Thermally switched ferromagnetic latching support system

• US 8,296,913 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hull, John R., Strasik, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US12/414,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20100244343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 292/27, 29/8, 29/3, 29/6, 29/7, 29/95, 293/29, 310/12.31, 310/90.5
• US Class Current: 29/227
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/025 for power storage
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/09 with magnetic bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 15/04 Repulsion by the Meissner effect superconductors or hyperconductors in general H10N60/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/12 Buckle making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/21 Finger-ring forming or sizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53622 Helical spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic

Abstract

A ferromagnetic latching support system for positioning a surface is disclosed. The latching support system includes a mechanical support and a ferromagnetic device.

Claims

1. A ferromagnetic latching support system for supporting an object, comprising:

a support surface for the object;

a mechanical support system; and

a high temperature superconductor support system, the high temperature superconductor system being a levitation device that includes a permanent magnet element and a high temperature superconductor element;

wherein the mechanical support system supports the surface and the object when the temperature of the support surface is above the Curie temperature, T_c2, of the high temperature superconductor element; and

wherein the high temperature superconductor system levitates the surface and the object when the temperature of the support surface is below the Curie temperature T_c2 of the high temperature superconductor element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical support system includes a retractable mechanical support element.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the retractable mechanical support system includes a support post, an elastic support element and an elastic element.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the high temperature superconductor element is in thermal contact with the support surface.

5. The system of claim 1 further including a source for cooling the support surface so that the support surface is a cooled thermal control surface.

6. The system of claim 5 further including a cooling fluid for cooling the thermal control surface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the cooling fluid is a cryogenic fluid.

8. The system of claim 5 further including a cooling system for cooling the thermal control surface.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the cooling system is a solid state cooling system.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the high temperature superconductor support system provides passive stability to the support surface for the object in three orthogonal directions.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the high temperature superconductor element is in thermal contact with the support surface for the object.

12. The system of claim 1 further including a cold source, wherein the high temperature superconductor element is in thermal contact with the cold source.