Superconductor Patents (Class 29/599)
  • Patent number: 8136222
    Abstract: A method of forming an encapsulated coupled coil arrangement. The method includes coupling a first lead of a first coil to a second lead of an electrical circuit device, by soldering or infusion, using a superconductive jointing alloy; and encapsulating the first coil, the electrical circuit device and the jointed leads of the first coil and the electrical circuit device in an encapsulation material. The jointing alloy has a melting point higher than a highest temperature experienced by the encapsulation material during the encapsulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Plc
    Inventors: Graham Hutton, M'Hamed Lakrimi, Adrian Mark Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120065074
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes first and second stacked conductor segments. The first stacked conductor segment includes first and second superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness tn1. The second stacked conductor segment includes third and forth superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness tn2. The superconducting article further includes a joint region comprising a first splice connecting the first and third superconductive segments together and a second splice connecting the second and forth superconductive segments together. The first splice is adjacent to and bridged portions of the first and third superconductive segments along at least a portion of the joint region, and the second splice is adjacent to and bridged portions of the second and forth superconductive segments along at least a portion of the joint region. The joint region has a thickness tjr, wherein tjr is not greater than at least one of 1.8 tn1 and 1.8 tn2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SUPERPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Yuan Xie, Kenneth P. Lenseth, Justin Waterman, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Publication number: 20120061139
    Abstract: A superconductive connecting device of at least one embodiment is used to contact the end pieces of two superconductors, each of which includes at least one conductor lead that is made of a superconductive MgB2 material and embedded in a matrix made of a normally conductive material, the conductor lead being directly sheathed with a barrier material. In a connecting region, the conductor leads of the end pieces, which are at least partially stripped of the matrix material and the barrier material, are arranged inside a sleeve or bushing, and a magnesium diboride (MgB2) material is additionally present as a superconductive contacting material which is located at least in some partial regions between the conductor leads. For establishing the connection, the cross-section of the sleeve or bushing filled in this way is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Marco Bianchetti, Marijn Pieter Oomen, Jacob Johan Rabbers
  • Publication number: 20120065073
    Abstract: A magnetic field source is provided comprising a support structure upon which is positioned a conducting surface path of superconductor material. The support structure has an at least partially radially overlapping layer of material arranged in a spiral. A corresponding conducting surface path of superconductor material is arranged on the surface of the support structure such that the conducting path has a first point for the introduction of current and a second point for the extraction of current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: 3-CS LTD
    Inventors: Eamonn Maher, Ian Leitch McDougall
  • Patent number: 8134072
    Abstract: A superconductive cable includes a superconductive conductor (2), a dielectric (3) enclosing the latter and a superconductive screen (4) arranged over the dielectric acting as a spacer. The cable is enclosed with the inclusion of an air gap by a cryostat (7) which consists of a metal inner tube (8), a metal outer tube (9) and super insulation (10) arranged between them. An intermediate metal tube (5), which is closed all around over its entire length, is arranged over the screen (4) while leaving a gap (6) from the cryostat (7). A medium which is fluid at room temperature, and to which a constant pressure is applied, is introduced as an impregnating medium for the dielectric (3) into the space between the conductor (2) and the intermediate tube (5), and at least one refrigeration unit for supplying a liquid refrigerant is connected to the gap (6) between the cryostat (7) and the intermediate tube (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Arnaud Allais, Frank Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120053060
    Abstract: A superconducting coil apparatus and a superconducting apparatus including the superconducting coil apparatus are provided. The superconducting coil apparatus includes a superconducting coil 10, an inner container 50 that holds the superconducting coil 10 therein, and an outer container 60. The inner container 50 and the outer container 60 are made of FRP. At a corner portion 71 of the inner container 50 and the outer container 60, a sealing reinforcement portion 2 made of a resin is formed so as to extend along the corner portion 71. Opening portions 53 and 63 are formed in side surfaces of the inner container 50 and the outer container 60. The sealing reinforcement portion 2 is disposed at the corner portion 71 of the opening portions 53 and 63, whereby the sealing performance of the container can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shinzato, Hitoshi Oyama
  • Publication number: 20120053061
    Abstract: A method of managing thermal contraction of a superconductor cable (2) having a cable body surrounded by an external screen (2A) made form wound metal elements and installed between its ends in an enclosure (1) or cryostat filled with a cryogenic liquid, where the method includes mechanically applying a locking force loading only said screen (2A) at a so-called locking point (5A, 5B) in the vicinity of the ends of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Frank Schmidt, Nicolas Lallouet, Sébastien Delplace, Erik Marzahn
  • Patent number: 8124171
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tape-formed oxide superconductor, in which a tape-formed wire material (6 in FIG. 1) is extended between a pair of reels (5a and 5b). Besides, a reactive gas is supplied form the gas supply ports of a reactive gas supply pipe (3a) vertically to the upper side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, a gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4a and 4b) for discharging the gas after the reaction. Likewise, the reactive gas is supplied vertically to the lower side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, the gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4c and 4d) for discharging the gas after the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: International Superconductivity Technology Center, The Juridical Foundation, SWCC Showa Cable Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hiroshi Fuji, Sukeharu Nomoto, Ryo Teranishi, Teruo Izumi, Yuh Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8119187
    Abstract: In a chemical vapor deposition process simple precursors such as a rare earth nitrate or acetate, Ba-nitrate or acetate and Cu-nitrate or acetate are dissolved in an appropriate solvent, preferably water, to form a solution, nebulized into a fine mist and applied to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventor: Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Publication number: 20120040840
    Abstract: [Problem] A metal laminated substrate for an oxide superconducting wire is provided at a low cost. The metal laminated substrate has high strength, and stable high biaxial orientation in the longitudinal direction. [Means for Resolution] A metal laminated substrate for an oxide superconducting wire is manufactured such that a non-magnetic metal plate T1 having a thickness of not more than 0.2 mm and a metal foil T2 made of Cu alloy which is formed by cold rolling at a draft of not less than 90% and has a thickness of not more than 50 ?m is laminated to each other by room-temperature surface active bonding, after lamination, crystal of the metal foil is oriented by heat treatment at a temperature of not less than 150° C. and not more than 1000° C. and, thereafter, an epitaxial growth film T3 made of Ni or an Ni alloy having a thickness of not more than 10 ?m is laminated to the metal foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Hironao Okayama, Akira Kaneko, Takeshi Kato, Masaya Konishi
  • Publication number: 20120035059
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly (1, 35, 71) of metal elements constituting a precursor for a superconductor. The assembly comprises at least one conductor element (5, 41, 73) adapted to provide a superconducting filament in the finished superconductor, and at least one doping element (7, 43, 75) providing a doping source for doping the conductor element. The invention also relates to a method suitable for producing a superconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: LUVATA ESPOO OY
    Inventor: Jukka Somerkoski
  • Publication number: 20120021915
    Abstract: There is provided a superconducting joint for electrically connecting a first multifilamentary superconducting wire including a plurality of first superconducting filaments embedded in a first stabilizer matrix and a second multifilamentary superconducting wire including a plurality of second superconducting filaments embedded in a second stabilizer matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Motomune KODAMA, Tsuyoshi Wakuda
  • Publication number: 20120015815
    Abstract: A coated conductor with a substantially round cross section has a high temperature superconductor layer which is sandwiched between an inner substrate layer and an outer substrate layer to place the high temperature superconductor layer in the region of neutral strain axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Arnaud Allais, Mark O. Rikel, Jürgen Ehrenberg, Christian-Eric Bruzek
  • Patent number: 8091207
    Abstract: A method for laying a superconductor cable having a superconductive cable core and a cryostat enclosing the superconductive cable core, with the superconductive cable core being arranged freely mobile in the cryostat. The method includes cooling the superconductive cable core to the operating temperature after laying the superconductor cable, shortening the superconductive cable core relative to the cryostat, fixing the superconductive cable core at its ends; and mounting terminations on the ends of the cable core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Rainer Soika, Arnaud Allais
  • Publication number: 20120004109
    Abstract: A magnet assembly is provided. The magnet assembly comprises a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field and an iron shield configured to shield the magnet. The magnet assembly further comprises one or more positive temperature coefficient heaters disposed on the iron shield and configured to stabilize temperature of the iron shield. An iron shield assembly and a method for temperature control of the magnet assembly are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Anbo Wu, Jun Pan, Yan Zhao, Xianrui Huang
