US 4,535,596 AGranted

Plug for horizontal cryostat penetration

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorEvangelos T. Laskaris

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Abstract

A plug for a horizontal cryostat penetration comprises a plurality of nested housings with thermal insulation disposed between the housings. Each housing has a tubular extension which is heat stationable to portions of the cryostat penetration, the more inner the housing, the colder being the portion to which it is stationed. The innermost and outermost housings each possess pressure relief means for relieving internal pressure buildup which occurs as a result of magnet quench or vacuum loss. In operation the plug is disposed within the cryostat penetration and in particular, typically within a tubular conduit associated therewith. The tubular extension of the outermost housing also has preferably disposed around its exterior, one or more string-shaped helically disposed lengths of sealing material. Accordingly, when the plug is placed within the penetration, a helical coolant vapor path is formed for plug cooling and exterior ventilation.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A plug for a horizontal penetration of a cryostat having an inner wall and an outer wall, said plug comprising:

an outermost, low thermal conductivity housing;
an inner, low thermal conductivity housing disposed within said outermost housing;
at least one intermediate high thermal conductivity housing disposed between said inner housing and said outermost housing;
thermal insulation disposed between said inner housing and said at least one intermediate housing;
thermal insulation disposed between said outermost housing and said at least one intermediate housing;
said inner housing including an inner tubular extension for insertion into said cryostat penetration, said inner extension having first heat station means for fixing the temperature of at least a portion of said inner extension;
said at least one intermediate housing including an intermediate tubular extension for insertion into said cryostat penetration, said intermediate extension having second heat station means for fixing the temperature of at least a portion of said intermediate extension;
said outermost housing including an outermost tubular extension for insertion into said cryostat penetration, said outermost extension being sealably attached to said inner tubular extension so that the volume defined by said outermost housing and said inner housing is evacuable;
said inner housing having pressure relief means disposed therein;
and
said outermost housing having pressure relief means disposed therein.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.