US4295068A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cantilevered field winding support for a superconducting AC machine
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1979-05-18
•
Granted: 1981-10-13
•
Expires: 1999-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A dynamoelectric machine has a rotor including a driven shaft at one end thereof, an undriven shaft at the other end and a central section connecting said shafts. A superconducting field winding is disposed within said central section with a torque tube located concentrically with the rotor shafts. The torque tube and superconducting field winding are supported in cantilever fashion to one end of the rotor shafts.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce B. Gamble
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:48
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K55/00; H02K55/02; H02K55/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/60; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/876; Y10S505/877; Y10S505/878
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
In a superconducting electrical machine including a rotor comprising a shaft adapted to be driven in rotation about a longitudinal axis of the rotor, a hollow undriven shaft disposed concentrically with said driven shaft and a hollow axially central portion disposed concentrically with and attached to each of said shafts, and a torque tube and at least one superconducting winding disposed within said hollow central portion; a support means for said torque tube and said field winding comprising: means for supporting said torque tube and said superconducting winding within said central portion and substantially concentrically with said rotor shafts in cantilever fashion from one of said shafts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a superconducting electrical machine including a rotor comprising a shaft adapted to be driven in rotation about a longitudinal axis of the rotor, a hollow undriven shaft disposed concentrically with said driven shaft and a hollow axially central portion disposed concentrically with and attached to each of said shafts, and a torque tube and at least one superconducting winding disposed within said hollow central portion; a support means for said torque tube and said field winding comprising: means for supporting said torque tube and said superconducting winding within said central portion and substantially concentrically with said rotor shafts in cantilever fashion from one of said shafts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a coolant supply means for supplying a liquid coolant from the undriven end of said rotor to the interior of said torque tube, and means for exhausting coolant vapor from said interior of said torque tube through said undriven end of said rotor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a thermal radiation shield surrounding said torque tube and supported in cantilever fashion by said support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for supporting said torque tube and said superconducting winding comprises a torque tube extension which extends from one axial end of said torque tube adjacent said undriven shaft to a generally conically-shaped end member of said central portion of said rotor connected to said undriven shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said central portion further comprises another generally conically-shaped end member and an electromagnetic shield of conducting material connecting said end members and surrounding said torque tube and said thermal radiation shield.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coolant comprises liquid helium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said torque tube has a length-to-diameter ratio in the range of 1:1 to 5:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said length-to-diameter ratio is in the range of 1:1 to 2:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a bore tube concentrically disposed within said torque tube and connected thereto by end walls, said torque tube, said bore tube and said end walls being disposed to define an annular volume around said axis and four circumferentially uniformly spaced superconducting windings disposed within said volume, and said liquid coolant supply means includes at least one supply tube connected to said volume to supply a coolant liquid thereto for cooling said superconducting winding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said coolant comprises liquid helium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising current lead means for supplying electrical excitation current to said superconducting windings, said lead means extending through said undriven shaft to the interior of said torque tube and being in electrical contact with said field windings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for supporting said torque tube and said at least one superconducting winding comprises a generally cylindrical torque tube extension attached to said torque tube at one axial end thereof and attached to a conical end member of said central portion at the other axial end thereof, said torque tube extension being cooled by vapor boiled off from a coolant contained within said torque tube for cooling said field winding.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3816780A
Cited
US3904901A
Cited
US4060742A
Cited
US4060743A
Cited
US4039870A
Cited
US4091298A
Cited
US4082967A
Cited
US4171494A
Cited
US4076988A
Cited
US4117357A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-10-12 | 1985-04-13 | 1985-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-12 | 1989-04-13 | 1989-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-12 | 1993-04-13 | 1993-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |