Patent ID: 7155806

Claim:
A method of producing superconductors comprising the steps of: forming bars, each comprising: i) a core defined by a mono- or multifilament of superconducting material; and a ii) a copper sheath; assembling said bars inside a copper shell to form an assembly having predetermined configuration; subjecting in sequence said assembly to a number of plastic deformation operations; wherein all said plastic deformation operations are carried out solely by cold plastic deformation steps; and wherein said bars are formed with a round cross section and a relatively long length; the step of assembling the bars inside a copper shell to form said assembly including the following steps: assembling said bars about a cylindrical copper core of substantially the same length thereof, using assembly templates which are openable like a book and are fitted to and slide along an assembly bench, the templates having through holes arranged in a circle to support the bars, and a central through seat for supporting the core; tying the bars onto an outer lateral surface of the core to obtain a semi-finished assembly defined by the bars assembled by ties in a circle against the core; sliding onto a first end of the semi-finished assembly a number of metal supporting rings resting on the assembly bench and enclosing said bars, while sliding said templates off a second end of the semi-finished assembly, opposite to the first end; sliding a copper tube onto the semi-finished assembly starting from said first end, while at the same time cutting the ties progressively as they are reached by the tube, and sliding off said supporting rings at said second end, so as to obtain said assembly, wherein said bars are retained in said predetermined configuration on the copper core by the copper tube mounted concentrically with the core.