Tube bending mandrel

A tube-bending mandrel comprising:

• a. a plurality of links, each link having a ball end and a socket end,
• b. the ball end of one of said links being positioned within the socket end of an adjacent one of said links,
• c. each said link being formed of first and second mating link sections, each said section having a face so that said first and second mating link sections are positioned in face-to-face abutment with each other along a plane that extends longitudinally from the ball end to the socket end,
• d. each said first mating link section having a radial tenon protruding from the face thereof,
• e. each said second mating link section having a radial mortise formed in the face thereof, suitable for receiving said radial tenon,
• f. wherein said radial tenon forms an angle of greater than seven degrees with respect to a line which is tangential to said tenon.

A tube-bending mandrel comprising:

• a. a plurality of links, each link having a ball end and a socket end,
• b. the ball end of one of said links being positioned within the socket end of an adjacent one of said links,
• c. a circular spring,
• d. at least one ball end having an exterior and an interior, said ball exterior having a circular ball slot formed therein surrounding said ball exterior suitable for receiving said circular spring,
• e. at least one socket end having an exterior and an interior, said socket interior having a circular socket groove formed therein suitable for receiving said circular spring,
• f. wherein said circular socket groove has at least one edge which is sloped to form a ramp.

A tube-bending mandrel comprising:

• a. a plurality of links, each link having a ball end and a socket end,
• b. the ball end of one of said links being positioned within the socket end of an adjacent one of said links,
• c. each said link being formed of first and second mating link sections, each said section having a face so that said first and second mating link sections are positioned in face-to-face abutment with each other along a plane that extends longitudinally from the ball end to the socket end,
• d. each said first mating link section having a radial tenon protruding from the face thereof,
• e. each said second mating link section having a radial mortise formed in the face thereof, suitable for receiving said radial tenon,
• f. a circular spring,
• g. at least one ball end having an exterior and an interior, said ball exterior having a circular ball slot formed therein surrounding said ball exterior suitable for receiving said circular spring,
• h. at least one socket end having an exterior and an interior, said socket interior having a circular socket groove formed therein suitable for receiving said circular spring,
• i. wherein said circular socket groove has at least one edge which is sloped to form a ramp.