Patent ID: 6034324
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: H01F,H02G,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A self-protected modular high temperature superconducting down-lead for use in transmitting large currents from room temperatures to cryogenic temperatures, comprising:(a) an upper stage having a warm end, a cold end, and a gas cooled conducting material therebetween, said upper stage further comprising means for removably electrically connecting said conducting material at both said warm end and said cold end;(b) a middle stage having a current distributor at a warm end thereof and a current collector at a cold end thereof, said middle stage further comprising a safety lead extending between said current distributor and said curreut collector with a plurality of high temperature superconducting elements extending along said safety lead, said middle stage further comprising means for removably elecrically connecting said warm end of said middle stage to said cold end of said upper stage, said cold end of said middle stage further comprising low temperature superconducting cable means for connecting said high temperature superconducting elements to said current collector; and,(c) a lower stage comprising means for removably electrically connecting said lower stage to said current collector of said middle stage;said safety lead having multiple grooves on an outer perimeter thereof, each of said grooves being sized to accept one of said plurality of high temperature superconducting elements, each of said high temperatne superconducting elements comprising a stack of tapes which are intimately connected to each other and extend along said safety lead, each in a respective one of said grooves.