Conductor Assembly Using Conductive Yarn for Electric Field Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical conductor arrangements face challenges with electric field discharges at the end of the conductive sheath, particularly where the sheath meets the insulating jacket, leading to potential damage due to high field strengths and sharp edges.

Innovation Solution

An electrical conductor arrangement that incorporates an electrically conductive yarn wound around an insulating sheath section for precise field control, allowing for adaptation to specific requirements and minimizing installation space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a continuous conductive sheath is used for field control, then field control precision is improved, but device complexity and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield control precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive element is segmented into discrete yarn pieces instead of using a continuous sheath. Each yarn piece is positioned at specific locations where field control is needed, creating a segmented field control structure that reduces complexity while maintaining precision where required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Field control is applied locally only where needed rather than uniformly along the entire conductor length. The discrete yarn pieces are placed at specific positions (e.g., near the conductive sheath end) to provide localized field control, reducing overall device complexity and installation space while maintaining control precision at critical points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the radii of the electrode edge are made large to reduce field strength, then field control is improved, but the structural design freedom is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield control effectivenessVSAvoidsheath edge geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Discrete conductive yarn pieces serve as intermediary elements between the conductive sheath and the insulating jacket. These yarn pieces create an intermediate field control layer that manages electric field distribution without requiring changes to the main sheath geometry, thus maintaining design freedom while improving field control effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If weakly conductive coatings are applied to the insulating sheath surface, then field control precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield control precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying weakly conductive coatings to the insulating sheath surface, the invention uses thin flexible conductive yarn pieces that are wrapped around the insulating sheath. This approach achieves field control precision through the yarn's resistance properties while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the yarn pieces can be easily positioned and fixed without complex coating processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The use of an electrically conductive yarn for field control effectively reduces electric field strengths at the sheath ends, preventing discharges and protecting the insulating jacket, while allowing for flexible resistance adjustments to meet varying field control needs.

Implementation Method 1

The electric field drives a current through these materials, which, together with their resistance, leads to a voltage drop. This voltage drop, in turn, defines the potential along the surface.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

high field strengths of an electric field at the end of the sheath, which acts as an electrical electrode, can lead to significant discharges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

part of the current flows capacitively via the insulating sheath to the conductor of the conductor arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP4000149B1Electrical conductor arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 INNOMOTICS GMBH
  • EP4000149B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4000149B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4000149B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electric conductor assembly (1). The conductor assembly (1) comprises an electric conductor (3), an electrically insulating insulation jacket (5) which is arranged at least about one conductor section (3.1) of the conductor (3), an electrically conductive sleeve (7) which is arranged about a first insulation jacket section (5.1) of the insulation jacket (5), and an electrically conductive yarn (9) which is wound about a second insulation jacket section (5.2) adjoining the first insulation jacket section (5.1) in order to control the electric field.