Electrical Energy Storage Device (e.g., Accumulator, Etc.), Inductor, Transformer, Magnetic Switch, Magnetic Ring, Sphere, Coil, Or Magnetic Arrangement Patents (Class 505/211)
  • Publication number: 20100026447
    Abstract: An improved persistent current switch design and method of operation are disclosed. By way of example, a persistent current switch circuit comprises a heating element and a switch element located proximate to the heating element, the switch element being substantially formed from a material (by way of example only, titanium) which exhibits a superconducting temperature value below a superconducting temperature value exhibited by a material (by way of example only, aluminum) used to provide a connection to the switch element. The switch element is responsive to the heating element such that the heating element is used to control whether or not the switch element is in a superconducting state. The switch element may also have a folded geometry. Such persistent current switches exhibit low power and low inductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Keefe, Roger H. Koch, Inga Koch, Frank P. Milliken, JR., James R. Rozen
  • Patent number: 7633356
    Abstract: In the field of thin-layered superconductors, particularly those having tunable or adjustable characteristics, a method for the production of such components is provided, in addition to devices including such components. In such a device, is a stack of thin layers alternately consisting of an electrically insulating material and a superconductor material, and turning structure resulting in a resistive link between at least two of the superconductor layers. The inductance of the component can be adjusted by modifying the resistivity of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean-François Hamet, Pierre Bernstein, Laurence Mechin, Nabil Touitou, Séverine Mouchel
  • Publication number: 20090264295
    Abstract: A superconducting coil comprises a plurality of windings. Each winding comprises at least one superconducting segment having an exposed area containing a granular superconducting substance. A junction electrically connects at least one superconducting segment of one winding to at least one superconducting segment of another winding. The junction is formed by coupling the granular superconducting substance of the exposed area of the at least one superconducting segment of the one winding to the granular superconducting substance of the exposed area of the at least one superconducting segment of the other winding. In an embodiment, the exposed areas are positioned to face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ASG Superconductors, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Nardelli, Roberto Marabotto, Adamo Laurenti
  • Publication number: 20090233797
    Abstract: A cryostat (1) with a magnet coil system including superconductors for the production of a magnet field B0 in a measuring volume (3) has a plurality of radially nested solenoid-shaped coil sections (4, 5, 6) and which are electrically connected in series, at least one of which being an LTS section (5, 6) with a conventional low temperature superconductor (LTS) and at least one of which being an HTS section (4) including a high temperature superconductor (HTS), wherein the magnet coil system is located in a helium tank (9) of the cryostat (1) along with liquid helium at a helium temperature TL. The apparatus is characterized in that a chamber (11) is provided within which the HTS sections (4) are held having an internal portion with a sufficiently low pressure such that helium located therein at a temperature of TL is gaseous. The cryostat in accordance with the invention can be utilized to maintain HTS coil sections over a long period of time in a reliable fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Klaus Schlenga, Marion Klaeser, Thomas Arndt
  • Patent number: 7569521
    Abstract: A biaxially textured article includes a substrate, a first buffer layer disposed on the substrate, the first buffer layer having uniaxial crystal texture characterized by out-of-plane texture with no significant in-plane crystallographic texture. A metal comprising second buffer layer is disposed on the first buffer layer, the second buffer layer having a biaxially textured surface. An electronically active layer, such as a superconductor layer, can be disposed on the second buffer film. Ion-beam assisted processes can be used to biaxially texture the surface of the second buffer film after its deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Paul Norton, Seh-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 7567157
    Abstract: A rectangular coil has several successive windings which are made of a strip-shaped super conductor, which contains at least one core which is embedded in a normal conductive matrix material and which is made of a high-Tc-super conductor material. The coil is made of a strip-shaped superconductor and does not have additional insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Frank, Peter Kummeth, Adolf Kühn, Peter Massek, Peter van Haβelt
  • Publication number: 20090176649
    Abstract: There is disclosed a permanent current switch which has a high temperature margin and which is thermally stable and which securely performs a switching operation between a superconducting state and a normal conducting state. The permanent current switch of the present invention has a coiled superconducting wire and a heater wire which switches the superconducting wire between the superconducting state and the normal conducting state, the superconducting wire is a magnesium diboride superconducting wire having a high-resistance metal on an outer side and a magnesium diboride superconducting portion on an inner side and prepared by forming a superconducting metal on a layer between the high-resistance metal and the magnesium diboride superconducting portion, and the permanent current switch further comprises a superconductive connecting section superconductively connected to a lead wire guided from the superconducting wire and a superconducting wire for a wiring line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Takahashi, Kazuhide Tanaka, Michiya Okada
