Patent Publication Number: US-2023162915-A1

Title: Component and method for manufacturing insulating spacers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national stage application of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2021/051988 filed on Jan. 28, 2021, which in turn claims priority to European Patent Application No. 20170386.5, filed on Apr. 20, 2020, the disclosures and content of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of electromagnetic induction apparatuses for electric power transmission and distribution grids, for example power transformers. 
     More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a component and a method for manufacturing an insulating spacer intended for use in the electric windings of electromagnetic induction apparatuses. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, electric windings of electromagnetic induction apparatuses include a number of turns arranged according to a winding direction and have axial and radial channels to ensure the passage of an electrically insulating medium (e.g., an insulating fluid or a solid cast resin) among the turns. 
     Typically, the axial channels of an electric winding are obtained by arranging insulating rods oriented in parallel to the winding direction of the electric winding while electrically insulating spacers, which are interposed between adjacent turns of the electric winding and oriented radially with respect to the winding direction, are arranged to define the above-mentioned radial channels. 
     Most traditional insulating spacers are made of pressed paperboard or wood materials. However, insulating spacers made of selected polymeric materials (e.g., polyetherimide—PEI), which have a relatively high dielectric rigidity, are now commonly used. 
     Although they represent a valid alternative to most traditional spacers of the state of the art, insulating spacers made of plastic materials have some manufacturing constraints. As is known, these insulating spacers are typically manufactured through industrial molding processes. 
     These manufacturing processes provide high quality products if the length of the manufactured spacers is shorter than a given threshold value (typically about  100  mm). However, it has been seen that insulating spacers with a longer size often show relevant structural defects. 
     This is basically due to the fact that the above-mentioned plastic materials with high electric rigidity are not suitable for being molded in large industrial molds as they cannot be distributed properly and fill the molding cavities uniformly. 
     Production waste may thus reach unacceptable levels when insulating spacers with an extended length have to be manufactured as it would be requested when electric windings with a huge size need to be assembled. 
     For this reason, insulating spacers made of plastic materials are generally used in electric windings having a limited size. Obviously, this circumstance represents a severe limitation from an industrial point of view. 
     This technical issue might be overcome by adopting other industrial processes (e.g., extrusion) to manufacture plastic insulating spacers. However, such a solution has proven to entail an increase of the manufacturing time and costs. 
     WO 2007/111889 A1 relates to a discrete insulating spacer element, which is used to separate and maintain space between the conducting windings or coils of a transformer, wherein the spacer element is made of a liquid crystalline polymer. 
     WO 2016/073576 A1 relates to an electrical transformer including a coil pack with windings, and spacers axially spacing turns of the windings from one another and being formed of a thermoplastic material. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the state of the art, it is thus quite felt the need for innovative technical solutions capable of overcoming or mitigating the above-mentioned technical problems. 
     In order to respond to this need, the present disclosure provides a component and a method for manufacturing an insulating spacer for electromagnetic induction apparatuses, according to the claims proposed in the following. 
     In a general definition, the component is formed by a flat elongated body of plastic material having opposite first and second surfaces, opposite first and second sides and opposite third and fourth sides. 
     A first distance between said first and second surfaces defines a thickness of said component, a second distance between said third and fourth sides defines a width of said component and a third distance between said first and second sides defines a length of said component. 
     At least one of said first and second sides comprises coupling means for coupling with complementary coupling means of a further one of such component according to the invention. 
     Said coupling means comprise one or more male-insertion elements for coupling with one or more complementary female-insertion elements of a further one of such component and/or one or more female-insertion elements for coupling with one or more complementary male-insertion elements of a further one of such component. 
     A component, according to the disclosure, may thus have male-insertion elements only or female-insertion elements only or both male-insertion elements and female-insertion elements at one of said first and second sides or at both said first and second sides. 
     According to some embodiments, the coupling means of a component, according to the disclosure, are configured so that a coupling with complementary coupling means of a further one of such component requires a first relative translation motion of said component with respect to said further one of such component, wherein said first relative translation motion is directed along the length of said component. 
     According to other embodiments, the coupling means of a component, according to the disclosure, are configured so that the coupling with complementary coupling means of a further one of such component requires a second relative translation motion of said component with respect to said further one of such component, wherein said second relative translation motion is directed along the width of said component. 
     According to other embodiments, the coupling means of a component, according to the disclosure, are configured so that the coupling with complementary coupling means of a further one of such component, according to an embodiment, requires a third relative rotary-translation motion of said component with respect to said further one of such component, wherein said third relative rotary-translation motion includes a rotation of said component around the width of said component and a translation of said component along the length of said component. 
     According to other embodiments, the coupling means of a component, according to the disclosure, are configured so that the coupling with complementary coupling means of a further one of such component requires a fourth relative translation motion of said component with respect to said further one of such component, wherein said fourth relative translation motion is directed perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces of said component. 
     Preferably, the component, according to the invention, has at least one of the aforesaid first and second sides, which comprises fixing means for coupling with a support element of an electric winding. 
     The present invention relates also to an insulating spacer for an electromagnetic induction apparatus, which comprises at least two components, according to the invention, as described above. 
     In particular, an insulating spacer, according to embodiment, comprises at least a first component and a second component. At a first side or at a second side, the first component has coupling means coupled with complementary coupling means of the second component, at a first side or at a second side of said second component. 
     The present disclosure relates also to a method for manufacturing an insulating spacer for an electromagnetic induction apparatus. 
     The method, according to an embodiment, comprises the following steps: 
     providing at least a first component and a second component, according to the invention, as described above; 
     joining said first component and said second component by coupling the coupling means of said first component, at a first side or at a second side of said second component, with the complementary coupling means of said second component, at a first side or at a second side of said second component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent with reference to the description given below and to the accompanying figures, provided purely for explanatory and non-limiting purposes, wherein: 
         FIGS.  1 - 2    schematically show a component for manufacturing an insulating spacer, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 - 4    schematically show other components for manufacturing an insulating spacer, according to another embodiment; 
         FIGS.  5 - 13    schematically show other components for manufacturing an insulating spacer, according to a variety of embodiments; 
         FIG.  14    schematically shows some variants of a component for manufacturing an insulating spacer; 
         FIG.  15    schematically shows an example of insulating spacer including multiple components, which are modularly combined; 
         FIG.  16    schematically shows another example of insulating spacer including multiple components, which are modularly combined; 
         FIG.  17    schematically shows an electric winding for an electromagnetic induction apparatus, which includes multiple insulating spacers made according to the method of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the aforesaid figures, the present relates to a component  1 A,  1 B for manufacturing insulating spacers for electric windings of electromagnetic induction apparatuses (not shown), which are intended to be installed in electric power transmission and distribution grids. 
     An example of said electromagnetic induction apparatuses may be an electric transformer for electric power transmission and distribution grids, for example a power transformer or a distribution transformer. 
     The aforesaid component  1 A,  1 B is formed by a body of plastic material. 
     Preferably, such a plastic material may be any polymeric material suitable for an industrial molding process and having a relatively high electric rigidity. As an example, said plastic material may be a PEI, such as the material commercially known as ULTEM™. 
     Preferably, the plastic body forming the component  1 A,  1 B has a flat elongated shape extending along a main longitudinal axis A ( FIG.  1   ). 
     The component  1 A,  1 A has opposite first and second surfaces  11 ,  12 , opposite first and second sides  13 ,  14  and opposite third and fourth sides  15 ,  16 . 
     A first distance between the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  defines a thickness S of the component, a second distance between the third and fourth sides  15 ,  16  defines a width B of the component and a third distance between the first and second sides  13 ,  14  defines a length L of the component. 
     Preferably, the first and second sides  13 ,  14  are parallel to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  and are perpendicular to the third and fourth sides  15 ,  16  and to the main longitudinal axis A. Preferably, the third and fourth sides  15 ,  16  are parallel to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  and to the main longitudinal axis A and are perpendicular to the first and second sides  13 ,  14 . Preferably, the component  1 A,  1 B is shaped as an elongated flat parallelepiped having a thickness S (few cm) very lower than the width B and the length L (some cm) and having the width B shorter than the length L. 
     The first and second sides  13 ,  14  of the component  1 A,  1 B may be shaped according to a variety of geometric profiles, as it will clearly emerge from the following description. 
     Preferably, the third and fourth sides  15 ,  16  of the component  1 A,  1 B are rectilinear. However, in principle, they may be differently shaped, e.g., with a curved profile. 
     An essential feature of the component  1 A,  1 B for manufacturing insulating spacers consists in that the at least one of the first and second sides  13 ,  14  comprises coupling means  17 A,  17 B intended to couple with complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of a further component  1 B,  1 A according to the invention. 
