Patent · US Expired

Superconducting device, apparatus and method for selectively supplying current to a load

US4897558A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
4References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 1, 1987
Grant dateJan 30, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 1, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S505/86
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A load is selectively supplied with current from an energy storing inductor shunted by a superconducting device. In the normal and superconducting states, the superconducting device respectively has an impedance greater than and much less than that of the load. Circulating current from the inductor flows through the device while it is in a superconducting state. The load is connected to the inductor and superconducting device so that when the device is in the normal state circulating current in the inductor is swtiched to flow from the device through the load. A solenoid wound on the superconducting structure responds to a current source to induce an axial magnetic field in the structure. The axial magnetic field induces in the structure an azimuthal current having sufficient density to change the device from the superconducting to the normal state.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.