Ceramic superconducting lead resistant to moisture and breakage

Abstract

A superconductive lead assembly for a superconductive device (e.g., magnet) cooled by a cryocooler coldhead having first and second stages. A first ceramic superconductive lead has a first end flexibly, dielectrically, and thermally connected to the first stage and a second end flexibly, dielectrically, and thermally connected to the second stage. A first glass-reinforced-epoxy lead overwrap is in general surrounding contact with and attached to the first superconductive lead. The first lead overwrap has a coefficient of thermal expansion generally equal to that of the first superconductive lead. The lead overwrap protects the lead from moisture damage and from breakage during handling. For added protection against shock and vibration while in the device, the lead assembly is surrounded by a (e.g., polystyrene foam) jacket surrounded by a helically-wound metallic wire surrounded by a glass-reinforced-epoxy jacket overwrap surrounded by a rigid support tube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.