Superconducting current reversing switch

A switching device for reversing flow of direct current through a load having a first lead and a second lead, said load provided with current from a supply having a first lead and a second lead, said switching device comprising:

• a first superconductor switching unit having
• a. a first superconductor member connected between said first lead of said supply and said first lead of said load,
• b. a second superconductor member connected between said second lead of said supply and said second lead of said load, said second superconductor member electrically insulated from, but thermally coupled to, said first superconductor member, and
• c. first switch means for selectively effecting a change in said first and second superconductor members to have a substantial electrical resistance, said first switch means electrically insulated from said first and second superconductor members;
• a second superconducting switching unit having
• a. a third superconductor member connected between said first lead of said supply and said second lead of said load,
• b. a fourth superconductor member connected between said second lead of said supply and said first lead of said load, said fourth superconductor member electrically insulated from, but thermally coupled to, said third superconductor member, and
• c. second switch means for selectively effecting a change in said third and fourth superconductor members to have a substantial electrical resistance, said second switch means electrically insulated from said third and fourth superconductor members;
• cooing means for maintaining said first and second switching units at a temperature normally below a critical temperature of said superconductor members whereby said superconductor members of said first and second switching units having substantially no electrical resistance;
• and
• a control means connected to said first and second switch means for selective operation thereof to determine the electrical resistance of said first, second, third and fourth superconductor members whereby, when said first and second superconductor members have substantially no resistance and said third and fourth superconductor members have a substantial resistance, current flow through said load will be in one direction, and current flow will be reversed when said first and second superconductor members have a substantial resistance and said third and fourth superconductor members have substantially no resistance.

A switching device for reversing flow of direct current through a superconductor magnet having a first lead and a second lead, said superconductor magnet provided with current from a supply having a first lead and a second lead, said switching device comprising:

• a first superconductor switching unit having
• a. a first superconductor member connected between said first lead of said supply and said first lead of said superconductor magnet,
• b. a second superconductor member connected between said second lead of said supply and said second lead of said superconductor member electrically insulated from, but thermally coupled to, said first superconductor member, and
• c. first switch means for selectively effecting a change in said first and second superconductor members to have a substantial electrical resistance, said first switch means electrically insulated from said first and second superconductor members;
• a second superconducting switching unit having
• a. a third superconductor member connected between said first lead of said supply and said second lead of said superconductor magnet,
• b. a fourth superconductor member connected between said second lead of said supply and said first lead of said superconductor magnet, said fourth superconductor member electrically insulated from, but thermally coupled to, said third superconductor member, and
• c. second switch means for selectively effecting a change in said third and fourth superconductor members to have a substantial electrical resistance, said second switch means electrically insulated from said third and fourth superconductor members;
• cooling means for maintaining said first and second switching units at a temperature normally below a critical temperature of said superconductor members whereby said superconductor members of said first and second switching units have substantially no electrical resistance;
• and
• a control means connected to said first and second switch means for selective operation thereof to determine the electrical resistance of said first, second, third and fourth superconductor members whereby, when said first and second superconductor members having substantially no resistance and said third and fourth superconductor members having a substantial resistance, current flow through said superconductor magnet will be in one direction, and current flow will be reversed when said first and second superconductor members have a substantial resistance and said third and fourth superconductor members have substantially no resistance.