Eight of twelve clamps, substituting for bolts and nuts, applied to a flange set of a research cavity. An application tool is on the right.
Small Company Built on Novel Vacuum Clamp that Reduces Contamination
When George Biallas retired from Jefferson Lab after 33 years as a Professional Engineer, he decided to apply his 52 years of experience in design and development of accelerator technologies. The result of his efforts was a patented High Force Spring Clamp System that can be used as a substitute for bolts used in cryomodules.
“Bolt and nut fasteners are the greatest source of particulates as superconducting cavities are assembled, negatively impacting performance” says Biallas. “This new clamp has the potential to eliminate this source of contamination while providing the tight seal needed for superfluid helium and vacuum operation.”
Hyperboloid received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to complete the development of these clamps and the installation tooling. Model 1 was successfully installed on a research cavity at the SRF Institute at Jefferson Lab and sealed it “superfluid helium leak- tight”.
George Biallas holds six patents, has authored 95 publications and was one of the recipients of a 2005 R&D 100 Award, a major national award recognizing innovation. Biallas holds core competencies in magnets, both superconducting and conventional, helium cryostats, electron guns, superconducting radio frequency cryomodule design, and free electron lasers. His focus on design and manufacturability has been an asset as Hyperboloid develops this technology for use in superconducting accelerators.
“George and Hyperboloid are a great example of how an inventor can make the transition to entrepreneur and develop their invention using the SBIR program,” says Drew Weisenberger, Jefferson Lab Chief Technology Officer. “We are excited to see where this new technology goes.”
For more Information on Hyperboloid LLC, see https://www.hyperboloid.online/
Contact: Deborah Dowd, Jefferson Lab Communications Office, 757-269-7180, dowd@jlab.org