Abstract A method for producing a conductor band which includes a layer of niobium adjacent a layer of an electrically normal conducting metal and respective ribbon-like niobium chords defining the longitudinal edges of the band. The conductor band is produced by joining niobium chords to the longitudinal narrow sides of a niobium strip respectively to form a niobium band having a Ushaped profile, each of the chords having a thickness greater than the thickness of the strip, at least approximately filling the space bounded by the inside surface of the U-shaped niobium band with an electrically normal conducting metal, and then joining the normal conducting metal to the U-shaped niobium band to form the conductor band. The conductor band made in this manner is used in a method of producing a tubular conductor for superconducting cables and the like.
The method of claim 1 wherein the niobium chords are bonded to the niobium strip by directing an electron beam in each instance onto the respective regions of the mutually adjacent surfaces of the chords and the strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the niobium strip is a niobium sheet having a thickness of at least approximately 0.3 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 wherein after the normal conducting metal is bonded to the U-shaped niobium band the conductor band is reduced to a desired thickness by rolling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the niobium strip is a niobium sheet having a thickness of at least approximately 1 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein after the normal conducting metal is bonded to the U-shaped niobium band the conductor band is reduced to a desired thickness by rolling.