Method for producing a plugged wave winding

A method of producing a plugged wave winding configured to form at least part of a coil winding for a component of an electrical machine by plugging together a first wave winding part with a second wave winding part, wherein the first wave winding part is formed by at least one first wave winding wire and the second wave winding part is formed by at least one second wave winding wire, wherein the wave winding wires each extend in a longitudinal direction and have straight wire sections extending in a first transverse direction running transverse to the longitudinal direction and roof-shaped winding heads therebetween such that adjacent straight wire sections are interconnected by a winding head bent in a roof shape, the method comprising:

• providing the first wave winding part and first guide elements for guiding straight wire sections of the first wave winding part during a plugging operation,
• providing the second wave winding part and second guide elements for guiding straight wire sections of the second wave winding part during the plugging operation,
• bending portions of at least one of the wave winding parts such that one or more of the winding heads directed towards the other wave winding part are displaced in a second transverse direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and transversely to the first transverse direction for plugging the wave winding parts into one another, and
• pushing the first and second wave winding parts of the wave winding with the guide elements so as to plug the wave winding parts into one another,
• wherein the first and second guide elements, for passing winding heads during plugging into one another, are moved from a guide position, in which they guide the straight wire sections, to a release position for releasing a path of the winding heads,
• and the method further comprising at least one of:
• guiding a movement of at least one of the wave winding parts during the plugging into one another with primary guide elements extending from one side into the wave winding part to be guided, and secondary guide elements extending from the other side into the wave winding part to be guided, wherein the primary and secondary guide elements are transferred into the release position at different times of the plugging operation so that guiding is permanently provided, or
• guiding the movement of at least one of the wave winding parts during the plugging into one another with the first and second guide elements as primary guide elements and additionally with secondary guide elements, the primary and secondary guide elements being transferred into the release position at different times of the plugging operation so that guiding is permanently provided.