Until now several systems have been proposed for centering and holding an inner cylindri- cal body within an outer cylindrical body. For example, the company Ringspann, Scha- berweg 32,61348 Bad Homburg, Germany, offers slightly conical discs to be stacked in packages between e. g. an axis and a wheel and pressed together in order to create a force between the wheel and the axis.

EP 0 399 123 A1 discloses resilient support clips which support legs for double- containment thermoplastics pipe assemblies.

Further, ring-shaped laminations stacked around magnet coils in order to compress super- conducting magnets for accelerators have been developed on behalf of the applicant, see, for example,"Superconducting Coil Compressing by Scissor Laminations", published as conference paper of"European Particle Accelerator Conference", June 10 to 14,1996, at Sitges, Spain. Said laminations have the peculiarity that the circular periphery is designed to be slightly off-center as compared to the magnet center and are mounted with different angular orientations.

The known systems have the drawback that they are only applicable for cylindrical inner as well as outer bodies, restricting the field of appliances.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a system overcoming the draw- backs of the prior art.

This object is achieved by a diaphragm system to position and hold at least one inner body within an outer body, comprising a plurality of washers between the at least one inner body and the outer body, the at least one inner body and the outer body extending in a first di- rection, the at least one inner body and/or the outer body having a cross-section perpen- dicular to said first direction of random non-cylindrical shape, all washers having substan- tially the same shape, each washer having a recess for each inner body, each washer having an outer circumference designed to contact the outer body over an angular range amount- ing up to 180° perpendicular to the first direction and along at least one contact portion, and the washers being mounted with different relative angular orientations perpendicular to the first direction regarding their contact portions.

With the invention it is especially proposed that the at least one inner body and/or the outer body has/have a cross-section perpendicular to said first direction of symmetrical shape.

According to the invention it is preferred that each washer contacts each inner body over an angular range amounting up to 180° perpendicular to the first direction along at least one contact portion.

One special embodiment of the invention is characterized in that several inner bodies, each having the same cross-section perpendicular to the first direction, are arranged parallel to each other in the first direction in a regular angular pattern, the washers being mountable in different angular orientations and/or upside down.

Further, with the invention it is proposed that the contact portions of the washers provide for one point contacts, several point contacts and/or line contacts.

Another development in line with the invention is characterized in that adjacent washers are pivoted around an axis parallel to the first direction and/or perpendicular to the first direction, preferably turned upside down, relative to each other for positioning the at least one inner body within the outer body and enabling a transmission of force from the outer body to the at least one inner body in a plurality of directions.

According to the invention it is preferred that the washers are mounted in pairs with oppo- site angular orientations in order to balance opposing forces.

Still further, it is proposed by the invention that the washers or pairs of washers are mounted in at least one sequence with respect to the angular orientation of their contact portions, preferably in one sequence adjacent washers or the first (second) washer of adja- cent pairs of washers all having an equal angular displacement relative to each other, most preferably the first washer and the last washer of a sequence having the same angular dis- placement relative to each other as adjacent washers or the first (second) washer of adja- cent pairs of washers.

Said sequence can be adjustable to create a selected positioning force and/or to direct a force in a certain direction or place according to the invention.

It is preferred in line with the invention that adjacent washers touch each other without being pressed together in the first direction or have a play between each other, depending on the thickness of the washers in the first direction.

Each washer can have at least one additional hole and/or cut-out.

Further, the washers of the invention can be arranged in groups, the groups being spaced from each other.

Finally, it is suggested with the invention that the material of the washers has a thermal expansion contributing to applying a stress and/or transferring a force to the least one inner body in dependence on the temperature.

It is, therefore, the astonishing perception of the present invention that, for example, a non- cylindrical inner body can be positioned within a cylindrical outer body, a cylindrical inner body can be positioned within a non-cylindrical outer body or a non-cylindrical inner body can be positioned within a non-cylindrical outer body by using a plurality of washers all of identical shape, each washer being suited for transmitting a force in at least one direction, perpendicular to the direction of extension of the inner and outer bodies, from the outer body to the inner body, and the washers being displaced with respect to each other in order to obtain a positioning, a local centering action and/or a force transmission. In particular, each washer must have only one outer circumference contact portion, with an angular range of up to 180°, to contact the outer body, for transmitting a force, the respective con- tact portions creating one point contacts, several point contacts and/or line contacts. Fur- ther, for facilitating the mounting of the washers on the inner body or bodies, it is also pre- ferred that the washers contact the same only over an angular range of up to 180°. The re- maining circumference portions of the washers can be of any shape such that the washers even need not to be closed perpendicular to said direction of extension, rather can be arc- shaped or the like. Due to the fact that the washers each only have to transmit forces in one direction they need to be mounted under different angular orientations to obtain a posi- tioning action. This structure also enables that a centripetal force is transferred from the outer body through the diaphragm system of the invention to the inner body or bodies such that it can be used to (pre) compress the inner body or bodies It is preferred to mount the washers in pairs to balance opposing forces and even to mount said pairs in sequences such that the relative angular displacement between the first washer of adjacent pairs as well as the first and last pair is identical. The sequences can be re- peated as many times as necessary to create the desired overall positioning force or to di- rect the force in a certain direction.