     Multiple components  1 A,  1 B may therefore be coupled along their length L and form an insulating spacer  100  having a longer modular structure. 
     An insulating spacer  100  having a desired length may be formed by modularly combining multiple components  1 A,  1 B through their corresponding coupling means  17 A,  17 B ( FIGS.  15 - 16   ). 
     Additionally, insulating spacers  100  of different lengths may be formed by using multiple components having a same size (e.g., with a length up to 8 cm), which is conveniently selected in such a way to satisfy the manufacturing constraints imposed by available molding processes. 
     According to an aspect, the coupling means  17 A,  17 B of a component  1 A,  1 B are configured to couple with the complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of a further component  1 B,  1 A through an insertion coupling of the male-female type. 
     The coupling means  17 A,  17 B of a component  1 A,  1 B may include one or more male-insertion elements  17 A (e.g., shaped protrusions) for coupling with one or more corresponding complementary female-insertion elements  17 B of a further component  1 B,  1 A and/or one or more female-insertion elements  17 B (e.g., shaped grooves) for coupling with one or more corresponding complementary male-insertion elements  17 A of a further component. 
     A component  1 A,  1 B may thus have (at one of the first and second sides  13 ,  14  or at both said first and second sides) male-insertion elements  17 A only or it may have female-insertion elements  17 B only or it may have both male-insertion elements  17 A and female-insertion elements  17 B. 
       FIG.  1    shows a component  1 A,  1 B, which is provided with coupling means including a male-insertion element  17 A at the first side  13  and a female-insertion element  17 B at the second side  14 . In this case, multiple components  1 A,  1 B of this same type may be combined in a modular manner to form an insulating spacer  100 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a component  1 A,  1 B, which is provided with coupling means including only male-insertion elements  17 A at both the first and second sides  13 ,  14  while  FIG.  3    shows a component  1 A,  1 B provided with coupling means including only female-insertion elements  17 B at both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 . In this case, multiple components of these different types (i.e. male and female types) have to be combined in a modular manner to form an insulating spacer  100 . 
     The coupling means  17 A,  17 B of a component  1 A,  1 B may be designed according to a variety of different configurations, each requiring that the component  1 A,  1 B is relatively moved with respect to a further component  1 B,  1 A so as to obtain the above-mentioned male-female insertion coupling between its coupling means  17 A,  17 B of said component and the complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of said further component. 
     According to some embodiments ( FIGS.  1 - 7   ), a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that the male-female insertion coupling with the complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of a further component  1 B,  1 A requires a first relative translation motion M 1  of the component  1 A,  1 B with respect to the further component  1 B,  1 A. Conveniently, the first relative translation motion M 1  is directed along the length L of the component  1 A,  1 B. 
     In other words, according to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that said component has to be moved towards a further component  1 B,  1 A with a translation motion M 1  parallel to the length L in order to couple with said further component. 
     According to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B may have (at one of or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 ) one or more male-insertion elements  17 A formed by corresponding shaped protrusions  171  extending along the width B of said component and/or one or more female-insertion elements  17 B formed by corresponding shaped grooves  172  extending along the width B of said component. 
     As illustrated above, a component  1 A,  1 B may have (at one of or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 ) only shaped protrusions  171  or it may have only shaped grooves  172  or it may have both shaped protrusions  171  and shaped grooves  172 . 
       FIGS.  5 - 6    show a component  1 A having a second side  14  provided with a shaped groove  172  extending along the width B and a component  1 B having a first side  13  provided with a shaped protrusion  171  extending along the width B. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS.  5 - 6   , the shaped protrusion  171  and the shaped groove  172  have complementary rectangular profiles. 
     As it is evident, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 1  directed along the length L. 
       FIG.  7    shows a component  1 A and a component  1 B, which respectively have a second side  14  and a first side  13  provided with shaped protrusions  171  and shaped grooves  172 . 
     The shaped protrusions  171  and the shaped grooves  172  of the components  1 A,  1 B have complementary shapes and they are conveniently arranged in alternate positions so that they can couple one with another. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  7   , the shaped protrusions  171  and the shaped grooves  172  have complementary trapezoidal profiles. 
     Also in this case, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 1  directed along the length L. 
     Referring to the above-illustrated examples, it is apparent that shaped protrusions  171  and shaped grooves  172 , which have complementary profiles with a different geometry, may be designed to realize coupling means  17 A,  17 B of the same type. 
     According to some embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that the male-female insertion coupling with the complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of a further component  1 B,  1 A requires a second relative translation motion M 2  of the component  1 A,  1 B with respect to the further component  1 B,  1 A. Conveniently, the second relative translation motion M 2  is directed along the width B of the component  1 A,  1 B. 
     In other words, according to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that it has to be moved towards a further component  1 B,  1 A with a translation motion M 2  parallel to the width B in order to couple with said further component. 
     According to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B may have (at one of or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 ) one or more male-insertion elements  17 A formed by corresponding shaped protrusions  173  extending along the width B of said component and/or one or more female-insertion elements  17 B formed by corresponding shaped grooves  174  extending along the width B of said component. 
     As illustrated above, a component  1 A,  1 B may have (at one of or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 ) only shaped protrusions  173  or it may have only shaped grooves  174  or it may have both shaped protrusions  173  and shaped grooves  174 . 
       FIG.  8    shows a component  1 A having a second side  14  provided with a shaped groove  174  extending along the width B and a component  1 B having a first side  13  provided with a shaped protrusion  173  extending along the width B. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS.  8   , the shaped protrusion  173  and the shaped groove  174  have complementary dovetail profiles. 
     As it is evident, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 2  directed along the width B. 
       FIG.  9    shows a component  1 A having a second side  14  provided with a shaped groove  174  extending along the width B and a component  1 B having a first side  13  provided with a shaped protrusion  173  extending along the width B. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS.  9   , the shaped protrusion  173  and the shaped groove  174  have complementary rounded profiles (e.g., match head profiles). 
     As it is evident, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 2  directed along the width B. 
     Referring to the above-illustrated examples, it is apparent that shaped protrusions  173  and shaped grooves  174 , which have complementary profiles with a different geometry, may be designed to realize coupling means  17 A,  17 B of the same type. 
     The embodiments shown in  FIGS.  8 - 9    are particularly advantageous as the coupling means  17 A,  17 B of each component  1 A,  1 B of the invention are designed so that said components form an insulating spacer  100  having a self-supporting structure when they are modularly combined one with another. 
     According to some embodiments ( FIG.  10   ), a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that the male-female insertion coupling with the complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of a further component  1 B,  1 A requires a third relative rotary-translation motion M 3  of the component  1 A,  1 B with respect to the further component  1 B,  1 A. Conveniently, the third relative rotary-translation motion M 3  includes a rotation around the width B and a translation along the length L of the component  1 A,  1 B. 
     In other words, according to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that it has to be moved towards a further component  1 B,  1 A with a rotary-translation motion M 3 . 
     According to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B may have one or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14  that include first or second shaped head portions  175  and  177  at which corresponding shaped protrusions  176  or shaped grooves  178  are obtained, respectively. 
     The shaped protrusions  176  at the first shaped head portions  175  form one or more male-insertion elements  17 A while the shaped grooves  178  at the second shaped head portions  177  form one or more female-insertion elements  17 B. 
       FIG.  10    shows a component  1 A and a component  1 B, which respectively have a second side  14  and a first side  13  respectively provided with first and second head portions  175  and  177  having complementary shapes and arranged in alternate positions so that they can couple one with another. 
     The first head portions  175  have shaped protrusions  176  while the second head portions  177  have shaped grooves  178 . 
     The shaped protrusions  176  and the shaped grooves  178  extend along the width B of the corresponding components  1 A,  1 B and they have complementary toothed profiles. shaped protrusions  171  and shaped grooves  172 . 
     As it is evident, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a with a rotary-translation motion M 3 . 
     Referring to the above-illustrated example, it is apparent that the shaped head portions  175  and  177 , the shaped protrusions  176  and the shaped grooves  178  may have complementary profiles with a different geometry to realize coupling means  17 A,  17 B of the same type. 
     Also, in these embodiments , the coupling means  17 A,  17 B of each component  1 A,  1 B are designed so that these components form an insulating spacer  100  having a self-supporting structure when they are modularly combined one with another. 
     According to some embodiments ( FIGS.  11 - 13   ), a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that the male-female insertion coupling with the complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of a further component  1 B,  1 A requires a fourth relative translation motion M 4  of the component  1 A,  1 B with respect to the further component  1 B,  1 A. Conveniently, the second relative translation motion M 2  is directed perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  (i.e. along the thickness S of the component). 