  • Publication number: 20090170708
    Abstract: Tape-shaped superconducting wires, and a superconducting coil formed from said wires, wherein a plurality of electrically separated superconducting film parts, each having a rectangular cross section and arranged in parallel, form parallel conductors, providing superconducting wires capable of containing losses incurred in the presence of alternating current (A/C). A superconducting coil is made by winding the superconducting wires, wherein the coil structure contains at least a part wherein perpendicular interlinkage magnetic fluxes acting among conductor elements of the parallel conductors by the distribution of magnetic fields generated by the superconducting coils cancel mutually in order to contain circulating current within the wires and to make shunt current uniform, thereby providing a low-loss A/C superconducting coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER, THE JURIDICIAL FOUNDATION, FUJI ELECTRIC SYSTEMS CO., LTD., FUJIKURA LTD., KAZUO FUNAKI, MASATAKA IWAKUMA, TAKANOBU KISU
    Inventors: Kazuo Funaki, Masataka Iwakuma, Takanobu Kisu, Akira Tomioka, Toshio Uede, Hiroshi Fuji, Teruo Izumi, Yuh Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20090140831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coil for producing a magnetic field having at least one winding (12), which is manufactured from a superconductor, is cast into a plastic and whose winding end (19) which is arranged at the circumference (13) of the winding (12) is used for making contact with an electrical conductor (15). In order to provide coils with windings (12) consisting of superconductors which make robust contact-making possible given simple production, an electrically conductive connection piece (30) with a base region (31), which is connected to the winding end (19), and a top region (32) for connecting the conductor (15) is provided for contact-making purposes, the base region (31) of said connection piece (30) being covered partially in the radial direction by a reinforcing insert (14), which is cast into the plastic (20) and at least partially surrounds the winding (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: TRITHOR GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Remke, Thomas Braun, Jan Wiezoreck
  • Publication number: 20090118126
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus that can operate at current frequencies of greater than 60 Hz and at least 1 kW. The induction heating apparatus includes a high frequency power supply, a superconductive induction coil, and a fluid cooling system. A fluid cooling system is designed to cause a cooling fluid to flow at least partially about and/or through the superconductive induction coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: THEODORE E. BURKE, Frank Li
  • Publication number: 20090093370
    Abstract: The invention offers a superconducting coil that has the shape of a pancake formed by winding a superconducting conductor. The superconducting conductor is composed of a tape-shaped (Bi, Pb)2223-based superconducting wire and a tape-shaped thin-film RE123-based superconducting wire that are electrically connected in parallel with each other. The coil generates only a low voltage in the steady-operation state, limits the generated voltage to a low level even in a state where an external disturbance enters for some reason, and is therefore less susceptible to quenching. Consequently, the coil can be operated stably in both states. The invention also offers a superconducting conductor to be used to form the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kobayashi, Tetsuyuki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20090058592
    Abstract: Disclosed is a saddle-shaped coil winding which is formed onto an outer tube surface from a planar race track-type coil shape so as to be provided with axially extending winding sections on the longitudinal side and winding sections that extend therebetween, are located on the front side, and form winding overhangs. The individual windings of the coil winding are to be formed with at least one band-shaped superconductor which comprises especially high Tc superconductor material and whose narrow side faces the outer tube surface. In order to prevent unacceptable mechanical stresses of the conductor when forming the coil, the windings in the saddle shape have a circumferential length which is virtually unchanged from the length in the planar oil shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Martino Leghissa, Norbert Prolss
  • Publication number: 20090011940
    Abstract: A system for resonating. In one aspect, the system may include a temperature controlled, vacuum chamber. The chamber may include a primary superconductive coil having first and second ends and wrapped around a first non-conductive cylindrical form, where each of the first and second ends of the primary superconductive coil is coupled to a terminal of a driver, a secondary superconductive coil having first and second ends and wrapped around a second non-conductive cylindrical form, where a first end is coupled to a ground, and a tertiary superconductive coil having first and second ends and wrapped around a third non-conductive cylindrical form, where a first end is connected to a top load and a second end is coupled to the second end of the secondary superconductive coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Anthony Francis Issa
  • Patent number: 7463914
    Abstract: An acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter that uses superconducting series connected rotor elements for series summation of magnetomotive and electromotive force. The novel rotor assembly comprises a plurality of conductor elements connected in series by superconducting series connections. The behavior of the superconducting series connections provides a form of flux isolation and series summation of forces that has heretofore been impossible in electromechanical power converters. The superconducting series connections further modify the rotor impedance of an acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter to provide long needed improvements to acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Dynamo Capital, Inc.
    Inventor: Dieter Wolfgang Blum
  • Publication number: 20080139394
    Abstract: A superconducting magnetic field coil (1; 21; 31; 41; 51; 61) comprising at least one coil section (42; 43) which is wound in layers, is characterized in that, in at least one layer (11, 12, 13, 14, 101, 102, 103, 104) of the coil section (42; 43) N (with N?2), superconducting wire sections (A, B, C, D, E) are wound in parallel, such that the windings of the N wire sections (A, B, C, D, E) are adjacent to each other and the N wire sections (A, B, C, D, E) are connected in series. The inventive magnetic field coil can be produced at highly reduced costs, in particular, when the magnetic field coil has a comparatively large layer length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Schlenga
  • Patent number: 7383688
    Abstract: The superconducting device has a cryogenic system to whose first refrigerant there is thermally coupled a superconducting unit and a superconducting switching path, which is electrically connected to said unit and is to be activated thermally by a heater, of a superconducting switch. A first pipeline to whose end the superconducting switching path is thermally coupled is to be connected to a refrigerant space of the superconducting unit. In order to ensure reliable heating of the switching path upon activation of the heater, the first pipeline is to have a cross sectional constriction impeding the exchange of heat with the refrigerant space. Moreover, the switching path is to be thermally coupled to a comparatively higher temperature level via a further, closed pipeline with a second refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Atkiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter van Hasselt
  • Publication number: 20080119363
    Abstract: Use, as a component with variable inductance which is a function of the current passing through it, of an inductive superconductive component having at least two terminals and comprising at least one line segment working with said terminals and integrating at least one of these terminals, this line segment constituting a conductive or superconductive layer within a stack of films alternately superconductive and insulating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFQUE
    Inventors: Pierre Bernstein, Jean-Francois Hamet, Laurence Mechin, Nabil Touitou, Severine Mouchel
  • Publication number: 20080119362
    Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus of superconducting equipment with excellent assembly workability and a termination structure of a superconducting cable including the cryogenic apparatus are provided. A termination structure of a superconducting cable includes a terminal of the superconducting cable disposed on a low-temperature side, a bushing 10 for communicating power between the low-temperature side and a room-temperature side, a connection part 2 connecting the terminal of the cable and the bushing 10, and a terminal connection box 3 accommodating the connection part 2. The terminal connection box 3 includes a coolant vessel 20 accommodating a terminal of the bushing 10 on the low-temperature side and the connection part 2 and filled with a coolant for cooling the terminal and the connection part 2 and a vacuumed vessel 30 disposed so as to surround the coolant vessel 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Yuuichi Ashibe, Hideki Itoh
  • Publication number: 20080100164
    Abstract: An inductor-type synchronous machine includes field stators having field elements by which an N-pole and an S-pole are concentrically formed, rotors to which a rotating shaft is fixed and has N-pole inductors disposed so as to face the N-pole of the field elements and S-pole inductors disposed so as to face the S-pole of the field elements, and an armature stator having armature coils disposed so as to face the N-pole inductors and the S-pole inductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Toru Okazaki, Shingo Ohashi, Hidehiko Sugimoto, Toshio Takeda
  • Publication number: 20080039332
    Abstract: A method for producing a superconducting inductive component having at least two plots, the component including at least one line segment incorporating at least one plot of the component, the line segment constituting a conducting or superconducting layer within a stack of alternately superconducting and insulating films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Pierre-Ernest Bernstein, Jean-Francois Maurice Hamet, Nabil Touitou
  • Patent number: 6922885
    Abstract: A racetrack shaped high temperature superconducting (HTS) coil is fabricated by layer winding HTS tape under tension on a precision coil form with a binder such as pre-preg filament-ply interlayer insulation. The coil form includes a racetrack shaped bobbin, two side plates and a series of blocks that define the outside surface of the coil. The outside surface of the winding is over-wrapped with a copper foil bonded to heat exchanger tubing. The coil is baked in the coil form to cure the epoxy then released from the coil form. The resulting coil structure is a strong winding composite built to close tolerance dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, James Pellegrino Alexander, Richard Andrew Ranze
