Patent ID: 6129477
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: F16C,F16D,H02K,Y02E,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A torque tube for use in connecting a rotor shaft to a superconducting motor rotor winding support, the tube comprising:a rigid tubular member formed symmetrically around an axis of a first material, the member having proximal and distal ends and internal and external surfaces; andfirst and second couplers connectable to the shaft and support, respectively, the couplers formed of a second material which is different than the first material, each coupler including a circular end plate and a circumferential wall extending essentially axially from an edge of the end plate to a wall edge opposite the end plate, each wall having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface including proximal and distal inner surfaces, each proximal inner surface separating the distal inner surface from an associated end plate, each proximal inner surface slopes radially outwardly and axially away from an adjacent end plate and each distal inner surface slopes radially outwardly and axially away from an adjacent proximal inner surface to an associated wall edge, wherein the distal inner surfaces form both proximal and distal second securing surfaces and the external surface forms both proximal and distal first securing surfaces which conform to the second securing surfaces and, wherein, the distal inner surface defines a first angle with respect to the axis, the outer surface defines a second angle with respect to the distal inner surface, each of the first and second materials is characterized by a shear modulus, the first and second angles are a function of the shear modulus and the distal first and second securing surfaces are secured together and the proximal first and second securing surfaces are secured together by an adhesive.