WIRE NETTING AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HELIX FOR A WIRE NETTING

Abstract

A wire netting, in particular a safety net, with a plurality of helices which are braided with each other, of which at least one helix is bent from at least one single wire, a wire bundle, a wire strand, a wire rope and/or another longitudinal element with at least one wire, in particular comprises a high-tensile steel, the at least one helix having at least one first leg, at least one second leg as well as at least one bending region connecting the first leg and the second leg to each other, wherein the longitudinal element is bent at least substantially torsion-free in itself along a contour of the first leg and/or of the second leg.

Claims

1. A wire netting, in particular a safety net, with a plurality of helices which are braided with each other, of which at least one helix is bent from at least one single wire, a wire bundle, a wire strand, a wire rope and/or another longitudinal element with at least one wire, which in particular comprises a high-tensile steel, the at least one helix having at least one first leg, at least one second leg as well as at least one bending region connecting the first leg and the second leg to each other, wherein the longitudinal element is bent at least substantially torsion-free in itself along a contour of the first leg and/or of the second leg.

2. The wire netting according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal element is bent, at least substantially without any torsion in itself, along a contour of the bending region.

3. The wire netting according to claim 1, wherein a surface structure of the first leg and/or of the second leg has a preferential direction which extends parallel to a main extension direction of the first leg and/or of the second leg.

4. The wire netting according to claim 3, wherein the surface structure of the first leg and/or of the second leg is free from partial structures extending spirally with respect to the main extension direction of the first leg and/or of the second leg.

5. The wire netting according to claim 1, wherein, in a transverse view, parallel to a main extension plane of the helix and perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the helix, the bending region at least section-wise follows an at least approximately straight course.

6. The wire netting according to claim 5, wherein, in the transverse view, the helix follows at least section-wise a stepped contour.

7. The wire netting according to claim 1, wherein the first leg and/or the second leg at least section-wise follow/follows a straight contour.

8. The wire netting according to claim 1, wherein the first leg runs at least section-wise in a first plane and the second leg extends at least section-wise in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane.

9. The wire netting according to claim 1, wherein the wire comprises a high-tensile steel and/or a tensile strength of at least 800 N mm.sup.2.

10. A method for manufacturing a helix for a wire netting, in particular for a safety net, in particular according to claim 1, wherein the helix is bent from at least one single wire, a wire bundle, a wire strand, a wire rope and/or another longitudinal element with at least one wire, which in particular comprises a high-tensile steel, in such a way that it comprises at least one first leg, at least one second leg as well as at least one bending region connecting the first leg and the second leg to each other, wherein the longitudinal element is at least substantially bent, without any torsion in itself, along a contour of the first leg and/or of the second leg.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal element is bent by means of a bending device, which the longitudinal element is supplied to for bending, wherein during supply the longitudinal element is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinal element passes through a rotating orienting apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinal element is unwound from a co-rotated reel.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein by at least one adjustment of a rotation speed of the longitudinal element a torsion of the longitudinal element is compensated during bending by the bending device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, for bending of the bending region, the longitudinal element is rotated at least by a compensating angle, which corresponds to an angle between the first leg and the second leg in a front view perpendicular to

16. (canceled)

Description

DRAWINGS

[0037] Further advantages may be obtained from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings, two exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawings, the description and claims contain various characteristics in combination. The skilled in the art may advantageously also consider the characteristics individually and then combine them in further reasonable combinations.

[0038] In particular:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a part of a wire netting in a schematic front view,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a part of a helix of the wire netting in a perspective view,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows another part of the wire netting in a schematic front view,

[0042] FIGS. 4a to 4d show two legs and a bending region of the helix in different views,

[0043] FIGS. 5a to 5d show two interconnected bending regions of two helices in different views,

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a part of the helix in a longitudinal view, in a schematic representation,

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a part of the helix in a transverse view, in a schematic representation,

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a part of the helix in a perspective view,

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for producing the wire netting, in a schematic representation,

[0048] FIG. 10 shows a manufacturing device for producing the wire netting, in a schematic representation,

