Patent Publication Number: US-6334313-B1

Title: Apparatus for cooling superconductor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to apparatus for cooling superconductor; and, in particular, to heat insulation type apparatus for cooling superconductor. 
     2. Related Background Art 
     As a conventional apparatus for cooling a superconductor, a heat insulation type cooling apparatus for cooling a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) to a superconductivity transition temperature (T c ) or lower is reported in a literature (T. S. Lee et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum., 67(12), 1996). This cooling apparatus has an outer container, an inner container accommodating liquid nitrogen, and a thermal conductor for conducting the heat of liquid nitrogen. The cooling apparatus is also equipped with a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the gap between a SQUID chip attached to the front end of the thermal conductor and a vacuum window of a cup-shaped assembly attached to the outer container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As a result of diligent studies, the inventors have found that the above-mentioned cooling apparatus has the following problems. Namely: 
     1) The position adjusting mechanism and other constituent parts have a large number of components, and a bellows is necessary for allowing the cup-shaped assembly to move up and down, whereby the apparatus tends to be complicated and expensive. 
     2) Since the thermal conductor is elongated due to the structure of the apparatus, the efficiency of cooling the SQUID chip is not always sufficient. Also, the thermal conductor comprises a copper rod and a sapphire rod which are connected to each other. When different kinds of members are thus connected to each other, the thermal conductivity deteriorates at the junction therebetween, thus yielding a possibility that the efficiency of cooling the SQUID chip further decreases. 
     3) Since the structure of the apparatus is complicated, assembling and maintaining operations are cumbersome. Therefore, an improvement is desired in workability y at the time of assembling and maintenance. 
     In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling apparatus for a superconductor, which can be made at a lower cost as compared with conventional ones, is excellent in cooling performances, and is capable of improving the workability. 
     The inventors have further conducted studies based on the above-mentioned findings, thereby accomplishing the present invention. Namely, the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer container, substantially shaped like a cup, comprising a female thread portion at an inner peripheral face of an open end thereof and a window at a bottom wall thereof; an inner container, substantially shaped like a cup and disposed within the outer container, having an outer peripheral face of an open end thereof provided with a male thread portion adapted to engage the female thread portion; and a thermal conductor, disposed at a position facing the window so as to penetrate through the inner container, having one end positioned inside the inner container and the other end positioned outside the inner container, the other end having a superconductor attached thereto; wherein a space between the outer container and inner container defined by the engagement of the female thread portion and the male thread portion is vacuumed so as to form a vacuum heat-insulating layer. At the time of cooling the superconductor, a coolant for cooling the superconductor is accommodated inside the inner container. 
     Preferably, a lead for transmitting information obtained by the superconductor is connected to the superconductor, and the inner container is formed with an outlet for drawing out the lead therethrough. 
     Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an annular sealing member, disposed within the vacuum heat-insulating layer, abutting against both of the inner and outer containers at a part on the inner side of the vacuum heat-insulating layer than the engaging part of the female and male thread portions, so as to seal the vacuum heat-insulating layer. 
     Preferably, in this case, the apparatus further comprises a bypass member, disposed within the inner container, having one end connected to a part of the inner periphery of the inner container below the sealing member and the other end connected to a part of the inner periphery of the inner container above the sealing member, for bypassing thermal conduction from the coolant with respect to the sealing member. It is further preferred that the inner container be made of fiber-reinforced plastics. 
     The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a first embodiment concerning the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a second embodiment concerning the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a third embodiment concerning the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment concerning the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment concerning the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, elements identical to each other will be referred to with numerals identical to each other, without repeating their overlapping explanations. 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a first embodiment concerning the apparatus for cooling a superconductor in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling apparatus  1  (apparatus for cooling a superconductor) comprises a substantially cup-shaped outer container  2  made of glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), and a substantially cup-shaped inner container  3  made of GFRP disposed therewithin such that their bottom walls face each other. Within the inner container  3 , liquid nitrogen  8  as a coolant is accommodated. GFRP has a thermal conductivity lower than that of metals, and a nonmagnetic characteristic. 
