HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER AND TEST SYSTEM AND TEST SIGNAL DEVICE COMPRISING A HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-voltage transformer which is configured as a toroidal transformer. The high-voltage transformer has a magnetizable core (310) and a high-voltage winding (330) and a low-voltage winding (320) around the magnetizable core (310). The high-voltage winding (330) is embodied at least partially as a pilgrim step winding.

Claims

1. A high-voltage transformer, wherein the high-voltage transformer is designed as a toroidal transformer and comprises: a magnetizable core; a low-voltage winding, which is arranged around the magnetizable core; and a high-voltage winding, which is arranged around the magnetizable core and is electrically insulated from the low-voltage winding, wherein the high-voltage winding is embodied at least partially as a pilgrim step winding.

2. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high-voltage winding is arranged directly around the magnetizable core.

3. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the low-voltage winding is arranged around the high-voltage winding.

4. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high-voltage winding extends around the magnetizable core with at most one circuit along a forward direction, and wherein the forward direction is locally along a respective direction of the magnetizable core.

5. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a protective layer, which is arranged between the high-voltage winding and the low-voltage winding, wherein the protective layer is configured such that it electrically insulates the high-voltage winding and the low-voltage winding from one other.

6. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protective layer comprises an electrically conductive layer for shielding the high-voltage winding from the low-voltage winding.

7. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetizable core comprises an insulation layer for electrically insulating the latter from the low-voltage winding and high-voltage winding.

8. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetizable core comprises no electrical ground connection or earthing connection.

9. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high-voltage transformer is configured to generate a high-voltage test signal for a test system for testing a high-voltage device.

10. A test signal apparatus for a test system for testing a high-voltage device, comprising: a high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1; wherein the test signal apparatus is set up to generate, by means of the high-voltage transformer, a test signal, to be applied between a first connection point and a second connection point of the high-voltage winding of the high-voltage transformer, and to provide the test signal for testing the high-voltage device.

11. A test system for testing a high-voltage device, comprising a portable main device with a housing; and a portable auxiliary device with a separate housing, which auxiliary device can be electrically connected to the main device; wherein the portable auxiliary device is designed as a portable high-voltage test signal apparatus and comprises a test signal apparatus as claimed in claim 10; and wherein the portable main device is set up to control the generation of the test signal by the high-voltage transformer of the portable auxiliary device for testing the high-voltage device.

12. A method for producing a high-voltage transformer, wherein the high-voltage transformer is produced as a toroidal transformer, and wherein the method comprises: providing an annular magnetizable core; winding a high-voltage winding at least partially as a pilgrim step winding around the magnetizable core; and winding a low-voltage winding with a number of turns smaller than a number of turns of the high-voltage winding around the magnetizable core.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method is carried out for producing a high-voltage transformer designed as a toroidal transformer and comprising: a magnetizable core; a low-voltage winding, which is arranged around the magnetizable core; and a high-voltage winding, which is arranged around the magnetizable core and is electrically insulated from the low-voltage winding, wherein the high-voltage winding is embodied at least partially as a pilgrim step winding.

14. The high-voltage transformer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetizable core is annular.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, on the basis of advantageous exemplary embodiments. The same elements or components of the exemplary embodiments are essentially denoted by the same reference signs, unless this is described otherwise or is revealed to be otherwise by the context.

[0030] To this end, in some cases schematically:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a high-voltage transformer according to one embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the high-voltage transformer of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a high-voltage transformer according to a further embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a test system according to one embodiment; and

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for producing a high-voltage transformer according to one embodiment.

[0036] The figures are schematic representations of various embodiments and/or exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Elements and/or components shown in the figures are not necessarily shown true to scale. Rather, the various elements and/or components shown in the figures are rendered in such a way that the function and/or purpose thereof can be understood by a person skilled in the art.

