GB2520569A

GB2520569A - Apparatus and method for bending an elongate member

Info

Publication number: GB2520569A
Application number: GB1320852.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Gregson
Original assignee: GREGSON INDUCTION BENDERS Ltd
Current assignee: GREGSON INDUCTION BENDERS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-26
Filing date: 2013-11-26
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Also published as: GB201320852D0

Abstract

An apparatus for bending an elongate member 100, comprises a driver for driving the elongate member linearly through the apparatus along a feed axis and causing the member to rotate about the feed axis 102. One or more reaction rollers centre the member along the feed axis as it is driven through the apparatus. Each roller of pairs of deflection rollers are rotatably mounted on a single rotation axis in an intermediate housing 20. The intermediate housing is rotatably mounted in an outer housing 18 about three mutually orthogonal axes one of which is parallel to the feed axis. The one or more pairs of deflection rollers are configured to receive the elongate member downstream of the one or more reaction rollers. The apparatus is configured to accommodate an induction coil 32 for heating a portion of the elongate member to make it deformable prior to entering the deflection rollers. The deflection rollers can be offset from the feed axis, preferably by movement by a hydraulic mechanism perpendicular to the feed axis, to cause a deflection of the elongate member away from the feed axis. The linear and rotational drives may be linked by closed loop control or a gear mechanism.

Description

Apparatus and Method for Bending an Elongate Member [0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for bending a tubular member and an associated method. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus that is suitable for bending a tubular member using induction heating of the tubular member.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Induction bending is a known process that involves heating an elongate member, such as a tubular member (e.g. a pipe), using an induction coil in the vicinity of the elongate member, and then applying a force to bend the heated deformable portion to a desired shape. Elongate members formed by induction bending are often large and generally used in heavy industry such as the oil and gas industry and power generation.

[0003] A typical induction bending apparatus includes a drive to feed the elongate member through an induction coil and a clamp to guide the elongate member along a curved path, where the heated portion of the elongate member deforms to follow the curved path. The clamp is typically attached to an arm that pivots so as to be capable of causing the elongate member to follow the curved path. If multiple curves are required in an elongate member, several individual sections are formed into individual bends, and the sections are welded together. Alternatively, a spool bend may be produced by rotating the elongate member and then repeating the bend process, thereby avoiding the need to weld sections together.

[0004] There exists a need for an apparatus capable of reliably producing multiple bends in multiple axes in an elongate member, where, further preferably, the bending process may be continuous (i.e. not stopping, reclamping, changing the bend axis and then repeating).

[0005] It is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus for bending an elongate member that overcomes at least some of the disadvantages associated with bending apparatuses of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for bending an elongate member, comprising: a driver for driving an elongate member linearly through the apparatus along a feed axis and causing said elongate member to rotate about said feed axis; one or more reaction rollers for centering the elongate member along the feed axis as the elongate member is driven through the apparatus; and one or more pairs of deflection rollers, where the deflection rollers are each rotatably mounted on a single rotation axis in an intermediate housing, the intermediate housing being rotatably mounted in an outer housing about three mutually orthogonal axes relative to said outer housing where one of the three mutually orthogonal axes is parallel to the feed axis, and the one or more pairs of deflection rollers are configured to receive the elongate member downstream of said one or more reaction rollers; wherein the apparatus is configured to accommodate an induction coil for heating a portion of the elongate member and making the portion of the elongate member deformable prior to entering the one or more pairs of deflection rollers; and in at least one position, the one or more pairs of deflection rollers are offset from the feed axis and are configured to cause a deflection of said elongate member away from said feed axis.

[0007] In one embodiment, said outer housing is moveable in a direction perpendicular to said feed axis to cause said offset of said one or more pairs of deflection rollers from the feed axis that causes a deflection of said elongate member away from the feed axis. For example, the feed axis may be substantially horizontal and the outer housing is moveable along a substantially vertical axis.

[0008] The outer housing is optionally moveable by a hydraulic mechanism. Said hydraulic mechanism (or other suitable mechanism for moving the outer housing) may include a control system for controlling the magnitude of displacement of the outer housing by the hydraulic mechanism.

[0009] Said control system may include a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) for measuring the magnitude of displacement of the outer housing by the hydraulic mechanism.

[0010] Linear drive output of said driver may be linked to the rotational drive output of the driver. Said driver may be configured to linearly drive the elongate member up to 16 cm per minute along the feed axis. The maximum linear feed rate is limited by the induction heating rate provided by the induction coil to the material of the elongate member.

[0011] Said linear drive output of said driver may be linked to the rotational drive output of the driver by closed loop control. Said linear drive output of said driver may be linked to the rotational drive output of the driver by a geared mechanism.

[0012] Said one or more reaction rollers may comprise a pair of reaction rollers where each one of the pair of reaction rollers is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis that is parallel relative to the other of the pair of reaction rollers.

[0013] Said one or more reaction rollers may be rotatably mounted in a first reaction housing.

The one or more reaction rollers may be rotatably mounted in a reaction roller cartridge where the reaction roller cartridge is removably mountable in the first reaction housing.

[0014] The apparatus may further comprise additional reaction rollers that are each rotatably mounted in a second reaction housing that is intermediate the first reaction housing and the outer housing along the feed axis such that the additional reaction rollers are configured to receive the elongate member downstream of said one or more reaction rollers that are rotatably mounted in the first reaction housing.

[0015] Said intermediate housing may be rotatable about at least one of said three mutually orthogonal axes by an auxiliary driver. Said intermediate housing may be rotatable about each of said three mutually orthogonal axes by said auxiliary driver. Said auxiliary driver may include a slew ring in driving connection with a worm wheel gear mechanism. Said auxiliary driver may be substantially synchronised with said driver.

[0016] The apparatus may further comprise a heat sensor for measuring the temperature of the heated elongate member and controlling the current supplied to the induction coil to achieve a desired temperature in the elongate member. Said heat sensor may comprise an optical pyrometer.

[0017] The apparatus may further comprise an induction coil for heating a portion of the elongate member and making the portion of the elongate member deformable prior to entering the one or more pairs of deflection rollers.

[0018] The elongate member may be a tubular member. In on embodiment, the tubular member may have a substantially circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the length of the tubular member. In another embodiment, the tubular member may have a substantially square cross section in a plane perpendicular to the length of the tubular member. In certain embodiments, the elongate member may be a non-hollow elongate member.

[0019] The one or more deflection rollers may be rotatably mounted in a deflection roller cartridge, wherein the deflection roller cartridge is removably mountable in the intermediate housing.

[0020] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of bending an elongate member comprising the steps: providing an elongate member and providing an apparatus according to claim 1; driving the elongate member linearly through the apparatus along a feed axis and simultaneously rotating the elongate member about the feed axis; heating a portion of the elongate member to make the portion deformable prior to entering the one or more pairs of deflection rollers; and offsetting the one or more pairs of deflection rollers from the feed axis so as to cause a deflection of the elongate member away from said feed axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0021] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side-view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus in a configuration corresponding to that shown inFigurel; Figure 3 is a rear view of the apparatus in a configuration corresponding to that shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a configuration corresponding to that shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus at the start of a bending process; Figure 6 is a side-view of the apparatus in a configuration corresponding to that shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side-view of the apparatus at a later time during the bending process relative to the configuration shown in Figures 5 and 6; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a configuration corresponding to that shown in Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(0022] Figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus 10 for bending an elongate member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(0023] The elongate member may be a tubular, pipe-like, member having a circular or other shaped cross-sectional profile (e.g. box section), or may be a non-hollow member such as an I-section member. The elongate member may be a pipe, ware backs pipe, angle-section member, channel-section member, a beam, square tubing, rectangular tubing, a rail or any other suitable elongate member capable of undergoing induction bending. In certain non-limiting embodiments, the elongate member may include any one or combination of carbon steel, carbon manganese steel, low temperature steel, austenitic steel, low alloy steel, high tensile steel, or alloys including incalloy, monel, nickel, nickel alloys, 25/25 Cr/Ni (spun cast) material, niobium steel (spun cast) and aluminium. In certain non-limiting embodiments, the elongate member may be a jacketed member having an outer material and an inner material.

Examples of such jacketed members include an austenitic outer material with a ferralium inner material, a carbon steel outer material with an austenitic inner material, an austenitic outer material with a hastalloy inner material, an austenitic outer material with an austenitic inner material, and a carbon steel outer material with a carbon steel inner material.

[0024] For the sake of clarity, the embodiment of the apparatus 10 described below is described with reference to a tubular member 100, notwithstanding the fact that the apparatus of the present invention may equally be used for bending other elongate members including non-tubular elongate members.

[0025] The apparatus 10 includes a reaction roller assembly 12 and a deflection roller assembly 14, where each of the reaction rollerassembly 12 and deflection roller assembly 14 are mounted to a base 16.

[0026] As shown in more detail in Figure 2, the deflection roller assembly 14 includes an outer housing 18 and an intermediate housing 20 that is rotatably mounted in the outer housing 18.

Specifically, the intermediate housing 20 is rotatable about three mutually orthogonal axes (denoted x, y and z in the Figures) relative to the outer housing. For example, the intermediate housing 20 may form a spherical bearing that rotates relative to the outer housing 18 thereby permitting the required rotation about three mutually orthogonal axes. The deflection roller assembly 14 additionally includes a pair of deflection rollers 22 that are each rotatable relative to the intermediate housing 20 about a single rotation axis 22a, where, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, the rotation axis 22a of each deflection roller 22 is parallel to the rotation axis 22a of the other deflection roller 22. The deflection rollers 22 are configured to accommodate the tubular member 100 therebetween.

[0027] In the specific embodiment shown in the Figures, the deflections rollers 22 are rotatably mounted in a first cartridge 24 which is removably installed in the intermediate housing 20 such that substantially no relative movement is permitted between the first cartridge 24 and the intermediate housing 20 when the first cartridge 24 is installed and secured in the intermediate housing 20. The use of the first cartridge 24 permits deflections roller 22 of different sizes and shapes to be installed in the apparatus 10 to accommodate elongate members of various diameters and shapes (e.g. for elongate members having non-circular cross-sectional profiles). In alternative embodiments where interchangeability is not required (e.g. in the case of an apparatus 10 for bending tubular members 100 of a single diameter), the deflection rollers 22 may be rotatably mounted directly to the intermediate housing 20.

[0028] As shown in more detail in Figure 3, the reaction roller assembly 12 includes a reaction housing 26 and a pair of reaction rollers 28 that are each rotatable relative to the reaction housing 26 about a single rotation axis 28a. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, the rotation axis 28a of each reaction roller 28 is parallel to the rotation axis 28a of the other reaction roller 28. The reaction rollers 28 are configured to accommodate the tubular member 100 therebetween and center the tubular member 100 along a feed axis 102 which is parallel to the x-direction.

[0029] In the specific embodiment shown in the Figures, the reaction rollers 28 are rotatably mounted in a second cartridge 30 which is removably installed in the reaction housing 26 such that substantially no relative movement is permitted between the second cartridge 30 and the reaction housing 26 when the second cartridge 30 is installed and secured in the reaction housing 26. Analogous to the first cartridge 24, the use of an interchangeable second cartridge 30 permits reaction rollers 28 of different sizes and shapes to be installed in the apparatus 10 to accommodate elongate members of various diameters and shapes (e.g. for elongate members having non-circular cross-sectional profiles). In alternative embodiments where interchangeability is not required (e.g. in the case of an apparatus 10 for bending tubular members 100 of a single diameter), the reaction rollers 28 may be rotatably mounted directly to the reaction housing 26.

[0030] In alternative embodiments, the apparatus 10 may include additional sets of reaction rollers 28, which may be housed in additional reaction housings 26. This may be particularly advantageous for large diameter tubular members 100 where more stabilization of the tubular member 100 is required.

[0031] The apparatus 10 includes a driver (not shown in the Figures) for driving the tubular member 100 through the apparatus 10 along the feed axis 102 in the positive x-direction and simultaneously causing the tubular member 100 to rotate about the feed axis 102. The driver may be configured such that the linear drive output of the drive is linked (e.g. geared) to the rotational drive output of the driver. In certain embodiments, a closed loop control may be used to link linear and rotational drive output from the driver.

[0032] Furthermore, the apparatus 10 is configured to accommodate an induction coil 32 (shown schematically in Figures 6 and 7) for heating a portion of the tubular member 100 and making the portion of the tubular member 100 deformable prior to being caused to enter the deflection rollers 22 by the driver. The induction coil 32 may form part of the apparatus 10 or the apparatus 10 may not include an induction coil 32 and, instead, be suitable for receiving an induction coil 32 (e.g. to permit retrofitting of the apparatus 10 onto an existing induction bending system). In preferable embodiments, the induction coil 32 is located between the reaction roller assembly 12 and the deflection roller assembly 14 in use.

[0033] The apparatus 10 may include a heat sensor for measuring the temperature of the heated tubular member 100 and controlling the current supplied to the induction coil so as to achieve a desired temperature, and therefore a desired deformability, of the tubular member 100. The heat sensor may include an optical pyrometer.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the apparatus 10 may additionally include a cooling system to prevent overheating and failure of the apparatus 10. The cooling system may include a water/oil emulsion based coolant that is pumped into the deflection roller assembly 14 (e.g. the intermediate housing 20). This arrangement has the advantage that heat will be removed from the deflection roller assembly 14 and lubrication may be provided between moving parts. It is highly desirable that coolant is prevented from coming into direct contact with the heated tubular member 100 during the bending process.

[0035] The deflection roller assembly 14 is moveable so as to offset the deflection rollers 22 relative to the feed axis 102. In the specific embodiment shown in the Figures, the deflection roller assembly 14 is vertically translatable (i.e. moveable in the z-direction) so as to offset the deflection rollers 22 from the feed axis 102. In alternative embodiments, the deflection roller assembly 14 may be moveable along other directions (e.g. along the y-direction or a combination of the y-direction and z-direction) so as to offset the deflection rollers 22 from the feed axis 102. In certain embodiments within the scope of the present invention, the deflection rollers 22 may be translatable relative to the outer housing 20 so as to provide the offset, and the outer housing 20 may remain stationary. The deflection roller assembly 14 may be moveable by a hydraulic or other suitable mechanism such as an electric motor. Such a hydraulic (or other suitable) mechanism may include a control system for controlling the magnitude of displacement away from the feed axis 102. In a particularly preferable embodiment, the control system includes a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) for measuring the actual magnitude of displacement caused by the hydraulic (or other suitable) mechanism and a feed-back system for adjusting the mechanism to achieve the desired displacement. In other alternative embodiments, the control system can include any suitable means for measuring the displacement away from the feed axis 102, and may, for example, include a potentiometer or a laser ranging device.

[0036] Figure 4 shows the apparatus 10 prior to movement of the deflection rollers 22 away from the feed axis 102. Consequently, the tubular member 100 lies coaxial with the feed axis 102 both upstream and downstream of the deflection roller assembly 14.

