Mandrel for bending tubes

摘要

A flexible mandrel for use in bending tubes and especially for producing tight bends in thin wall, high strength metal tubing. The mandrel comprises a series of ball members each of which is adapted to nest within the preceding ball of the series as the mandrel is flexed. The balls are free to rotate transversely and to slide longitudinally on a series of rigid link members which are flexibly interconnected. The balls and links are so constructed that as the mandrel is flexed, each ball pivots around a point located at or near the geometrical center of its outer curved surface.