     Also, the inner peripheral face of the open end of the outer container  2  is provided with a female thread portion  21 . On the other hand, the outer peripheral face of the inner container  3  is provided with a male thread portion  31  adapted to engage the female thread portion  21 . As these thread portions  21 ,  31  engage each other, the outer container  2  and the inner container  3  are connected to each other. Also, the pressure in the inner space defined by this engagement between the outer container  2  and the inner container  3  is reduced to a near vacuum. This state is maintained, as will be explained later, so as to form a vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 . 
     At a part of the inner periphery of the outer container  2  on the inner side of the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  than the engaging part between the female thread portion  21  and the male thread portion  31  (near the engaging part) within the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 , an annular groove  22  is formed. An O ring  5 , as a sealing member, is installed in the annular groove  22 . The O ring  5  is pressed against the outer periphery of the inner container  3 , whereby the near vacuum state is held in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 . 
     Also, an annular bypass member  33  is installed inside the inner container  3  on the upper end side thereof. The lower end of the bypass member  33  is connected to the inner periphery of the inner container  3  at a part lower than the O ring  5 . Also, the upper end of the bypass member  33  is connected to the inner periphery of the inner container  3  at a part higher than the O ring  5 , whereby a closed space  34  is defined by the inner periphery of the inner container  3  and the bypass member  33 . In the inner container  3 , the side wall in the lower part including the position where the lower end of the bypass member  33  is connected has a thickness smaller than that in the upper part thereof. 
     Further, the bottom wall of the outer container  2  is provided with an opening  26 . Joined to the outer face of the outer container  2  about the opening  26  is a sapphire sheet  23 , as a window, having a thickness, e.g., on the order of several hundreds of micrometers, smaller than that of the bottom wall of the outer container  2 , so as to close the opening  26 . The sapphire sheet  23  has magnetic permeability and translucency. Also, an O ring  24  is disposed between the sapphire sheet  23  and the outer face of the outer container  2  about the opening  26 , thereby sealing the joint between the opening  26  and the sapphire sheet  23 . 
     On the other hand, a sapphire rod  6 , as a thermal conductor, fixedly penetrates through the bottom wall of the inner container  3  at a position concentric with the opening  26 , whereas the resulting penetrated portion is sealed with an adhesive mainly composed of an epoxy resin. One end of the sapphire rod  6  is positioned inside the inner container  3  so as to be in contact with liquid nitrogen  8 . The other end of the sapphire rod  6  is disposed within the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 , more specifically at a position outside the inner container  3  facing the sapphire sheet  23 . At the other end of the sapphire rod  6 , a high transition temperature (high-T c ) superconducting magnetic sensor  7 , as a superconductor, is installed. In the vicinity of the bottom wall of the outer container  2  therebelow, a sample  40  to be subjected to magnetic measurement is installed so as to face the a high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  through the sapphire sheet  23 . 
     Connected to the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  is a lead  71  for transmitting the magnetic information in the vicinity of the sample  40  obtained by the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7 . The lead  71  travels through an outlet  25 , which is formed in the side wall of the inner container  3  so as to be surrounded by the bypass member  33 , and is drawn out of the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  through an outlet  35  formed at the upper part of the bypass member  4 , so as to be connected to a signal processing means  90 . The outlet  25  is sealed with an adhesive  32  mainly composed of an epoxy resin, whereby the near vacuum state is maintained in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 . When liquid nitrogen  8  is supplied into the inner container  3  from above the open end thereof, then the cooling apparatus  1  for a superconductor shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. 
     In thus configured cooling apparatus  1 , liquid nitrogen  8  accommodated in the inner container  3  cools the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  to the vicinity of liquid nitrogen temperature (about 77 K) by way of the sapphire rod  6 . In this cooled state, the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  is capable of acting as a magnetic sensor for detecting the weak magnetism induced by the sample  40 . Also, since the end portion of the sapphire rod  6  conducting the heat of liquid nitrogen  8  and the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  are located within the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 , the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  is blocked from heat exchange with the outside. Thus, stable operations are secured in the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  since its cooled state is maintained. 
     Also, since the cooling apparatus  1  has such a structure that the male thread portion  31  of the inner container  3  engages the female thread portion  21  of the outer container  2  so as to connect the outer container  2  and the inner container  3  to each other, the distance between the bottom wall of the outer container  2  and the bottom wall of the inner container  3  can be adjusted easily and freely by changing the engaging position between the thread portions  21 ,  31 . As a consequence, the gap between the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  and the sapphire sheet  23  (window) is adjusted easily, so that the distance therebetween is optimized, whereby the sensitivity in measurement of the sample  40  can be enhanced. For example, increasing the amount of screwing of the inner container  3  into the outer container  2  makes the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  approach the sapphire sheet  23 , so that the distance from the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  to the sample  40  can become 1 mm or less, whereby magnetic measurement with a very high sensitivity can be carried out easily and reliably. Since the gap between the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  and the sapphire sheet  23  is adjusted by changing the engaging position between the thread portions  21 ,  31 , the position adjusting mechanism having a large number of components and a complicated structure provided in the conventional apparatus is unnecessary. As a consequence, the cooling apparatus  1  can be made inexpensive. 
     Also, since the sapphire rod  6  (thermal conductor) does not project outside the outer container  2  so as to be elongated, the distance by which the heat of liquid nitrogen  8  is conducted can be shortened, so as to suppress the dissipation of heat. Hence, the performance of cooling the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be improved. Also, since the sapphire rod  6  is not elongated, the thermal conductor can be made of a single kind of member, i.e., sapphire, whereby the performance of cooling the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can further be improved as compared with the conventional thermal conductor in which different kinds of members are connected to each other. 
     In addition, since liquid nitrogen  8  can be supplied to the inner container  3  from above the open end thereof, workability at the time of supplying a coolant can be improved. Further, since the containers  2 ,  3  are connected to each other by simply making the male thread portion  31  of the inner container  3  engage the female thread portion  21  of the outer container  2 , the conventional cumbersome operations are not necessary for attaching and detaching the containers  2 ,  3 . As a consequence, the workability at the time of assembling and maintenance can be improved remarkably. 
     Also, since the lead  71  connected to the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  is drawn out of the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  through the outlet  35  formed at the upper part of the bypass member  33  by way of the outlet  25  of the inner container  3 , it is sufficient for the lead  71  to pass through two holes in the same direction in order to be drawn to the outside. Therefore, the operation of passing the lead  71  can be simplified as compared with the conventional operation of making it travel back and forth between two holes, whereby the workability can further be improved. 
     Further, since the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is sealed with the O ring  5  at a part on the inner side of the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  than the engaging part between the thread portions  21 ,  31 , it can sufficiently keep the vacuum from leaking, i.e., the air from flowing into the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4 , from the engaging part. As a consequence, the state of reduced pressure (near vacuum) in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is further favorably held, whereby the cooled state of the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be maintained further stably. 
     Also, the bypass member  33  bypasses the flow of the heat from liquid nitrogen  8  conducted through the side wall of the inner container  3 , so that the heat of liquid nitrogen  8  escapes from the front side of the O ring  5  in contact with the side wall of the inner container  3  to the vicinity of the upper end of the side wall of the inner container  3 , whereby the O ring  5  is sufficiently kept from being cured upon cooling by way of the side wall of the inner container  3 . Therefore, the sealing function is prevented from lowering due to the curing of the O ring  5 , whereby the state of reduced pressure (near vacuum) in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is further favorably held. As a result, the cooled state of the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be maintained further stably. 
     Furthermore, since the inner container  3  is made of GFRP having a thermal conductivity lower than that of metals, the heat of liquid nitrogen  8  can be restrained from being conducted through the inner container  3  and thereby being dissipated to the outside. As a consequence, the performance of holding liquid nitrogen  8  is improved. Also, since the thermal conductivity of the inner container  3  is low as such, the O ring  24  can be restrained from being cooled by the heat conducted through the outer container  2  and the O ring  5  in contact with the inner container  3 . Hence, the sealing with the O ring  24  is sufficiently prevented from breaking. Therefore, the state of reduced pressure (near vacuum) in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is further favorably held, whereby the cooled state of the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be maintained further stably. 
     Moreover, since the outer container  2  and the inner container  3  are made of GFRP which is nonmagnetic, the magnetic measurement of the sample  40  by means of the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be prevented from being magnetically affected. Therefore, the weak magnetism in the vicinity of the sample  40  can be detected with a very high accuracy and precision. 
     Also, since the outlet  25  is disposed so as to be surrounded by the bypass member  33 , the sealing portion formed by the adhesive  32  would not be cooled with liquid nitrogen  8  no matter where the fluid level of liquid nitrogen  8  is. Therefore, the sealing portion can be prevented from peeling off due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the adhesive  32  and the inner container  3 . As a result, the sealing state is sufficiently held, so that the state of reduced pressure (near vacuum) in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is favorably held, whereby the cooled state of the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be maintained further stably. 
     In addition, the lower part of the side wall of the inner container  3  including the position where the lower end of the bypass member  33  is connected has a thickness smaller than that of the upper part, whereas the lower end of the bypass member  33  is connected to this thinner side wall part, whereby the heat can be more likely to flow toward the bypass member  33  than in the thicker upper part of the side wall of the inner container  3 . As a consequence, the O ring  5  can further be prevented from curing upon cooling, so that the state of reduced pressure (near vacuum) in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is favorably held, whereby the cooled state of the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be maintained further stably. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a second embodiment concerning the cooling apparatus for a superconductor in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the window  27  in the cooling apparatus  10  (apparatus for cooling a superconductor) is integrally formed with the outer container  2  by cutting a part of its bottom wall from inside the outer container  2 . If the material of the outer container  2  does not have translucency, then the window  27  may not have translucency. However, it is not always necessary for the window  27  to have translucency. Since the window  27  is nonmagnetic as with the outer container  2 , magnetic measurement of the sample  40  can be carried out favorably. Also, in the cooling apparatus  10 , as with the cooling apparatus  1  shown in FIG. 1, the gap between the window  27  and the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be optimized by adjusting the amount of screwing of the male thread portion  31  into the female thread portion  21 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a third embodiment concerning the cooling apparatus for a superconductor in accordance with the present invention. In the cooling apparatus  20  (apparatus for cooling a superconductor), as shown in FIG. 3, the outlet  25  is located lower than the lower end of the bypass member  33 . Since the cooling apparatus  20  does not necessitate the outlet  35  in the bypass member  33  provided in the cooling apparatus  1  shown in FIG. 1, the manufacture thereof becomes easier, whereby the cooling apparatus  20  can be made less expensive. Also, in this case, it is sufficient for the lead  71  to pass through a single hole in order to be drawn to the outside, whereby the operation of passing the lead  71  can be made simpler than the conventional operation of passing it through two holes. Also, in the cooling apparatus  20 , as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid level of liquid nitrogen  8  can be set lower than the outlet  25 , so as to sufficiently prevent the sealing portion formed by the adhesive  32  from peeling off. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment concerning the cooling apparatus for a superconductor in accordance with the present invention. In the cooling apparatus  30  (apparatus for cooling a superconductor), as shown in FIG. 4, the closed space  34  formed in the cooling apparatus  1  shown in FIG. 1 is filled with a heat-insulating material  36  made of urethane foam material or the like, for example. In thus configured cooling apparatus  30 , the thermal conduction from the bypass member  33  to the side wall of the inner container  3  is sufficiently blocked by the heat-insulating material  36 , whereby the sealing portion formed by the adhesive  32  would not directly be cooled with liquid nitrogen  8 . Hence, the sealing portion can be prevented from peeling off due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the adhesive  32  and the inner container  3 . As a result, the sealed state is sufficiently held, so that the state of reduced pressure (near vacuum) in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  is favorably held, whereby the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  can be maintained further stably. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment concerning the cooling apparatus for a superconductor in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the cooling apparatus  60  (apparatus for cooling a superconductor) does not have the bypass member  33  provided in the cooling apparatus  1  shown in FIG.  1 . Thus configured cooling apparatus  60  can be made less expensive as there is no bypass member  33 . In this case, when the fluid level of liquid nitrogen  8  is set lower than the O ring  5  and the outlet  25  as shown in FIG. 5, the O ring  5  and the adhesive  32  can be kept from being directly cooled, whereby the state of reduced pressure in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  can be restrained from deteriorating. 
