Apparatus for testing the insulation of an electrical conductor

• US 5,612,624 A
• Filed: 01/24/1996
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinton Instrument Company
• Original Assignee: Clinton Instrument Company
• Inventors: Clinton, Henry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Regan, Maura K.
• Application Number:
  US08/590,591
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 324/541, 324/544, 324/551, 324/557, 324/536, 324/527
• US Class Current: 324/551
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated electrical conductor has an alternating current high voltage power source which provides a high test voltage between the electrical conductor and an electrode to reveal defects in the insulation. A high Q antiresonant circuit, tuned to a predetermined frequency, is connected in series with the electrode and power source for shunting most frequency components of the corona and noise currents to ground and for non-shunting an insulation fault voltage of the predetermined frequency resulting from an arc current due to a defect in the insulation. The fault voltage signal non-shunted by the antiresonant circuit is provided through a coupling impedance to a transmission cable having a pair of twisted wires for transmission to a remote location. Impedance matching transformers, coupled to both pairs of ends of the twisted wires, are tuned to the same frequency as the antiresonant circuit to minimize attenuation of the signal. The control portion includes a detecting circuit for generating a fault indication signal in response to the voltage signal transmitted to the control portion exceeding a variable threshold value. A negative bias circuit provides a negative DC voltage dependent upon the voltage of the high test voltage to the control portion for defining the threshold voltage value.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated conductor, said apparatus comprising:

a high voltage alternating current (AC) source for producing a test voltage at a desired magnitude and frequency across first and second points;

a test electrode connected to said first point for applying said test voltage to a portion of such insulation received within said test electrode while said conductor is grounded;

an antiresonant circuit tuned to a predetermined frequency and connected between said second point and ground for shunting to ground those components of the current flowing through said second point which are at frequencies other than said predetermined frequency,

a transmission pair of wires having a first pair of ends and a second pair of ends,

a first impedance matching transformer separate and apart from said antiresonant circuit and having a primary winding with first and second ends and a secondary winding connected across said first pair of ends of said pair of transmission wires,

means connecting said second end of said primary winding of said first impedance matching transformer to ground,

a coupling impedance means connected between said second point and said first end of said primary winding of said first impedance matching transformer,

a second impedance matching transformer having a primary winding connected across said second pair of ends of said pair of transmission wires and a secondary winding, and

a detecting circuit connected to said secondary winding of said second impedance matching transformer for producing a fault signal when the voltage across said secondary winding of said second impedance matching transformer exceeds a given value.

2. An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated conductor as defined in claim 1, wherein said antiresonant frequency circuit has a high Q characteristic centered about said predetermined tuned frequency.

3. An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated conductor as defined in claim 1, wherein said antiresonant circuit comprises an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel with one another between said second point and ground.

4. An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated conductor as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrode includes means for contacting an outer surface of the insulation of the insulated conductor.

5. An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated conductor as defined in claim 1, wherein said detecting circuit comprises:

a first circuit for providing a negative bias voltage proportional to the magnitude of said high test voltage;

a circuit for applying said negative bias voltage to one end of said secondary winding of said second impedance matching transformer; and

a switching circuit for producing said fault signal in response to the voltage appearing at the other end of said secondary winding of said second impedance matching transformers exceeding a given positive value.

6. An apparatus for testing the insulation of an insulated conductor as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling impedance means is a resistor.