US 5,845,500 A · Magnetic telescope with enhanced noise suppression

Abstract

A magnetic telescope utilized to detect flaws in underground articles such as underground piping, implements multiple stages in the form of geometric and electronic configurations to enhance noise suppression. The geometric configuration includes a differential configuration of two pair of source coils which generate the magnetic flux, and gradiometers which pick-up the magnetic flux. A superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is utilized to detect the magnetic flux. The electronic configuration includes circuitry to adjust the current in the source coil pairs to minimize the signal seen by the SQUID when no underground article is present. The electronic configuration also includes feedback circuitry to feed back magnetic flux to the SQUID based on the signal detected by the SQUID. Combining the geometric and electronic configurations provides enhanced noise suppression so that the SQUID is capable of detecting smaller flaws in the underground piping for the same amount of source magnetic flux.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A dewar for receiving and maintaining an object at cryogenic temperatures, the dewar comprising:

a first half having first and second walls, the first and second walls extending from a first end to form a double-walled bucket configuration;
a second half having third and fourth walls, the third and fourth walls extending from a second end to form a double-walled bucket configuration, the first and second walls offset from the third and fourth walls such that the first and second walls mate with the third and fourth walls when the first and second halves are assembled.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic telescope with enhanced noise suppression

Life of this patent

Magnetic telescope with enhanced noise suppression

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6