JPS623564B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a support structure for an inner tank in a superconducting electromagnet used in a superconducting magnetically levitated vehicle or the like.

Superconducting magnetically levitated vehicles are currently being developed as a future means of transportation. The superconducting electromagnet used in this superconducting magnetic levitation vehicle has a structure in which an inner tank housing a superconducting coil is supported within an outer tank, which is a vacuum container.The inner tank is kept at an extremely low temperature with liquid helium, etc. It receives a large acting force that causes the vehicle to float. For this reason, it is necessary to thermally insulate the vacuum outer tank and the inner tank, and at the same time, it is necessary to connect them with a strong support structure that can receive strong forces.

In other words, improving the thermal insulation between the inner tank and the outer tank is directly related to the consumption of internal liquid helium.
If the consumption of expensive liquid helium could be reduced, it would be very advantageous in terms of cost, and if this consumption was reduced, the capacity of the liquid helium reliquefaction refrigerator could be reduced, which would reduce the overall weight of the vehicle. Extremely advantageous. However, it is necessary to strongly connect and support the inner tank with respect to the outer tank as described above, and for this reason, if the outer tank and the inner tank are connected with a thick structure, this will impede the thermal insulation mentioned earlier. This is a mutually contradictory requirement, and thicker structures naturally have better heat conductivity, which increases the consumption of liquid helium. Furthermore, since this support structure inevitably pulsates due to the levitation repulsive force coming from the ground and the thrust of the linear motor used to propel the vehicle, unless it has extremely high rigidity, there is a risk of damage to various parts due to resonance etc. At the same time, the outer tank, which is a vacuum container, is at approximately atmospheric temperature, while the inner tank is at an extremely low temperature of 4 to 5 degrees, resulting in severe thermal contraction and the need to maintain high rigidity. Extremely contradictory demands arise.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned superconducting electromagnet, the inner tank must be supported in the outer tank, which is a vacuum container, by supporting the inner tank with high rigidity while having thermal insulation properties and allowing thermal contraction of the inner tank. There were many contradictory demands that the government had to meet, and it was extremely difficult to satisfy them.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed using a combination of multiple multi-pipe type support columns that have thermal insulation properties and have high rigidity in a specific direction, but relatively soft rigidity in a direction perpendicular to the specific direction. Therefore, we devised a support structure that satisfies all of the above requirements and can support the inner tank with high rigidity while allowing thermal contraction.

The support structure is a structure in which an inner tank is supported within an outer tank as shown in FIG. 3 using a large number of support columns of the multi-pipe type shown as representative examples in FIGS. 1 and 2. A detailed explanation of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be given later, but according to the support structure shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to arrange a very large number of support structures, and the inner tank There were problems such as the need for many adjusting and mounting parts to connect the outer tank and the outer tank.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which the support structure can be simplified by assembling a plurality of support columns each having high rigidity in one direction and disposing them between the inner and outer tanks. .

Before explaining the structure of the present invention, the conventional support structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be explained.

Figure 1 shows an example of a support column made of multiple metal tubes made of a metal with poor heat conductivity relative to its strength, such as stainless steel, where 1 is an outer tank that is a vacuum container, and 2
is a seat attached to the inside of this outer tank 1. One end of a pipe 4 is connected to this seat 2 via a spherical handle 3, and is folded back from the other end of the pipe 4 to the outer circumference with a certain gap. A pipe 5 is attached by welding to a shape as shown in FIG.
The other end of the pipe 6 is welded to an end fitting 7 and connected via a spherical handle 8 to a seat 10 attached to the outer surface of the inner tank 9. According to the support column having such a structure, the support column can be connected between the outer tank 1 and the inner tank 9, which are vacuum vessels, by using a very long pipe in a short space, and which is rotatable with spherical hands at both ends. can be connected with high rigidity in the axial direction and low rigidity in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, so if a plurality of such support mechanisms are appropriately selected in the mounting direction of each, the inner tank 9 can be Even if it expands or contracts due to change, it can be properly supported, and in this case, the pipe length is extremely long, so the heat intrusion from the outer panel can be kept low, and although it is not shown, the outer tank 1 and the inner Since it passes through a shield plate cooled by liquid N ₂ or gasified helium that shields the heat between it and the tank 9, a thermal anchor is installed at the penetration part to cool the middle of the pipe 6, thereby reducing heat intrusion. It is possible to do so.

In addition, Fig. 2 shows another example of support column structure, with 1
A and 1B are both side plates of an outer tank which is a vacuum container, and a central shaft 11 having a flange between the both side plates 1A and 1B, and a thin shaft portion 11A with a flanged hollow shaft 12 protruding from the end of the central shaft. and screw 1
Fixed at 3. One end of each is fitted into the flanges of the central shaft 11 and the hollow shaft 12 to form a pipe material 14 made of high strength and good thermal insulation such as FRP.
A, 14B are attached, and the pipe forming material 14
The other ends of A and 14B are fitted with high-strength folding materials 15A and 15B that have poor heat conduction, such as stainless steel, and are further fitted with pipe forming materials 16A and 16 such as FRP.
B is fitted and connected to the center ring 17. This ring 17 is attached to the strength member 9A of the inner tank. Although it is possible to construct such a structure with many more layers, in practice, the number of folds must be determined while keeping in mind the balance between maintaining the necessary strength and rigidity while preventing heat intrusion, and the weight limit. It is determined. The support column constructed as described above is attached and fixed to both side plates 1A and 1B of the outer tank, which is a vacuum container, by the flange of the central shaft 11 and the fixing metal fittings 18. Although the center shaft 11 and fixing metal fittings 18 are at room temperature, the strength member 9A on the inner tank side
is kept at extremely low temperatures. For this reason, as in the case of the structure shown in FIG. 1, a cooled shield plate (not shown) and a thermal anchor are provided in the middle of the folded members 15A and 15B to suppress heat intrusion. In addition, in the example shown in FIG.
3 is attached, and the ring 17 is attached to the cryogenic inner tank side strength member 9A.
1 and the hollow shaft 12 on the cryogenic side, and the ring 17 on the room temperature side, such as a beam of the outer tank, can be connected, and the selection is free.

However, in the case of the support column shown in Fig. 2, initial pressure is applied in the axial direction by the screw 13, so even if the temperature drops in some parts, thermal contraction that causes play between each member will not occur. It has fairly high rigidity in the axial direction, and especially in the direction perpendicular to the axis.
Due to shear bending deformation of pipe forming materials such as FRP, the rigidity is considerably lower than that in the axial direction. For this reason, it is extremely convenient to connect and support the outer tank, which is a vacuum container as described above, and the inner tank cooled to a cryogenic temperature with high rigidity while escaping the heat shrinkage of the inner tank.

Here, to explain a conventional example in which an inner tank is supported in an outer tank of a vacuum container by using a large number of support columns of the method shown in FIG. , 19 designate an inner tank in the shape of a race track, which is also long in the front-rear direction and houses a superconducting coil (not shown). When the powerful superconducting coil housed inside the racetrack-shaped inner tank is energized, it receives a very strong repulsive force in the upper and lower parallel sections with a long straight line distance, causing a deformation force, but in order to prevent this deformation, The inner tank 19 is reinforced by connecting beams 20A, 20B, and 20C arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the front-back direction, between the upper and lower parallel parts. Connecting beam 2 near the front and rear ends
Support columns 21C, 21D, 21E, and 21F, which are the same as those shown in FIG. The ring 1 in the center is connected to both sides of the outer tank 1C.
7C, 17D, 17E, and 17F are attached to the front and rear connecting beams 20A and 20C of the inner tank 19. Furthermore, support columns 21A and 21B are disposed so as to pass through the intermediate coupling beam 20B in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the inner tank 19, and each center ring 17A and 17B is coupled to the coupling beam 20B, and both ends The support beams 23A, 23B, 23C, and 23D are connected to support beams 23A, 23B, 23C, and 23D supported on both side plates of the outer tank 1C, which is a vacuum container. Furthermore, connecting beams 20A, 20 are installed near both front and rear ends between the upper and lower parallel parts of the inner tank 19.
Support columns 21G and 21H are arranged in parallel with C, both ends of which are connected to the upper and lower parts of the inner tank 19, and the central rings 17G and 17H are support beams from both side plates 1A and 1B of the outer tank, which is a vacuum container. It is attached to 22A and 22B in combination. However, according to this structure, the vertical direction of the inner tank 19 is connected to the support column 2.
1G and 21H, the longitudinal direction, that is, the front and back direction, is support columns 21A and 21B, and the left and right directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are support columns 21C, 21D, 21E, and 21F.
The inner tank 19 is now supported by a plurality of support columns combined in three directions, which allows for rolling, pitching, and
Even against yawing, the inner tank 19 is reliably supported and restrained because it is supported in the highly rigid direction of at least two support columns. Moreover, the inner tank 19
In order to prevent longitudinal contraction of the
Since 1G and 21H are configured to be relatively flexible against displacement in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, they are allowed to deform freely, making it possible to support the inner tank in an extremely rational manner.