[0049] FIG. 11 shows a bending device of the manufacturing device in a perspective view,

[0050] FIG. 12 shows a bending space of the bending device in a first operating condition in a perspective view,

[0051] FIG. 13 shows the bending space in a second operating condition in a perspective view,

[0052] FIG. 14 shows a part of another wire netting in a schematic front view and

[0053] FIG. 15 shows a part of the further wire netting in a longitudinal view, in a schematic representation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a part of a wire netting 10a in a schematic front view. The wire netting 10a is formed as a safety net. The wire netting 10a shown can be used for example as a slope protection, landslide protection net, security fence or the like. The wire netting 10a has a plurality of helices 12a, 14a braided with each other, in particular a helix 12a and another helix 14a. In the present case, the wire netting 10a has a plurality of identically formed helices 12a, 14a, which are screwed into one another and form the wire netting 10a.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows part of the helix 12a of the wire netting 10a in a perspective view. FIG. 3 shows another part of wire netting 10a in a schematic front view. The helix 12a is made of a longitudinal element 16a. The longitudinal element 16a has a wire 18a. In the present case, the longitudinal element 16a is the wire 18a. But it is also conceivable that a longitudinal element a plurality of wires and/or other elements. For example, a longitudinal element may be formed as a wire rope, a wire bundle, a wire strand or similar. The following describes the properties of the wire 18a. However, these are transferable to the case of other longitudinal elements accordingly. In a manner analogous to the wire 18a shown, for example, a stranded wire or a wire bundle or other longitudinal element may be bent into a helix and helices of such longitudinal elements may be connected correspondingly to form a wire netting.

[0056] In the present case, the wire 18a is formed as a single wire. The wire 18a has a corrosion resistant coating. The wire 18a is bent to form the helix 12a. The helix 12a is integrally formed. The helix 12a is formed by a single piece of wire. In the present case, the wire 18a has a diameter of 3 mm. The wire 18a is at least partially made of a high-tensile steel. The wire 18a is formed by a high-tensile steel wire. The wire 18a has a tensile strength of at least 800 N mm.sup.2. In the present case, the wire 18a has a tensile strength of about 1770 N mm.sup.2. Of course, as mentioned above, however, other tensile strengths are conceivable, in particular also tensile strengths of more than 2200 N mm.sup.2. In particular, it is conceivable that a wire is made of very high-tensile steel. It is also conceivable that a wire has a different diameter, like for example less than 1 mm or about 1 mm or about 2 mm or about 4 mm or about 5 mm or about 6 mm or even larger diameter. As mentioned above, it is conceivable that a wire has different materials and in particular is configured as a composite wire.

[0057] The helix 12a and the further helix 14a are identical. in the following an example of the helix 12a is thus described in more detail. It is however conceivable that a wire netting comprises at least one first helix and at least one second helix formed differently from the first helix.

[0058] The helix 12a has a first leg 20a, a second leg 22a and a bending region 24a connecting the first leg 20a and the second leg 22a. In the present case, the helix 12a has a plurality of first legs 20a, a plurality of second legs 22a and a plurality of bending regions 24a, which are not all provided with reference numerals for reasons of clarity. Furthermore, in the present case, the first legs 20a are at least substantially identical to each other. Moreover, in the present case, the second legs 22a are at least substantially identical to each other. Moreover, in the present case, the bending regions 24 are at least substantially identical to each other. In the following the first leg 20a, the second leg 22a and the bending region 24a are thus shown in more detail. It is obvious that a wire netting may have different first legs and/or different second legs and/or different bending regions.

[0059] The helix 12a has a longitudinal direction 28a. The helix 12a has a longitudinal axis 109a, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction 28a. The longitudinal direction 28a is equivalent to a main extension direction of helix 12a. In a front view, perpendicular to a main extension plane of helix 12a, the first leg 20a extends with a first gradient angle 26a with respect to longitudinal direction 28a of helix 12a. In particular, the front view is directed in the front direction 54a. The first leg 20a has a longitudinal axis 110a. The longitudinal axis 110a of first leg 20a is parallel to a main extension direction 112a of the first leg 20a. In FIG. 3, the helix 12a is shown in the front view. The longitudinal axis 109a of helix 12a and longitudinal axis 110a of first leg 20a form the first gradient angle 26a. The first leg 20a herein has a length of about 65 mm. The second leg 22a has a length of about 65 mm.

