Conductor Segment Insulation Testing with Capacitive Pre-Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for testing the insulation of conductor segments in electrical machines are limited by low production line speeds, leading to inefficient and unreliable defect detection during mass production.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that includes capacitive charging of the conductor segment before or during the testing process, using a potential equalization element to apply an electric field, allowing for reliable defect detection at higher speeds by preventing false positives due to capacitive behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional insulation testing methods are used, then defect detection is performed, but production line speed is limited to low speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection reliabilityVSAvoidproduction line speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor segment is capacitively charged before the actual insulation resistance measurement is performed. This preliminary charging action equalizes the potential across the insulation, eliminating capacitive effects that would otherwise interfere with accurate measurement at high speeds, thereby enabling reliable testing without limiting production line speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If conventional insulation testing is performed at high speeds, then production efficiency improves, but false positive defect detections increase due to capacitive behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction line speedVSAvoiddefect detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Before measuring insulation resistance at high speed, the system performs a preliminary capacitive charging of the conductor segment. This action removes the capacitive component from the insulation, ensuring that subsequent measurements reflect only true insulation conditions rather than capacitive effects, thereby eliminating false positives while maintaining high production speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the electrical state of the conductor segment by capacitively charging it before measurement. This parameter change (from uncharged to charged state) transforms the insulation's electrical characteristics, removing capacitive behavior that causes measurement errors at high speeds and enabling accurate defect detection regardless of production line speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables reliable insulation testing at higher production speeds, reducing cycle times and improving safety in the mass production of electrical machine components.

Implementation Method 1

b) capacitive charging of the conductor segment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive charging: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

b1) applying an electric field in the direction of movement in front of the test contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric field application: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

d) checking whether an electrical connection exists between the test terminal and the test contact during step c) in order to infer a defect in the insulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction detection: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4686954A1Testing an insulation of a conductor segment for an electric machine, provision of conductor segments with a test, and test device for carrying out the test
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 GROB WERKE & K G
  • EP4686954A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4686954A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4686954A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for testing the insulation (42) of a conductor segment (10) for an electric machine for defects, comprising: a) electrically connecting a conductor segment terminal (46) of the conductor segment (10) to a test terminal (44), c) moving the conductor segment (10) and a test contact (32) relative to each other in order to trace the area (48) of the insulation (42) to be tested with the test contact (32), and d) checking whether an electrical connection exists between the test terminal (44) and the test contact (32) during step c) in order to infer the presence of a defect (14) in the insulation (42). To reliably detect defects (14) even at higher speeds and to reduce or avoid false detections, the method further includes the step b) capacitive charging of the conductor segment (10), to be performed before or during step c).