Spark Plug Insulator Breakdown Voltage Testing

The patent removes the dielectric fluid from the testing system entirely. The testing is conducted in air or vacuum environment without any fluid medium, thereby eliminating the temperature limitations and confounding effects that the fluid introduced while still preventing spark and flashover through the insulator's inherent dielectric properties and controlled electrode geometry

The patent uses an inert atmosphere (air or vacuum) instead of dielectric fluid as the testing environment. This inert environment prevents unwanted electrical discharge while not imposing the thermal and chemical constraints that liquid dielectric fluids create, allowing testing across a broader temperature range

The patent segments the electric field distribution by using multiple discrete electrodes arranged in a specific pattern rather than a single concentrated electrode. This segmentation distributes the electric field more uniformly across the insulator surface, preventing localized concentration and providing more accurate breakdown voltage measurements that represent the insulator's overall performance

The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional electrode arrangements (wire or shell contacts) to a three-dimensional distributed electrode configuration. This dimensional change allows the electric field to be applied and measured across multiple spatial dimensions, creating a more uniform field distribution and eliminating the concentrated field effects of traditional electrode designs