Apparatus and method for impregnating superconductor windings

• US 5,167,715 A
• Filed: 03/04/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gross, Dan A., Schoch, Karl F., Laskaris, Evangelos T., Kalafala, Ahmed K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wityshyn, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US07/664,155
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 118/50, 118/50.1, 118/693, 118/DIG. 19, 118/DIG. 22, 427/62, 427/116, 427/294, 501/1, 501/730, 501/739, 501/826, 501/924, 29/599, 29/606, 29/609, 29/820
• US Class Current: 118/712
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/127 Encapsulating or impregnating encapsulating coil and core H01F41/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 6/06 Coils, e.g. winding, insulating, terminating or casing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 118/22 Wire and cord miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5353 Assembled on core

Abstract

A method and apparatus for impregnating the superconductors on a superconductor winding with epoxy such that a vacuum/pressure containment vessel, in which the winding is placed, allows epoxy to be introduced into the vessel whereby the epoxy eventually impregnates the superconductors through the application of various evacuating, pressuring and epoxy transporting steps.

Claims

1. An apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings with an epoxy compound, comprising:

a containment vessel;

a superconductor winding comprising a bobbin having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces with superconductor wires wound on said outer cylindrical surface and said winding being locatable substantially within said vessel wherein said bobbin further comprises;

a sensing means and channels located substantially on said outer cylindrical surface of said bobbin;

a pressure and vacuum means for said vessel;

a heating means for said vessel; and

a means to introduce an epoxy compound into said vessel for impregnating said winding.

2. The apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings, according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means is located substantially on said bobbin for sensing said epoxy compound.

3. The apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings, according to claim 2, wherein said sensing means is located substantially in said channels.

4. The apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings, according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises:

a signal means.

5. The apparatus for impregnating superconducting windings according to claim 4, wherein said signal means is substantially located adjacent to said winding and said heating means.

6. The apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings, according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is substantially located along said inner cylindrical surface of said bobbin.

7. The apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings, according to claim 1, wherein said winding is substantially located within an epoxy retaining cylinder means.

8. The apparatus for impregnating superconductor windings, according to claim 7, wherein said cylinder means is constructed of copper.