[0037] Figure 5 shows the apparatus 10 during use wherein the driver is driving the tubular member 100 linearly along the feed axis (in the positive x-direction) and simultaneously causing rotation of the tubular member 100 about the feed axis 102. The induction coil 32 heats a portion of the tubular member 100 between the reaction roller assembly 12 and the deflection roller assembly 14 and causes that portion to become deformable. Once deformable, the deflection rollers 22 may be moved to a position that is offset from the feed axis 102. Figure 5 shows a configuration in which the deflection roller assembly 14 has translated vertically (in the positive z-direction) so as to offset the deflection rollers 22 from the feed axis 102. In doing so, the tubular member 100 has been caused to bend upwards, with the reaction rollers 28 providing a reaction surface against which the tubular member 100 may bend. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, due to the rotatability of the intermediate housing 20, the intermediate housing (and hence deflection rollers 22) rotates so as to align with a neutral axis 102' of the bent tubular member 100. Whilst the intermediate housing 20 is capable of rotating so as to self-align with the neutral axis 102', in certain embodiments, the intermediate housing 20 may be drivable by an auxiliary driver so as to rotate relative to the outer housing 18. In particular, the auxiliary driver may include a slew ring in driving connection with a worm wheel gear mechanism. Optionally, the auxiliary driver may be synchronized with the driver that linearly and rotatably drives the tubular member 100. The auxiliary driver may be employed to assist rotation of the intermediate housing 18 (and hence deflection rollers 22) towards a configuration that is aligned with the neutral axis 102' of the bent tubular member 100. This may be advantageous for particularly heavy tubular members 100 which may otherwise wear against the deflection rollers 22 as the deflection rollers 22 and intermediate housing 18 are urged towards a configuration that is aligned with the neutral axis 102' of the bent tubular member 100. Whether the intermediate housing 20 is driven or self-aligns to the neutral axis 102', the alignment with the neutral axis ensures that no additional bending moments are introduced to the tubular member 100 by the deflection rollers 22 (other than that provided by being offset from the feed axis 102).

[0038] Given that the tubular member 100 is caused to rotate and move linearly by the driver, the bend introduced to the tubular member 100 by the offset deflection rollers 22 results in a spiral configuration being formed, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0039] The final form (e.g. the pitch and amplitude) of the bent tubular member 100 depends upon the rate of linear drive along the feed axis 102, the rate of rotation about the feed axis 102, the magnitude and direction of offset of the deflection rollers 22 from the feed axis 102, and linear distance (i.e. along the x-direction) between the reaction rollers 28 and the deflection rollers 22 and the relative position of the induction coil 32, and the dimensions of the tubular member 100. The magnitude of the offset of the deflection rollers 22 from the feed axis 102 largely determines the amplitude of a formed spiral, and the rate of rotational drive relative to the rate of linear drive largely determines the pitch of the formed spiral. Through variation of any of these parameters, a bent tubular member 100 of a desired form may be obtained. The resulting bent tubular member 100 need not necessarily be spiral in form. Indeed, the apparatus of the present invention is capable of bending an elongate member into a wide variety of final forms.

[0040] A particular advantage afforded by the present invention is the ability to produce 2-dimensional spool bends in multiple axes without the need to reclamp the elongate member between bends. Therefore, in certain embodiments, the present invention reduces the requirement for welds in a piping system and negates the requirement for straight sections between bends (for clamping) as required in prior art 2D bending systems.

[0041] Furthermore, the present invention deflects the elongate member to the desired bend radius so there is substantially no so-called "spring back" in the material, thereby permitting bend angles to be produced in a more accurate and repeatable manner. This is in contrast to prior art bending systems where "spring back" needs to be considered in order to achieve a desired bend angle.

