Mandrel assembly for a tube bending machine

A mandrel assembly for a tube bending machine, comprising:

• a mandrel body configured to be inserted inside a tube to be bent, the mandrel body comprising a proximal end and a distal end,
• a mandrel rod rigidly connected to the proximal end of the mandrel body and configured to support and move the mandrel body,
• a series of articulation elements arranged at the distal end of the mandrel body, each articulation element of the series of articulation elements being connected to an adjacent articulation element of the series of articulation elements through a respective cylindrical or spherical hinge, wherein the series of articulation elements comprises an extreme proximal articulation element connected to the distal end of the mandrel body through a cylindrical or spherical hinge, and
• a network of lubricant transport channels formed through the mandrel body and communicating with a lubricant feed passage formed along the mandrel rod, the network of lubricant transport channels comprising a plurality of lubricant outlet ports arranged on at least one of the distal end and a peripheral surface of the mandrel body,
• wherein a plurality of through-holes extending along a longitudinal direction of the respective articulation element is formed through each of the articulation elements, the through-holes being configured to convey a lubricant to a front side of an extreme distal articulation element of the series of articulation elements, and
• wherein the extreme distal articulation element comprises a deflector element fixed to the front side of the extreme distal articulation element, opposite the respective through-holes, the deflector element being configured to radially deflect outwardly the lubricant exiting the respective through-holes.