Inflatable High-Voltage Conductor for Lightweight Test Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-voltage conductors used for testing high-voltage systems are heavy and cumbersome, making them difficult to install, transport, and store, and they often require complex setups and scaffolding.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable high-voltage conductor with an electrically conductive layer and a support structure that can be easily transported and stored in a collapsed state, and quickly inflated to a tubular shape for high-voltage testing, reducing weight and handling challenges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal tubes are used for high-voltage testing, then electrical stability and discharge prevention are improved, but weight and handling difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible polymer tube with a smooth inner surface instead of rigid metal tubes. The polymer material provides the necessary electrical insulation and structural integrity while being significantly lighter and more flexible, allowing easy handling and positioning during high-voltage testing without causing discharge due to surface irregularities
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite construction with a polymer tube as the outer insulating layer and a conductive core element inside. This composite structure combines the electrical insulation properties of polymer materials with the electrical conductivity needed for high-voltage transmission, achieving both reliability and reduced weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If telescopic pipes are used to adapt cable length, then adaptability to different conditions is improved, but weight and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically adjustable system where the polymer tube can be extended or repositioned along the conductor as needed. This dynamic approach allows the cable length to be adapted to different testing conditions without requiring complex telescopic mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while providing versatility
3Ease of operation
If spiral-reinforced hoses are used, then flexibility and adjustability are improved, but resistance to bending and structural stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The smooth-walled polymer tube provides flexibility for easy handling and positioning while maintaining structural stability. The uniform wall structure without spiral reinforcements prevents sagging and maintains consistent electrical properties during bending, achieving both ease of operation and compositional stability
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 inflatable high-voltage conductor is significantly lighter and easier to handle, allowing for simpler installation and reduced need for scaffolding, while maintaining the necessary stability and electrical efficiency for high-voltage testing.
Implementation Method 1
The support structure can be inflated using a gas into a tube-like shape
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4a
Figure 4b~5c
AI summary
A high-voltage electrical conductor (17) for transmitting electrical energy during the testing of high-voltage systems is specified, comprising an electrically conductive layer and a support structure. The electrically conductive layer (20) serves to conduct the electrical energy through the high-voltage conductor (17). The support structure (30) serves to support the electrically conductive layer (20) and can be inflated into a tube-like shape using a gas for this purpose. A method for testing a high-voltage system using such a high-voltage conductor (17) is also specified.