Abstract:
A portable MRI or NMR imaging system comprising a cryogen vessel housing cooled equipment, said system being housed within a transportable container, said container being divided into at least three sections. A first section provides accommodation for an operator and access to equipment as required to operate the cooled equipment. A second section houses the cryogen vessel. A third section houses auxiliary equipment required for operation of the cooled equipment but which is not required to be accessed by the operator to operate the equipment. Also provided is a cryostat comprising an outer vacuum container, itself housing a cryogen vessel for containing cooled equipment, wherein space between the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container is evacuated. The outer vacuum container is in the form of at least a section of a standard shipping container.
Abstract:
The present invention provides cryostat comprising a cryogen vessel 2 suspended within an outer vacuum container 4 by an arrangement comprising: at least one housing 20 mounted on an exterior surface of the outer vacuum container and arranged to function as a floor mounting foot, for supporting weight of the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container; at least two mounting points 26, 30 mounted within the housing(s); and at least two suspension elements 22, 23, being an upper suspension element 22 and a lower suspension element 23, each of the at least two suspension elements 22, 23 extending through a hole 32 in the surface of the outer vacuum container between the respective mounting point 26; 30 and a respective point on the cryogen vessel.
Abstract:
A cryostat comprises a cryogen vessel suspended within an outer vacuum container, the cryogen vessel is supported by an arrangement that includes at least one housing mounted on an exterior surface of the outer vacuum container and arranged to function as a floor mounting foot, for supporting weight of the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container, and at least two mounting points mounted within the housing(s). Each of at least two suspension elements (an upper suspension element and a lower suspension element) extends through a hole in the surface of the outer vacuum container, between the respective mounting point and a respective point on the cryogen vessel.
Abstract:
An apparatus for shimming the magnetic field generated by a magnet arrangement of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system has a number of discrete shim units; at least some of the discrete shim units exhibiting differing ferromagnetic characteristics, a channel incorporated in the magnet arrangement and disposed to receive a predetermined distribution of the discrete shim units to provide a required distribution of the ferromagnetic characteristics in relation to the magnetic field; a presenting arrangement for automatically presenting the discrete shim units at an entrance to the channel, in a sequence conforming to the distribution, and a powered arrangement for inserting the discrete shim units into the receiving channel in the sequence as presented.
Abstract:
A crash load absorption structure for a motor vehicle. The structure includes a compressible load absorbing structure. The compressible load absorbing structure includes a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion and the rear portion are arranged to compress under a crash load along a generally longitudinal direction. The compressible load absorbing structure also includes a structural joint located within the compressible load absorbing structure, the joint is between at least two structural members. A load transfer element is configured to promote breaking of the structural joint during a vehicle crash.
Abstract:
A method of producing a former for winding a magnet coil, which former has a pattern of recess-defining ridges that define at least one recess into which wire may be wound to form a magnet coil. The method includes the steps of: producing an accurately machined tool bearing protrusions conforming to an inverse of said pattern of recess-defining ridges; producing said former by molding material against said accurately machined tool; and separating the former from the accurately machined tool. The invention also provides a method of producing a magnet coil employing the former so produced.
Abstract:
A protection apparatus for a superconductive magnet unit has a support frame for location relative to a portion of the superconductive magnet unit. The support frame is arranged to carry a buffer for protecting the superconductive magnet unit from a shock load.
Abstract:
A reworkable pressure vessel for containing a superconducting magnet arrangement. At least first and second separate parts of the vessel are fabricated from fibre-reinforced thermoplastic material. Said first and second parts comprise facing end surfaces adapted for fusion bonding together to form a union closing said vessel such that said vessel can be opened by application of heat and a cutting tool, and re-closed by re-application of fusion bonding to said union.
Abstract:
A suspension assembly for mechanically retaining a first article by bracing it against a second article includes a spherical or spheroid object located between first and second articles. A first set of at least three rounded surfaces is mechanically braced between the spherical or spheroid object and the first article, with each of such surfaces being in contact with the spheroid object at a single point; and a second set of at least three rounded surfaces mechanically is braced between the spherical or spheroid object and the second article, with each of said surfaces being in contact with the spherical or spheroid object at a single point.
Abstract:
The present invention is a solid cooling fluid treatment medium, usually but not always in bead form, suitable to be brought into contact with coolants to remediate and to condition them. A key feature of the medium, typically a polymeric resin, is the presence of relatively very large pores, which are able to capture and remove ultrafine coolant contaminants and breakdown products (such as colloids, soot, coke, organics, scale or other small semi-soluble or insoluble particles). Resins and adsorbents of the prior art have proven unable to remove ultrafine contaminants like these that have a deleterious impact on industrial equipment performance and reliability. The mean pore size diameter of the medium is between about 1,500 Å and 100,000 Å and, more preferably, in the range of about 1,500 Å to about 80,000 Å.