     According to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B has coupling means  17 A,  17 B configured in such a way that it has to be moved towards a further component  1 B,  1 A with a translation motion M 4  perpendicular to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  in order to couple with said further component. 
     According to these embodiments, a component  1 A,  1 B may have (at one of or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 ) one or more male-insertion elements  17 A formed by corresponding shaped protrusions  179 A extending perpendicular to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  and/or one or more female-insertion elements  17 B formed by corresponding shaped grooves  179 B extending perpendicular to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12 . 
     As illustrated above, a component  1 A,  1 B may have (at one of or both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 ) only shaped protrusions  179 A or it may have only shaped grooves  179 B or it may have both shaped protrusions  179 A and shaped grooves  179 B. 
       FIG.  11    shows a component  1 A and a component  1 B, which respectively have a second side  14  and a first side  13  provided with shaped protrusions  179 A and shaped grooves  179 B. 
     The shaped protrusions  179 A and the shaped grooves  179 B of the components  1 A,  1 B have complementary shapes and they are conveniently arranged in alternate positions so that they can couple one with another. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  11   , the shaped protrusions  179 A and the shaped grooves  179 B have complementary dovetail profiles. 
     As it is evident, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 4  directed perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12 . 
       FIG.  12    shows a component  1 A and a component  1 B arranged similarly to that one of  FIG.  11   , in which the shaped protrusions  179 A and the shaped grooves  179 B have complementary rectangular profiles. 
     Also in this case, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 4  directed perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12 . 
       FIG.  13    shows a component  1 A and a component  1 B arranged similarly to those of  FIGS.  11 - 12   , in which the shaped protrusions  179 A and the shaped grooves  179 B have complementary rounded profiles. 
     Also in this case, the coupling between the components  1 A,  1 B may be obtained by relatively moving the component  1 A towards the component  1 B with a translation motion M 4  directed perpendicularly to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12 . 
     Referring to the above-illustrated examples, it is apparent that shaped protrusions  179 A and shaped grooves  170 B, which have complementary profiles with a different geometry, may be designed to realize coupling means  17 A,  17 B of the same type. 
     Also, in these embodiments, the coupling means  17 A,  17 B of each component  1 A,  1 B are designed so that these components form an insulating spacer  100  having a self-supporting structure when they are modularly combined one with another. 
     According to an aspect , a component  1 A,  1 B comprises fixing means  18  for coupling with a support element of an electric winding  90 . 
     Preferably, such a support element is an insulating block or rod of the electric winding, which extends in parallel to the winding direction of said electric winding. 
     Preferably, the fixing means  18  may be arranged at the first side  13  or at the second side  14 . In principle, however, they may be arranged also at both the first and second sides  13 ,  14 . 
     Preferably, the fixing means  18  include a shaped groove extending according to a direction perpendicular to the first and second surfaces  11 ,  12  of the component  1 A,  1 B. The shaped groove  18  may be configured according to a variety of geometric profiles, such as a dovetail profile, a rectangular profile or a T-shaped profile, as shown in  FIG.  14   . 
     As mentioned above, the component  1 A,  1 B is manufactured at industrial level through industrial molding processes of known type. 
     Preferably, a method for manufacturing the component  1 A,  1 B in accordance with the disclosure comprises the step of providing a semi-finished product of plastic material (e.g., a plate or a stripe of plastic material) through an industrial moulding process, e.g., an injection molding process. 
     Preferably, the above-mentioned semi-finished product includes predefined breaking lines. 
     Conveniently, said breaking lines may be obtained by suitably designing an industrial mould according to known mould designing techniques. 
     Preferably, said breaking lines are designed in such a way to define the profile of a number of components  1 A,  1 B having a different shape and/or size. 
     Preferably, a method for manufacturing a component  1 A,  1 B comprises the step breaking the above-mentioned semi-fished product along the above-mentioned breaking lines. The component  1 A,  1 B may thus be finally obtained. 
     The above-illustrated manufacturing method allows obtaining components  1 A,  1 B, which have different shapes or lengths, using a same industrial mould. This entails relevant savings of industrial costs. 
     In principle, however, the component  1 A,  1 B may be manufactured by employing standard industrial moulding process of known type. 
     According to an important aspect, the present disclosure relates also to a method for manufacturing an insulating spacer  100  for an electromagnetic induction apparatus. 
     The method comprises the following steps: 
     providing at least first and second components  1 A,  1 B, which have the features described above; 
     joining said first and second components  1 A,  1 B by coupling the respective coupling means  17 A,  17 B of said first and second components at a first side  13  or at a second side  14  of said first and second components. 
     According to an important aspect, the present disclosure relates also to an insulating spacer  100  for an electromagnetic induction apparatus, which comprises at least two components as described above. 
     In particular, an insulating spacer  100  comprises at least a first component and a second component. At a first side  13  or at a second side  14 , the first component has coupling means  17 A,  17 B coupled with complementary coupling means  17 B,  17 A of the second component, at a first side  13  or at a second side  14  of said second component. 
       FIG.  15    schematically shows an example of insulating spacer  100  including two components  1 A,  1 B, which are modularly combined according to the method of the invention. 
     The component  1 A comprises a first side  13 , at which fixing means  18 , which include a shaped groove perpendicular to the first surface  11  of the component, for fixing to a supporting rod of an electric winding are arranged. 
     The component  1 A comprises a second side  14 , at which coupling means  17 B for coupling with a further component, which include a shaped groove extending parallel to the width B of the component, are arranged (similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   ). 
     The component  1 B comprises a first side  13 , at which coupling means  17 A for coupling with a further component, which include a shaped protrusion, are arranged (similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   ) and a second side  14  having a simple rectilinear profile. 
     The components  1 A,  1 B may be joined with a simple maneuver, in which they brought one near another, e.g., with translation movements along their length. 
     An insulating spacer  100  may be formed by three or more components, according to the disclosure. 
       FIG.  16    schematically shows an example of insulating spacer  100  including three components  1 A,  1 B,  1 C, which are modularly combined according to the method of the disclosure. 
     The components  1 A,  1 B are similar to those shown in  FIG.  15    while the component  1 C comprises coupling means  17 B for coupling with a further component, which include a shaped groove, at both the first and second sides  13 ,  14  (similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   ). 
     Also in this case, the components  1 A,  1 B,  1 C may be joined with a simple maneuver, in which they brought one near another, e.g., with translation movements along their length. 
     Referring to the above-illustrated examples, it is apparent that an insulating spacer  100  may be obtained by joining two or more components, which have different configurations from those illustrated in  FIGS.  15 - 16   , e.g., configurations suitably selected among those illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 13   . 
     In a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electric winding  90  for electromagnetic induction apparatuses, which comprises one or more insulating spacers  100 . 
       FIG.  17    schematically shows as example of industrial winding  90  including insulating spacers  100 . 
     Preferably, the electric winding  90  includes a conductor structure  91  (e.g., including a continuously transposed conductor) wound along a winding direction DW. 
     The electric winding  90  has a plurality of adjacent turns  92  arranged around the winding direction DW. 
     Each turn  92  is formed by a corresponding longitudinal portion of the conductor included in the conductor structure  91 . 
     The electric winding  90  comprises multiple insulating spacers  100 , which are arranged between each pair of adjacent turns  92 . 
     The insulating spacers  100  extend along radial planes perpendicular to the winding direction DW and form radial channels  93  of the electric winding  90 , which ensure the passage of an electrically insulating medium (e.g., insulating fluid or solid cast resin) among the adjacent turns  92 . 
     The insulating spacers  100  may be fixed to the turns  92  by gluing or according to other solutions of known type. 
     The component  1 A,  1 B and the method for manufacturing an insulating spacer  100 , according to the disclosure, provide relevant advantages with respect to known solutions of the state of the art. 
     The method allows obtaining high quality plastic insulating spacers  100  of any desired length by modularly combining multiple (preferably two) components  1 A,  1 B along their length. 
     Plastic insulating spacers may therefore be extensively used also in electric windings of huge size. 
     The component  1 A,  1 B is relatively easy to realize at industrial level at competitive costs, since it may be manufactured with industrial molding processes of known type. 
     The method is very easy to implement at industrial level, even by means of automatic handling apparatuses, as the coupling means  17 A,  17 B of each component  1 A,  1 B may be suitably designed in such a way to make possible their coupling with simple maneuvers and in such a way to provide insulating spacers  100  having a self-supporting structure without the need of fixing means (e.g., glue) to maintain the different components  1 A,  1 B in their operative positions.