Superconducting rotor

Claim 2

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, the superconducting rotor being of the type having a field winding and an amortisseur winding and including: a. means for maintaining said field winding in a superconducting state; b. means for maintaining said amortisseur winding in a normally conducting state; c. a support cylinder having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion, said field winding being disposed interiorly of and coaxially with said middle portion of said support cylinder in fixed relation thereto; d. a drive shaft having a first end disposed interiorly of said first end portion of said support cylinder; e. a carrier cylinder having a first end disposed interiorly of said second end portion of said support cylinder, said amortisseur winding fixedly securing said drive shaft to said carrier cylinder; f. first insulating ring means for securing said support cylinder to said drive shaft, said first insulating ring means providing a circuitous heat conducting path between said first end of said drive shaft and said first end portion of said support cylinder; and, g. second insulating ring means for mounting said support cylinder on said carrier cylinder to allow axial movement therebetween, said second insulating ring means providing a circuitous heat conducting path between said first end of said carrier cylinder and said second end portion of said support cylinder.

Claim 3

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, the superconducting rotor being of the type having a field winding and an amortisseur winding and including: a. means for maintaining said field winding in a superconducting state; b. means for maintaining said amortisseur winding in a normally conducting state; c. a support cylinder having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion, said field winding being disposed interiorly of and coaxially with said middle portion of said support cylinder in fixed relation thereto; said field winding and said support cylinder defining axial channels for providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid therebetween, said axial channels communicating with the interior of said field winding; said field winding having a first end and a second end wherein: i. a first annular duct communicates with the axial channels, said first annular duct providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid and being disposed in heat transfer relation with said first end of said field winding; ii. a second annular duct communicates with said axial channels, said second annular duct providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid and being disposed in heat transfer relation with said second end of said field winding; d. a drive shaft having a first end disposed interiorly of said first end portion of said support cylinder; e. a carrier cylinder having a first end disposed interiorly of said second end portion of said support cylinder, said amortisseur winding fixedly securing said drive shaft to said carrier cylinder; f. first insulating ring means for securing said support cylinder to said drive shaft, said first insulating ring means providing a circuitous heat conducting path between said first end of said drive shaft and said first end portion of said support cylinder; and, g. second insulating ring means for mounting said support cylinder on said carrier cylinder to allow axial movement therebetween, said second insulating ring means providing a circuitous heat conducting path between said first end of said carrier cylinder and said second end portion of said support cylinder.

Claim 4

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, the superconducting rotor being of the type having a field winding and an amortisseur winding and including: a. means for maintaining said field winding in a superconducting state; b. means for maintaining said amortisseur winding in a normally conducting state; c. a support cylinder having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion, said field winding being disposed interiorly of and coaxially with said middle portion of said support cylinder in fixed relation thereto; said field winding and said support cylinder defining axial channels for providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid therebetween, said axial channels communicating with the interior of said field winding; said field winding having a first end and a second end wherein: i. a first annular duct communicates with the axial channels, said first annular duct providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid and being disposed in heat transfer relation with said first end of said field winding; ii. a second annular duct communicates with said axial channels, said second annular duct providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid and being disposed in heat transfer relation with said second end of said field winding; d. a drive shaft having a first end disposed interiorly of said first end portion of said support cylinder; e. a carrier cylinder having a first end disposed interiorly of said second end portion of said support cylinder, said amortisseur winding fixedly securing said drive shaft to said carrier cylinder; f. first insulating ring means for securing said support cylinder to said drive shaft, said first insulating ring means providing a circuitous heat conducting path between said first end of said drive shaft and said first end portion of said support cylinder; and, g. second insulating ring means for mounting said support cylinder on said carrier cylinder to allow axial movement therebetween, said second insulating ring means providing a circuitous heat conducting path between said first end of said carrier cylinder and said second end portion of said support cylinder.

Claim 5

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 2 further including: a. a cylindrical vacuum envelope encircled by and in circumferential contact with said field winding, Said first annular duct and said second annular duct, said cylindrical vacuum envelope having a first end closure for retarding heat radiation to said field winding and a second end closure for retarding heat radiation to said field winding; and b. an annular space defined by said support cylinder and said amortisseur winding, said annular space having disposed therein: i. an annular vacuum envelope, and ii. radiation shield means for retarding heat radiation from said amortisseur winding to said field winding.

Claim 6

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining said field winding in a superconducting state includes a cryogenic fluid delivery system comprising: a. a first tube means for introducing cryogenic fluid to the interior of said field winding, said first tube means including: i. a cryogenic sealing device for transferring cryogenic fluid between a stationary fluid source and rotating conduits, ii. an inner tube communicating with said sealing device, iii. a supply manifold communicating with said inner tube, and iv. a plurality of cryogenic fluid supply tubes communicating between said supply manifold and the interior or said field winding; and b. a second tube means for providing a flow path for cryogenic fluid away from said field winding, said second tube means including: i. an outer tube coaxial with said inner tube, said inner tube and said outer tube defining an annular passage, ii. at least one return manifold, said annular passage communicating between said sealing device and said return manifold, and iii. a plurality of cryogenic fluid return tubes communicating between said first annular duct and said return manifold and said second annular duct and said return manifold.

