IP Library › Granted Patent US 12671015
Granted Patent B2
US 12671015 · App. 18/581,633 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Processes, systems and devices for metal filling of high temperature superconductor cables

Inventors: Amanda Hubbard (Bedford, MA); James Irby (Natick, MA); Rui Vieira (Billerica, MA); William Beck (Alton Bay, NH); Richard Murray (Derry, NH); Andrew Pfeiffer (Upton, MA); Thomas Toland (Waltham, MA); William Burke (Acton, MA)
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
H01B13/30H01B12/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12671015
App. No.
18/581,633
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques described herein relate to systems and methods for obtaining a high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable assembly and filling the HTS cable assembly with a molten metal, such as solder.

Claims (26)

1 . A method comprising:

inserting a plurality of high temperature superconductor (HTS) tapes into a cable housing, thereby producing a loose HTS cable assembly;

bending the loose HTS cable assembly into a spiral shape, thereby producing a wound HTS cable assembly;

heating the wound HTS cable assembly in an oven set to a first temperature; and

delivering a molten metal into the wound HTS cable assembly at least in part by applying pressure to the molten metal within a container, wherein the molten metal within the container is heated to the first temperature or higher.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising depositing a liquid flux into the wound HTS cable assembly prior to delivering the molten metal into the wound HTS cable assembly.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising purging the wound HTS cable assembly with an inert gas subsequent to depositing the liquid flux into the wound HTS cable assembly.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating a vacuum source to reduce the pressure in the wound HTS cable assembly prior to delivering the molten metal into the wound HTS cable assembly.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the molten metal into the wound HTS cable assembly comprises applying a vacuum source at a first end of the wound HTS cable assembly while applying the pressure to the molten metal within the container, wherein the container is fluidically coupled to a second end of the wound HTS cable assembly.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the container is arranged within the oven.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the molten metal by operating one or more heaters coupled to the container.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring flow of the molten metal through the wound HTS cable assembly using one or more sensors.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the molten metal into the wound HTS cable assembly into a first end of the wound HTS cable assembly until a predetermined quantity of the molten metal has flowed out of a second end of the wound HTS cable assembly.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting, using one or more sensors, an amount of solder within a dump tank coupled to the second end of the wound HTS cable assembly, and stopping delivering the molten metal into the wound HTS cable assembly when the amount of solder detected within the dump tank passes a predetermined threshold.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the molten metal is a molten tin-lead solder.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oven is a convection oven.

13 . A method comprising:

bending a high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable assembly;

heating the bent HTS cable assembly; and

applying pressure to a molten metal to force the molten metal through the bent HTS cable assembly.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein heating the HTS cable assembly comprises heating the HTS cable assembly to a temperature which does not exceed a temperature of about 200° C.

15 . The method of claim 13 wherein heating the HTS cable assembly comprises heating the HTS cable assembly to a temperature which does not exceed a temperature of about 200° C.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein heating the HTS cable assembly comprises heating the HTS cable assembly to a temperature which does not degrade the plurality of HTS tapes.

17 . The method of claim 13 wherein the HTS cable assembly comprises a plurality of HTS tapes and heating the HTS cable assembly comprises heating the HTS cable assembly to a temperature which does not degrade the plurality of HTS tapes.

18 . The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the temperature of the HTS cable assembly to ensure that no portion of the HTS cable assembly exceeds a temperature of about 200° C.

19 . The method of claim 13 further comprising monitoring the temperature of the HTS cable assembly to ensure that no portion of the HTS cable assembly exceeds a temperature of about 200° C.