Radial support system for a MR magnet

Claim 1

A refrigerated superconductive MR magnet comprising: a generally cylindrical vacuum vessel defining an axially extending bore and defining a cryocooler penetration situated on an imaginary radially extending line from the center of the vacuum vessel along the horizontal midplane of the vacuum vessel penetrating one side of the vacuum vessel; a magnet cartridge having a cylindrical shape and situated in the vacuum vessel concentric with and spaced away from the bore of the magnet; a cryocooler situated in the cryocooler penetration exerting a force on one side of said magnet cartridge at a central position along the horizontal midplane of the magnet cartridge, said cryocooler capable of providing cooling of said magnet cartridge; a first and second vertical strut, each having a multiaxis joint at either end, the multiaxis joint at one end of the first strut secured to the horizontal midplane of the magnet cartridge on the side of the magnet cartridge opposite the side where the cryocooler exerts a force on the magnet cartridge, the multiaxis joint at the other end of the first strut secured to the vacuum vessel above the first end, said second vertical strut situated symmetrically about the magnet cartridge axial midplane and secured between said magnet cartridge and vacuum vessel, said first and second vertical struts supporting half the weight of the magnet cartridge; and a first and second pair of lateral struts, each of said lateral struts having a multiaxis joint at either end, said first lateral strut of said first pair having the multiaxis joint on the first end secured to the magnet cartridge above the horizontal midplane on the side of the magnet cartridge where the cryocooler exerts a force on the magnet cartridge, said first lateral strut of the first pair forming an acute angle with the horizontal midplane of the magnet cartridge and extending upward toward the vacuum vessel, the multiaxis joint at the other end of the first lateral strut of the first pair secured to the vacuum vessel, the multiaxis joint at the end of the second lateral strut of the first pair secured to the magnet cartridge below the horizontal midplane on the side of the magnet cartridge where the cryocooler exerts a force on the magnet cartridge, said second lateral strut of the first pair forming an acute angle with the horizontal midplane of the magnet cartridge and extending downward toward the vacuum vessel, said second pair of lateral struts situated symmetrically about the axial midplane of the magnet cartridge, the multiaxis joints at ends of the first and second struts of the second pair both secured between the magnet cartridge and the vacuum vessel, said first and second lateral struts reacting to the force of said cryocooler on said magnet cartridge and one half the weight of the magnet cartridge.