Claim 7

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 3 wherein said means for maintaining said field winding in a superconducting state includes a cryogenic fluid delivery system comprising: a. a first tube means for introducing cryogenic fluid to the interior of said field winding, said first tube means including: i. a cryogenic sealing device for transferring cryogenic fluid between a stationary fluid source and rotating conduits, ii. an inner tube extending through said second end closure and communicating with said sealing device, iii. a supply manifold disposed in said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said supply manifold communicating with said inner tube, and iv. a plurality of cryogenic fluid supply tubes disposed in said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said supply tubes communicating between said supply manifold and the interior of said field winding; and b. a second tube means for providing a fluid flow path for cryogenic fluid away from said field winding, said second tube means including: i. an outer tube extending through said second end closure, said outer tube being coaxial with said inner tube and forming an annular passage therebetween; ii. at least one return manifold disposed in said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said annular passage communicating between said sealing device and said return manifold; iii. a plurality of cryogenic fluid return tubes disposed in said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said cryogenic fluid return tubes communicating between said first annular duct and said return manifold and said second annular duct and said return manifold.

Claim 8

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 5 wherein said means for maintaining said amortisseur winding in a normally conducting state includes a fluid delivery system comprising: a. a supply system for introducing cooling fluid to said amortisseur winding, said supply system including: i. a sealing device for transferring cooling fluid between a stationary fluid source and rotating conduits, ii. an inner annular passage communicating with said sealing device, iii. a supply vessel communicating with said inner annular passage, and iv. a plurality of cooling fluid supplY tubes communicating between said supply vessel and said amortisseur winding; and b. a return system for providing a flow path for cooling fluid away from said amortisseur winding, said return system including: i. an outer annular passage communicating with said sealing device, ii. a return vessel communicating with said outer annular passage, and iii. a plurality of cooling fluid return tubes communicating between said return vessel and said amortisseur winding.

Claim 9

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 5 wherein: a. said first insulating ring means includes a cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first end of said cylinder being secured to first end of said drive shaft and said second end of said cylinder being secured to said first end portion of said support cylinder; and b. said second insulating ring means includes: i. an innermost cylinder encircling said carrier cylinder, said innermost cylinder having a first end mounted to said first end of said carrier cylinder to allow relative axial movement therebetween and a second end, ii. an intermediate cylinder encircling said innermost cylinder, said intermediate cylinder having a first end secured to said second end of said innermost cylinder and a second end, and iii. an outermost cylinder encircling said intermediate cylinder, said outermost cylinder having a first end secured to said second end of said intermediate cylinder and a second end secured to said second end portion of said support cylinder.

Claim 10

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 6 wherein: a. said first insulating ring means includes a cylinder having a first end and a second end, said first end of said cylinder being secured to first end of said drive shaft and said second end of said cylinder being secured to said first end portion of said support cylinder; and b. said second insulating ring means includes: i. an innermost cylinder encircling said carrier cylinder, said innermost cylinder having a first end mounted to said first end of said carrier cylinder to allow relative axial movement therebetween and a second end, ii. an intermediate cylinder encircling said innermost cylinder, said intermediate cylinder having a first end secured to said second end of said innermost cylinder and a second end, and iii. an outermost cylinder encircling said intermediate cylinder, said outermost cylinder having a first end secured to said second end of said intermediate cylinder and a second end secured to said second end portion of said support cylinder.

Claim 11

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 7 wherein: a. said first end of drive shaft is disposed proximate to said first end closure; and b. said first end of said carrier cylinder is disposed proximate to said second end closure.

Claim 12

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 8 wherein: a. said first end of drive shaft is disposed proximate to said first end closure; and b. said first end of said carrier cylinder is disposed proximate to said second end closure.

Claim 13

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 9 wherein: a. said first end closure includes: i. a first surface facing into said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said first surface being coated flat black, and ii. a second surface facing away from said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said second surface being silvered; b. said second end closure includes: i. a first surface facing into said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said first surface being coated flat black, and ii. a second surface facing away from said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said second surface being silvered; and c. said radiation shield means includes two radiation shields, each said radiation shield including: i. a first surface facing toward said field winding, said first surface being coated a flat black, and ii. a second surface facing away from said field winding, said second surface being silvered.

Claim 14

The suPerconducting rotor recited in claim 10 wherein: a. said first end closure includes: i. a first surface facing into said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said first surface being coated flat black, and ii. a second surface facing away from said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said second surface being silvered; b. said second end closure includes: i. a first surface facing into said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said first surface being coated flat black, and ii. a second surface facing away from said cylindrical vacuum envelope, said second surface being silvered; and c. said radiation shield means includes two radiation shields, each said radiation shield including: i. a first surface facing toward said field winding, said first surface being coated a flat black, and ii. a second surface facing away from said field winding, said second surface being silvered.