  • Patent number: 8061016
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a superconducting coil is provided which includes fabricating individual coil windings by depositing, shaping and texturing superconductive material in situ on a former which has a substantially curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: 3-CS Ltd
    Inventor: Eamonn Maher
  • Publication number: 20110281735
    Abstract: A fault current limiter, with a superconducting device (1; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 72) comprising a sequence of superconducting elements (2a-2f), each with—a substrate (3a-3d), —a superconducting film (5a-5d), and —an intermediate layer (4a-4c) provided between the substrate and the superconducting film, wherein the superconducting films (5a-5d) of adjacent superconducting elements (2a-2f) of the sequence are electrically connected, in particular in series, is characterized in that the substrates (3a-3d) of the superconducting elements (2a-2d) are electrically conducting substrates (3a-3d), wherein the electrically conducting substrate (3a-3d) of each superconducting element (2a-2f) of the sequence is electrically insulated from each electrically conducting substrate (3a-3d) of those adjacent superconducting elements (2a-2f) within the sequence whose superconducting films (5a-5d) are electrically connected in series with the superconducting film (5a-5d) of said superconducting element (2a-2f), and that the in
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Francis James Mumford, Alexander Usoskin
  • Publication number: 20110263433
    Abstract: A high-temperature superconductor layer arrangement includes at least one substrate and one textured buffer layer made of oxidic material. The buffer layer displays at least one further constituent forming a homogeneous mixed-crystal layer. The further constituent is a transition metal from the first subgroup and/or forming at least a partial melt with the oxidic buffer material at an annealing temperature of ?1,600 degrees Celsius. The further constituent can particularly be copper and/or silver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: ZENERGY POWER GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Baecker, Oliver Brunkahl, Martina Falter
  • Patent number: 8042258
    Abstract: A method for producing a superconducting acceleration cavity having a stabilized quality, by which production cost is reduced by reducing the number of welding points. A dumbbell-shaped dumbbell cell (3) is formed by forming a recessed iris portion (3b) around the central part of a cylindrical pipe made of a superconducting material, a cup-shaped half cell (2) is formed by enlarging one opening and reducing the other opening of the cylindrical pipe made of a superconducting material, a plurality of dumbbell cells (3) are coupled by welding, and the each half cell (2) is welded to the opposite ends of the plurality of dumbbell cell (3), thus producing a superconducting acceleration cavity (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Sennyu, Koichi Okubo
  • Patent number: 8034746
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing round wire using superconducting tape, including the steps of: slitting superconducting tape into superconducting tape strips; silver-coating the slit superconducting tape strips; laminating the silver-coated superconducting tape strips to form a superconducting tape laminate having a square cross-section; holding the superconducting tape laminate; heat-treating the fixed superconducting tape laminate to cause diffusion junction between silver; and copper-plating the heat-treated superconducting tape laminate to have a circular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hong Soo Ha, Sang Soo Oh, Dong Woo Ha, Rock Kil Ko, Ho Sup Kim
  • Publication number: 20110239443
    Abstract: Provided is a multiple transposition method for superconducting wire, by making each superconducting wire unit from second-generation superconducting wires that were firstly transposed and then transposing each superconducting wire unit in such a manner that the phase of each unit can be changed along the length, comprising preparing wires by making curves on superconducting wires in such a manner that the superconducting wires of a thin multiple layer grown epitaxially are slit in zigzags and then making the curves repeatedly and by machining the wires with a desired length; making first-transposed superconducting wire units by combining a plurality of the prepared wires such that curves of adjacent wires come in touch to each other and are superposed; preparing a superconducting wire unit bundle by arranging the first-transposed superconducting wires units and by locating a plurality of the first-transposed superconducting wire units in parallel along the length; and making a second transposition on the fir
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Korea Polytechnic University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Kyeong Dal Choi, Ji K wang Lee, Woo Seok Kim, Chan Park, Yung II Kim
  • Publication number: 20110241765
    Abstract: A phase quantum bit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the phase quantum bit may comprise a Josephson junction and a distributed element coupled to the Josephson junction. The distributed element provides a capacitive component and an inductive component of the phase quantum bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Aaron A. Pesetski, James E. Baumgardner, Rupert M. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110224085
