The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 01, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1995
Jeffery C Emmerich, Madison, WI (US);
Eric L Kostecki, Madison, WI (US);
Warren Buckles, Madison, WI (US);
Superconductivity, Inc., Middleton, WI (US);
Abstract
A superconducting voltage stabilizer is set forth which utilizes a superconducting coil for storing and releasing electrical energy. A first semiconductor switch is disposed to conduct current from the superconducting coil therethrough when the superconducting coil is to be charged or is to store energy and to inhibit current flow therethrough when the superconducting coil is to release energy. A crowbar circuit including a second semiconductor switch and a dump load are also employed. A third semiconductor switch is connected in parallel with the dump load and is disposed in series between the superconducting coil and the crowbar circuit. Quench detection and control circuits are employed for detecting a quench condition of the superconducting coil. In response to the occurrence of a quench condition, the quench detection and control circuits control the first and third semiconductor switches to go to an open condition, and the second semiconductor switch to go to a closed condition thereby to dissipate energy from the superconducting coil into the dump load. As a further enhancement to the reliability of the foregoing system, fail detection circuits are employed for detecting a fail condition of one or more of the first, second, or third semiconductor switches.