As described above, it is clear that ideal inner tank support can be achieved by using a large number of support columns shown in Figure 2 to support the inner tank as shown in Figure 3. Since the support direction can only be taken in one direction at each location where the column is placed, it is necessary to install multiple support columns, which means that there are many attachment points to the outer tank, and it takes considerable effort to adjust their positions. As stated in the object of the invention, there has been a need for a simple structure that can support the inner tank without much effort.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a support structure that supports the middle of a lace-trunk-shaped inner tank long in the front-rear direction. 24 is shown in cross section. In this figure, structurally necessary members such as shield plates and super insulation are omitted and not shown in order to complicate the figure, but it goes without saying that they are naturally provided. Here, the support columns 21J and 21K have half the structure of the support column explained in FIG. It has spherical seats 24A, 24B and 25A, 25B at both ends. And those support columns 21J, 2
Spherical seats 24A and 24B on one end of 1K are outer tank 1D
One mounting seat 26 provided on one side plate is pivotably and slidably joined to a seat 27 on the inner surface side, and the spherical seats 25A and 25B on the other end side are attached to the inner tank 19A.
It is pivotably and slidably joined to seats 28A and 28B provided vertically apart from each other on the side, so that both support columns 2
1J and 21K are installed between one side plate of the outer tank 1D and the upper and lower parts of the inner tank 19A so as to be inclined in a dogleg shape. In addition, the above seats 28A, 2
8B is attached to the upper and lower opposing surfaces of the inner tank 19A via brackets 29A, 29B, and its upper and lower seats 28A, 28B are connected via bolts 31 by beams 30 with good thermal insulation such as FRP. There is. Then, the other end of a tightening bolt 32 whose one end is connected to the extension of the seat 27 of the outer tank 1D is inserted through the intermediate part of the beam 30, and by tightening this from the other end with a nut 33, both of the above-mentioned The support columns 21J, 21K are given an appropriate compressive force so that they can effectively perform their functions, and at the same time, thermal insulation is maintained between the outer tank 1D and the inner tank 19A by the support columns 21J, 21K and the beam 30. Ru.

Here, although only the pair of upper and lower support columns 21J and 21K are shown in FIG. 4, another pair of upper and lower support columns 21J' and 21K' are arranged as shown in FIG. It has a structure in which four support columns form a set to support the middle part of the inner tank 19A, and the upper and lower support columns 21J' and 21K' also support the outer tank in exactly the same way as the support columns 21J and 21K shown in Fig. 4 above. 1D
and the inner tank 19A, and similarly the beam 3
The compressive force is applied by a tightening bolt 33' which passes through 0' and is connected to an extension of the seat 27 of the outer tank 1D. In particular, each of the pairs of support columns 21J, 21K and 21J', 21K' have their respective spherical seats on one end concentrated on the same seat 27, and moreover, the support columns 21J, 21
The four support columns 21J, 21 are arranged so that the extensions of the central axes of K and 21J', 21K' meet at one point.
K, 21J', and 21K' are arranged in a horizontal pyramid shape, extending in all directions around the seat 27, respectively, and being inclined.

