Patent ID: 8228147

Claim:
A supported superconducting magnet, comprising: a superconducting magnet ( 24 ) arranged within a generally tubular cryogen vessel ( 22 ), itself arranged within an outer vacuum container (OVC) ( 28 ); and a single generally tubular support element ( 30 ) bearing the weight of the superconducting magnet and the cryogen vessel against a support surface, located between the cryogen vessel and the support surface, the generally tubular support element being arranged about a generally vertical axis, and supporting a solenoidal magnet structure which is arranged about a generally horizontal axis, said generally tubular support element retains the cryogen vessel in a fixed relative position with reference to the outer vacuum container ( 22 ) wherein complementary interface surfaces are arranged to transmit the weight of the cryogen vessel and the superconducting magnet to the generally tubular support element, characterised in that a re-entrant portion ( 36 ) is provided in a wall of the cryogen vessel, and the generally tubular support element is at least partially accommodated within the re-entrant portion.