Claim 15

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 11 wherein: a. said plurality of cryogenic fluid supply tubes is four in number; b. said return manifold includes: i. a first return manifold, and ii. a second return manifold in communication with said first return manifold; and c. said plurality of cryogenic fluid return tubes include: i. four cryogenic fluid return tubes communicating between said first return manifold and said second annular duct, and ii. four cryogenic fluid return tubes communicating between said second return manifold and said first annular duct.

Claim 16

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 12 wherein: a. said plurality of cryogenic fluid supply tubes is four in number; b. said return manifold includes: i. a first return manifold, and ii. a second return manifold in communication with said first return manifold; and c. said plurality of cryogenic fluid return tubes include: i. four cryogenic fluid return tubes communicating between said first return manifold and said second annular duct, and ii. four cryogenic fluid return tube communicating between said second return manifold and said first annular duct.

Claim 17

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine comprising: a. a support cylinder mounted at one end to a drive shaft and mounted at the other end to a carrier cylinder respectively by first and second insulating ring means; said support cylinder, carrier cylinder and drive shaft being coaxial with one another; b. a mounting cylinder, coaxial with the support cylinder, carrier cylinder and drive shaft, attached at each end to the support cylinder and disposed interiorly thereof; the interior of said mounting cylinder defining a vacuum chamber; c. a superconducting field winding disposed between the mounting cylinder and the support cylinder; d. a normally conducting, liquid cooled amortisseur winding attached at one end to the drive shaft and attached at the other end to the carrier cylinder, said amortisseur winding spaced from the support cylinder in the radial direction and having a radiation shield disposed therebetween; and, e. axially extending vacuum, liquid coolant and cryogenic fluid channels disposed in the carrier cylinder in communication with the vacuum chamber, amortisseur winding and field winding, respectively.

Claim 18

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine comprising: a. a support cylinder mounted at one end to a drive shaft and mounted at the other end to a carrier cylinder respectively by first and second insulating ring means; said support cylinder, carrier cylinder and drive shaft being coaxial with one another; b. a mounting cylinder, coaxial with the support cylinder, carrier cylinder and drive shaft, attached at each end to the support cylinder and disposed interiorly thereof; the interior of said mounting cylinder defining a vacuum chamber; c. a superconducting field winding disposed between the mounting cylinder and the support cylinder; d. a normally conducting, liquid cooled amortisseur winding attached at one end to the drive shaft and attached at the other end to the carrier cylinder, said amortisseur winding spaced from the support cylinder in the radial direction and having a radiation shield disposed therebetween; and, e. axially extending vacuum, liquid coolant and cryogenic fluid channels disposed in the carrier cylinder in communication with the vacuum chamber, amortisseur winding and field winding, respectively.

Claim 19

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, said rotor including a superconducting field winding and a normally conducting amortisseur winding; and, further comprising: a. a carrier cylinder including vacuum, liquid coolant and cryogenic fluid channels; said liquid coolant channels communicating with the amortisseur winding and the cryogenic fluid channels communicating with the field winding; b. a mounting cylinder, coaxial with the carrier cylinder, the mounting cylinder having an interior portion defining a vacuum chamber in communication with the vacuum channels; c. a support cylinder concentric to and disposed around the mounting cylinder and spaced therefrom defining annular ducts In communication with said field winding and cryogenic fluid channels; said amortisseur winding surrounding and spaced from the support cylinder and in communication with the liquid coolant channels; and, d. radiation shield means disposed between the support cylinder and amortisseur windings.

Claim 20

A superconducting rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, said rotor including a superconducting field winding and a normally conducting amortisseur winding; and, further comprising: a. a carrier cylinder including vacuum, liquid coolant and cryogenic fluid channels; said liquid coolant channels communicating with the amortisseur winding and the cryogenic fluid channels communicating with the field winding; b. a mounting cylinder, coaxial with the carrier cylinder, the mounting cylinder having an interior portion defining a vacuum chamber in communication with the vacuum channels; c. a support cylinder concentric to and disposed around the mounting cylinder and spaced therefrom defining annular ducts In communication with said field winding and cryogenic fluid channels; said amortisseur winding surrounding and spaced from the support cylinder and in communication with the liquid coolant channels; and, d. radiation shield means disposed between the support cylinder and amortisseur windings.

Claim 21

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 16 wherein the space between the amortisseur winding and support cylinder defines a second vacuum chamber.

Claim 22

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 16 further including a drive shaft connected at one end thereof; wherein, the support cylinder is mounted at one end to the drive shaft and at the other end to the carrier cylinder through first and second circuitous insulated ring means respectively.

Claim 23

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 18 wherein the amortisseur winding is connected at one end to the drive shaft and at the other end to the carrier cylinder.

Claim 24

The superconducting rotor recited in claim 19 wherein the mounting cylinder is connected at either end to the support cylinder.