[0037] Connections and couplings shown in the figures between functional units and elements can also be implemented as indirect connections or couplings. In particular, data connections can be in the form of wired or wireless connections, i.e. in particular in the form of a radio connection. Certain connections, for example electrical connections, for example for supplying energy, may also not be shown for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIG. 1 schematically shows a high-voltage transformer 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The high-voltage transformer 300 has a magnetizable core 310, 311, a low-voltage winding 320, a high-voltage winding 330 and a protective layer 340. The low-voltage winding 320 and the high-voltage winding 330 extend along a forward direction 316 of the magnetizable core. The high-voltage winding is arranged at least around a part, in particular a length section, of the magnetizable core 310, 311 and is configured as a pilgrim step winding. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the high-voltage winding 330 is located directly on the magnetizable core 310, 311. The protective layer 340 is arranged around the high-voltage winding 330 and has an insulating material and thus electrically insulates the low-voltage winding 320, which is arranged further outside relative to the high-voltage winding and the protective layer 340, from the high-voltage winding 330.

[0040] The low-voltage winding 320 has a plurality of turns 328. In some advantageous variants, the turns 328 can be wound helically around the magnetizable core 310 toward the forward direction 316 and, accordingly, in parts comprising the high-voltage winding 330 or the protective layer 340, can also be wound around these. For this purpose, in some variants, an enamel-insulated coil wire, in particular made of copper, can be helically wound around the magnetizable core 310.

[0041] In the embodiment shown, for the sake of simplicity, the windings are shown only for a section 310 of the magnetizable core. The high-voltage transformer 300 is configured as a toroidal transformer, such that the high-voltage winding 330 and the low-voltage winding 320 actually extend in an annular fashion along the entire length of the annular magnetizable core 310, 311. Alternatively, it is also possible for a plurality of electrically interconnected high-voltage windings 330 and/or a plurality of electrically interconnected low-voltage windings 320 or a plurality of sections of the high-voltage winding 330 and/or a plurality of sections of the low-voltage winding 320 to be arranged in a manner spaced apart from one another or else laid one on top of the other along different length sections 310, 311 of the magnetizable core, such that a toroidal transformer is formed overall.

[0042] The core 310, 311 is annularly closed or almost closed, wherein in the latter case the annular core 310, 311 is interrupted only by an air gap. The annular shape can be toroidal; however, as shown in the figures, angular configurations are also possible.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the high-voltage transformer 300 to illustrate the structure thereof from the inside, i.e. from the magnetizable core, to the outside, i.e. toward the low-voltage winding, wherein the cross-section is at least substantially perpendicular to the forward direction of the magnetizable core.

[0044] The high-voltage winding 330 is arranged concentrically around the magnetizable core 310. The protective layer 340 is then arranged concentrically around the high-voltage winding 330. Finally, the low-voltage winding 320 is arranged concentrically around the protective layer 340. The high-voltage winding 330 is thus arranged further inside and the low-voltage winding 320 further outside, relative to one another or relative to the protective layer 340, such that the high-voltage winding 330 is closer to the magnetizable core 310. In some advantageous variants, the high-voltage winding 330 touches the magnetizable core or is separated therefrom only by an insulation layer (not shown in FIG. 2), which allows improved thermal coupling between the high-voltage winding 330 and the magnetizable core 310, as a result of which the performance can be enhanced.

[0045] In some advantageous variants, as shown, the protective layer 340 has a first electrically insulating layer 342, an electrically conductive layer 344 and a second electrically insulating layer 346. In this advantageous way, the high-voltage winding and the low-voltage winding can be shielded from one another by means of the electrically conductive layer 344, and the electrically conductive layer 344 can be electrically insulated both from the high-voltage winding by means of the first electrically insulating layer 342 and from the low-voltage winding by means of the second electrically insulating layer 346. In some variants, the first electrically insulating layer 342 can be electroplated and the electrically conductive layer 344 can be applied thereto in this way. In other variants, the electrically conductive layer 344 can also be applied by vapor deposition (in particular as metal vapor) or adhesive bonding (in particular as metal foil). Furthermore, in some variants, the second electrically insulating layer 346 can be omitted.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a high-voltage transformer according to a further embodiment of the present invention to illustrate the high-voltage winding embodied as a pilgrim step winding, wherein any further components such as the protective layer, the low-voltage winding or a magnetic connecting element, for example, are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0047] The high-voltage transformer shown in FIG. 3 may correspond to the high-voltage transformer 300 described with reference to FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2, wherein the longitudinal section is at least substantially along the forward direction of the magnetizable core, such that the forward direction 316 lies at least substantially in the sectional plane.