Next, Figure 5 shows the inner tank 19 which is also shown in Figure 6.
This is a cross section of the support structure that supports the front and rear end portions of A, showing the outer tank 1D, the inner tank 19A, and the inner tank 19.
The superconducting coil 24 stored in A is shown in the same manner as in FIG. 4, and a pair of upper and lower support columns 21L and 21M having the same structure as in FIG. Mounting seats 26A, 26D where spherical seats 24C, 24D on one end side of 21L, 21M are vertically spaced apart from one side plate of the outer tank 1D.
The spherical seats 25C, 25D on the other end are joined to the seats 27A, 27B on the inner side of the inner tank 19 so as to be able to rotate and slide.
It is pivotably and slidably joined to a seat 28C provided in the middle of a connecting beam 34 fixed between the upper and lower parts of A via brackets 29C and 29D, so that the pair of upper and lower support columns 21L and 21M can be moved outside. Tank 1
They are installed between D and the inner tank 19A so that they are tilted in an inverted dogleg shape, completely opposite to that shown in FIG. 4 above. In addition, pins 36A, 2 are provided that pass through the upper and lower end portions of the coupling beam 34 in the front-rear direction.
Lever 35A, 35B made of FRP or the like with good heat insulation is attached by pivoting each intermediate part with 6B, and one end is connected to the seat 27A of the outer tank 1D at the front and rear ends of both the upper and lower levers 35A, 35B. ，
Tightening bolt 32A connected to the extension part of 27B,
The other ends of 32A', 32B, 32B' are inserted through and tightened with nuts 33A, 33A', 33B, 33B', thereby attaching the fourth to the support columns 21L, 21M.
As shown in the figure, a moderate compressive force is applied while thermally insulated. The configuration shown in FIG. 5 described above is provided in exactly the same manner at the front and rear end portions of the inner tank 19A, as shown in FIG. 6.

Now, to describe the function of the inner tank support structure in the superconducting electromagnet of the present invention described above, each set of support columns 21J, 21 near the middle and front and rear ends.
K, 21J', 21K' and 21L, 21M and 2
Since 1L and 21M have strong rigidity in the compression direction, each set of support columns at the middle and front and rear ends, consisting of four or two of them, has a supporting force in the vertical and horizontal directions. At the same time, since the four support columns of the intermediate set are arranged in a pyramid shape and spread out in all directions, they have a supporting force in the front and rear directions as well, and support the inner tank 19A. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the four support columns in the middle set are joined together at one spherical seat 27 on each end side, and the extensions of their respective central axes intersect at one point P. In addition to being configured to rotate around this point, each of the support columns in the group near the front and rear ends is oriented in the opposite direction to the group in the middle, so that the extension of each central axis is a point at each intermediate portion of the connecting beams 34, 34. Since the configuration is such that they intersect at Q and R and rotate around these points, the support columns of each set are centered at points P, Q, and Q, which are the rotation centers of each set.
When R is connected, a planar triangle is obtained. In other words, the inner tank 19A is supported at three points and restrained in all directions. Furthermore, since the inner tank 19A is cooled to an extremely low temperature, it contracts in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the front-back direction, and the distance between the connecting beams 34 and 24 at the front and rear ends decreases, but the support columns of the pair at the front and rear ends decrease. 21L, 2
1M, 21L, and 21M are tilted toward the middle at the same time as the inner tank 19A contracts, allowing the inner tank 19A to shrink. In this way, by making the support column obliquely arranged from the outer tank and the tightening bolt for applying the initial pressure, the support column receives force in the compressive and tensile direction, and the inner tank 19A resists forces in all directions. It is possible to create an ideal superconducting magnet support structure that can firmly support the magnet while at the same time freely allowing the inner tank, which is cooled to an extremely low temperature, to shrink. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, initial pressure was applied to each set of support columns at the middle and front and rear ends using a plurality of tightening bolts, but the inner tank 19A itself has considerable strength. By taking advantage of the fact that
A set of support columns 21L, 21M near the front end of
In order to give an initial pressure to
By arranging them adjacent to each other and attaching a tightening bolt 32C to the middle part of the beam 30A, the same purpose as in the above embodiment can be achieved, and the number of four tightening bolts can be reduced to one.

In FIG. 8, based on the same idea as above, a group of four support columns 21J, 21 near the middle of the inner tank 19A are shown.
In order to apply initial pressure to K, 21J' and 21K', a beam 30B with good thermal insulation is provided between the upper and lower parts of the inner tank 19A via mounting seats 37C and 37D.
This purpose is achieved by passing the tightening bolt 32D between the middle part of the seat 27 and the center part of the seat 27 on the outer tank side. In this way, the two bolts 3 shown in Fig.
2, 32' requires only one bolt 32D, and the same effect can be obtained.

