US3686422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic conduit assembly for conducting electricity
Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich
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Filing: 1970-10-28
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1990-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic conduit assembly for conducting electricity has an outer insulating duct formed by a pair of coaxially nested tubes defining an annular chamber which receives a sleeve of reflective thermal insulation (radiation shield) and is evacuated. The interior of this duct receives a plurality of tubes each subdivided transversely into two longitudinally extending compartments, one used solely for circulation of a cryogen and the other for an electrical conductor. The conductor-receiving compartment is filled with liquid hydrogen (heat-transfer medium) which can be circulated and the other compartment contains rapidly circulating gaseous helium (cooling medium). The assembly is subdivided at joints, the duct having a transverse wall to each side of the joint to hermetically seal off the duct interior. Between these walls at the joint, in addition, there are longitudinally extending walls which define a plurality of zones each receiving one tube, and removable covers are provided for access to each of the zones. These zones can be sealed off from or connected to the duct interior by means of shunt conduits and valves during servicing.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad Doose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B12/00; H01B12/16; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/60; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/884; Y10S505/885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A cryogenic assembly for conducting electricity, comprising: an outer pipe; a tubular heat-radiation-blocking shield coaxially received within said pipe and spaced therefrom with all-around clearance; a tubular body of thermal insulation received within and filling a substantial part of said clearance; a tube extending longitudinally through said shield in spaced relationship therewith and provided with at least one longitudinally extending heat-conductive partition for subdividing said tube transversely into at least two longitudinal compartments; an electrical conductor in one of said compartments extending longitudinally through said tube; and pump means for circulating a cryogen longitudinally through the other of said compartments out of contact with said conductor but in heat-exchanging relation therewith only through said partition, said one compartment being filled with a heattransfer liquid in direct contact with said conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A cryogenic assembly for conducting electricity, comprising: an outer pipe; a tubular heat-radiation-blocking shield coaxially received within said pipe and spaced therefrom with all-around clearance; a tubular body of thermal insulation received within and filling a substantial part of said clearance; a tube extending longitudinally through said shield in spaced relationship therewith and provided with at least one longitudinally extending heat-conductive partition for subdividing said tube transversely into at least two longitudinal compartments; an electrical conductor in one of said compartments extending longitudinally through said tube; and pump means for circulating a cryogen longitudinally through the other of said compartments out of contact with said conductor but in heat-exchanging relation therewith only through said partition, said one compartment being filled with a heattransfer liquid in direct contact with said conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said pump means includes means for circulating a second cryogen forming said liquid through said one of said compartments and means for cooling only the first-mentioned cryogen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the cryogen in the compartment with the conductor is liquid hydrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the cryogen in said other compartment is gaseous helium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said tube includes at least four such compartments arranged in pairs and separated by a least two such partitions, said assembly including at least two conductors each passing through one of the compartments of each pair, whereby two conductor-receiving and two cryogen-circulating compartments are formed, said pump means being effective to circulate said cryogen longitudinally through one of said cryogen-circulating compartments in one direction and to circulate the same cryogen-circulating back through the other of said cryogen compartments in the opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said pipe includes a plurality of sections connected at joints and a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse walls flanking said joint and defining an hermetically closed region in said duct at said joint, said assembly further comprising means at said joint for gaining access to the interior of said region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The assembly defined in claim 6 wherein said tube includes at least four such compartments arranged in pairs and separated by at least two such partitions, said assembly including at least two conductors each passing through one of the compartments of each pair and at least one longitudinal wall extending between said transverse walls and defining a pair of longitudinal zones, each pair of compartments being in one of said zones, said means at said joint including at least two removable covers constituting part of said duct each over one of said longitudinal zones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The assembly defined in claim 6, further comprising a conduit apart from said tube extending longitudinally through said duct, and means for cooling a cryogen and circulating same through said conduit, said conduit engaging said duct in heat-conducting relationship between said joints, said assembly including one such longitudinal wall between said transverse joints defining another longitudinal zone, said conduit passing longitudinally through said other longitudinal zone and being in direct heat-conducting relationship with said longitudinal walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly defined in claim 6, further comprising respective valve and conduit means between each of said longitudinal zones and the interior of said duct for interconnecting same in an open position and hermetically sealing same off from each other in a closed position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |