COMPACT CRYOGENIC SUPPORT SYSTEM.

THE COMPACT CRYOGENIC SUPPORT SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MASSES OF SEVERAL TONS AT VERY LOW TEMPERATURE. THE SYSTEM HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE STABLE SUPPORT WHILE MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF HEAT CONDUCTED BY THE SUPPORT MATERIAL. LARGE CRYOGENIC DEVICES (CRYOSTATS) REQUIRING SUCH SUPPORTS ARE USED IN A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING SUPERCONDUCTING MEDICAL RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEMS, SPACE VEHICLES, AND NITROGEN STORAGE DEWARS AND TRANSFER VEHICLES. SIMILAR CRYOGENIC SUPPORTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS USED FOR PARTICLE ACCELERATORS. THE SUPERCONDUCTING SUPER COLLIDER NOW BEING DESIGNED BY SEVERAL DOE LABORATORIES WILL USE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE SUPPORTS. THE COMPACT CRYOGENIC SUPPORT USES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING METHODS. THE CONSTRUCTION CAN BE VARIED TO CONTROL THERMAL AND STRUCTURAL FUNCTION, SIZE, AND COST. THE DESIGN, WHICH CAN BE CYLINDERS, DISKS, OR RINGS, LENDS ITSELF WELL TO MASS PRODUCTION. THE SUPPORT CAN BE USED IN APPLICATIONS RANGING FROM SMALL, ONE-OF-A- KIND RESEARCH PROJECTS TO LARGE, MULTI COMPONENT CRYOGENIC SYSTEMS.