For thin washers it is preferred that they are packed sufficiently close to avoid them tipping over. Centric compression forces will actually try to make the washers tilt and as a result lose the pressure. However, this movement can be stopped by closely packing the washers, especially as washers with different angular orientations tend to tilt in different directions.

The washers may touch each other, but should not be compressed together too strongly in order to allow the washers to slide during building up of pressure.

When thick washers are used each washer will have a stable seat and no tendency to tip over. Therefore, thick washers can be spaced apart from each other.

It is preferred to stack washers in groups. Further, additional holes and/or cut-outs can be provided within each washer, e. g. for allowing a gas or liquid flow through the diaphragm system or to reduce the weight thereof.

The washers can be made of any material, depending on the concrete application. In case the diaphragm system is used for pre-pressing magnets, the washers are preferably made of magnetic iron; in case the diaphragm system is used with heat exchangers, the washers are preferably made of copper or aluminium; and in case the diaphragm system is used within multi-pin connectors, the washers can be made of isolating plastics or ceramics.

The invention, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw- ing, in which Figure la is a cross-section of four non-cylindrical inner bodies positioned within a cylindrical outer body via a diaphragm system of the invention; Figure lb is a cross-section of a washer of the diaphragm system of figure la ; Figure 2a is a cross-section of four cylindrical inner bodies positioned within a non- cylindrical outer body via another diaphragm system of the invention; Figure 2b is a cross-section of a washer of the diaphragm system of figure 2a; and Figure 3 a longitudinal section of the diaphragm system of figure 1 a.

In figures la, Ib and 3 the positioning of four inner bodies 1,1', 1", 1"', having a square cross-section perpendicular to the direction of extension thereof, within a cylindrical outer body 10 with the help of a plurality of washers 100 of a diaphragm system of the invention is illustrated. Each washer 100 comprises an outer circumference with one contact portion 102 for touching the inner circumference of the outer body 10 and four recesses, one for each inner body 1,1', 1", 1"', with one contact portion 101, 101', 101", 101"'for each inner body 1,1', 1", 1"'.

Figures 2a and 2b shown an alternative diaphragm system of the invention for positioning four cylindrical inner bodies 2,2', 2", 2"'within an outer body 20, having a square cross- section perpendicular to the direction of extension thereof, with a plurality of washers 200.

Each washer 200 has a contact portion 202 for contacting the inner circumference of the outer body 20 and four contact portions 201,201', 201", 201"'for contacting the outer cir- cumferences of each of the inner bodies 2,2', 2", 2"'.

Both depicted alternatives clearly show that the contact portions 102,202 allow for con- tacting the outer body 10,20 only over an angular range of 90° in order to create a line contact permitting the transmission of forces from the outer body 10,20 to the inner bodies 1, 1', 1", 1"', 2,2', 2", 2"'. In addition, in order to facilitate mounting of the washers 100, 200, the recesses for the inner bodies 1, 1', 1", 1"', 2,2', 2", 2"'also only allow for contact- ing each inner body 1,1', 1", 1"', 2,2', 2", 2"'over an angular range of 90° via the contact portions 101,101', 101", 101"'and 201,201', 201", 201"'.

As shown in figure 3, the diaphragm system 50 of the invention comprises a plurality of washers 100 mounted on the inner bodies 1,1', 1", 1"'in pairs and in a certain sequence such that the relative angular displacement is, from the left to the right in figure 3,0°, 180°, 90°, 270°, this sequence being repeated once with the washers 100 being upside down as indicated by 100.

In summary, the washers 100,200 of the invention have distinct contact portions 101 to 102,201 to 202 each extending over an angular range of less than 180°, the washers 100, 200 being placed in different angular orientations of their contact portions 101 to 102,201 to 202 in order to achieve a perfect positioning and holding. In case of thin washers 100 they are also closely packed and arranged in groups, one group being shown in figure 3.

Thus, the washers of the invention need not be extremely precise in shape as they are all identical and placed with different angular orientations, reducing fabrications costs.

Although modifications and changes maybe suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the applicant to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and probably come within the scope of its contribution to the art. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth in detail in the appended claims.