Patent ID: 7360385

Claim:
An assembly adapted for use with a tube bending machine having a drive mechanism, and for bending at least one operably positioned tube, said assembly comprising: a bend die mounting unit configured to secure at least one bend die in a fixed position relative thereto; a clamp die mounting unit configured to secure a clamp die in a fixed position, wherein the clamp die is operable to produce a holding force against the tube; a pressure die mounting unit configured to secure a pressure die in a fixed position generally adjacent the clamp die; a wiper die mounting unit configured to secure at least one wiper die in a fixed position opposite the pressure die, such that said bend, clamp, pressure and wiper dies are cooperatively configured to hold the tube in the operable position, cause the tube to bend, and control tube stretching and surface deformation during bending, when drivenly coupled to the mechanism and the machine is actuated; a bolster unit rotatably connected to the bend die mounting unit, fixedly connected to the clamp, pressure and wiper die mounting units, and removably connectable to the machine, so as to enable the concurrent connection or disconnection of the assembly from the machine as a whole; and a mandrel saddle unit including a surface area for mounting and at least one locating pin for properly positioning a mandrel assembly, wherein the area and pin are defined by the bolster unit, said mandrel assembly stored within the mandrel saddle unit and including a mandrel slidably insertable within the tube, so as to support the tube during bending.