Suspension Assembly for Mechanically Retaining a First Article by Bracing it Against a Second Article

Abstract

A suspension assembly for mechanically retaining a first article by bracing it against a distant second article, includes a tensile rod that extends between first and second articles. At least one first surface is mechanically linked to the tensile rod, and at least one second surface mechanically linked to the first article. The first surface and said second surface are braced against one another by tension in the tensile rod, and have at least three separate points of contact between them. At least one of the first and second surfaces is non-planar, and at least one of the points of contact is provided by a part of the surface which is convex and non-planar.

1 . A suspension assembly for mechanically retaining a first article by bracing it against a distant second article, said suspension assembly comprising:
 a tensile rod extending between first and second articles;   at least one first surface mechanically linked to the tensile rod, and   at least one second surface mechanically linked to the first article; wherein   said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface are braced against one another by tension in the tensile rod;   said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface have at least three separate points of contact between them;   at least one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface is non-planar; and   at least one of the points of contact is provided by a part of the surface which is convex and non-planar.   
   
   
       2 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the points of contact is provided by respective opposing portions of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface; and   each of said opposing portions comprises a convex non-planar surface.   
   
   
       3 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one convex non-planar surface is one of a sphere and a spheroid. 
   
   
       4 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface comprises a set of at least three objects retained together in fixed relative positions, which objects are one of spherical and spheroidal. 
   
   
       5 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface comprises an article having at least three surfaces retained together in fixed relative positions, said at least three surfaces being one of part spherical and part spheroidal. 
   
   
       6 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface comprises by an interior surface of a cup having a corresponding at least three protrusions on said interior surface. 
   
   
       7 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface has the form of an interior surface of a cup; and   said interior surface comprises one of a hollow pyramid or hollow truncated pyramid.   
   
   
       8 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 an interior surface of the cup is in the form of one of a hollow hexagonal pyramid and a hollow hexagonal truncated pyramid; and   alternate sides of the hexagonal pyramid are larger than intervening sides therebetween.   
   
   
       9 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface comprises a substantially planar backplate having a number of protrusions thereon. 
   
   
       10 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface is one of spheroidal and spherical. 
   
   
       11 . The suspension assembly according  claim 10 , wherein an other one of said at least one first surface and said at least one second surface comprises at least three objects retained together in fixed relative positions, which objects are one of spherical, spherioidal, part spherical and part spheroidal. 
   
   
       12 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one first surface and the at least one second surface is braced against a corresponding one of the first or second articles through an adjustment device which may be adjusted to apply a mechanical tensile preload to the tensile rod. 
   
   
       13 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate object is provided, held in compression between first surface and second surface. 
   
   
       14 . A suspension assembly comprising:
 a tensile rod which passes between at least three rounded surfaces attached to an article; and   a rounded element attached to one end of the tensile rod, so as to bear on the rounded surfaces attached to the article.   
   
   
       15 . The suspension assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a corresponding structure provided on a second article, at the other end of the tension rod. 
   
   
       16 . A suspension assembly for mechanically retaining a first article by bracing it against a second article, said suspension assembly comprising:
 a tensile rod which passes through a rounded surface attached to the first article; and   an element comprising a set of at least three rounded surfaced attached to an end of the tensile rod;   wherein each of the set of rounded surfaces bears on the rounded surface attached to the first article.   
   
   
       17 . A suspension assembly for mechanically retaining a first article by bracing it against a second article, comprising:
 a tensile rod which passes through a set of at least three rounded surfaces attached to the first article; and   an element comprising a rounded surface attached to an end of the tensile rod;   wherein the rounded surface bears on each of the set of rounded surfaces attached to the first article.   
   
   
       18 . A cryostat comprising a cryogen vessel retained within an outer vacuum vessel by a suspension system comprising at least one suspension assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first article is the cryogen vessel and the second article is the outer vacuum vessel.