    Abstract: An amorphous or a partially crystalline magnesium diboride comprising a crystalline material content of ?25% by weight as determined by an X-ray powder diffraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: H.C. STARCK GMBH
    Inventor: Friedrich Wilhelm Karau
  • Patent number: 8013697
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solenoidal magnet structure, includes the step of providing a collapsible accurate mold in which to wind the coils winding wire into defined positions in the mold, placing a mechanical support structure over the coils so wound, impregnating the coils and the mechanical support structure with a thermosetting resin, allowing the thermosetting resin to harden, and collapsing the mold and removing the resultant solenoidal magnet structure formed by the resin impregnated coils and the mechanical support structure from the mold as a single solid piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Simon James Calvert, Jonathan Noys, Adrian Mark Thomas
  • Publication number: 20110190139
    Abstract: A method of producing a Nb3Sn superconducting wire rod includes forming a wire rod comprising Nb, Sn and Cu, and having a mole ratio of the Sn expressed as ax+b(1?x), where 0.25?x?0.8, 0.3?a?0.4 and 0.02?b?0.1, and x and 1?x are prescribed as a mole ratio of the Nb and a mole ratio of the Cu, respectively, to a total of a mole number of the Nb and a mole number of the Cu, and heating the wire rod to produce Nb3Sn from the Sn and the Nb. By the heating of the wire rod, a Cu—Sn alloy is produced from the Sn and the Cu, concurrently with the Nb3Sn produced from the Sn and the Nb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI CABLE, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi OHATA, Masahiro SEIDO, Morio KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20110183854
    Abstract: A method of qualifying Niobium and/or other super conducting materials for the reliable fabrication of SCRF cavities , which will invariably deliver high accelerating fields including: identification of the best superconducting lower critical field (HC1) based on subjecting a sample of the superconducting material selectively to mechanical stress, annealing at various temperatures, various chemical treatments, post-chemical treatment baking/annealing; and identification of the best possible thermal conductivity of the material at said best superconducting lower critical field (HC1) to thereby qualify the superconducting material for the reliable fabrication of SCRF cavities adapted to deliver high accelerating fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Sindhunil Barman Roy, Vinod Chandra Sahni
  • Patent number: 7985714
    Abstract: A precursor for fabricating a Nb3Sn superconducting wire by an internal Sn process includes one or a plurality of stabilizing copper portions collectively disposed in the center, each stabilizing copper portion being provided with a diffusion barrier layer in the periphery thereof, and a superconducting matrix portion disposed so as to surround the one or the plurality of stabilizing copper portions, the superconducting matrix portion including a Nb or Nb-based alloy core and a Sn or Sn-based alloy core embedded in a Cu or Cu-based alloy matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Takashi Hase, Kyoji Zaitsu
  • Patent number: 7985925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a superconducting hollow cable and a method for the production thereof. The superconducting hollow cable (1) has an outer tube (2) which has a circular inner cross-section and a cylindrical inner wall (3). In addition, the superconducting hollow cable (1) has a central cooling channel (4) of a polygonal or circular cross-section that is, however, smaller than the inner cross-section of the outer tube (2). Arranged between the outer tube (2) and the cooling channel (4) are profiled superconducting wires (5). These profiled superconducting wires (5) have a cross-sectional profile which corresponds to a key stone as known for Roman stone bridges or for groin vaults. For the purpose, the cross-sectional profile has at least one outer region (7) of curvature and an inner region (8), the outer region (7) of curvature being matched to the inner radius of the outer tube (2) and the inner region (8) being matched to the cooling channel (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: GSI Helmholtzzentrum Fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH
    Inventors: Egbert Fischer, Hamlet Khodghibagiyan, Alexander Kovalenko, Gebhard Moritz
  • Publication number: 20110177953
    Abstract: A superconducting fault current-limiter is provided, including a superconducting element configured to resistively or inductively limit a fault current, and one or more variable-impedance shunts electrically coupled in parallel with the superconducting element. The variable-impedance shunt(s) is configured to present a first impedance during a superconducting state of the superconducting element and a second impedance during a normal resistive state of the superconducting element. The superconducting element transitions from the superconducting state to the normal resistive state responsive to the fault current, and responsive thereto, the variable-impedance shunt(s) transitions from the first to the second impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos H. Llambes, Xuming Xiong
  • Patent number: 7979976
    Abstract: A method for arranging a superconductor cable including the step of laying the superconductive cable core into a cryostat with an overlength in comparison to the axial length of said cryostat. After laying the superconductive cable core, it is cooled to its operating temperature thereby shortening the superconductive cable core relative to the cryostat. After cooling the superconductive cable core, the shortened superconductive cable core is mechanically fixed at its two ends to the ends of the cryostat. After fixing the shortened superconductive cable core, terminations are mounted on the ends of the cable core, such that if the superconductive cable core heats up, the core deforms into a wave or helix inside the cryostat, with the length change that acts on components of the superconductor cable being negligible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Rainer Soika, Arnaud Allais
  • Publication number: 20110172104
    Abstract: A miniundulator that includes a first bobbin and a second bobbin parallel to and spaced from the first bobbin, and a superconductive wire wound around the outer surfaces of the first bobbin and the second bobbin, and method for the assembly of the miniundulator are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Herbert O. Moser, Caozheng Diao
  • Publication number: 20110152102
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for measuring electrical dissipation in a coil wound with superconducting wire or tape are disclosed. The superconducting coil may include one or more superconducting wires wound together with a witness winding. The one or more superconducting wires may be electrically connected to the witness winding. The one or more superconducting wires may be shaped as a tape. The witness winding may be a tape. The superconducting coil may be wound into a flat pancake structure. The witness winding may be configured to detect a quench in the one or more superconducting wires, which may otherwise interfere with the superconductivity of the one or more superconducting wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: JOHN H CLAASSEN
  • Publication number: 20110152104
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a superconducting low-pass filter for quantum computing devices. The apparatus includes a plurality of containers and input and output ports connected to opposite ends of the apparatus. A plurality of coils of superconducting wire are wound using a mandrel. An adhesive is applied to the coils for maintaining a wound state. Each of the coils are positioned in each of the containers and electrically connected to each other with at least one coil being connected to the input port and at least one coil being connected to the output port. The coils are released or expanded from their wound state using an adhesive solvent. The containers are then filled with a conductive polymer and the containers are closed with one or more covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Farinelli, George A. Keefe, Frank Milliken, JR., James R. Rozen
  • Publication number: 20110148416
    Abstract: An MRI apparatus and method comprises an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. The magnet comprises a main coil former and a shield coil former arranged radially around the bore of the magnet, wherein a radius of the shield coil former is greater than a radius of the main coil former. The magnet also includes at least one main coil affixed to the main coil former, at least one shield coil affixed to the shield coil former, and at least one structural member affixed to the main coil former and to the shield coil former to provide structural support and enable longitudinal alignment adjustment between the main coil former and the shield coil former.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Longzhi Jiang, John Scaturro, JR., William Einziger, Yuri Lvovsky, Robbi McDonald, Xiaoxue Diao
  • Patent number: 7964533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a high temperature superconductor (HTSC) from a strip including an upper side precursor layer and which, for continuous sintering of the precursor layer within a furnace in the presence of a fed-in reaction gas, is drawn across a support. A furnace for performing the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Zenergy Power GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Baecker
  • Patent number: 7964532
    Abstract: An RE123-based oxide superconductor characterized by comprising a conductive layer containing an REBa2Cu3O7-?-based oxide superconductor formed using a mixed material of at least RE2BaO4 and a Bax—Cuy—Oz-based material and a holding member which holds said conductive layer, where, RE is one type or more of elements selected from La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Superconductivity Technology Center, The Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Naomichi Sakai, Takato Machi, Muralidhar Miryala
  • Publication number: 20110143945
    Abstract: A method is specified for production of a superconducting electrical conductor which has a ceramic material as the superconducting material. A metal ribbon is formed around a multiplicity of flat strips of a mount which is coated with the superconducting ceramic material, running longitudinally to form a tube having a slot which runs in the longitudinal direction, and whose edges which rest on one another on the slot are welded to one another The tube which is closed by the welding process is then reduced to a diameter which corresponds approximately to the envelopes of all the strips which are located in the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Rainer Soika, Dipl-Ing Frank Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110136672