     In the above-mentioned cooling apparatus  1 ,  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  60 , superconductors, e.g., SQUID, other than the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  may also be used as their superconductor. Selected as a coolant in this case is one which can attain the superconductivity transition temperature (T c ) of the superconductor. Also, the thermal conductor is not limited to the sapphire rod  6 , but can be made of any member having such characteristics as excellent thermal conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and nonmagnetic property, e.g., ruby. Also, the sapphire rod  6  (thermal conductor) may not be shaped like a rod but may be planar, for example. Further, the adhesive  32  for sealing the outlet  25  is not restricted to one mainly composed of an epoxy resin, but may be mainly composed of other unsaturated polyester resins or include organic ingredients in the same kind of the material of the inner container  3 . Further, the outlet  25  may be sealed by fusing instead of bonding with the adhesive  32 . 
     Also, in the cooling apparatus  1 ,  20 ,  30 ,  60 , the sapphire sheet  23  may be attracted to the outer face of the outer container  2  under vacuum instead of being joined thereto by bonding. The state of reduced pressure in the vacuum heat-insulating layer  4  can be maintained in this manner as well. Also, as a consequence, the amount of adhesive employed can be reduced, and the bonding operation can be omitted. Further, when bonding the sapphire sheet  23  to the outer face of the outer container  2 , the O ring  24  may be omitted. As a consequence, the curvature of the sapphire sheet  23  can be decreased under vacuum. Also, the gap between the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  and the sapphire sheet  23  can further be narrowed, thereby the distance between the high-T c  superconducting magnetic sensor  7  and the sample  40  can be reduced. Furthermore, the window does not always necessitate translucency as long as it is nonmagnetic. 
     As explained in the foregoing, the cooling apparatus for a superconductor in accordance with the present invention has such a configuration that the male thread portion of the inner container engages the female thread portion of the outer container so as to connect the inner container and the outer container to each other. As a consequence, the distance between the bottom wall of the outer container and the bottom wall of the inner container can be adjusted easily and freely by changing the engaging position between the thread portions, whereby the gap between the superconductor and the window can be adjusted easily and reliably. Therefore, the conventional position adjusting mechanism having a large number of components and a complicated structure is unnecessary, whereby the apparatus can be made inexpensive. Also, the thermal conductor constituting the cooling apparatus for a superconductor in accordance with the present invention is not elongated like conventional ones, and is made of one kind of member since it is not elongated, whereby the performance of cooling the superconductor can be improved remarkably. Further, since the inner container and the outer container are connected to each other by the engagement between their respective male and female thread portions alone, no cumbersome operation is necessary for attaching and detaching the containers as conventionally required. Therefore, workability can be improved remarkably at the time of assembling and maintaining the apparatus. 
     From the invention thus described, it will be obvious that the invention may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended for inclusion within the scope of the following claims.