Superconducting magnet

Claim 2

A superconducting magnet comprising: (a) a coil structure including a superconducting wire which is wound a predetermined number of turns into the form of a closed loop with a rectangular profile and which is impregnated with a hardenable material; (b) annular vessel means for accommodating said coil structure in an inner space thereof and for isolating said coil structure from atmospheric conditions; and (c) coil holding means, rigidly mounted within said vessel means to extend in an annular form through said inner space, including a wall for dividing the inner space into a first annular space dimensioned substantially identical with said coil structure in shape and size and a second annular space defining a coolant path, and for stably sealing the coil structure within the first annular space such that the wall makes a continual area-to-area contact with the coil structure, thereby preventing generation of friction heat between the coil structure and the coil holding means which causes the coil quench phenomenon, i.e., change from the superconducting state to the normal state.

Claim 3

A superconducting magnet according to claim 1, wherein said vessel means includes: a race track-shaped winding former means having an inner wall defining a rectangular groove open at the outer side thereof so as to accommodate the coil structure such that a plurality of surfaces of the coil structure make area-to-area contact with the groove-defining inner wall; and a cover member mounted on the open outer side of said winding former means.

Claim 4

A superconducting magnet preferably utilized as a train side permanent magnet for a magnetically levitated train, comprising: a race track-shaped hollow member having an open outer side and defining an inner space; partition means for dividing the inner space of the hollow member into a race track-shaped first space positioned on the outer side of said inner space and forming a groove with a rectangular cross section and a race track-shaped second space defining a coolant path through which a coolant such as liquid helium passes; a coil structure having a superconducting wire tightly wound within the first space and impregnated with a hardenable material, said coil structure continuously making area-to-area contact with the wall of the partition means to prevent the generation of friction heat between the coil structure and the wall of the partition means which causes the coil quench phenomenon, i.e., change from superconducting state to the normal state, and having an annular surface exposed to the outside via said open outer side; and an annular cover member sealing the open outer side of the hollow member and attached to the hollow member so as to make continuous area-to-area contact with the annular surface of the coil structure.

Claim 5

A superconducting magnet preferably utilized as a train side permanent magnet for a magnetically levitated train, comprising: a race track-shaped hollow member having an open outer side and defining an inner space; partition means for dividing the inner space of the hollow member into a race track-shaped first space positioned on the outer side of said inner space and forming a groove with a rectangular cross section and a race track-shaped second space defining a coolant path through which a coolant such as liquid helium passes; a coil structure having a superconducting wire tightly wound within the first space and impregnated with a hardenable material, said coil structure continuously making area-to-area contact with the wall of the partition means to prevent the generation of friction heat between the coil structure and the wall of the partition means which causes the coil quench phenomenon, i.e., change from superconducting state to the normal state, and having an annular surface exposed to the outside via said open outer side; and an annular cover member sealing the open outer side of the hollow member and attached to the hollow member so as to make continuous area-to-area contact with the annular surface of the coil structure.

Claim 6

A superconducting magnet according to claim 3, which further comprises: injection means mounted on the annular cover member to allow the hardenable material to be introduced into the first space after the cover member has been attached by welding to the hollow member, thereby enabling the coil structure to be impregnated with the hardenable material.

Claim 7

A superconducting magnet according to claim 3, wherein the hollow member has a C-shaped cross section, the partition member has a square bracket-shaped cross section defining three inner surfaces and having two edges overlapping with edges of the hollow member, and the three inner surfaces of the partition member are in tight contact with three of the four rectangular surfaces of the coil structure.

Claim 8

A superconducting magnet according to claim 2, wherein said winding former means includes: a first plate portion opposing the open area; and second and third plate portions which are integral with said first plate portion and which extend substantialy in a perpendicular direction from both ends of said first plate portion.

Claim 9

A superconducting magnet according to claim 6, wherein said coil structure has three surfaces which are respectively made contact with said first to third plate portions, and one surface which is spaced apart from said cover member.

Claim 10

A superconducting magnet according to claim 7, wherein said coil holding means includes a plate portion in continuous face-contact with said one surface of said coil structure, said coil structure is accommodated in a hermetically sealed space which is defined by said first to third plate portions of said winding former means and said plate portion of said coil holding means.

Claim 11

A superconducting magnet according to claim 6, wherein said coil structure has two surfaces which are respectively made contact with the surfaces of said second and third plate portions of said winding former means, one surface which is made contact with one surface of said cover member, and one surface spaced apart from one surface of said first plate portion.

Claim 12

A superconducting magnet according to claim 9, wherein said coil holding means includes a plate portion having a surface in contact with said one surface of said coil structure, and said coil structure is accommodated in a hermetically sealed space which is defined by said second and third plate portions of said winding former means, said cover member and said plate portion of said coil holding means.

Claim 13

A superconducting magnet according to claim 1, wherein said annular vessel means includes a hollow annular pipe member which has an open area of a predetermined width at a peripheral section thereof and which has a C-shaped sectional profile, said coil holding means includes groove defining means for defining a substantially rectangular channel-like groove which has an opening corresponding to the open area of said pipe member, said groove defining means being coupled to said open area.

Claim 14

A superconducting magnet according to claim 11, wherein said pipe member and said groove defining means are integral with each other.

Claim 15

A superconducting magnet according to claim 11, wherein said pipe member and said groove defining means define a closed space corresponding to the coolant path.

Claim 16

A superconducting magnet according to claim 13, wherein said groove defining means securely supports said coil structure having a rectangular sectional profile in face-contact with three of the four surfaces of said coil structure.

Claim 17

A superconducting magnet according to claim 14, wherein the remaining surface of said coil structure is in face-contact with said cover member, whereby said coil structure is sealed in a closed space defined by said groove defining means and said cover member.

Claim 18

A superconducting magnet according to claim 15, wherein said cover member has an injection means for injecting said hardenable material.