  • Patent number: 6925316
    Abstract: A method of forming magnets using stacked superconducting films-disks of coated conductor is described. The superconducting material may be either from the oxide high temperature superconducting (HTS) class or the metallic/inter-metallic low temperature superconducting (LTS) class. An LTS metallic or inter-metallic compound can include Nb, Va, Ti, Hg, Pb, NbTi, Nb3Sn, Nb3Al, etc. or the more recently discover MgB2. An oxide superconductor refers to the RE-Ba2Cu3Ox compound, wherein RE=Y, Nd, La, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; the Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox, the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2CaCu2Ox, Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox or (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox compound; the Tl2Ca1.5BaCu2Ox or Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Ox compound; or a compound involving substitution such as the Nd1+xBa2?xCu3Ox compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher Mark Rey
  • Patent number: 6897749
    Abstract: A superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device including a first coil made of superconducting material, a cooling mechanism for cooling the first coil to superconducting temperatures, a second coil inductively coupled to the first coil for inputting emergy to, and/or outputting energy from, the first coil, and a switch for switching the first coil between a superconducting condition and a non-superconducting condition. The first coil is arranged as a closed loop electric circuit having no connecting device mechanically connected to it for inputting or outputting energy. The switch includes a third coil for the application or removal of a magnetic field for switching the first coil between its non-superconducting and superconducting conditions. A method inputs energy to and/or outputs energy from the first coil and a power supply system utilizes the device and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Tomas Jonsson, Karin Thorburn, Udo Fromm, Peter Hessling, Arne Gustafsson, Christian Sasse, Pan Min, Mikael Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 6876877
    Abstract: A circuit is provided wherein the electronic properties of the circuit are varied by a magnetic actuator. The circuit includes a fixed substrate and a movable substrate. The magnetic actuator comprises a magnetic driver on an upper surface of the fixed substrate that is substantially overlapped by an HTS reaction plate on the lower surface of the fixed substrate. A tuning current applied through a continuous strip of HTS material in the magnetic driver induces a repulsive magnetic force causing the movable substrate to move with respect to the fixed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Eden
  • Patent number: 6809910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for magnetically triggering a superconductor in a superconducting fault current limiter to transition from a superconducting state to a resistive state. The triggering is achieved by employing current-carrying trigger coil or foil on either or both the inner diameter and outer diameter of a superconductor. The current-carrying coil or foil generates a magnetic field with sufficient strength and the superconductor is disposed within essentially uniform magnetic field region. For superconductor in a tubular-configured form, an additional magnetic field can be generated by placing current-carrying wire or foil inside the tube and along the center axial line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Xing Yuan, Drew Willard Hazelton, Michael Stephen Walker
  • Publication number: 20040194290
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention comprises a system for manufacturing a superconductive electrical conductor. A channel (140) is formed in a mold (130) that is formed from a ceramic material having a negative heat coefficient of expansion. A material (142) having a positive heat coefficient of expansion that develops superconductivity characteristics upon the application of heat is deposited in the channel. Heat is applied to the mold (130) with the material (142) that develops superconductivity characteristics deposited in the channel to develop the superconductivity characteristics in the deposited material. In a particular embodiment, the negative heat coefficient of expansion and said positive heat coefficient of expansion are complementary, such that change with heat in dimensions of the channel (140) formed in the mold (130) and change with heat in dimensions of the material (142) deposited in the channel (140) are substantially the same. In a more particular embodiment the channel forms a coil (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Charles Bayne Dickinson
  • Patent number: 6799363
