Method of Manufacturing a Solenoidal Magnet, and a Solenoidal Magnet Structure

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a solenoidal magnet structure, comprising the steps of providing a collapsible mold in which to wind coils; winding wire into defined positions ( 88 ) in the mold to form coils ( 34 ); placing a preformed tubular mechanical support structure ( 102, 120 ) over the coils ( 34 ) so wound; 10 impregnating the coils and bonding them to the mechanical support structure by applying a thermosetting resin and allowing the thermosetting resin to harden; and collapsing the mold and removing the resultant solenoidal magnet structure comprising the resin impregnated coils and the mechanical support structure from the mold as a single solid piece.

1 . A solenoidal magnet structure, comprising:
 wire wound into coils;   a preformed tubular mechanical support structure located over the coils, the whole structure being monolithically impregnated with a thermosetting resin.   
     
     
         2 . A structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is preformed by assembly of a plurality of sections, each of arcuate radial cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . A structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the preformed tubular mechanical support structure carries an axial split. 
     
     
         4 . A structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the tubular mechanical support structure grips the outer diameter of the coils. 
     
     
         5 . A solenoidal magnet structure, according to  claim 1 , wherein further electrical leads are retained within the thermosetting resin. 
     
     
         6 . A solenoidal magnet structure, according to  claim 1 , wherein the wire is a superconducting wire. 
     
     
         7 . A solenoidal magnet structure, according to  claim 1 , wherein some cons are of different outer diameter from others, and differences in the outer diameters of the coils are compensated by use of a filler layer. 
     
     
         8 . A solenoidal magnet structure, according to  claim 7 , wherein the filler layer comprises a layer of resin-impregnated cloth. 
     
     
         9 . A solenoidal magnet structure according to  claim 1 , wherein axially inner coils are of different outer diameter from axially outer coils, and separate mechanical support structures are provided for the axially inner coils and the axially outer coils. 
     
     
         10 . A adenoidal magnet structure according to  claim 9 , wherein an axially inner mechanical support structure supports axially inner coils, and axially outer mechanical support structures support the axially outer coils. 
     
     
         11 . A solenoidal magnet structure according to  claim 9 , wherein a first mechanical support structure, of a first internal diameter, supports axially inner coils, and a second mechanical support structure of a second internal diameter greater than the first internal diameter, supports the axially outer coils.