging the tapered end portions of the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Albert R. Borden
  • Patent number: 4554407
    Abstract: A process is described for the production of superconducting conductors of the type comprising a plurality of filaments of an alloy containing niobium and titanium as base materials and a composite matrix of copper, aluminium or alloys of these elements, in which the filaments are disposed, and which serves to stabilize the superconductor; the process includes at least a first phase of preparing a first superconducting conductor comprising:the said filaments and a first matrix of copper, aluminum or alloys of these elements;a second phase of preparing a strip of copper, aluminum or alloys of these elements of width substantially equal to the perimeter of the section of the said first superconducting conductor;a third phase of depositing a layer of brazing material on the outer surface of the said first superconducting conductor and at least on one of the surfaces of the said strip;a fourth phase of connecting the said first superconducting conductor with the said strip and for shaping the strip itself by plas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: La Metalli Industriale S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Ceresara, Mario Brogi
  • Patent number: 4543449
    Abstract: A superconducting wire comprises a core region of a superconducting material, an outermost region of a normal-conducting material for stabilizing the superconducting material, and at least one intermediate region disposed between the core region and the outermost region. The intermediate region includes layers of the paramagnetic salt for increasing the heat capacity of the wire and layers of a normal-conducting material which are arranged alternatingly in the longitudinal or circumferential direction of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunishige Kuroda
  • Patent number: 4537642
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an Al-stabilized superconductor is disclosed. The method comprises combining into a composite a thin elongated Al member and a superconductive wire. The Al member is preferably comprised of high purity Al having a purity of not less than 99.9% and the superconductive wire is comprised of copper or a copper alloy matrix. The method produces a composite with strong adhesion between the Al member and the superconductive wire even under adverse conditions. Further, the method can be easily and quickly carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Saito, Masayuki Nagata
  • Patent number: H39
    Abstract: A multi-layer superconducting shield for shielding superconducting electronic devices from stray magnetic fields. In one embodiment the shield of the present invention comprises alternating concentric layers of a transition metal having a high transition temperature and a metal alloy formed from copper and a non-transition metal, said transition metal and metal alloy forming an interface, and a layer of A.sub.3 B-compound structure metal at the interface of said transition metal and metal alloy. The A.sub.3 B-compound structure metal is a high transition temperature superconductor.In a second embodiment the superconducting shield comprises a thin film of a high transition temperature superconducting nitride compound deposited on a cylindrical substrate. The nitride is deposited by reactive rf sputtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: The Government of the United States
    Inventors: Donald U. Gubser, Stuart A. Wolf
  • Patent number: RE32178
    Abstract: A process for producing a compound-based semiconductor wire having a high mechanical strength and which can be coiled so as to be cooled efficiently. A starting composition is formed by blending at least one metal powder selected from among Nb-based and V-based particles having at least a partial surface coating of an alloy or metal selected from Cu-Sn-based and Ga-based metal layers with at least one of Cu-based, Sn-based, Ga-based, Cu-Sn-based and Cu-Ga-based metal or alloy powder. The cross-sectional area of the composition is reduced followed by a heat treatment. The composition is then drawn into a wire of desired diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: H369
    Abstract: A mechanically stable, wound, multifilar, ribbon-type conductor having a cross-sectional aspect ratio which may be greater than 12:1, comprising a plurality of conductive strands wound to form a flattened helix containing a plastic strip into which the strands have been pressed so as to form a bond between the strip and the strands. The bond mechanically stabilizes the conductor under tension, preventing it from collapsing into a tubular configuration. In preferred embodiments the plastic strip may be polytetrafluoroethylene, and the conductive strands may be formed from a superconductive material. Conductors in accordance with the present invention may be manufactured by winding a plurality of conductive strands around a hollow mandrel; the cross-section of a hollow mandrel; the cross-section of the mandrel continuously varying from substantially circular to a high aspect ratio elipse while maintaining a constant circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: James G. Cottingham
  • Patent number: H383
    Abstract: a method for manufacturing a magnet cable trim coil in a sheath assembly for use in a cryogenic particle accelerator. A precisely positioned pattern of trim coil turns is bonded to a flexible substrate sheath that is capable of withstanding cryogenic operating conditions. In the method of the invention the flexible sheath, with the trim coil pattern precisely positioned thereon, is accurately positioned at a precise location relative to a bore tube assembly of an accelerator and is then bonded to the bore tube with a tape suitable for cryogenic application. The resultant assembly can be readily handled and installed within an iron magnet yoke assembly of a suitable cryogenic particle accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: John R. Skaritka