Moreover, in FIG. 9, no tightening bolts as mentioned above are used to apply compressive force to the diagonally arranged support columns, but instead one support column 21N is arranged horizontally in the center, and the outer tank 1D is It has a configuration that uses the force of deformation caused by vacuum to apply compressive force to the entire other supporting columns arranged diagonally above,
The support column 21N is arranged between a beam 30C provided between the upper and lower parts of the inner tank 19A and a seat 27C on the other side plate of the outer tank 1D, so as to apply a compressive force to the beam 30C.

Furthermore, in FIG. 9, the seat 27C is not used, the other end of the support column 21N is separated from the other side plate of the outer tank 1D, and in this state, a tightening bolt (not shown) is inserted through the center of the support column 21N and the beam 30C. By passing the superconducting electromagnet to the seat 27 and tightening it, the support structure can be concentrated on one side plate of the outer tank 1D, and an extremely convenient structure can be obtained when the superconducting electromagnet is attached to a cart.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventionally commonly used support column, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a newly developed support column, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an inner tank in a superconducting electromagnet using the support column shown in Figure 2. FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a support structure, and FIGS. 4 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the support structure near the middle of the inner tank, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the support structure near the front and rear ends of the tank; FIG.
8 and 8 are perspective views showing another example of the bolt arrangement for applying compressive force to the support column, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example using another support column to apply compressive force to the support column. FIG. 1, 1C, 1D...outer tank, 1A, 1B...outer tank side plates, 2,10...seat, 3,8...spherical joint,
4,5,6...pipe, 7...end fitting, 9,1
9,19A...Inner tank, 11...Central shaft, 12...
Hollow shaft, 13...Screw, 14A, 14B, 16
A, 16B... Pipe forming material, 15A, 15B...
...Folding material, 17, 17A, 17B, 17C, 1
7D, 17E, 17F, 17G, 17H...Ring, 18...Fixing metal fittings, 20A, 20B, 20C
...Connection beam, 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D,
21E, 21F, 21G, 21H, 21J, 21
J', 21K, 21K', 21L, 21M...Support column, 22A, 22B...Support beam from outer tank, 2
3A, 23B, 23C, 23D...Support beam from the outer tank, 24...Superconducting coil, 24A, 24B,
24C, 24D, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25
D... Spherical seat, 26, 26A, 26B... Mounting seat, 27, 27A, 27B, 28A, 28B, 2
8C...Locus, 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D...
...Bracket, 30, 30A, 30B...FRP
etc. beam, 31... bolt, 32, 32A, 32
A', 32B, 32B', 32C, 32D... Tightening bolt, 33, 33A, 33A', 33B, 3
3B'...Nut, 34...Connection beam, 35A, 35
B... Lever such as FRP, 36A, 36B... Pin, 37A, 37B, 37C, 37D... Mounting seat.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A superconducting electromagnet used in a superconducting magnetic levitation vehicle, etc., which supports an elongated racetrack-shaped inner tank in the front and back of which a superconducting coil is housed in an outer tank, which is a vacuum container. A plurality of support columns with a multi-pipe structure having high rigidity in the direction and low rigidity in the lateral direction are assembled into sets, and each support column is arranged in an inclined state in which the extensions of the central axes of one end of each support column intersect at one point. At least the vicinity of the middle part and the front and rear ends of the inner tank are arranged so that a planar triangle is obtained when the rotation centers, which are the intersections of the extensions of the support column center axes of each set, are connected to each other. One set of support columns is arranged between the near part and the outer tank, with one near the middle and one near the front and rear ends facing oppositely to each other, and a compressive force is applied to each set of support columns in advance. What is claimed is: 1. An inner tank support structure for a superconducting electromagnet, characterized in that the inner tank is provided with tightening means to support the inner tank with high rigidity against acting forces in various directions while allowing the inner tank to shrink due to cryogenic temperatures. 2 Among each set of support columns, the set placed near the middle part of the inner tank has four support columns spread out in all directions in a horizontal pyramid shape, and the set placed near the front and rear ends of the inner tank has four support columns spread out in all directions. The inner tank support structure in a superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1, characterized in that the two support columns are arranged in a dogleg shape in the opposite direction to the intermediate set.