    Abstract: A hollow tube (1), for inserting superconductor precursor material such as superconductor precursor rods (13) into its bore (3), wherein the tube (1) extends along an axial direction, and wherein the tube (1) comprises a matrix (4) made of a first ductile material, is characterized in that a plurality of continuous filaments (5), extending along the axial direction of the tube (1), are distributed in the matrix (4), wherein the continuous filaments (5) are made of a second ductile material. With the invention, a good quality mechanical reinforcement of superconductor wires, in particular which can be used without later hot extrusion, can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin AG
    Inventors: Florin Buta, René Flükiger
  • Publication number: 20110136673
    Abstract: A precursor wire of an oxide superconducting wire includes a first sheath made of silver or silver alloy, a center portion in the first sheath, and a plurality of peripheral segments placed close to one another at the inside of the first sheath so as to surround the center portion. Each of the peripheral segments is formed as a monofilamentary segment that has an arch-shaped cross section and that includes a ribbon-shaped filament made of a precursor of an oxide superconductor and covered with a second sheath made of silver or silver alloy. The multiple peripheral segments are placed in a multilayer state in the form of concentric circles such that wide-width surfaces of the peripheral segments surround the center portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Ayai
  • Publication number: 20110136674
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting tape wire, wherein a reduction in critical current in the superconducting tape wire and the effective AC loss are suppressed. To manufacture the superconducting tape wire, the filaments filled with superconducting material powder and having a flat elliptic or rectangular cross section are disposed in a pipe having a shape whose sides in a pressing direction have a smaller length than adjacent sides, and then the pipe is compressed in the short-side direction to form the pipe in a tape shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: CHUBU UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Sataro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110130294
    Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method of a superconducting radio-frequency acceleration cavity used in a charged particle accelerator enabling the manufacturing with few waste amounts of the niobium material at low cost in a short time, the manufacturing method has each of the steps of (a) obtaining an ingot made from a disk-shaped niobium material, (b) slicing and cutting the niobium ingot into a plurality of niobium plates each with a predetermined thickness, by vibrating multiple wires back and forth while spraying fine floating abrasive grains with the niobium ingot supported, (c) removing the floating abrasive grains adhered to the sliced niobium plates, and (d) performing deep draw forming on the niobium plates and thereby obtaining a niobium cell of a desired shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Kenji Saito, Koichi Takeuchi, Hiroshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20110130292
    Abstract: There is provided a room-temperature superconductor that has a very simple structure and enters a state of superconductivity at room temperature. Also, there is provided a method for making the room-temperature superconductor. Further, there is provided a protonic conductor having superconductivity at room temperature. The room-temperature superconductor comprises a substance composed of graphene and a proton donor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Yasushi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7953466
    Abstract: A superconductive cable is provided which upon normal state, restricts flowing of electric current to a former to the maximum extent to thereby keep a cryogenic state in the superconductive cable stable. The superconductive cable includes a former surrounded by a superconductive layer and a cryostat provided at the outside of the superconductive layer, wherein the former includes a metal wire-wound part around which a plurality of wires is wound and an eddy-current prevention layer provided on the outer face of the wire-wound part, and the metal wires and the eddy-current prevention layer are made of a copper alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: LS Cable Ltd
    Inventors: Hyun-man Jang, Chang-young Lee, Choon-dong Kim
  • Publication number: 20110124508
    Abstract: A RE-type oxide superconducting wire having excellent angular dependence for magnetic field of Jc is obtained by finely dispersing magnetic flux pinning centers into a superconductor. A mixed solution which comprises a metal-organic complex solution including a metal element which composes a RE-type oxide superconductor whose Ba content is reduced and a metal-organic complex solution including at least one or more kinds of metals which are selected from Zr, Ce, Sn, or Ti which has a larger affinity for Ba is coated onto an intermediate layer of a composite substrate, and the assembly is then calcined to disperse artificially and finely oxide particles (magnetic flux pinning centers) including Zr. Thus, the angular dependence for magnetic field (Jc,min/Jc,max) of Jc can be remarkably improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER, THE JURIDICAL FOUNDATION, SWCC SHOWA CABLE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Miura, Tatsuhisa Nakanishi, Yasunori Sutoh, Teruo Izumi, Yuh Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20110082044
