Braiding or stranding machine

Abstract

A braiding or stranding machine for braiding or stranding a strand-like material is disclosed. In one aspect, the machine includes a rotor with a one-part or a multi-part rotor shaft which is driven by at least one motor, the braiding or stranding machine being at least partially arranged in a sealed space which is filled with a medium with a lower density than the density of the ambient air. The rotor shaft is completely arranged within an enclosure of the sealed space. Alternatively, the rotor shaft has at least one section of a smaller diameter and at least one section of a larger diameter and penetrates the enclosure of the sealed space only in the at least one section of the smaller diameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A braiding or stranding machine for braiding or stranding a strand-like material, the machine comprising:
 a rotor with a one-part or a multi-part rotor shaft which is driven by at least one motor, the braiding or stranding machine being at least partially arranged in a sealed space which is filled with a medium with a lower density than the density of the ambient air,   wherein the rotor shaft is completely arranged within an enclosure of the sealed space or   wherein the rotor shaft has at least one section of a smaller diameter and at least one section of a larger diameter and penetrates the enclosure of the sealed space only in the at least one section of the smaller diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor shaft does not penetrate the enclosure of the sealed space in the at least one section of the larger diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the braiding or stranding machine does not have sealings for sealing the sealed space against the environment with parts that contact each other and rotate against each other. 
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is rotationally driven only at one axial end of the rotor. 
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the rotor has at least one rotor bow which is reinforced in the area of at least one of its axial ends in relation to its middle part by an increase of its cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the rotor has at least two rotor bows. 
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor shaft is driven at both axial ends of the rotor by one motor each. 
     
     
         8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor shaft is driven by exactly one motor, the motor being coupled with the two axial ends of the rotor by mechanical torque transmission means and the drive acting on both axial ends of the rotor shaft, and the mechanical torque transmission means being completely or partially arranged within the sealed space. 
     
     
         9 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical torque transmission means have at least one tooth belt and/or at least one shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the geometrical axes of the driving shaft of the at least one motor and of the rotor shaft are identical. 
     
     
         11 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one motor has a hollow shaft or is flanged to the housing which supports the rotor shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the medium is air with a lower density than the density of the ambient air. 
     
     
         13 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a gas which has a lower density than air at the same pressure and the same temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the gas is helium or a helium-air mixture. 
     
     
         15 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealed space substantially only extends around the rotor. 
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealed space substantially extends around the whole braiding or stranding machine.