[0048] The forward direction 316 is illustrated in FIG. 3 by a dashed, angled arrow, wherein the forward direction is intended to be understood relative to the respective position at the magnetizable core 310 and to a possible magnetic flux and consequently represents a local direction, which in particular in each case points locally in the direction of a possible magnetic flux (or always counter to this direction). Thus, if the forward direction is in each case followed locally in the case of a closed magnetizable core, a closed curve is obtained which encloses exactly one area.

[0049] The high-voltage winding 330 has a plurality of turns, which are grouped into a plurality of groups 335 of turns, which, in each group, are wound electrically in series and helically toward the forward direction around the magnetizable core 310, and into a plurality of groups 336 of turns, which, in each group, are wound electrically in series and helically counter to the forward direction around the magnetizable core. In this case, the groups 335 and 336 are alternately connected electrically in series with one another and alternately wound around the magnetizable core 310, such that a first number of turns in the forward direction for one of the groups 335 is followed by a second number of turns counter to the forward direction for one of the groups 336. In addition, the first number is greater than the second number, so that a winding in the forward direction is obtained overall.

[0050] To produce the high-voltage winding 330, a coil wire can alternately be wound around the core 310 in the forward direction for the first number of turns and be wound around the core 310 in the reverse direction—that is to say counter to the forward direction—for the second number of turns. In some advantageous variants, the coil wire can be an enamel-insulated copper wire.

[0051] By winding in the forward direction and counter to the forward direction, more turns can be wound around the magnetizable core 310 in a length section thereof than in the case of a helical winding only in the forward direction or only in the reverse direction. As a result, a large number of turns can be achieved overall without the need for a further layer of turns, which would extend over all the length sections of the magnetizable core intended for winding onto. Because winding is carried out in the forward and reverse directions for individual length sections of the magnetizable core in the pilgrim step winding, the length sections have a plurality of layers locally (so to speak), wherein the voltage difference between these “local layers” is less than in the case of a multilayer winding, in which turns are wound in each case over a total length of the magnetizable core that is to be wound onto. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the turn 338 of one of the groups 336 is spatially adjacent to the turns 337 and 339 of one of the groups 335 and, moreover, only one or only two turns away from them electrically, as a result of which there is a relatively small voltage difference between the turns during operation of the high-voltage transformer.

[0052] In some variants, the magnetizable core 310 can also have an insulation layer 314. Said insulation layer can, as shown in FIG. 3, be connected to the core and envelop only a part, in particular a length section to be wound onto, of the core 310 or else surround the entire core 310 and thus electrically insulate it. In some variants, this can be particularly advantageous in combination with a magnetizable core 310 made of lamination steel, in particular a plurality of layers of lamination steel, which in particular can be wound to form a toroidal core.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a test system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention together with a high-voltage device 30 to be tested as a schematic block diagram, wherein, for more detailed illustration, some components of the test system and associated electrical connections, connection points and/or nodes are depicted schematically as a (basic) electrical circuit diagram.

[0054] In one exemplary embodiment, the test system 10 has a portable main device 100 and a portable high-voltage test signal apparatus 200. In this case, the high-voltage test signal apparatus 200, as a portable auxiliary device of the test system 10, enables additional (test) functions—in particular functions that are based on a high voltage—in addition to functions that the portable main device already provides.

[0055] The portable main device 100 has a housing and a power output 120 integrated into the housing. The portable high-voltage test signal apparatus 200 has a housing and a power input 220 integrated into the housing. The power output 120 and the power input 220 are electrically connected by means of a cable 20 during operation, i.e. for testing the high-voltage device 30.

[0056] The portable high-voltage test signal apparatus 200 furthermore has a test signal apparatus 230, the components of which are accommodated in the housing of the high-voltage test signal apparatus 200. In this case, a first test connection 232 and a second test connection 234 of the test signal apparatus 230 can be integrated, in a manner corresponding to the power input 220, in the housing of the portable high-voltage test signal apparatus 200.

