US5116810A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for making electrical connections to high temperature superconductors using a metallic precursor and the product made thereby
Assignee: American Superconductor Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-16
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Granted: 1992-05-26
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Expires: 2009-10-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a process for making a superconducting connection between a pair of superconducting ceramic oxide pieces, each of the pieces having been formed by combining the metallic elements of the superconducting oxide in substantially the stoichiometric proportions needed to form the superconducting oxide into a precursor and forming the precursor into a shaped piece. The process comprises the steps of: contacting each of the shaped pieces with the other; connecting each of the shaped pieces to the other by means for forming a metallurgical bond between the shaped pieces; and oxidizing the connected shaped pieces under conditions sufficient to oxidize the metallic elements to the superconducting oxide. In other embodiments of the invention, the process is for forming a superconducting connection between a pair of pieces having a superconducting ceramic oxide/noble metal composition; or for forming a joint between a superconducting ceramic oxide and a normal conductor.
Inventors
- 👤 Chandrashekhar H. Joshi
- 👤 Christopher A. Craven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:56
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N60/00; H10N60/80; H10N60/01; H10N60/0268; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/93; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/70; Y10S505/701; Y10S505/702; Y10S505/706; Y10S505/725; Y10S505/736; Y10S505/739
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A process for forming a superconducting connection between a pair of superconducting ceramic oxide pieces, each of said pair formed by combining the metallic elements of said superconducting oxide in substantially the stoichiometric proportions needed to form said superconducting oxide into a precursor and forming said precursor into a shaped piece, said process comprising the steps of: a. placing each of said shaped pieces in a protected environment; b. contacting each of said shaped pieces with the other; c. connecting each of said shaped pieces to the other by means for forming a metallurgical bond between the shaped pieces; and d. oxidizing said connected shaped pieces under conditions sufficient to oxidize said metallic elements to said superconducting oxide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for forming a superconducting connection between a pair of superconducting ceramic oxide pieces, each of said pair formed by combining the metallic elements of said superconducting oxide in substantially the stoichiometric proportions needed to form said superconducting oxide into a precursor and forming said precursor into a shaped piece, said process comprising the steps of: a. placing each of said shaped pieces in a protected environment; b. contacting each of said shaped pieces with the other; c. connecting each of said shaped pieces to the other by means for forming a metallurgical bond between the shaped pieces; and d. oxidizing said connected shaped pieces under conditions sufficient to oxidize said metallic elements to said superconducting oxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, said means for forming a metallurgical bond comprising spot welding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, said means for forming a metallurgical bond comprising laser welding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, said means for forming a metallurgical bond comprising ultrasonic bonding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, said means for forming a metallurgical bond comprising flash butt welding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1, said superconducting pieces comprising an oxide of a general formula R a M b X c O y , where R is chosen from the group Y, Yb, Er, Ho, Eu, Dy, Gd, La, Pr, Sm and Nd.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1, said superconducting oxide comprising a general formula (M l-x Q x ) a L b Ca c Cu d O y ), where M is chosen from the group Pb and Sb.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic elements comprise Pb, Bi, Sr, Ca, and Cu.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic elements comprise Pb, Tl, Ba, Ca and Cu.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic elements comprise Y, Ba, and Cu.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein at least one of said shaped pieces comprises a wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein at least one of said shaped pieces comprises a ribbon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein at least one of said shaped pieces comprises a sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein at least one of said shaped pieces comprises a bar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein at least one of said shaped pieces comprises a tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6, where M is chosen from the group Ba, Ce and Th.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6, where X is chosen from the group Cu, Bi, K, Ni.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6, where a, b and c are in the ratio 1:2:3 respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6, where a, b and c are in the ratio 2:4:7 respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6, where a, b and c are in the ratio 1:2:4 respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 where Q is chosen from the group Bi and Ti.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 7 where a, b, c and d are in the ratios 2:2:n:n+1, where n is chosen from the group zero and all positive integers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 21 where L is chosen from the group Sr and Ba.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process for preparing a superconducting connection between a pair of pieces made up of a composite of a superconducting ceramic oxide phase and a noble metal phase, each of said pieces formed by combining the metallic elements of said superconducting oxide in substantially the stoichiometric proportions needed to form said superconducting oxide with said noble metal to form an alloy and forming said combined alloy into a shaped piece, said process comprising the steps of: a. contacting each of said shaped pieces with the other; b. connecting each of said shaped pieces to the other by means of forming a metallurgical bond between the shaped pieces; and c. oxidizing said connected shaped pieces under conditions sufficient to oxidize said metallic elements to said superconducting oxide without oxidizing said noble metal to form said composite.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process for preparing a superconducting connection between a pair of pieces made up of a composite of a superconducting ceramic oxide phase and a noble metal phase, each of said pieces formed by combining the metallic elements of said superconducting oxide in substantially the stoichiometric proportions needed to form said superconducting oxide with said noble metal to form an alloy and forming said combined alloy into a shaped piece, said process comprising the steps of: a. contacting each of said shaped pieces with the other; b. connecting each of said shaped pieces to the other by means of forming a metallurgical bond between the shaped pieces; and c. oxidizing said connected shaped pieces under conditions sufficient to oxidize said metallic elements to said superconducting oxide without oxidizing said noble metal to form said composite.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 24, further comprising the step of placing each of said shaped pieces in a protected environment before said contacting step.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 24 wherein said noble metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, platinum, palladium and gold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |