(19)
(11) EP 1 279 886 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
14.12.2005 Bulletin 2005/50

(43) Date of publication A2:
29.01.2003 Bulletin 2003/05

(21) Application number: 02076247.2

(22) Date of filing: 29.03.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F17C 13/00, H01F 6/04, F25D 19/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 26.07.2001 US 915916

(71) Applicant: Applied Superconetics, Inc.
San Diego, California 92121 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Sarwinski, Raymond E.
    San Diego, California 92122 (US)
  • Stonecipher, William E.
    San Diego, California 92131 (US)
  • Breneman, Bruce C.
    Rancho Santa Fe, California 92067 (US)

(74) Representative: Shortt, Peter Bernard et al
TOMKINS & CO., 5 Dartmouth Road
Dublin 6
Dublin 6 (IE)

   


(54) Cryocooler interface sleeve for a superconducting magnet and method of use


(57) A method for cooling a superconducting device (16) by using a sleeve assembly (12) which thermally interconnects a two stage cryocooler (14) with the device. In operation, the cryocooler (14) is moveable relative to the sleeve assembly (12) between a first configuration wherein the cryocooler (14) is engaged with the sleeve assembly (12), and a second configuration wherein the cryocooler (14) is disengaged from the sleeve assembly (12). The cryocooler (14) is disposed in the sleeve assembly (12) with the cooling element (24) of the cryocooler (14) positioned at a distance from the cylinder (32) of the sleeve assembly (12) to establish thermal communication therebetween. Also, the cooling probe (26) of the cryocooler (14) is in contact with the receptacle (30) of the sleeve assembly (12) and is urged against the receptacle (30) to establish thermal communication therebetween. A bellows (28) joins the cryocooler (14) with the sleeve assembly (12) to create an enclosed chamber (50) therebetween and helium is pumped into the sleeve assembly (12) to maintain an operational pressure in the sleeve assembly (12).






Search report