Support of superconducting coils for mri systems
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare GmbH
InventorsSimon James CALVERT, Jonathan NOYS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resin-impregnated superconducting coil has axially-extending coil mounting arrangements that include features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil, between layers of turns of the coil.
Claims41
A resin-impregnated superconducting coil comprising axially-extending coil mounting arrangements which include features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil, adjacent to turns of the coil.
An assembly of axially-aligned resin-impregnated superconducting coils, each comprising axially-extending coil mounting arrangements which include features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil, adjacent to turns of the coil, said assembly comprising an end coil and an inner coil, the end coil comprising non-coil regions at one axial end thereof, the inner coil comprising non-coil regions at both axial ends thereof, and at least one support element joined between the end coil and the inner coil, mounted to the non-coil regions.
A cryogen vessel and a resin-impregnated superconducting coil combination comprising:
- axially-extending coil mounting arrangements which include features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil, adjacent to turns of the coil;
- wherein the features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil are located between layers of turns of the coil;
- axially-directed support elements mechanically linked to the resin-impregnated superconducting coil by an axially-extending structure embedded within the resin-impregnated superconducting coil;
- said resin-impregnated superconducting coil comprising regions of coil windings and non-coil regions that form the axially-extending structure;
- an electrically insulated filler material, said electrically insulating filler material and said coil windings being resin impregnated in a single resin impregnation, into a single, monolithic structure, with the axially directed support elements being mounted to the non-coil regions;
- and
- said resin-impregnated superconducting coil being mounted within the cryogen vessel by at least one support element joined between the resin-impregnated superconducting coil and the cryogen vessel.
An assembly of axially-aligned resin-impregnated superconducting coils, comprising:
- a resin-impregnated superconducting coil
- axially-extending coil mounting arrangements which include features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil, adjacent to turns of the coil;
- wherein the features embedded within the structure of the resin-impregnated superconducting coil are located between layers of turns of the coil;
- axially-directed support elements mechanically linked to the resin-impregnated superconducting coil by an axially-extending structure embedded within the resin-impregnated superconducting coil;
- said resin-impregnated superconducting coil comprising regions of coil windings and non-coil regions that form the axially-extending structure;
- an electrically insulated filler material, said electrically insulating filler material and said coil windings being resin impregnated in a single resin impregnation, into a single, monolithic structure, with the axially directed support elements being mounted to the non-coil regions;
- and
- a shield coil, the shield coil being attached to the resin-impregnated superconducting coil by support elements mounted to the non-coil regions.
A resin-impregnated superconducting coil according to claim 21, wherein the thrust block is provided on both radially inner and radially outer surfaces of the tensile support member.
A method of manufacture of a resin-impregnated superconducting coil, comprising the steps of:
- providing a demountable coil mold, comprising a cylindrical piece and two end pieces defining an annular mold cavity, wherein one or both of the end pieces are provided with cutouts in circumferential locations corresponding to the required locations of tensile support members, and extending from a radially outer extremity of an end piece;
- winding a first volume of coil windings into the demountable coil mold, up to a required radial position of the tensile support members;
- placing tensile support members in position at required circumferential locations;
- placing spacers between the tensile support members;
- winding a second volume of coil windings, over the tensile support members and the spacers.
An assembly comprising:
- a plurality of resin-impregnated superconducting coils;
- each superconducting coil comprising multiple axially-directed tensile support members embedded within the respective resin-impregnated superconducting coil, situated between layer of turns of the respective resin-impregnated superconducting coil, said multiple tensile support members being spaced around a circumference of the respective resin-impregnated superconducting coil and each tensile support member being provided with a mounting feature, with spacers circumferentially between the tensile support members, with said tensile support members radially alternating with said spacers;
- and
- a plurality of coil support bars, each inserted through a respective passageway of each of the resin-impregnated superconducting coils, the coil support bars being provided with a respective corresponding plurality of thrust blocks, such that a retaining surface of each thrust block makes contact with an axial end-surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of resin-impregnated superconducting coils.
An assembly comprising:
- a plurality of resin-impregnated coils;
- each superconducting coil comprising multiple axially-directed tensile support members embedded within the respective resin-impregnated superconducting coil, situated between layer of turns of the respective resin-impregnated superconducting coil, said multiple tensile support members being spaced around a circumference of the respective resin-impregnated superconducting coil and each tensile support member being provided with a mounting feature, with spacers circumferentially between the tensile support members, with said tensile support members radially alternating with said spacers;
- and
- a shield coil, said shield coil being attached to the resin-impregnated superconducting coil by support elements mounted to the non-coil regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.