[0042] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0043] Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0044] The readers attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for bending an elongate member, comprising: a driver for driving an elongate member linearly through the apparatus along a feed axis and causing said elongate member to rotate about said feed axis; one or more reaction rollers for centering the elongate member along the feed axis as the elongate member is driven through the apparatus; and one or more pairs of deflection rollers, where the deflection rollers are each rotatably mounted on a single rotation axis in an intermediate housing, the intermediate housing being rotatably mounted in an outer housing about three mutually orthogonal axes relative to said outer housing where one of the three mutually orthogonal axes is parallel to the feed axis, and the one or more pairs of deflection rollers are configured to receive the elongate member downstream of said one or more reaction rollers; wherein the apparatus is configured to accommodate an induction coil for heating a portion of the elongate member and making the portion of the elongate member deformable prior to entering the one or more pairs of deflection rollers; and in at least one position, the one or more pairs of deflection rollers are offset from the feed axis and are configured to cause a deflection of said elongate member away from said feed axis.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer housing is moveable in a direction perpendicular to said feed axis to cause said offset of said one or more pairs of deflection rollers from the feed axis that causes a deflection of said elongate member away from the feed axis.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, where the feed axis is substantially horizontal and the outer housing is moveable along a substantially vertical axis.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer housing is moveable by a hydraulic mechanism.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said hydraulic mechanism includes a control system for controlling the magnitude of displacement of the outer housing by the hydraulic mechanism.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control system includes a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) for measuring the magnitude of displacement of the outer housing by the hydraulic mechanism.
7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein linear drive output of said driver is linked to the rotational drive output of the driver.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driver is configured to linearly drive the elongate member 16 cm per minute along the feed axis.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said linear drive output of said driver is linked to the rotational drive output of the driver by closed loop control.
10. An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said linear drive output of said driver is linked to the rotational drive output of the driver by a geared mechanism.
11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said one or more reaction rollers comprise a pair of reaction rollers where each one of the pair of reaction rollers is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis that is parallel relative to the other of the pair of reaction rollers.
12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said one or more reaction rollers are rotatably mounted in a first reaction housing.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the one or more reaction rollers are rotatably mounted in a reaction roller cartridge where the reaction roller cartridge is removably mountable in the first reaction housing.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising additional reaction rollers that are each rotatably mounted in a second reaction housing that is intermediate the first reaction housing and the outer housing along the feed axis such that the additional reaction rollers are configured to receive the elongate member downstream of said one or more reaction rollers that are rotatably mounted in the first reaction housing.
15. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said intermediate housing is rotatable about at least one of said three mutually orthogonal axes by an auxiliary driver.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said intermediate housing is rotatable about each of said three mutually orthogonal axes by said auxiliary driver.
17. An apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said auxiliary driver includes a slew ring in driving connection with a worm wheel gear mechanism.
18. An apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein said auxiliary driver is substantially synchronised with said driver.
19. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a heat sensor for measuring the temperature of the heated elongate member and contiolling the current supplied to the induction coil to achieve a desired temperature in the elongate member.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said heat sensor comprises an optical pyrometer.
21. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising an induction coil for heating a portion of the elongate member and making the portion of the elongate member deformable prior to entering the one or more pairs of deflection rollers.
22. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising an elongate member.
23. An apparatus according to 22, wherein the elongate member is a tubular member.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the tubular member has a substantially circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the length of the tubular member.
25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the tubular member has a substantially square cross section in a plane perpendicular to the length of the tubular member.
26. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the elongate member is a non-hollow elongate member.
27. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more deflection rollers are rotatably mounted in a deflection roller cartridge, wherein the deflection roller cartridge is removably mountable in the intermediate housing.
28. A method of bending an elongate member comprising the steps: providing an elongate member and providing an apparatus according to claim 1 driving the elongate member linearly through the apparatus along a feed axis and simultaneously rotating the elongate member about the feed axis; heating a portion of the elongate member to make the portion deformable prior to entering the one or more pairs of deflection rollers; and offsetting the one or more pairs of deflection rollers from the feed axis so as to cause a deflection of the elongate member away from said feed axis.
29. An apparatus for bending an elongate member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A method of bending an elongate member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.