Superconductive switching path for heavy current

Claim 2

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising magnetic shield means of superconducting material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield means is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer current (s1) than without the shield means so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the ucrrent in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield means disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines oF force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 3

A switching path for heavy current having two elongated superconductive windings connected in series and wound in the same direction, said winds being positioned adjacent each other and having parallel longitudinal axes and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material positioned between the windings parallel to the longitudinal axes of said windings and extending beyond the ends of said windings in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 4

A switching path for heavy current having two elongated superconductive windings connected in series and wound in the same direction, said winds being positioned adjacent each other and having parallel longitudinal axes and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material positioned between the windings parallel to the longitudinal axes of said windings and extending beyond the ends of said windings in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 5

A switching path as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of superconductive windings is of toroidal configuration and has a gap formed therein, and wherein said shield means comprises a shield of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings.

Claim 6

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield having a plurality of electrically insulated interconnected strips of superconducting material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 7

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield having a plurality of electrically insulated interconnected strips of superconducting material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 8

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising magnetic shield means of superconductive material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield means is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield means so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of thE shield means disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current, and a superconductive shield laterally surrounding the winding.

Claim 9

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising magnetic shield means of superconductive material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield means is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield means so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of thE shield means disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current, and a superconductive shield laterally surrounding the winding.

Claim 10

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material having free edges rounded off in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 11

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material having free edges rounded off in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 12

A switching path as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding comprises one layer.

Claim 13

A switching path as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding comprises a plurality of turns enclosing a substantially rectangularly-shaped area having longitudinal sides which are longer than its width.

Claim 14

A switching path for heavy current having a plurality of superconductive windings each of toroidal configuration and having a gap formed therein, said windings defining a ring having a center point and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and extending beyond the center point of said ring into the space enclosed by said ring and positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 15

A switching path for heavy current having a plurality of superconductive windings each of toroidal configuration and having a gap formed therein, said windings defining a ring having a center point and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and extending beyond the center point of said ring into the space enclosed by said ring and positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 16

A switching path for heavy current having a plurality of superconductive windings each of toroidal configuration and having a gap formed therein, said windings being electrically connected in series and being of different circumferences and positioned each within the others and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in A superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (IO) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 17

A switching path for heavy current having a plurality of superconductive windings each of toroidal configuration and having a gap formed therein, said windings being electrically connected in series and being of different circumferences and positioned each within the others and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in A superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (IO) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 18

A switching path for heavy current having a plurality of superconductive windings each of toroidal configuration and having a gap formed therein, said windings having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and having free edges rounded off and a drop-like cross-section and positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 19

A switching path for heavy current having a plurality of superconductive windings each of toroidal configuration and having a gap formed therein, said windings having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising a shield of superconducting material of substantially large area extending into said windings perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and having free edges rounded off and a drop-like cross-section and positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the windings during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the windings is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the windings, and whereby when the current in the windings reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the windings to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the windings passed by the predetermined current.

Claim 20

A switching path as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding comprises a strip-like superconducting material having a thickness of approximately 1 to 10 microns.

Claim 21

A switching path as claimed in claim 5, further comprising insulating layers between the shield and the windings.

Claim 22

A switching path as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shield and the superconductive shields comprise superconductive sheet metal.

Claim 23

A switching path as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the windings comprises a strip-like superconducting material having a predetermined width and the turns of each of the windings are spaced from each other by a distance less than the width of the superconducting material.

Claim 24

A switching path as claimed in claim 10, wherein said shield further comprises a plurality of substantially hollow cylindrical shields positioned between adjacent ones of the windings, within the innermost winding and outside the outermost winding, a bottom plate and a cover plate, all of superconductive material and all having openings formed therethrough.

Claim 25

A switching path as claimed in claim 15, further comprising upright-positioned strips of insulating material between adjacent turns of the windings.

Claim 26

A switching path as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of coaxially positioned insulating hollow cylinders each positioned within the others and each having a gap formed therein, and wherein each of the windings comprises a strip-like superconducting material wound around a corresponding one of the insulating hollow cylinders, said hollow cylindrical shields being positioned between adjacent ones of the insulating hollow cylinders, each of said hollow cylindrical shields having a gap formed therein, and said shield extending perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by said windings and being positioned in the Gaps.

Claim 27

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding, said winding comprising a plurality of turns enclosing a substantially rectangularly-shaped area having longitudinal sides which are longer than its width, the winding comprising a strip-like superconducting material having a predetermined width and the turns of the winding being spaced from each other by a distance less than the width of the superconducting material, the adjacent turns of the winding being spaced from each other a distance of less than 1 mm, and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising magnetic shield means of superconductive material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current, and upright-positioned strips of insulating material between adjacent turns of the winding.

Claim 28

A switching path for heavy current having at least one superconductive winding, said winding comprising a plurality of turns enclosing a substantially rectangularly-shaped area having longitudinal sides which are longer than its width, the winding comprising a strip-like superconducting material having a predetermined width and the turns of the winding being spaced from each other by a distance less than the width of the superconducting material, the adjacent turns of the winding being spaced from each other a distance of less than 1 mm, and having current flowing therethrough and which may be switched from a superconductive condition to an electrically normal conductive condition through its intrinsic magnetic field, said switching path comprising magnetic shield means of superconductive material in the vicinity of the winding positioned in a manner whereby when the shield is in a superconductive condition the magnetic lines of force produced by the winding during the passage of current therethrough are forced into a longer path (s1) than without the shield so that the magnetic field within the winding is smaller than the lowest critical field intensity at any point of the winding, and whereby when the current in the winding reaches a predetermined intensity (I0) the shielding effect of the shield disappears at least partially due to the increased magnetic field so that the magnetic lines of force are shortened and the magnetic field increases within the winding to a magnitude above the highest critical magnetic field intensity at any point of the winding passed by the predetermined current, and upright-positioned strips of insulating material between adjacent turns of the winding.

Claim 29

A switching path as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of the insulating hollow cylinders has ends limiting the gap formed therein, and further comprising an attachment of magnetically conductive material affixed to said ends for guiding magnetic lines of force.