[0060] FIGS. 4a to 4d show a section of helix 12a, which comprises the first leg 20a, the second leg 22a and the bending region 24a, in different views. FIG. 4a shows a view in the longitudinal direction 28a of the helix 12a. FIG. 4b shows the first leg 20a, the second leg 22a and the bending region 24a in a transverse view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 28a of the helix 12a and in the main extension plane of the helix 12a. FIG. 4c shows a view in the frontal direction 54a. FIG. 4d shows a perspective view. In the transverse view, the bending region 24a extends at least section-wise with a second gradient angle 30a different from the first gradient angle 26a with respect to the longitudinal direction 28a of the helix 12a. In the transverse view, the bending region 24a has a longitudinal axis 114a. The longitudinal axis 114a of the bending region 24a and the longitudinal axis 109a of the helix 12a include the second gradient angle 30a.

[0061] The second gradient angle 30a differs by at least 5 from the first gradient angle 26a. The second gradient angle 30a has a value between 25 and 65. Furthermore, the first gradient angle 26a is greater than 45. In the present case, the first gradient angle 26a is about 60. Furthermore, in the present case, the second gradient angle 30a is about 45. The second gradient angle 30a is smaller than the first gradient angle 26a. Of course, it is also conceivable that a first gradient angle and a second gradient angle are identical. For example, a first gradient angle and a second gradient angle both may each be at least substantially or exactly equal to 45. Other values are also conceivable, for example 30 or 35 or 40 or 50 or 55 or 60 or 65 or 70 or other, in particular even larger or even smaller values. Values for a first gradient angle and a second gradient angle will be suitably selected by the skilled in the art, in particular according to a requirement profile for a corresponding wire netting.

[0062] The bending region 24a follows, in a transverse view, at least section-wise, an at least approximately straight path. In the present case, a large part of the bending region 24a follows the straight path in the transverse view.

[0063] In the transverse view, the helix 12a follows a stepwise progression, at least section-wise. The stepwise path is obliquely stepped.

[0064] The first leg 20a follows, at least section-wise, a straight path. In the present case, the first leg 20a follows a straight path. The second leg 22a follows at least section-wise a straight path. In the present case, the second leg 22a follows a straight path. The first leg 20a and/or the second leg 22a are free of a curvature and/or a bending an/or a kink. The bending region 24a has a contour which, in a longitudinal view parallel to the longitudinal direction 28a of the helix 12a, describes a bend of 180. In FIG. 4a, the helix 12a is shown in the longitudinal view.

[0065] The first leg 20a extends at least section-wise, in particular completely, in a first plane and the second leg 22a extends at least section-wise, in particular completely, in a second plane parallel to the first plane. In the longitudinal view, the first leg 20a runs parallel to the second leg 22a.

[0066] The further helix 14a has a further bending region 32a. The bending region 24a and the further bending region 32a are connected. The bending region 24a and the further bending region 32a form a coupling point of the helix 12a to the further helix 14a.

[0067] FIGS. 5a to 5d show a part of the wire netting 10a, which comprises the bending region 24a and the further bending region 32a, in different views. FIG. 5a shows a view in the longitudinal direction 28a of the helix 12a. FIG. 5b shows the part of the wire netting 10a in a transverse view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 28a of the helix 12a in the main extension plane of the helix 12a. FIG. 5c shows a view in the frontal direction 54a. FIG. 5d shows a perspective view.

[0068] The helix 12a and the further helix 14a intersect at least substantially perpendicularly in a region of the further bending region 32a. In the transverse view, the bending region 24a and the further bending region 32a include an intersection angle 118a. The intersection angle 118a depends on the second gradient angle 30a and a correspondingly defined further second gradient angle of further helix 14a. Herein, the intersection angle 118a is equal to 90.

[0069] Also for other first gradient angles, a second gradient angle of 45 is advantageously selected so that correspondingly configured helixes intersect perpendicularly at connection points and these connection points advantageously have a high mechanical resilience. Of course, however, also angles differing from 90 are conceivable, for example of 45 or 60 or 120 or 145 or having a larger, smaller or intermediate value. The skilled in the art will select an intersection angle suitably in particular according to a requirement profile for a corresponding wire netting.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows part of the helix 12a in a longitudinal view, in a schematic representation. FIG. 7 shows a part of the helix 12a in a transverse view, in a schematic representation. FIG. 8 shows a part of the helix 12a in a perspective view. The wire 18a is bent at least substantially without torsion along a path of the first leg 20a and the second leg 22a. Further, the wire 18a is bent at least substantially without torsion along a path of the bending region 24a.

[0071] The first leg 22a is free from torsion. In particular, the first leg 10a is not twisted in itself. The second leg 22a is free of a torsion. In particular, the second leg 22a is not twisted in itself. The bending region 24a is free from torsion along its path. In the transverse view (see FIG. 7), the bending region 24a is free from torsion. It is conceivable that a helix has torsion-free legs but has an at least slightly twisted bending region.

[0072] The first leg 20a has a surface structure 200a, which has a preferential direction 202a, which extends parallel to the main extension direction 112a of the first leg 20a. The surface structure 200a of the first leg 20a is free of spiraling or helically extending partial structures with respect to the main extension direction 112a of the first leg 20a.

[0073] The surface structure 200a extends over the bending region 24a. The surface structure 200a extends over the second leg 20a. The surface structure 200a has a preferential direction 203a which extends parallel to a main extension direction 220a of the second leg 22a. The surface structure 200a of the second leg 22a is devoid of spirally or helically extending substructures.

[0074] The surface structure 200a comprises a plurality of surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a, of which not all are provided with reference numerals for reasons of clarity. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a are formed as ridges on a surface of the wire 18a, in particular as ridges in the micrometer range. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a are part of a surface texture of the wire 18a. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a have at least substantially straight contours along the first leg 20a. Furthermore, the surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a extend in a region of the bending region 24a parallel to the contour of the bending region 24a. In addition, the surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a have at least substantially straight contours along the second leg 22a. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a extend along the first leg 20a respectively in one plane. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a extend along the second leg 22a, each in a plane. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a extend along the bending region 24a in a respective plane. The surface structure elements 214a, 216a, 218a extend on average along the preferential direction 202a, 203a of the surface structure 200a. The preferential direction 202a, 203a of the surface structure 200a follows a contour of the helix 12a.

[0075] FIG. 9 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for manufacturing the wire netting 10a. In a first step 224a, the helix 12a is produced from the wire 18a in such a way that the wire 18a is bent at least substantially without torsion in itself along a path of the first leg 20a and the second leg 22a. In a second step 226a, the helix 12a is braided with a pre-mesh of the wire netting 10a.

[0076] FIG. 10 shows a manufacturing device 222a for manufacturing the wire netting 10a. The manufacturing device 222a is provided for manufacturing the wire netting 10a. The manufacturing device 222a has a bending device 74a. The longitudinal element 16a or, in the present case, its wire 18a is bent by means of the bending device, which supplies the wire 18a to a bending step, wherein the wire 18a while being supplied is rotated about its longitudinal axis 204a. Regarding a description of bending device 74a, reference is made to FIGS. 11 to 13. If, instead of the wire 18a, a longitudinal element not configured as a single wire such as a strand and/or a wire bundle or similar is used, this is processed and/or fed and/or bent and/or straightened in a way similar to wire 18a. In the following, however, the case is described, in which the longitudinal element 16a is configured as a wire 18a.

[0077] The manufacturing device 222a has a rotating orienting apparatus 206a. In the manufacturing of helix 12a, the wire 18a passes through the rotating orienting apparatus 206a. The orienting apparatus 206a is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis 228a. The rotation axis 228a is equivalent to the longitudinal axis 204a of the wire 18a.

[0078] The manufacturing device 222a has a co-rotated reel 208a. In the production of the helix 12a, the wire 18a is unwound from the co-rotated reel 208a. The co-rotated reel 208a is rotatably mounted about the rotation axis 228a. For unwinding the wire 18a from the co-rotated reel 208a, the co-rotated reel 208a is rotated about an unwinding axis 230a, which is perpendicular to the rotation axis 228a. When the co-rotated reel 208a rotates about the rotation axis 228a, the unwinding axis 230a rotates about the rotation axis 228a.

[0079] The manufacturing device 222a has a drive unit, not shown, which is provided for rotating the co-rotated reel 208a and the orienting apparatus 206a and thus the wire 18a about the axis of rotation 228a. In the case shown, the orienting apparatus 206a and the reel 208a rotate about the same rotation axis 228a. It is of course also conceivable that the wire 18a between the co-rotated reel 208a and the orienting apparatus 206a is guided around at least one curve and the orienting apparatus 206a is rotated about a different axis of rotation than the reel 208a. In this case, the longitudinal axis 204a of the wire 18a extends in a region of the reel 208a other than in an area of the orienting apparatus 206a.

[0080] A twisting of the wire 18a during bending by the bending device 74a is compensated by adjusting a rotational speed of the wire 18a.

[0081] The wire 18a is rotated for bending of the bending region 24a at least by a compensation angle that is equivalent to an angle 212a between the first leg 22a and the second leg 22a in a front view perpendicular to a main extension plane of the helix 12a. In particular, the first gradient angle 26a and half of the angle 212a between the first leg 20a and the second leg 22a add up to 90. Upon bending of the wire 18a by means of the bending device 74a, a twist of the wire 18a is generated for each bent bending region by the angle 212a between the first leg 20a and the second leg 22a. This generated torsion is compensated by the rotation of the wire 18a about its longitudinal axis 204a. The wire 18a is thereby rotated in a direction which is equivalent to a direction of rotation of the helix 12a.

[0082] FIG. 11 shows the bending device 74a of the manufacturing device 222a in a perspective view. FIG. 12 shows a bending space 140a of the bending device 74a in a first operating state in a perspective view. FIG. 13 shows the bending space 140a in a second operating state in a perspective view. The bending device 74a is adapted to create the first helix 12a. The bending device 74a is adapted for bending the first helix 12a according to the geometry of the first helix 12a, in particular the legs 20a, 22a and the bending region 24a of the first helix 12a. The bending device 74a is adapted to create the first helix 12a from the wire 18a. The wire 18a, in an unbent state, forms a helix blank 76a. The bending device 74a is provided for manufacturing the first helix 12a by means of bending the helix blank 76a.

[0083] The bending device 74a has a bending unit 78a. The bending unit 78 includes a bending mandrel 80a and a bending table 82a. The bending table 82a is provided for bending the helix blank 76a around the bending mandrel 80a. The bending table 82a is supported in order to circulate around the bending mandrel 80a. During manufacturing, the bending table 82a continuously runs in a circulating direction 142a around the bending mandrel 80a. The bending mandrel 80a has a longitudinal axis 144a. The longitudinal axis 144a of the bending mandrel 80a is parallel to a main extension direction 94a of the bending mandrel 80a.

[0084] The bending device 74a has a feeding unit 84a which is provided for advancing the helix blank 76a along a feeding axis 86a in a feeding direction 88a. The feeding axis 86a is arranged parallel to the feeding direction 88a. The feeding direction 88a runs parallel to a main extension direction of the helix blank 76a. The feeding axis 86a encloses an angle with the longitudinal axis 144a of the bending mandrel 80a which is at least substantially and in particular exactly equivalent to the first gradient angle 26a. The first gradient angle 26a can be adjusted by adjusting the feeding axis 86a relative to the longitudinal axis 144a of the mandrel 80a.

[0085] During manufacture, the helix blank 76a is repeatedly fed. The bending unit 78a, in particular the bending table 82a, bends after the feeding has been completed, the helix blank 76a respectively around the bending mandrel 80a in order to produce a bending region of the manufactured first helix 12a. The feeding unit 84a releases the helix blank 76a during bending so that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis 204a of the wire 18a due to the rotation of the wire 18a. It is conceivable that the wire 18a is guided around at least one curve and its longitudinal axis 204a in a region of the feeding unit 84a and/or in a region of the bending space 140a is different from the axis of rotation 228a of co-rotated reel 208a and/or of the orienting apparatus 206a. A diameter of the bending mandrel 80a defines a bending curvature of the bending region 24a. In particular, the diameter of the bending mandrel 80a defines an inner radius of the bending region 24a.

[0086] The bending device 74a has an abutment unit 96a with at least one abutment element 98a defining a maximum feeding position for the helix blank 76a. When feeding, the helix blank 76a can be advanced by the feeding unit 84a up to the maximum feeding position. The helix blank 76a, before bending by the bending table 82a about the bending mandrel 80a, is in the maximum feeding position. In the maximum feeding position, the helix blank 76a abuts the abutment element 98a with the last bent bending region 166a of the first helix 12a. The first operating state shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to a situation immediately before bending the helix blank 76a about the bending mandrel 80a. The helix blank 76a is in the first operating state in the maximum feeding position. The second operating state shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to a situation during the bending of the helix blanks 76a about the bending mandrel 80a. The bending table 82a is displaced in the second operating state along the direction of rotation 142a with respect to its position in the first operating state.

[0087] The abutment element 98a is mounted completely circumferentially around the bending mandrel 80a. The abutment element 98a runs, during manufacturing, continuously about the bending mandrel 80a in the direction of circulation 142a.

[0088] The bending table 82a is pivotally mounted about a bending axis 102a, which circulates around the bending mandrel 80a itself, in particular in the direction of circulation 142a, while the bending table 82a is rotated about the bending mandrel 80a. The pivot axis 102a moves during manufacture on a circular path. The pivot axis 102a moves at a constant angular velocity during manufacture. During bending, the bending table 82a and the abutment element 98a run around the bending mandrel 80a at the same speed. After bending, the bending table 82a pivots about the pivot axis 102a, thereby defining a maximum bending angle. The bending table 82a then pivots back around the pivot axis 102a, in particular during the advancement of the helix blank 76a. In the first operating state, the abutment element 98a rests on the bending table 82a.

[0089] In the present case, the bending mandrel 80a is driven. The bending mandrel 80a is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis 144a. The bending mandrel 80a is coupled via a belt 164a to a drive unit, not shown, which in particular further drives the bending table 82a. The bending mandrel 80a is replaceable. The bending unit 78a may be equipped with bending mandrels of different diameters.

[0090] A position of the bending table 82a relative to the abutment element 98a is variable during the rotation of the bending table 82a around the bending mandrel 80a.

[0091] The abutment element 98a has a concavely curved abutment surface 100a. The abutment surface 100a is curved in the circumferential direction 142a with a circular arc shape. Further, the abutment surface 100a is curved in a circular arc perpendicular to the curvature in the circumferential direction 142a. A radius of this curvature perpendicular to the direction of rotation 142a at least substantially corresponds to a curvature of the bending region 24a. In the maximum feeding position, the last bent bending region 166a bears against the abutment surface 100a, which is circularly curved as an arc about the last bent bending region 166a.

[0092] In a feeding operating condition, in which the feeding of the helix blank 76a takes place, the position of the abutment element 98a with respect to the feeding axis 86 is variable. The abutment element 98a thus moves in the feeding state, in particular after the helix blank 76a abuts against the abutment element 98a, i.e. is in the maximum feeding position, along the last bent bending region 166a, in the direction of circulation 142a.

[0093] The bending unit 78a is adapted for bending a helix blank with at least one high-strength steel wire. In the present case, the helix blank 76a can be bent by means of the bending unit 78a.

[0094] The bending unit 78a is adapted for bending the helix blank 76a by more than 180 in a single revolution, in particular during each revolution of the bending table 82a around the bending mandrel 80a. A bending angle is defined by a time of pivoting of the bending table 82a about the pivot axis 102a. The bending unit 78a is adapted to over-bend the helix blank 76a, in particular to compensate for spring-back of the helix blank 76a after bending due to its high bending stiffness. The bending unit 78a is adapted to provide the bending region 24a with a total angle of exactly 180, so that the first helix 12a can be made straight in itself.

