Method of energizing fully persistent, high field, high homogeneity magnets

Claim 2

A superconductive magnet of the type intended for use in a cryogenic atmosphere comprising: a plurality of superconductor material concentric rings each being capable of assuming a normal state and a superconductive state; a magnetic field producing structure around said rings; and switching means coupled to said rings for causing said rings to assume selectively one of said states in accordance with a predetermined program, said rings being so positioned with respect to each other such that when said rings are caused to assume said states, flux is effectively pumped solely by the switching of said states providing a significantly high magnetic field without the use of moving parts in said atmosphere.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein all of said rings are initially in the normal state and said switching means causes all of said rings to go to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from the outermost ring to the innermost ring.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 wherein all of said rings are initially in the normal state; wherein said switching means first causes all of said rings to go to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from the outermost ring to the innermost ring; wherein said switching means thereafter causes at least one of the innermost rings to remain in the superconductive state and the remaining rings to return to the normal state; and wherein said switching means thereafter causes said remaining rings to return to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from said outermost ring towards said innermost ring.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said magnet further includes a disk-like substrate having a center hole therein, said rings being affixed concentrically on said substrate.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said rings have a radial width of no more than 10 mils.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said magnet further includes a plurality of disks each having a central bore therein, each of said disks having said plurality of superconductor material concentric rings affixed thereon around said bore, said disks being stacked in axial alignment with respect to each other within said magnetic structure such that said rings are electrically insulated from one another.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1, said switching means including a separate heating element in physical contact with, but electrically insulated from each of said rings, and means connected to said heating elements for operating same according to said predetermined program to cause said rings to assume selectively one of said states.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 8 wherein said predetermined program includes the further step of causing each of said rings to assume the normal state, and thereafter causing said rings to assume the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from the outermost ring to the innermost ring.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 8 wherein said predetermined program includes the further steps of causing each of said rings to assume the normal state, causing said rings to assume the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from said outermost ring to said innermost ring, causing a certain number of adjacent ones of said rings removed from said innermost ring to assume the normal state, and causing said certain number of rings to assume the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from said outermost ring towards said innermost ring.

Claim 13

A superconductive magnet for use in a cryogenic atmosphere comprising: a plurality of superconductor material concentric rings each being capable of assuming a normal state and a superconductive state, all of said rings being initially in the normal state; a magnetic field producing structure around said rings; and switching means coupled to said rings for causing said rings to assume selectively one of said states in accordance with a predetermined program; said switching means first causing all of said rings to go to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from the outermost ring to the innermost ring; said switching means thereafter causing at least one of the innermost rings to remain in the superconductive state and the remaining rings to return to the normal state; and said switching means thereafter causing said remaining rings to return to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from said outermost ring towards said innermost ring.

Claim 14

A superconductive magnet for use in a cryogenic atmosphere comprising: a plurality of superconductor material concentric rings each being capable of assuming a normal state and a superconductive state, all of said rings being initially in the normal state; a magnetic field producing structure around said rings; and switching means coupled to said rings for causing said rings to assume selectively one of said states in accordance with a predetermined program; said switching means first causing all of said rings to go to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from the outermost ring to the innermost ring; said switching means thereafter causing at least one of the innermost rings to remain in the superconductive state and the remaining rings to return to the normal state; and said switching means thereafter causing said remaining rings to return to the superconductive state at least one at a time in the order from said outermost ring towards said innermost ring.

Claim 15

A superconductive magnet for use in a cyrogenic atmosphere comprising: a plurality of superconductor material concentric rings each being capable of assuming a normal state and a superconductive state; a plurality of disks each having a central bore therein, each of said disks having said plurality of superconductor material concentric rings affixed thereon around said bore, said disks being stacked in axial alignment with respect to each other within said magnetic structure with said rings electrically insulated from one another, a magnetic field producing structure around said rings; and switching means coupled to said rings for causing said rings to assume selectively one of said states in accordance with a predetermined program.

Claim 16

A superconductive magnet for use in a cyrogenic atmosphere comprising: a plurality of superconductor material concentric rings each being capable of assuming a normal state and a superconductive state; a plurality of disks each having a central bore therein, each of said disks having said plurality of superconductor material concentric rings affixed thereon around said bore, said disks being stacked in axial alignment with respect to each other within said magnetic structure with said rings electrically insulated from one another, a magnetic field producing structure around said rings; and switching means coupled to said rings for causing said rings to assume selectively one of said states in accordance with a predetermined program.