Patent ID: 7570173

Claim:
An emergency exhaust device for a superconducting magnet, comprising: a quench tube having a first end adapted to interact with a superconducting magnet, and a second, opposite end adapted to communicate with ambient atmosphere, said quench tube being configured to dissipate gases created upon an occurrence of a quench of said superconducting magnet by providing a path for said gases to the ambient atmosphere; first and second sealing elements disposed in said quench tube and closing a segment of said quench tube therebetween; a sensor disposed to interact with an interior of said segment of said quench tube closed by said first and second sealing elements, said sensor emitting a sensor output representing an impermeability of said segment of said quench tube; and an alarm emitter in communication with said sensor to receive said sensor output therefrom, said alarm emitter emitting an alarm signal if said sensor output indicates a leakage of said segment.