Rotating superconductor magnet for producing rotating lobed magnetic field lines

• US 4,084,209 A
• Filed: 05/21/1976
• Issued: 04/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Hilal, Sadek K., Leonard, Edward F., Sampson, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US05/688,873
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 361/141, 335/216, 323/44 F, 128/1.3, 128/1.4, 128/1.5
• US Class Current: 361/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/009 with a varying magnetic field acting upon the human body, e.g. an implant therein
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 6/00 Superconducting magnets; Superconducting coils magnetic resonance assemblies using superconducting coil systems G01R33/3815
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/851 Control circuit for electromagnetic device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/879 Magnet or electromagnet

Abstract

This invention provides a rotating superconductor magnet for producing a rotating lobed magnetic field, comprising a cryostat; a superconducting magnet in the cryostat having a collar for producing a lobed magnetic field having oppositely directed adjacent field lines; rotatable support means for selectively rotating the superconductor magnet; and means for energizing the superconductor magnet.

Claims

1. A rotating superconductor magnet, comprising:

a. a cryostat;

b. a superconducting magnet in the cryostat having an iron collar for producing a four lobed magnetic field having oppositely directed adjacent field lines;

c. rotatable support means for selectively rotating the superconductor magnet in a first direction in a first plane at continuously variable frequencies in the cryostat; and

d. means for energizing the superconductor magnet with a persistent current to produce a persistent magnetic field to produce the four lobed magnetic field lines around the magnet that extend beyond its immediate vicinity, so that the magnet is selectively rotated at continuously variable frequencies to produce a rotating magnetic field having rotating field lines and lobes having opposite field line directions extending beyond the immediate vicinity of the magnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 having means for selectively vertically biasing the cryostat, magnet and rotatable support means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 having means for selectively rotating the cryostat, magnet and rotatable support means at continuously variable frequencies.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 having means for selectively rotating the cryostat, magnet and rotatable support means in a second direction in a horizontal plane at continuously variable frequencies, when the rotatable support means is rotating the superconductor magnet in a first direction in the first plane.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for energizing the magnet with a persistent current, comprises:

a. a solenoid forming the magnet;

b. switching means that is connected in series to the opposite ends of the solenoid for selectively forming an endless superconducting circuit;

c. power source means for energizing the solenoid through the switching means;

d. means for opening and closing the switching means to open and close the endless superconducting circuit; and

e. means for selectively connecting and mechanically disconnecting the power source means from the solenoid when the endless superconducting circuit is closed so that the solenoid contains a persistent current and is disconnected from the power source means for the continuous rotation fo the solenoid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the cryostat, comprises:

a. stationary container means;

b. rotatable container means inside the stationary container means containing the superconductor magnet;

c. bearings between the stationary container means and the rotatable container means;

d. drive means connected to the rotatable container means and supported on the stationary container means for rotating the rotatable container means in the bearings; and

e. means for selectively filling the rotatable container means with cryogenic cooling fluid to maintain the superconductor magnet below its critical superconducting temperature while it is being rotated in a stationary container means by said drive means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 having:

a. means for rotating the stationary container means in a horizontal plane;

b. means for rotating the stationary container means in a vertical plane; and

c. means for selectively biasing the stationary container means vertically correspondingly selectively to vertically bias and to rotate the rotatable container means in horizontal and vertical planes while the rotatable container means is being rotated in the stationary container means by said drive means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the vertical drive means for selectively vertically biasing the stationary container means has hydraulic actuating means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the means for selectively rotating the stationary container means in a vertical plane has:

a. rotatable first and second gear means;

b. lever means connected to the second gear means;

c. slide means connected to the lever means and the stationary container means for selectively moving the lever means up and down the slide means when the first gear means is rotated; and

d. pivot means for supporting the vertical drive means while permitting the same vertically selectively to bias the stationary container means, and while permitting the first and second gear means to cause the stationary container means to be selectively rotated in a vertical plane by selectively sliding the lever means up and down the slide means.