METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A BRAID AND A BRAID

Abstract

In a method for producing a braid that extends in a longitudinal direction, multiple individual strands are interwoven with one another. For this purpose, first and second spools are moved relative to one another, the individual strands being wound onto the spools. The first spools having first individual strands are guided on a path that circulates about the longitudinal axis with the result that the first individual strands are arranged in a helical manner at least in sections about the longitudinal axis. The second spools having second individual strands are arranged with respect to the direction of rotation at fixed angular positions with the result that the second individual strands are incorporated into the braid in a manner in which they extend parallel to the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A method for producing a braid that extends in a longitudinal direction, which comprises the steps of: interweaving a plurality of individual strands with one another about a longitudinal axis, the interweaving comprises the following sub-steps of: moving a plurality of spools on to which the individual strands are wound relative to one another in a defined manner to form the braid and the individual strands are drawn off in the longitudinal direction so as to form the braid, the plurality of spools include first spools and second spools and the individual strands include first individual strands and second individual strands; guiding the first spools having the first individual strands on a path that circulates about the longitudinal axis in a direction of rotation with a result that the first individual strands are placed in a helical manner at least in sections about the longitudinal axis; and disposing the second spools having the second individual strands with respect to the direction of rotation at fixed angular positions with a result that the second individual strands are incorporated into the braid in a manner in which they extend parallel to the longitudinal direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises guiding the second individual strands, with respect to the longitudinal direction, in an alternating manner below and above the first individual strands.

3. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises guiding the second individual strands by use of guiding elements that are moved in a perpendicular manner with respect to the direction of rotation with a result that the second individual strands are guided in an alternating manner below and above the first individual strands.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises disposing the first spools on spool carriers that are moved along a mechanical path guide.

5. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises disposing the second spools outside a circulatory path and the mechanical path guide is segmented and is interrupted by slits at angular positions of the second spools.

6. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises configuring the spool carriers to be longer than a width of the slits so as to bridge the slits.

7. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises driving the spool carriers individually.

8. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises driving the spool carriers in an electromagnetic manner.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a respective spool carrier together with the mechanical forms a linear motor.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a number of the second spools is greater than a number of the first spools.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spools perform a pendulum movement in such a manner that a helical line is not connected in a circulatory manner.

12. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises configuring the braid with openings or regions that are covered to a lesser degree.

13. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises providing at least one third spool together with third individual strands, the third individual stands are guided on a further circulatory path that does not circulate the longitudinal axis.

14. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises winding the third individual strands around a part of the second individual strands.

15. A braid, comprising: a plurality of individual strands that are interwoven with one another and extend in a longitudinal direction and disposed around a longitudinal axis, wherein a part of the individual strands, namely first individual strands, extend in a helical manner at least in part about the longitudinal axis in a direction of rotation and a further part of the individual strands, namely second individual strands, extend parallel to the longitudinal direction.

16. The braid according to claim 15, wherein the first individual strands change their direction of rotation repeatedly.

17. The braid according to claim 15, which further comprises winding third individual strands around a part of the second individual strands.

18. A device for producing a braid that extends in a longitudinal direction, the device comprising: spools; and individual strands, including first individual strands and second individual strands, wound onto said spools, said spools including first spools having said first individual strands and second spools having said second individual strands, wherein said first spools may move during an operation on a path that circulates about the longitudinal direction in a direction of rotation and said second spools are disposed at fixed angular positions during the operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, to plan view of a device for producing a braid according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the device;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a sectional lateral view of the braid in accordance with a first embodiment variant;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a sectional lateral view of the braid in accordance with a second embodiment variant; and

[0040] FIG. 5 is a sectional lateral view of the braid in accordance with a third embodiment variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a device 2 and also a method for producing a braid 4. The braid 4 is in particular a metal braid contains a multiplicity of individual strands 6 that are interwoven with one another and are formed in particular by individual wires. The braid 4 is overall a tubular structure that extends in a longitudinal direction 8. The braid 4 is in particular pulled on as a shielding braid for shielding electrical lines. Depending upon the line, the braid 4 has typically a diameter in the range of a few millimeters up to by way of example 10 mm. Fundamentally, shielding braids are also possible that have a larger diameter for correspondingly thicker lines or cables, by way of example braids 4 with a diameter of up to 20 mm, up to 30 mm or even more. Braids 4 of this type contain typically 8, 16, 24 or 32 individual wires.

[0042] In order to produce braids 4 of this type, individual strands 6 are interwoven with one another. For this purpose, the individual strands 6 are initially unwound from spools 10 and guided toward a drawing-off device 12 which is used to draw off the braid 4 that is being formed in the longitudinal direction 8 in particular upward. The longitudinal direction 8 defines therefore simultaneously a drawing-off direction.

[0043] In general, the individual strands 6 are frequently guided in groups and the groups of individual strands 6 are guided by virtue of suitably guiding the spools 10 repeatedly above and below the individual strands 6 of the other group with the result that the desired interwoven structure is produced.

[0044] The device 2 contains a first group of first spools 10a and the first individual strands 6a are wound in this case onto the first spools. These first spools 10a are guided on a mechanical path guide 14, in particular a type of rail guide, on a preferably circular path 16 that circulates around a center that is formed by a longitudinal axis 18. During the production of a shielded line, the center is formed by means of a line core and the braid 4 is attached around the line core. In general, the braid 4 is attached to a central strand 19. The central strand 19 and consequently the line core are by way of example parts of a coaxial cable and the braid 4 forms an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. Alternatively, the line core is formed by a number of core pairs that are by way of example twisted with one another or also are not twisted. The lines are typically data lines, wherein the lines are not limited thereto.

[0045] Second spools 10b are provided in addition to the first spools 10a and the second spools are arranged fixed in place at fixed angular positions. Second individual strands 6b are unwound from these second spools 10b. The second spools 10b are arranged outside the circular path 16 and consequently outside the mechanical path guide 14.

[0046] The mechanical path guide 14 is interrupted at the respective positions of the second spools 10b and contains slits 20 by means of which the second individual strands 6b are each guided in the direction toward the longitudinal axis 18. The mechanical path guide 14 is therefore formed in other words overall as a segmented path guide 14 and contains multiple circular arc segments.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment, four second spools 10b are provided and accordingly four slits 20. It is preferred that the second spools 10b are arranged generally distributed uniformly around the circumference of the path 16, in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 therefore with a fixed angular spacing of 90 degrees.

[0048] The number of first spools 10a corresponds by way of example to the number of second spools 10b. Alternatively, more second spools 10b are provided and/or these are of a larger size and provided with more wire material. As previously mentioned, braids are usually produced with 8, 16, 24 or 32 individual strands 6. Typically, a corresponding number of spools 10 are also provided.

[0049] The first spools 10a are arranged on spool carriers 22. The spool carriers 22 are arranged so as to be able to move along the path guide 14. The spool carriers 22 are able to move individually, therefore fundamentally independently of one another, in other words each spool carrier 22 contains preferably a dedicated drive unit. The drive force is produced in particular in an electromagnetic manner. It is preferred that the spool carriers 22 form together with the path guide 14 a type of linear motor. For this purpose, a multiplicity of permanent magnets are arranged around the path 16 on the mechanical path guide 14 in a manner not illustrated here. In a complementary manner thereto, the spool carriers 22 each comprise at least one electromagnet that is controlled accordingly for the forward drive in a desired direction.

[0050] The individual spool carriers 22 and the first spools 10a are each typically driven at the same rotational speed and in the same direction.

[0051] The spool carriers 22 may in principle move in two directions of rotation, as indicated by the arrows.

[0052] A respective spool carrier 22 contains a length l that is greater than a width b of the slits 20. A respective spool carrier 22 bridges a respective slit 20 as a result of the greater length l. In particular, the length l is preferably at least twice as large as the width b. As a consequence, a respective spool carrier 22 is also guided in a reliable manner when the slits 20 are bridged.

[0053] In addition, a guiding element 24 is also allocated to the second spools 10b respectively and the guiding element is used to guide the second individual strands 6b respectively in a radial direction toward the longitudinal axis 18. The guiding elements 24 are able to move in the longitudinal direction 8 or in the opposite direction thereto. With the aid of the guiding elements 24, the second individual strands 6b are raised or pushed downward, with the result that the second individual strands are guided in an alternating mannerwhen viewed in the longitudinal direction 8once above and once below the first individual strands 6a.

[0054] The guiding elements 24 preferably comprise two deflecting elements, in particular deflecting rollers 26, and the respective second individual strand 6b is guided between the deflecting elements.

[0055] In order to produce the braid 4, the spool carriers 22 and at the same time the first spools 10a are guided in a predetermined direction of rotation on the path guide 14 at a predetermined speed. The first individual strands 6a are drawn off simultaneously. In parallel thereto, the second individual strands 6b are drawn off upward in the longitudinal direction 8 by the drawing-off device 12.

