Demountable thermal coupling and method for cooling a superconductor device

A demountable thermal coupling for engaging a refrigeration unit with an electrical superconducting device which comprises:

• a collet forming a recess, said collet having a first end and a second end with an inner surface and an outer surface respectively extending therebetween, said inner surface of said collet defining said recess;
• a plate attached to said second end of said collet;
• a cylindrically shaped hollow sleeve having a first end and a second end with an inner wall extending therebetween, said second end of said sleeve being connected to said plate to surround said collet with said sleeve;
• a retainer ring slidingly mounted on said inner wall of said sleeve for sliding contact with said outer surface of said collet;
• a connector for thermally coupling said plate with said superconducting device;
• and
• means for pressing said refrigeration unit against said inner surface of said collet to cool said plate.

A method for cooling a superconductor device using a demountable thermal coupling which comprises the steps of:

• connecting the demountable thermal coupling to the superconductor device, the coupling comprising a collet assembly formed with a recess, a sleeve assembly formed with a passageway for receiving the collet assembly therein and a retainer ring slidingly mounted between the collet assembly and the sleeve assembly, the connecting step being accomplished by attaching the superconductor device to the collet assembly of the coupling;
• positioning a tapered cooling probe of a refrigeration unit in the recess of the collet assembly;
• engaging the refrigeration unit with the sleeve assembly to generate a force therebetween;
• and
• adjusting the force between the refrigeration unit and the sleeve assembly to urge the cooling probe into the recess of the collet assembly to establish a thermal conduit between the refrigeration unit and the superconductor device through the collet assembly.