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention comprises a system for manufacturing a superconductive electrical conductor. A channel (140) is formed in a mold (130) that is formed from a ceramic material having a negative heat coefficient of expansion. A material (142) having a positive heat coefficient of expansion that develops superconductivity characteristics upon the application of heat is deposited in the channel. Heat is applied to the mold (130) with the material (142) that develops superconductivity characteristics deposited in the channel to develop the superconductivity characteristics in the deposited material. In a particular embodiment, the negative heat coefficient of expansion and said positive heat coefficient of expansion are complementary, such that change with heat in dimensions of the channel (140) formed in the mold (130) and change with heat in dimensions of the material (142) deposited in the channel (140) are substantially the same. In a more particular embodiment the channel forms a coil (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Charles Bayne Dickinson
  • Publication number: 20040162222
    Abstract: A wide bore, high field superconducting magnet. The superconducting magnet has a plurality of superconducting coils impregnated with epoxy and nested within each other. An innermost one of the nested coils has a bore therethrough that defines a bore width of the magnet. The bore width is greater than approximately 100 millimeters. The nested coils are electrically connected in series and cooled to an operating temperature less than approximately 4 degrees K. The magnet also has external reinforcements on the coils that are applied prior to impregnating the coils with epoxy. An active protection circuit protects the coils in response to a quench in the magnet. The protection circuit includes heater elements positioned in thermal contact with the coils prior to impregnating the coils with epoxy. The magnet further has lead supports for supporting the lead wires with epoxy that extend from the coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Florida State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: W. Denis Markiewicz, Iain R. Dixon, Charles A. Swenson, W. Scott Marshall, Robert P. Walsh, Thomas Painter, Steven van Sciver
  • Patent number: 6774752
    Abstract: The invention concerns an NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) high field magnet coil system comprising superconducting conductor structures for generating a homogeneous magnetic field B0 in a measuring volume (23) with several radially nested solenoidal coil sections (12, 13, 31), which is characterized in that the radially innermost coil section (31) is wound with a band-shaped superconductor with an aspect ratio (width to thickness) >3 on a coil support which axially projects, at least at one axial end, past the winding packet of the radially neighboring coil section (12) and the band-shaped superconductor is guided on this side tangentially towards the outside to a region of reduced magnetic field strength and terminates in at least one electrical connecting point (16). This permits use of a brittle band-shaped superconductor for the innermost coil system (31) which cannot be strongly bent at the upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schlenga, Gerhard Roth, Arne Kasten
  • Patent number: 6635368
    Abstract: A film-based HTS device comprises a substrate and a superconducting film. A peripheral portion of the film is a-axis-aligned material which is so situated on the substrate as to describe a-b planar barriers which are perpendicular to the substrate and which in parallel fashion border upon the entire periphery of the film. The a-b planar barriers serve to block vortices which nucleate at the film's periphery, thereby attenuating the overall vortex activity associated with the film, thereby attenuating the ELF and white noise which are normally prevalent in superconductor devices. Effectiveness in terms of arresting vortex motion may be increased by providing an interior film portion which is also a-axis-aligned material. It may be preferable to provide an interior film portion which is c-axis-aligned material, since this is easier to make and the a-axis-aligned peripheral portion of the film will be sufficiently effective in terms of “pinning” the vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Yehoshua Dan Agassi
  • Patent number: 6600398
    Abstract: A superconducting very high field magnet coil with several solenoidal multi-layer coil sections which are wound in layers onto a hollow cylindrical support body (3) about a common central axis a, and which are electrically connected in series to carry a current in excess of 100 A is characterized in that the radially innermost coil section (1) comprises superconducting wire (2) which contains oxidic, high temperature superconductor (HTS) material, wherein the layers of the radially innermost coil section (1) are helically wound such that there is a free axial space between the walls, which is then sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Roth, Arne Kasten
  • Patent number: 6516208
    Abstract: A circuit is provided wherein the electronic properties of the circuit are varied by a magnetic actuator. The circuit includes a fixed substrate and a movable substrate. The magnetic actuator comprises a magnetic driver on an upper surface of the fixed substrate that is substantially overlapped by an HTS reaction plate on the lower surface of the fixed substrate. A tuning current applied through a continuous strip of HTS material in the magnetic driver induces a repulsive magnetic force causing the movable substrate to move with respect to the fixed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Eden
  • Patent number: 6506709
    Abstract: A high Tc superconducting ceramic material is produced by a method in which a mixture of chemicals in suitable amounts is compacted into a desired form. The compacted mixture is then fired and, at the same time, an electric current is caused to pass through the compacted mixture in a predetermined direction. By virtue of the passage of the current through the material during firing, the orderliness of the molecular arrangement is enhanced and an elevated transition temperature Tc is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6501970
    Abstract: Viable (HT) superconductor-based processing is disclosed comprising the controlled conversion of energy resulting from application of a (HT) superconductor to an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic and/or gravitational field, wherein the converted energy is released from a corresponding chill system in order to maintain a superconducting state of the (HT) superconductor under controlled extrinsic or boundary conditions. A closed vessel is instrumental to transform said energy once created into a mechanical work, a partial chill gas mass per operating time interval, i.e. &dgr;dmV/&dgr;t, and a partial conduction enthalpy. A corresponding chill system comprises optionally at least one aeropneumatic accumulator designed to operate at least one (HT) superconductor-based overpressure vessel or dewar accommodating at least one superconductor element immersed into a liquid chill agent such as liquid nitrogen of defined heat capacity per volume superconductor employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Non-Equilibrium Materials and Processing (NEMP)
    Inventors: Joerg Heise, Wolf-Ruediger Canders, Wilfried Hedderich, Franz Hehmann
  • Publication number: 20020173429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a superconducting coil, wherein
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: JUERGEN EHRENBERG, JOACHIM BOCK, GUENTER BROMMER
  • Patent number: 6475958
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-temperature superconductor arrangement which is protected against hot spots. A contact-making layer 4 is provided between a superconductor layer 1 and an electrical bypass 2, which contact-making layer 4 has anisotropic electrical conductivity. This ensures a low contact resistance between the superconductor 1 and the bypass 2, without the admittance being increased in the main current flow direction 3. The said anisotropy is produced by discontinuities in the contact-making layer 4, for example by said contact-making layer 4 being broken down into areas 41 which are not connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Willi Paul, Makan Chen
  • Patent number: 6442827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder in tube type method of manufacturing an HTc superconductor multifilament conductor having a matrix of compatible silver alloy and in which, during preparation of the multifilament billet, the number of segments per layer is organized so that, in cross-section, the segment layers viewed as a whole have the general shape of a converging-diverging nozzle, the throat of the converging-diverging nozzle shape being substantially contained in said superposition midplane; and in which, during the mechanical treatment of said multifilament billet preceding the synthesis heat treatment, a rolling force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the superposition midplane, and at least one of the side edges of the rolled billet is cut off perpendicularly to the superposition midplane, thereby revealing the matrix of compatible silver alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Peter Friedrich Herrmann, Gérard Duperray, Albert Leriche, Jean-Pierre Tavergnier
  • Patent number: 6344287
    Abstract: There is described a method of applying insulative coating on high temperature superconductors and low temperature superconductors from sol-gel solutions prepared from Zr or Zr with one of, Mg, Y, Ce, In and Sn based precursor materials. The solution is prepared with isopropanol as a solvent and acetyl acetone as a catalyst. The conductors are dipped into the solution and thereafter dried at a temperature effective to evaporate the solvent. Thereafter, heat treatment in the presence of oxygen is applied at a temperature sufficient to oxidize the precursors to result in a ceramic insulative coating on the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Florida State University
    Inventors: Erdal Celik, Yusuf Hascicek, Ibrahim Mutlu
  • Patent number: 6316391