[0056] It is of considerable importance that the second spools 10b are arranged in a fixed manner at the fixed angular positions. In this respect, the second spools 10b do not experience any centrifugal forces as a result of a rotation about the longitudinal axis 18, as would be the case in conventional braiding machines.

[0057] Furthermore, in order to form the interwoven structure, it is provided that the guiding elements 24 repeatedly perform a pendulum motion in the longitudinal direction 8 or in the opposite direction thereto with the result that the second individual strands 6b are guided in an alternating manner once below and once above the first individual strands 6a with the result that when the braid 4 is finished said strands form once a lower layer and once an upper layer of the braid.

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates an additional variant. In actual fact, in an alternative embodiment, a further mechanical path guide 28 is provided in addition and a further circulatory path 30 is formed that is arranged in a circulatory manner around a multiplicity of the second spools 10b. The additional path 30 is however not configured so as to circulate with respect to the longitudinal axis 18 or the center. At least one third spool 10c is guided in a circulatory manner on the further path guide 28 and a third individual strand 6c is uncoiled from said third spool and is drawn off from the drawing-off device 12 so as to be configured and braided into the braid 4. Fundamentally, it is also possible to arrange multiple third spools 10c on multiple spool carriers 22 on the additional path 28. The third individual strand 6c is therefore wound around the second individual strands 6b of the respective second spool 10b that are surrounded by the additional path 30 with the result that a wire bundle 32 around which individual strands 6c are wound (see in this respect in particular FIG. 4) is formed in this manner in the braid 4.

[0059] As a result of the individual spool carriers 22 being driven in an electromagnetic manner, the spool carriers, as already mentioned, are able to move in both directions. It is therefore rendered possible in particular during the braiding process to also reverse the direction of movement.

[0060] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is furthermore provided that the spool carriers 22 do not move in a completely circulatory manner about the longitudinal axis 18 but rather in each case reverses the direction of movement prior to achieving a complete rotation. Thus, it is possible to form a variable braided pattern, by way of example also with openings 34 in the braid 4, such as is illustrated for example in FIG. 5. The term opening 30 is understood in general to mean a region of the braid 4 that comprises at least a degree of covering that is smaller in comparison to adjacent regions of the braid 4 in which in other words fewer individual wires 6 are provided.

[0061] The different variants of the braid 4 are in general illustrated schematically in FIGS. 3 to 5. The basic variant and basic design of the braid 4 is illustrated in FIG. 3. It is apparent in the figures that the braid 4 extends overall in the longitudinal direction 8. The second individual strands 6b extend parallel to the longitudinal direction 8. This is as a result of the fact that the second spools 10b are fixed in position and that during the production process the second individual strands 6b are interwoven in a parallel manner with respect to the longitudinal axis 18 into the braid that is being formed. The second individual strands 6b are arranged in particular at an equal spacing with respect to one another.

[0062] The second individual strands 6a are arranged in a helical manner about the longitudinal axis 18 or about a center. This is a result of the circulatory movement of the second spools 10a with the superimposition of the drawing-off movement in the longitudinal direction 8. Since the second individual strands 6b are guided in an alternating manner above or below the first individual strands 6a, the first individual strands 6a (and also correspondingly the second individual strands 6b) form in an alternating manner an upper or lower layer. The first individual strands 6a, there being a total of 4 in the exemplary embodiment, are each guided as a group with the result that as a group they each form an upper or lower layer.

[0063] FIG. 4 illustrates a braid 4 that starting from the basic braid, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is also provided with the already mentioned wire bundle 32. For this purpose, a part of the second individual strands 6b are surrounded by the at least one third individual strand 6c with the result that a multiplicity of the second individual strands 6b is surrounded by the third individual strand 6c. A wire bundle 28 of this type is preferably connected to a contact element or a ground connection during the production process with the result that the braid 4 is therefore contacted in an electrical manner and in particular is connected to ground.

[0064] Finally, FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment variant in which preferably in turn starting from the basic braid illustrated in FIG. 3 at least one opening 34 is worked into the braid 4. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the first individual strand 6a is not completely guided in a circulatory manner about the longitudinal axis 18 or the center. Openings 34 of this type, in other words at least regions that are covered to a lesser degree, are by way of example used so as to define in a purposeful manner regions which may emit or receive electromagnetic waves. For this purpose, a transmitter antenna or also a reception antenna is configured or arranged by way of example in the interior.