    Abstract: Operational characteristics of an high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) film comprised of an HTS material may be improved by depositing a modifying material onto appropriate surfaces of the HTS film to create a modified HTS film. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of a “c-film.” In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of an “a-b film,” an “a-film” or a “b-film.” The modified HTS film has improved operational characteristics over the HTS film alone or without the modifying material. Such operational characteristics may include operating in a superconducting state at increased temperatures, carrying additional electrical charge, operating with improved magnetic properties, operating with improved mechanic properties or other improved operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS material is a mixed-valence copper-oxide perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas J. GILBERT, Timothy S. Cale
  • Publication number: 20110082041
    Abstract: In some implementations of the invention, existing high temperature superconducting materials (“HTS materials”) may be modified and/or new HTS materials may be created by enhancing (in the case of existing HTS materials) and/or creating (in the case of new HTS materials) an aperture within the HTS material such that the aperture is maintained at increased temperatures so as not to impede propagation of electrical charge there through. In some implementations of the invention, as long as the propagation of electrical charge through the aperture remains unimpeded, the material should remain in a superconducting state; otherwise, as the propagation of electrical charge through the aperture becomes impeded, the HTS material begins to transition into a non-superconducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Douglas J. GILBERT
  • Patent number: 7913390
    Abstract: A transportation tool for transporting, for example, a single composite aircraft fuselage section, including a first spindle weldment mounted on a first tower, and a second spindle weldment mounted on a second tower and configured to couple the single composite aircraft fuselage section to the towers. A first gimbal assembly configured to allow the first spindle weldment to move independent of the first tower, and a second gimbal assembly configured to allow the second spindle weldment to move independent of the second tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Masters, Jeffrey D. Schwindt, Larry L. Menghini, Jeffrey R. Twyford
  • Patent number: 7910155
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high-temperature superconducting conductor includes translating an elongated substrate through a reactor. Further, a high temperature superconducting layer is formed on the substrate translating through the reactor by deposition of a reaction product of metalorganic precursor materials onto the substrate. Further, partial pressure of oxygen is monitored to indirectly monitor supply of metalorganic precursors into the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Gyoun Lee, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Publication number: 20110057752
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet includes an insulating layer disposed about the surface of a mandrel; a superconducting wire wound in adjacent turns about the mandrel to form the superconducting magnet, wherein the superconducting wire is in thermal communication with the mandrel, and the superconducting magnet has a field-to-current ratio equal to or greater than 1.1 Tesla per Ampere; a thermally conductive potting material configured to fill interstices between the adjacent turns, wherein the thermally conductive potting material and the superconducting wire provide a path for dissipation of heat; and a voltage limiting device disposed across each end of the superconducting wire, wherein the voltage limiting device is configured to prevent a voltage excursion across the superconducting wire during quench of the superconducting magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: U.S.A as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administrator
    Inventors: THOMAS P. HAIT, Peter J. Shirron
  • Patent number: 7902120
    Abstract: Superconductor wires or layers having improved properties and methods for making the same are described. The superconducting layer includes a rare earth element-alkaline earth element-transition metal oxide having an average stacking fault density that is greater than about 0.01 nm?1, wherein two or more rare earth cations form the rare earth element. To form the superconductor layer of the present invention, a layer having a rare earth element-alkaline earth element-transition metal oxide substantially in a first crystal structure can be provided to a substrate where two or more rare earth cations form the rare earth element. The layer can then be heated at a temperature that is greater than 550° C. under oxidizing conditions to form a high-temperature superconducting layer substantially in a second crystal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Martin W. Rupich, Wei Zhang, Yibing Huang, Xiaoping Li