[0095] In FIGS. 14 and 15 a further embodiment of the invention is shown. The following descriptions and the drawings are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein, with regard to identically named components, in particular with regard to components having the same reference numerals, reference can in principle be made also to the drawings and/or the description of the other embodiment, in particular of FIGS. 1 to 13. In order to distinguish the embodiments, the letter a has been added as a suffix to reference numerals of the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 13. In the embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15, the letter a is replaced by the letter b.

[0096] FIG. 14 shows a part of a wire netting 10b having a plurality of helices 12b braided with each other, at least one helix 12b of which is bent from at least one longitudinal element 16b and at least one first leg 20b, a second leg 22b and comprises at least one first leg 20b, a second leg 22b as well as at least one bending region 24b interconnecting the first leg 20b and the second leg 22b. The longitudinal element 16b is bent at least essentially without torsion along a path of the first leg 20b and the second leg 22b. In particular, a twisted state of the longitudinal member 16b in the wire netting 12b corresponds to a twisted state of a blank of the longitudinal member 16b before it being processed into the wire netting 12b. In the present case, the longitudinal member 16b is formed as a wire strand. The longitudinal element 16b has at least one wire 18b made of high-strength steel. In the present case, the longitudinal element 16b is composed of a plurality of identical wires 18b, which are not shown individually in the figures. In a front view perpendicular to a main extension plane of the helix 12b, the first leg 20b extends at a first gradient angle 26b with respect to the longitudinal direction 28b of the helix 12b. In the present case, the first gradient angle 26b is about 45. The wire netting 10b of the present case has square meshes.

[0097] FIG. 15 shows a portion of the wire netting 10b in a longitudinal view along a longitudinal direction 28b of the helix 12b (see FIG. 14). The first leg 20b and the second leg 22b have a curved contour. The wire netting 10b has bulgy meshes, whereby in particular an impact of objects transversally to the wire netting 10b can be damped.

[0098] The helix 12b is manufactured by means of a conventional braiding machine with a braiding knife, which is not shown. The longitudinal member 16b is rotated in the manufacture of the helix 12b about its longitudinal axis to compensate for a torsion occurring during the bending of the longitudinal member 16b by the braiding knife.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0099] 10 wire netting

[0100] 12 helix

[0101] 14 helix

[0102] 16 longitudinal element

[0103] 18 wire

[0104] 20 leg

[0105] 22 leg

[0106] 24 bending region

[0107] 26 gradient angle

[0108] 28 longitudinal direction

[0109] 30 gradient angle

[0110] 32 bending region

[0111] 54 front direction

[0112] 74 bending device

[0113] 76 helix blank

[0114] 78 bending unit

[0115] 80 bending mandrel

[0116] 82 bending table

[0117] 84 feeding unit

[0118] 86 feeding axis

[0119] 88 feeding direction

[0120] 94 main extension direction

[0121] 96 abutment unit

[0122] 98 abutment element

[0123] 100 abutment surface

[0124] 102 rotation axis

[0125] 109 longitudinal axis

[0126] 110 longitudinal axis

[0127] 112 main extension direction

[0128] 114 longitudinal axis

[0129] 118 intersection angle

[0130] 140 bending space

[0131] 142 circulation direction

[0132] 144 longitudinal axis

[0133] 164 belt

[0134] 166 bending region

[0135] 200 surface structure

[0136] 202 preferential direction

[0137] 203 preferential direction

[0138] 204 longitudinal axis

[0139] 206 orienting apparatus

[0140] 208 reel

[0141] 212 angle

[0142] 214 surface structure element

[0143] 216 surface structure element

[0144] 218 surface structure element

[0145] 220 main extension direction

[0146] 222 manufacturing device

[0147] 224 method step

[0148] 226 method step

[0149] 228 rotation axis

[0150] 230 unwinding axis