    Abstract: The present invention provides superconductors capable of being used at temperatures to which the superconductor can be cooled in liquid nitrogen and of carrying current in a high critical current density in a magnetic field, and superconducting apparatuses employing the superconductors and more advantageous in costs than the conventional superconducting apparatuses. A superconducting wire is formed by combining a metallic body of a cubic aggregate structure and an oxide superconducting substance. The present invention provides superconductors, superconducting wires, superconducting magnets and applied superconducting apparatuses having a high superconducting critical current density. The applied super conducting apparatuses employing the superconductors or the superconducting wires in accordance with the present invention are able to operate when cooled in liquid nitrogen-and can be manufactured at costs lower than those of the conventional superconducting apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiya Doi, Takesi Ozawa, Toyotaka Yuasa, Kazutoshi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 6141571
    Abstract: In a ferrite switchable microwave device, a magnetic structure is formed in a nearly continuous closed-loop configuration of a single crystal material, or of a material exhibiting the magnetic properties of single crystal materials (quasi-single crystal materials). A magnetization M is induced in the structure. The toroidal shape of the structure in combination with the properties of the magnetic material results in a device which exhibits virtually no hysteresis. The device is operable either in a fully magnetized state or in a partially magnetized state. In a fully magnetized state, the device operates in the region of magnetic saturation. The absence of hysteresis in the device enables switching between the positive and negative magnetic saturation points with very little energy. In a partially magnetized state, the device provides a variable magnetization M between the two saturation points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Gerald F. Dionne
  • Patent number: 6084491
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, a variable magnetic reluctor structure comprng an iron yoke having two opposing "U"-shaped bodies, magnetic flux sources formed by portions of the yoke, a magnetic flux path, a working space and a reluctor space is provided. A reluctor member comprising diamagnetic disks is inserted within the reluctor space decreasing the magnetic permeability of the magnetic flux path to a value lesser than that of air (1.0). The iron disks increase permeability, while either a Type I or a Type II superconducting disk or a combination of iron disks interspersed between Type II superconducting disks decreases permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Herbert A. Leupold
  • Patent number: 6081987
    Abstract: A superconducting magnetic coil includes a first superconductor formed of an anisotropic superconducting material for providing a low-loss magnetic field characteristic for magnetic fields parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil and a second superconductor having a low loss magnetic field characteristic for magnetic fields perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coil. The first superconductor has a normal state resistivity characteristic conducive for providing current limiting in the event that the superconducting magnetic coil is subjected to a current fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Swarn S. Kalsi, Gregory L. Snitchler, Jeffrey M. Seuntjens
  • Patent number: 6025769
    Abstract: A trapped field magnet formed of a high temperature type II superconductor material is disclosed. The trapped field magnet is formed of a plurality of relatively small, single-grain superconductive elements. Optimal shaped of these elements is in a regular truncated cone wherein the half cone angle is 55.degree., and the optimal orientation of each single-grain superconducting elements is an angle of .phi..sub.m with respect to the axis perpendicular to the upper and lower surface of the element, wherein the .phi..sub.m =3 sin .theta. cos .theta./(3 cos.sup.2 .theta.-1) and .theta. determines the location of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: University of Houston
    Inventors: Ching-wu Chu, Yuyi Xue, Li Gao, Ruling Meng, Diego Alberto Ramirez
  • Patent number: 6020803
    Abstract: In a high field superconducting magnet device, e.g., for NMR, a conventional low temperature superconducting solenoid type magnet is combined with an inserted superconducting magnet, which is fabricated from high temperature superconducting materials having very high critical currents. Both magnets operate with stability at the same low temperature in persistent modes after operating conditions are achieved. The flux field and superconducting currents in the inserted superconducting magnet are generated by flux trapping when the field of the low temperature superconducting solenoid type magnet is reduced. The field of the hybrid magnet assembly is the resultant of the respective fields of the two magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Intermagnetics General Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Wheatley, Michael J. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 5952269
