Patent · US Expired

Quench protection for actively shielded magnets

US5644233A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
6References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 22, 1996
Grant dateJul 1, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E40/60
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention is concerned with actively shielded magnetic resonance (MR) devices and more particularly with protecting such systems in the event of a quench by preventing changes in the stray field outside the magnetic devices. The invention includes dividing the system's coils into groups each comprised of inner and outer coils and arranged so that the net dipole moment, and the contribution to stray field from each group is always close to zero. Each group is connected in parallel to a protective unit, for example a resistor, so that the excess current can flow through the protective unit in the event of a quench; thus avoiding the burnout of the system's coils.

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