DEVELOPMENT OF A RELIABLE AND SAFE CRYOGENIC COUPLING WITH AUTOMATIC CHECK VALVES AND INSULATING VACUUM OVERLAP

VERY LARGE PARTICLE ACCELERATORS OPERATING WITH MANY SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS HAVE NECESSITATED VERY LONG LIQUID HELIUM TRANSFER LINES. TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH LIQUID HELIUM TRANSFER SUB-COOLED CRYOGENIC LIQUID MUST BE PUMPED AT RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURES. THIS CREATED A NEW PROBLEM IN CRYOGENIC COUPLINGS BETWEEN COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM. THESESEALS MUST BE ABLE TO STAND THE HIGH PRESSURES AND MUST BE DESIGNED TO PREVENT LARGE CRYOGEN SPILLS IN VERY CONFINED SPACES. WE PROPOSE, THEREFORE, TO DESIGN AN EFFICIENT VACUUM INSULATED OVERLAP FITTING THAT WILL SEAL AGAINST THE HIGH PRESSURES, THAT WILL PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF CRYOGEN SPILLS AND WILL BE SAFE TO OPERATE IN THE CONFINED ENVIRONMENT OF AN ACCELERATOR TUNNEL. WE PROPOSE TO DESIGN IN INTERLOCKS AND RELIEF MECHANISMS INTO THIS CRYOGENIC BAYONET FITTING BUT THESE COMPLEXITIES WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE EASE OF OPERATION BY THE TECHNICIAN. ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS FITTING WILL FULFILL A DIRENEED FOR THE SUPERCONDUCTING SUPERCOLLIDER, WE FORSEE ITS APPLICATION IN MANY NEW INNOVATIONS IN COMMERCIAL APPLIED CRYOGENICS. WE ENVISION SUCH A DEVICE TO BECOME THE STANDARD OF THE INDUSTRY. WE POSSESS EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL AND EXCELLENT LABORATORY, TESTING AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES TO DEVELOP A QUALITY TECHNICAL DEVICE DESCRIBED AT A REASONABLE COST.