    Abstract: A method for forming a superconducting device using a selective etching technique on superconducting thin films. The method utilizes rapid etching which combines ion implantation with chemical etching. The portions of the superconducting film to be retained are masked from the ion implantation process. The chemical etching process then removes the implanted portions of the superconducting film at a much faster rate than the portions not implanted so that only the un-implanted portions remain. The resulting superconducting devices can be used, e.g., as nanostructures and nano tips, bolometers, multilayer RF coils, microwave waveguides and filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Qiyuan Ma, Mingling Chen
  • Patent number: 5914647
    Abstract: A superconducting magnetic coil includes a plurality of sections positioned axially along the longitudinal axis of the coil, each section being formed of an anisotropic high temperature superconductor material wound about a longitudinal axis of the coil and having an associated critical current value that is dependent on the orientation of the magnetic field of the coil. The cross section of the superconductor, or the type of superconductor material, at sections along the axial and radial axes of the coil are changed to provide an increased critical current at those regions where the magnetic field is oriented more perpendicularly to the conductor plane, to thereby increase the critical current at these regions and to maintain an overall higher critical current of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Dawood Aized, Robert E. Schwall
  • Patent number: 5812042
    Abstract: A laminated superconducting magnet includes a multilayer short-circuit superconductor group 2 formed by uniting superposed hollow superconducting plates, and an exciting coil 3 for inducing a current from an external power source 4 to the multilayer short-circuit superconductor group 2 for operation in a permanent current mode. Even if some of the superconducting plates are quenched, the other normal superconducting plates share the excess current temporarily. Therefore, the entire superconducting magnet is not quenched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Maki, Nobuhiro Hara, Shigeru Kakugawa, Masayuki Shibata, Noriaki Hino, Kenichi Hattori
  • Patent number: 5801124
    Abstract: The invention provides a superconducting ceramic laminate including a superconducting tape mechanically coupled to, and compressively strained to 0.1% or more under a predetermined load by, at least one cladding tape. The material and thickness of the cladding tape or tapes are selected relative to the material and thickness of the superconducting tape to locate the neutral axis so that, under a predetermined heavy load, the maximum compressive strain on any superconducting portion of the superconducting tape is less than the critical compressive strain and the maximum tensile strain on any superconducting portion of the superconducting tape under a predetermined load is less than the critical tensile strain. By "heavy load" is meant a load on the laminate equivalent to a load on the unlaminated superconducting tape selected for the laminate including a surface bend strain on the unlaminated superconducting tape of at least 0.1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce B. Gamble, Gilbert N. Riley, Jr., John D. Scudiere, Michael D. Manlief, David M. Buczek, Gregory L. Snitchler
  • Patent number: 5691679
    Abstract: A superconductive lead assembly for a superconductive device (e.g., magnet) cooled by a cryocooler coldhead having first and second stages. A first ceramic superconductive lead has a first end flexibly, dielectrically, and thermally connected to the first stage and a second end flexibly, dielectrically, and thermally connected to the second stage. A first glass-reinforced-epoxy lead overwrap is in general surrounding contact with and attached to the first superconductive lead. The first lead overwrap has a coefficient of thermal expansion generally equal to that of the first superconductive lead. The lead overwrap protects the lead from moisture damage and from breakage during handling. For added protection against shock and vibration while in the device, the lead assembly is surrounded by a (e.g., polystyrene foam) jacket surrounded by a helically-wound metallic wire surrounded by a glass-reinforced-epoxy jacket overwrap surrounded by a rigid support tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Adolph Ackermann, Kenneth Gordon Herd, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, John Eric Tkaczyk, Kenneth Wilbur Lay, Richard Andrew Ranze
  • Patent number: 5689223
    Abstract: In order to make it possible to produce superconducting coils with small overall height, they are made from a plurality of coil subunits, optionally with a plurality of layers for each coil subunit, in particular in the case of the low-voltage coil of a transformer. The coil subunits contain as electrical conductor a high-temperature superconductor, around which a fibrous glass is spun and which is embedded in a glass-fiber reinforced epoxy resin or in a plastic. The coil subunits are placed around a transformer core in a cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Anton Demarmels, Sven Hornfeldt, Friedrich Konig, Jakob Rhyner, Jose Maria Rivera