A device for forming a tubular hollow body has a forming die, a mandrel and a forming drive with a die drive. Die profile projections arranged on the outer side of a hollow body wall and mandrel profile intermediate spaces arranged on the inner side of the hollow body wall as well as die profile intermediate spaces arranged on outer side of the hollow body wall and mandrel profile projections arranged on the inner side of the hollow body wall lie opposite to each other on the hollow body wall in the radial direction. A method for forming a tubular hollow body involves moving the forming die along the hollow body axis, and by exceeding of the flow limit of the material of the hollow body wall, material of the hollow body wall flows into the mandrel profile intermediate spaces, forming an inner profile of the hollow body wall.

A device for forming a tubular hollow body has a forming die, a mandrel and a forming drive with a die drive. Die profile projections arranged on the outer side of a hollow body wall and mandrel profile intermediate spaces arranged on the inner side of the hollow body wall as well as die profile intermediate spaces arranged on outer side of the hollow body wall and mandrel profile projections arranged on the inner side of the hollow body wall lie opposite to each other on the hollow body wall in the radial direction. A method for forming a tubular hollow body involves moving the forming die along the hollow body axis, and by exceeding of the flow limit of the material of the hollow body wall, material of the hollow body wall flows into the mandrel profile intermediate spaces, forming an inner profile of the hollow body wall.

A floating draw plug for shaping tube comprises a necking body and a rib forming member. The necking body has an axis and a trailing end portion. The trailing portion has a cross-section that is symmetric about the axis and that converges toward the axis as it extends downstream. The rib forming member comprises helical protrusions and helical grooves. The helical protrusions and the helical grooves are aligned with the axis. The rib forming member is connected to the necking body in a manner such that at least a portion of the helical protrusions and at least a portion of the helical grooves extend downstream of the trailing portion of the necking body and such that the rib forming member is free to rotate about the axis relative to the necking body.

A floating draw plug for shaping tube comprises a necking body and a rib forming member. The necking body has an axis and a trailing end portion. The trailing portion has a cross-section that is symmetric about the axis and that converges toward the axis as it extends downstream. The rib forming member comprises helical protrusions and helical grooves. The helical protrusions and the helical grooves are aligned with the axis. The rib forming member is connected to the necking body in a manner such that at least a portion of the helical protrusions and at least a portion of the helical grooves extend downstream of the trailing portion of the necking body and such that the rib forming member is free to rotate about the axis relative to the necking body.

A device 10 for drawing a tubular workpiece is provided with a drawing die 20 and a drawing plug 30. The drawing die 20 includes a first curved surface section 1C from which the workpiece 40 is detached while being reduced in diameter, a die bearing section 2B arranged radially inward of and downstream of a workpiece separation point K of the first curved surface section 1C, and a guide section 2D having a second curved surface section 2C which smoothly continues to an upstream end of the die bearing section 2B and configured to again come into contact with the workpiece 40 detached from the first curved bearing section 1C to guide the workpiece to the die bearing section 2B while reducing a diameter of the workpiece 40. The drawing plug 30 has a plug bearing section 3B shorter than a length L4 of the die bearing section 2B. The plug bearing section 3B is arranged at a position corresponding to the die bearing section 2B.

A device 10 for drawing a tubular workpiece is provided with a drawing die 20 and a drawing plug 30. The drawing die 20 includes a first curved surface section 1C from which the workpiece 40 is detached while being reduced in diameter, a die bearing section 2B arranged radially inward of and downstream of a workpiece separation point K of the first curved surface section 1C, and a guide section 2D having a second curved surface section 2C which smoothly continues to an upstream end of the die bearing section 2B and configured to again come into contact with the workpiece 40 detached from the first curved bearing section 1C to guide the workpiece to the die bearing section 2B while reducing a diameter of the workpiece 40. The drawing plug 30 has a plug bearing section 3B shorter than a length L4 of the die bearing section 2B. The plug bearing section 3B is arranged at a position corresponding to the die bearing section 2B.

A support structure may include a metallic tube having two opposing ends. The first end may have a first length, a first wall thickness, and a first outer diameter. The second end may have a second length, a second wall thickness, and a second outer diameter. A transition area may be disposed between the first length and the second length. The first wall thickness may be greater than the second wall thickness thereby providing variable thickness.

A support structure may include a metallic tube having two opposing ends. The first end may have a first length, a first wall thickness, and a first outer diameter. The second end may have a second length, a second wall thickness, and a second outer diameter. A transition area may be disposed between the first length and the second length. The first wall thickness may be greater than the second wall thickness thereby providing variable thickness.

To provide methods, apparatuses and drawing mandrels in which the shaping process can be monitored as closely as possible, a drawing machine and a drawing method manufactures or processes tubes, which extend in the direction of longitudinal extent, from a semi-manufactured product, wherein the drawing machine includes a drawing device for drawing a hollow workpiece formed by the tube and the semi-manufactured product in the direction of longitudinal extent, a drawing ring and a drawing mandrel and acts on the workpiece in a shaping manner via the drawing mandrel and the drawing ring while the workpiece is drawn by the drawing device around the drawing mandrel and through the drawing ring. A sensor is located on the drawing mandrel, or physical properties are measured in the interior of the workpiece and/or on the drawing mandrel using a sensor on the drawing mandrel.

To provide methods, apparatuses and drawing mandrels in which the shaping process can be monitored as closely as possible, a drawing machine and a drawing method manufactures or processes tubes, which extend in the direction of longitudinal extent, from a semi-manufactured product, wherein the drawing machine includes a drawing device for drawing a hollow workpiece formed by the tube and the semi-manufactured product in the direction of longitudinal extent, a drawing ring and a drawing mandrel and acts on the workpiece in a shaping manner via the drawing mandrel and the drawing ring while the workpiece is drawn by the drawing device around the drawing mandrel and through the drawing ring. A sensor is located on the drawing mandrel, or physical properties are measured in the interior of the workpiece and/or on the drawing mandrel using a sensor on the drawing mandrel.