US4363981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means to reduce frictional heating of a superconducting winding at an interface with its support structure
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1981-05-01
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Granted: 1982-12-14
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Expires: 2001-05-01
Abstract
Abstract Improved structure for reducing heating a monolithic suuperconducting winding due to friction generated at an interface between a "low eddy current" support structure and the winding is disclosed. Such improved structure comprises a low shear modulus, compliant material and high thermal conductivity sheet metal disposed in the interface region between the super-conducting winding on the support structure. The low shear modulus, compliant material yields in the shear direction, thereby reducing frictional heating, and whatever frictional heat is generated is removed by the high conductivity sheet metal and transferred to helium cooling channels which are located in the low eddy current support structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Evangelos T. Laskaris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:58
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K3/00; H02K3/46; H01; H01F; H01F27/00; H01F27/28; H01F27/30; H01F27/306; H01F6/00; H01F6/06; H02K55/00; H01F27/34; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/60; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
Improved means to reduce heating of a monolithic superconducting winding due to friction generated at an interface between said superconducting winding and a support structure for said winding, said support structure comprising a material having a high electrical resistivity whereby eddy current heating therein is limited to a tolerable level, said support structure having a first surface held under a compressional force against said superconducting winding and having a plurality of spaced apart helium cooling channels in the first surface thereof, said improved means comprising: (a) compliant sheet material having a low shear modulus and having first and second sides, said first side being bonded to an external surface of said superconducting winding; and (b) high thermal conductivity sheet metal having first and second sides with said first side disposed in contact with said second side of said low shear modulus sheet material and said second side thereof disposed in contact with said first surface of said support structure, and having portions thereof respectively disposed within said plurality of said helium cooling channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
Improved means to reduce heating of a monolithic superconducting winding due to friction generated at an interface between said superconducting winding and a support structure for said winding, said support structure comprising a material having a high electrical resistivity whereby eddy current heating therein is limited to a tolerable level, said support structure having a first surface held under a compressional force against said superconducting winding and having a plurality of spaced apart helium cooling channels in the first surface thereof, said improved means comprising: (a) compliant sheet material having a low shear modulus and having first and second sides, said first side being bonded to an external surface of said superconducting winding; and (b) high thermal conductivity sheet metal having first and second sides with said first side disposed in contact with said second side of said low shear modulus sheet material and said second side thereof disposed in contact with said first surface of said support structure, and having portions thereof respectively disposed within said plurality of said helium cooling channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said compliant sheet material comprises a porous sheet material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said compliant sheet material is selected from the group consisting of leather, cellulose paper, and polyethylene paper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 2 or 3 wherein said compliant sheet material has a thickness between about 0.010 and 0.100 centimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said compliant sheet material comprises a plurality of pieces of compliant sheet material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 1 or 3 wherein said high thermal conductivity sheet metal has a thermal conductivity under a magnetic field subsisting during operation of said superconducting winding of between about 5 and 20 watts per centimeter per degree Kelvin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said high thermal conductivity sheet metal comprises one of the group consisting of approximately 99.999 percent purity copper and approximately 99.9999 percent purity aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said high thermal conductivity sheet metal has a thickness between about 0.010 and 0.100 centimeters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein a plurality of portions of said high thermal conductivity sheet metal which are disposed within said plurality of helium cooling channels each comprises a convoluted configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said high thermal conductivity sheet metal comprises a plurality of strips of sheet metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said plurality of strips of sheet metal of said high thermal conductivity sheet metal each has portions which are respectively disposed within a plurality of said helium cooling channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said high thermal conductivity sheet metal is bonded to said first surface of said support structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said monolithic superconducting winding comprises an epoxy-impregnated superconducting winding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein said monolithic superconducting winding comprises insulation layers of woven glass cloth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein said monolithic superconducting winding comprises twisted filaments selected from the group consisting of niobium-titanium and niobium-tin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises one of the group consisting of a fiberglass-epoxy composite and stainless steel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said compressional force holding said support structure against said superconducting winding is between about 5,000 and 10,000 pounds per square inch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-13 | 1986-06-14 | 1986-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-13 | 1990-06-14 | 1990-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-13 | 1994-06-14 | 1994-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |