Abstract: A method for the continuous production of exhaust pipes for automotive vehicles comprises the steps of continuously withdrawing an elongated substantially flat metal strip from a coil and subsequently bending and forming the moving strip into a longitudinally slitted tube strand. The opposite faces of the slitted pipe strand are then welded together and subsequently the pipe strand, while still moving, is severed into pipe sections of predetermined length and the pipe sections are then transferred to at least one bending apparatus for bending the pipe sections into exhaust pipes with predetermined bends; and an apparatus for carrying out the above method.

Abstract: A tube bending apparatus comprises an elongated mandrel having a length at least three times the length of a tube to be bent in the apparatus. A first mandrel holder is arranged at the rear end of the mandrel and a second mandrel holder is forwardly spaced from said first by a distance slightly greater than the length of a tube.

Abstract: A tube bending machine comprises a tube bending mechanism per se for bending a front portion of a tube inserted therein and fluid operated units for moving a mandrel in axial direction into the tube to be bent and for withdrawing the mandrel through a rear end of the tube after bending. A tube magazine is located to one side of the bending mechanism and a tube depositing station for receiving the bent tube is located at the other side thereof.

Abstract: A safety steering column assembly for automobiles comprising a steering shaft of variable axial length for connecting a steering wheel with a steering gear mechanism. A portion of the steering shaft adjacent the steering wheel is surrounded by a guide and support tube in which a bearing for turnably supporting the steering shaft is mounted. The guide and support tube, in turn, is surrounded by a corrugated tube serving as an impact absorber in which the corrugations of the tube are compressed into a block to reduce the axial length thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a corrugated tube from a smooth walled starting tube comprises a pair of receiving mandrels aligned spaced from each other along a preferably vertical axis and movable toward and away from each other to be engaged in opposite end portions of a starting tube. The halves of split corrugation forming discs and the halves of an end member above the uppermost of the discs, coupled together for limited movement in axial direction, are respectively carried and guided for movement in axial direction by a pair of clamping jaws tiltable between an open position permitting to align a starting tube with the mandrels and a closed position closing the split discs and the split end member and fluid tightly clamping opposite end portions of the starting tube located about said mandrels respectively between one of the mandrels and the closed end member and between the other mandrel and the clamping jaws.

Abstract: A method for series production of an outer column for a safety steering column for motor vehicles in which a first tubular blank is stepwise moved to a plurality of working stations in which the blank is deformed respectively punched to form a substantially smooth-walled protecting tube of the outer column. A second tubular blank is simultaneously moved to a working station in which it is transformed into a corrugated tube and subsequently the two tubes are fed against each other so that end portions of the tube overlap and the overlapping tubes are then welded together in a main welding station. Thereafter at least one pressed metal part is welded to one of the tubes at an auxiliary welding station. At least one control station is coordinated with at least one working station for the first tubular blank and at least one additional control station is coordinated with at least one of the welding stations for checking the work performed by the at least one working and the at least one welding station.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a tube with successive corrugations of different configuration from a tubular blank of uniform diameter mainly comprises a central pin having a shaft portion fixed only at one end to a stationary support and having at the other end a radially enlarged head portion cooperating with radially inwardly movable clamping and forming jaws to clamp a portion of a tubular blank therebetween. The apparatus includes further a tubular member guided on the shaft portion of the central pin and movable in axial direction by hydraulically operated members cooperating therewith.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a tube with successive corrugations from a tubular blank of constant diameter comprises a central pin having a shaft portion fixed only at one end to a stationary support and having at the other end a radially enlarged head portion cooperating with radially inwardly moving clamping and forming jaws to clamp a portion of a tubular blank therebetween. The apparatus includes further a tubular member guided on the shaft portion of the central pin and movable in axial direction by hydraulically operated members connected thereto.