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US 6,332,324 B1Granted
Cryostat and magnetism measurement apparatus using the cryostat
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsNorihide Saho, Hisashi Isogami, Minoru Morita
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Coolant (3) whose boiling point is higher than the temperature of cooled SQUID elements (2) as cooled objects is poured into an inner container (37) for containing SQUID elements. The SQUID elements (2) are soaked in the coolant (3). Before the inner container (37) for containing SQUID elements is used, the coolant (3) is cooled and solidified by a refrigerator (7).
Claims25
A cryostat for containing objects to be cooled, said cryostat comprising:
- an inner container for containing said objects to be cooled and coolant to cool said objects;
- and
- cooling means for cooling said objects by cooling said coolant, which has been poured around said objects in said inner container from the outside of said inner container so a to soak said objects in said coolant before said inner container is closed, and the cooling of said coolant is started, to a predetermined temperature at which said coolant is in a solidified state;
- wherein a solidifying point of said coolant is less than the normal temperature, and one of coolant in a fluid state under the normal temperature and pressure, and coolant which is melted to be in a fluid state by being heated under the normal pressure in advance, is used as said coolant to be poured into said inner container.
1 more element
A cryostat for containing objects to be cooled, said cryostat comprising:
- an inner container for containing at least one SQUID element to be cooled and coolant to cool said SQUID element;
- and
- cooling means for cooling said objects by cooling said coolant, which has been poured around said objects in said inner container from the outside of said inner container so as to soak said objects in said coolant before said inner container is closed, the cooling of said coolant being started to a predetermined temperature at which said coolant is in a solidified state;
- wherein a refrigerator in said cooling means includes a portion which absorbs magnetic flux applied to said refrigerator, and a portion in which eddy current is generated by said magnetic flux, at least a part of each portion being covered with a superconducting member.
1 more element
A magnetism measurement apparatus comprising:
- at least a cryostat including an inner container for containing at least one SQUID element to be cooled and coolant to cool said SQUID element, cooling means for cooling said at least one SQUID element by cooling said coolant, which has been poured around said at least one SQUID element in said inner container from the outside of said inner container so as to soak said at least one SQUID element in said coolant before said inner container is closed, and the cooling of said coolant is started to a predetermined temperature at which said coolant is in a solidified state;
- and
- a cryostat transferring apparatus for transferring said cryostat to a place corresponding to a measurement position in a measured body and a measurement direction toward said measured body;
- wherein a solidifying point of said coolant is less than the normal temperature, and one of coolant in a fluid state under the normal temperature and pressure, and coolant which is melted to be in a fluid state by being heated under the normal pressure in advance, being used as said coolant to be poured into said inner container.
1 more element
A magnetism measurement apparatus comprising:
- at least an outer container including an inner container for containing at least one SQUID element to be cooled and coolant to cool said at least one SQUID element;
- a cooling unit detachably connected to said inner container, for cooling said at least one SQUID element by cooling said coolant, which has been poured around said at least one SQUID element in said inner container from the outside of said inner container so as to soak said at least one SQUID element in said coolant before said inner container is closed, the cooling of said coolant being started to a predetermined temperature at which said coolant is in a solidified state;
- a processing unit for processing measurement-information on a measured body, obtained by said SQUID element;
- and
- a container transferring unit for transferring said outer container corresponding to a measurement position of a measured body and a measurement direction toward said measured body;
- wherein a solidifying point of said coolant is less than the normal temperature, and one of coolant in a fluid state under the normal temperature and pressure, and coolant which is melted to be in a fluid state by being heated under the normal pressure in advance, being used for said coolant to be poured into said inner container.
3 more elements
A method of operating a magnetism measurement apparatus including at least a cryostat including an inner container for containing at least one SQUID element to be cooled and coolant to cool said SQUID element, and cooling means containing a refrigerator, for cooling said SQUID element to a predetermined temperature;
- and a cryostat transferring apparatus for transferring said cryostat to a place corresponding to a measurement position in a measured body and a measurement direction toward said measured body;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- pouring said coolant into said inner container by a predetermined amount;
- evacuating said cryostat;
- cooling and solidifying said coolant
- cooling said solidified coolant to a predetermined temperature;
- transferring said magnetism measurement apparatus to a position suitable to measure said body to be measured, with said cryostat transferring apparatus;
- and
- start a measurement.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.