Superconducting current reversing switch
US4906861A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1988 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S505/851
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A superconducting switching device having no moving components for reversing current flow through a load. This load typically is a superconducting magnet and, in this application, the present invention also selectively serves as a persistent switch. The invention includes a pair of switching units connected between the load (magnet) and a current source. These switching units each have a pair of superconductor members and a mechanism for selectively producing in the switching units either a substantial electrical resistance or no resistance. Through the use of a control logic, the level of resistance of the switching units can be changed to effect the direction of current flow. In the case of the superconductor magnet, both switch units can be simultaneously made to have substantially zero resistance, and their interconnection forms the persistent switch for the superconducting magnet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.