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US 5,476,208 AGranted
Superconducting joint for foils used in superconducting magnets
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsNeil G. Fiddes, Christopher G. King, Anthony Mantone, Frank D. Shaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method for forming welded joints on superconducting foils to form long lengths of foil for use in superconducting magnet tapes including fixturing for controlling the accurate positioning of sheared foils and control of the overlap to be welded.
Claims16
A method of forming joints for foils used in superconducting magnet tape comprising:
- shearing the ends of the foils to be joined to provide ends perpendicular to the length of said foils;
- initially positioning one end of each of said foils on a separate portion of a welding fixture in contact with a foil edge guide;
- actuating a control valve to provide a vacuum to retain said foils on said welding fixture in the initial position;
- positioning a foil stop guide in a first foil stop position between said foils;
- discontinuing the vacuum on one of said foils and moving said one foil along said edge guide until the end of said one foil contacts said foil stop guide;
- actuating said vacuum to said one of said foils to retain it in a final welding position;
- providing a foil stop guide in a second foil stop position which is offset from said first foil stop position a predetermined distance from said first foil stop;
- discontinuing the vacuum on the other of said foils and moving said other of said foils along said edge guide until the end of said other of said foils contacts the foil stop in said second foil stop position;
- actuating the vacuum to said other of said foils to retain it in a final weld position in which the overlap of said other of said foils over said one foil is determined by said predetermined position;
- and
- welding along said overlap.
8 more elements
A method of forming joints for foils used in superconducting magnet tape comprising:
- positioning one end of a first foil and one end of a second foil on separate portions of a welding fixture contiguous to a foil edge guide in an initial position with said ends separated;
- actuating retaining means to retain said first foil on said welding fixture in said initial position;
- moving said second foil along said edge guide until said one end of said second foil contacts a foil stop guide positioned in a first foil stop position between said foils;
- actuating said retaining means to retain said second foil in a final welding position;
- positioning a foil stop guide in a second foil stop position offset a predetermined distance from said first foil stop;
- moving said first foil along said edge guide until said one end of said first foil contacts said second foil stop position;
- actuating said retaining means to retain said second of said foils in a final weld position in which the overlap of said second of said foils over said first of said foils is determined by said predetermined position;
- and
- welding said foils along said overlap.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.