[0057] During operation, that is to say when testing the high-voltage device 30, the first test connection 232 is electrically connected to a first connection point 32 of the high-voltage device 30 and, accordingly, the second test connection 234 is electrically connected to a second connection point 34 of the high-voltage device 30.

[0058] For earthing, the portable high-voltage test signal apparatus 200 can have an earthing connection 204, allowing, in particular, separate earthing—for example for increased operational reliability. Alternatively, one of the test connections can also serve at the same time as an earthing connection, allowing, in particular, simpler cabling.

[0059] The test signal apparatus 230 has the high-voltage transformer 300 according to one of the previously described embodiments, wherein, in FIG. 4, the high-voltage transformer 300 is shown only schematically with the magnetizable core 310, the low-voltage winding 320 and the high-voltage winding 330 and the protective layer 340. The magnetizable core 310 is designed as a toroidal core, providing, in particular, for low interference, a compact design and a form factor that can be easily integrated into a housing and thus a high-voltage test signal apparatus 200 that is particularly easy to transport. This compact design is synergistically supported by the high-voltage winding 330, which is preferably close to the core—and thus in particular thermally buffered by means of the magnetizable core 310. As already mentioned above, both the low-voltage winding 320 and the high-voltage winding 330 can be formed by a respective suitable number of partial windings.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the high-voltage winding 330 has a first connection point 332 and a second connection point 334, wherein the second connection point 334 is electrically connected to the second test connection 234. The first connection point 332 can be electrically connected to the first test connection 232, wherein these can be connected to one another directly or, as shown, by means of an electrical switch 238 of the test signal apparatus 230. The switch 238 allows the first connection point 332 and the first test connection 232 to be selectively electrically connected, such that the electrical connection for applying a high voltage to the high-voltage device 30 can be established and disconnected, for example between individual test operations for safety.

[0061] The low-voltage winding 320 has a first connection point 322 and a second connection point 326. The first and second connection points 322, 326 are electrically connected to the power input 220 such that a power signal can be applied between the two connection points 322, 326 via the power input 220.

[0062] For generating the power signal, the portable main device 100 has a power signal source 130, in particular a controllable voltage source, which is electrically connected to the power output 120. In this case, the portable main device 100 is set up to control the power signal source 130 such that a voltage is applied between the first and second connection points 322, 326 of the low-voltage winding 320 by way of the power signal, and the high-voltage transformer 300 converts this voltage into a test signal for testing the high-voltage device 30, which is applied between the first and second connection points 332, 334 of the high-voltage winding 330—and thus also between the first and second test connections 232 and 234 when the switch 238 is closed.

[0063] The portable main device 100 is preferably configured so as, with the aid of an integrated controller (not shown in FIG. 4), to control the test procedure with the aid of the test signal generated by the high-voltage transformer 300.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method 800 for producing a high-voltage transformer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] In one exemplary embodiment, the method 800 includes the method steps 810, 820, 830 and 840. The method 800 begins at the start 802 of the method and ends at the end 804 of the method, wherein the method steps are carried out in the following order, and some variants of the method—for example for producing specific embodiments, developments, variants or exemplary embodiments according to the description and/or according to the figures—may have further method steps.

[0066] In method step 810, a magnetizable core is provided for the high-voltage transformer configured as a toroidal transformer.

[0067] In method step 830, a coil wire is wound, at least partially as a pilgrim step winding, around the magnetizable core, such that a high-voltage winding of the high-voltage transformer is formed.

[0068] In method step 840, a protective layer is applied, said protective layer enveloping the high-voltage winding on a side facing away from the magnetizable core and electrically insulating the high-voltage winding in the direction of the side that faces away.

[0069] In method step 820, a coil wire is wound around the high-voltage winding enveloped by the protective layer, such that a low-voltage winding of the high-voltage transformer with a number of turns smaller than a number of turns of the high-voltage winding is formed, and the protective layer electrically insulates the high-voltage winding and the low-voltage winding from one another.