Patent ID: 7825551

Claim:
A structure for supporting a superconducting conductors in a spaced apart relation from a rotor core of an electrical machine, wherein coolant channels are disposed proximate the conductors, the structure comprising: a casing attached to the rotor core defining a plurality of notches in an interior surface in a lower region of the casing and further defining an axial cavity in an interior surface in an upper region of the casing; an elongated enclosure defining a channel bounded by an upper surface and spaced apart first and second sidewalls extending therefrom, the conductors disposed within the channel and the elongated enclosure disposed within the casing, a plurality of rib supports extending beyond the first and the second sidewalls; a lower insulation member forming a bottom surface of the elongated enclosure and comprising fingers extending from opposing edges of the lower insulation member, each finger received within one of the notches, the lower insulation member defining first gaps therein for defining a thermal path within the lower insulation member; projections extending from the interior surface of the casing; band members each comprising an arcuate segment at a first end encircling a portion of one of the rib supports and an arcuate segment at a second end encircling a portion of one of the projections; a plurality of first insulation members each disposed between adjacent rib supports, each first insulation member comprising a first and a second end; and a plurality of second insulation members supported at each end of each one of the plurality of first insulation members, each one of the second insulation members received within the axial cavity, a second gap defined between an outward surface of the second insulation member and a inward surface of the cavity.