Insulation inspection instrument
First Claim
1. A continuity tester for detecting defects in an electrical device, said tester comprising:
- a power supply including a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is electrically coupled to the device;
an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter including an input electrically coupled to the first terminal of the power supply;
a brush including a plurality of electrically conductive bristles being configured to contact the device; and
a controller electrically coupled to the A/D converter, said A/D converter providing a signal to the controller in response to a low signal at the input when the conductive bristles make electrical contact with the device, wherein the device is a stator of an electric machine, said stator including stator windings having conductive bars extending from a stator core, and wherein a size of the conductive bristles is effective to make electrical contact with defects formed in an insulating layer on the stator windings.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuity tester that has particular application for inspecting the insulation on the stator windings in an electric machine. The continuity tester includes a power supply, a brush having conductive bristles, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. One terminal of the power supply is electrically coupled to the brush and another terminal of the power supply is electrically coupled to the A/D converter and the stator being tested. The conductive brush is selectively positioned against the exposed windings of the stator, and if an electrical circuit is formed as a result of loss of insulation, the potential at the input of the A/D converter drops, which can be detected. In one embodiment, the conductive brush is a manual brush that is moved across the stator windings, and in alternate embodiments the conductive brush is specially configured to be positioned against the conductive windings in an automated process.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A continuity tester for detecting defects in an electrical device, said tester comprising:
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a power supply including a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is electrically coupled to the device; an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter including an input electrically coupled to the first terminal of the power supply; a brush including a plurality of electrically conductive bristles being configured to contact the device; and a controller electrically coupled to the A/D converter, said A/D converter providing a signal to the controller in response to a low signal at the input when the conductive bristles make electrical contact with the device, wherein the device is a stator of an electric machine, said stator including stator windings having conductive bars extending from a stator core, and wherein a size of the conductive bristles is effective to make electrical contact with defects formed in an insulating layer on the stator windings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A continuity tester for detecting defects in stator windings in a stator of an electric machine, said stator windings including conductive bars extending from a stator core, said tester comprising:
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a power supply including a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is electrically coupled to the stator windings; an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter including an input electrically coupled to the first terminal of the power supply; a brush assembly including a plurality of electrically conductive bristles being configured to contact the stator windings; a controller electrically coupled to the A/D converter; and an automated device for moving the brush assembly relative to the stator windings, said A/D converter providing a signal to the controller in response to a low signal at the input when the conductive bristles make electrical contact with the stator windings, wherein a size of the conductive bristles is effective to make electrical contact with defects formed in an insulating layer of the stator windings. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification