WO2013143512A1

WO2013143512A1 - Process and apparatus for the incremental bending of profile tubes, in particular of profile tubes having cross sections which vary over the longitudinal axis

Info

Publication number: WO2013143512A1
Application number: PCT/DE2012/000327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias Hermes; Christoph Becker; A. Erman Tekkaya
Original assignee: Technische Universität Dortmund
Priority date: 2012-03-25
Filing date: 2012-03-25
Publication date: 2013-10-03
Also published as: EP2830789A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for forming profile tubes (2), in particular profile tubes (2) having cross sections which vary over the longitudinal extent, in which process a tube (2) having an initial profile cross section is guided past a tool station (1) with at least one tool (3) at least once by means of a feed device (14, 15), wherein the tool (3) and the tube (2) are arranged adjustably in relation to one another in at least one degree of freedom, and the tool (3) locally incrementally forms the tube cross section during the relative movement between the tube (2) and the tool (3). In this respect, before or after the incremental forming in the first tool station (1), the tube (2) is guided past at least one further tool station (6) at least once, the forming action of said tool station on the tube (2) also or exclusively bending the tube (2) along the longitudinal extent of the tube (2). A corresponding apparatus for carrying out the process is furthermore proposed.

Description

Method and apparatus for incremental bending deformation of profile tubes, in particular of profile tubes with varying cross-sections over the longitudinal axis

description

The invention relates to a method for incremental bending deformation of profile tubes, in particular of profile tubes with varying over the longitudinal axis cross-sections according to the preamble of claim 1 and a device suitable for carrying out the method according to the preamble of claim 16.

Curved profile-shaped structures are increasingly finding their way into the construction sector and the automotive industry. In particular, the automotive industry is increasingly trying to reduce the weight of vehicles with a view to more efficient use of resources. One possibility is the use of curved hollow structures.

Nowadays, profiled tubes for a wide variety of applications are also produced in very different ways. There are currently various process chains available for the production of straight and curved profiles with cross-sections varying over the longitudinal axis and additionally asymmetrical. As a rule, such components are produced in several steps. Combinations of bending processes and hydroforming or the combination of U and O bending are widely used. Furthermore, a process chain of deep drawing of two half-shells and subsequent welding to a hollow profile is used quite frequently. The disadvantage of all currently used process chains is the number of process steps, since this successive execution of individual process steps is very costly. Another cost driver of the currently in use procedures is the relatively high tooling costs. This is accompanied by a low flexibility, since for each geometry to be produced a separate set of tools must be made. Thus, these methods find their applications more in mass production or mass production. From DE 10 2010 025 593 A1 it is also known in ren a profiling of the cross sections of profile tubes, in particular of Profilroh ren with varying over the longitudinal axis cross-sections, in which a tube with an output profile cross section by means of a feed device at least once at a tool station is passed with at least one tool, wherein the tool and the tube are arranged adjustable to each other in at least one degree of freedom and the tool locally incrementally transforms the pipe cross-section in the relative movement between the pipe and the tool. The combination of relative feed between the pipe and the tool station and the movement of the tool relative to the pipe can greatly affect the manner of incremental forming of the pipe by the tool. As a result, a large variety of possible forming geometries can be achieved, in particular when providing further relative movements in other spatial directions such as relative rotations or relative displacements between the tool and the tube, which can be used for producing correspondingly complex geometries of the formed tube cross sections. Although this method can produce profile tubes with adaptable cross-sections, even with non-uniform cross-sections over the profile length, but not along the cross-sectional length curved tubes.

Object of the present invention is therefore to further develop the manufacturing method according to DE 10 2010 025 593 A1 for profile tubes, in particular for profile tubes with varying over the longitudinal axis cross sections such that even complex, along the tube length bent tube cross sections in a process step and thus essential can be made more economical than conventional methods.

The solution of the object of the invention results in terms of the method of the characterizing features of claim 1 and in terms of the device from the features of claim 16 in each case in cooperation with the features of the associated preamble. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims. With regard to the incremental deformation of pipes which is likewise relevant in the present invention, reference is expressly made to DE 10 2010 025 593 A1, in which the mode of operation and the construction of a corresponding device are described in detail. This description is also expressly made the subject of the present application without any express reference thereto. In particular, details on the structure of the device and on the course of the incremental transformation are described here only to the extent that significant deviations from DE 10 2010 025 593 A1 are to be explained.

The invention relating to the method is based on a method for forming profile tubes, in particular of profile tubes with varying over the longitudinal cross-sections, in which a tube with an output Profiiquerschnitt by means of a feed device is passed at least once at a tool station with at least one tool the tool and the tube are arranged to be adjustable relative to one another in at least one degree of freedom and the tool locally locally increments the tube cross section during the relative movement between the tube and the tool. Such a generic method is further developed according to the invention in that before or after the incremental deformation in the first tool station, the tube is guided at least once past at least one further tool station, whose forming effect on the tube also or exclusively a bending deformation of the tube along the longitudinal extent of the tube causes. According to the basic idea of the invention, the incremental deformation in the first tool station is combined with a further bending transformation that can be carried out on the same machine and in the same operation, by which the tubular hollow part (hereinafter simply referred to as tube) is also used bending deformation is formed and the tube has been subjected to both an incremental deformation of the tube cross section and a bending deformation after passing through the entire operation. Thus, several steps of forming can be combined in one machine, resulting in a cost and cycle time reduction. Furthermore, there are no handling and transport steps that are used in the currently used process chains. The tube as a result of the desired conversion Forming is virtually finished from the forming machine and can therefore be produced inexpensively even in small quantities, since the mold-related tooling costs are minimal.

In a first advantageous embodiment, the tools of the at least two tool stations are constructed substantially similar and arranged substantially similar in the respective tool station. These are at two or more or even all used tool stations to tool stations with tools for performing the incremental deformation of the tube according to DE 10 2010 025 593 A1, which consist of a number relative to each other and the pipe adjustable individual tools that automatically and separately are movable relative to each other and locally transform the surface of the tube to be formed in the manner described in DE 10 2010 025 593 A1. If one now selects an adjustment of the tools of the individual tool stations relative to the tube, which deviate from tool station to tool station or even at individual tool stations of the feed direction of the tube, the tube is when passing through the tool station or tool stations by the action of the tools across the Feed direction deflected and thereby bending formed. In this case, the tools form a kind of forming channel, so that the tube with its feed movements is locally incrementally deformed and bend-shaped by the tool stations. Illustratively speaking, the tube is formed by the tools in its cross-section incrementally and at the same time deflected from its actual direction of movement, that it can be selectively bent over. The separate adjustability of the individual tools of the tool stations and the number and arrangement of the tool stations along the feed direction of the tube in this case also allows the most complex bending transformations. In the simplest case, only two such tool stations are connected in series, but if necessary several times with respective adjustment of the parameters of the incremental forming parameters and the bending deformation, which takes place via appropriate adjustment of the tools of the tool stations, for example reversing. In this case, in the respective first of the tool stations, the tube is predominantly incrementally reshaped by the tools acting there, whereas the tube in the second tool station passes through corresponding transverse displacement of the tools relative to the feed direction of the pipe still held in the first tool station and the feed device is deflected transversely from this feed direction and thereby bending reshaped and optionally further incrementally reshaped. In reversing operation of two such tool stations, the functions of the individual tool stations can change. In this case, it is conceivable for the tube to be reversibly guided past the tool stations in successive passes and successively deformed and / or bend-formed by the position of at least one of the tools being changed more and more relative to the feed direction of the tube.

When using more than two similar tool stations, the bending deformation of the tube can be divided among these several tool stations by causing the tools of the tool stations each greater and greater transverse deflections of the pipe. Although this increases the technical equipment complexity, the throughput time through the device or the number of stitches can be reduced.

It is also conceivable that only some of the tools of a tool station while passing the tube deflect the pipe from the feed direction such that a bending deformation of the tube results on the principle of American arc along the profile length. This is shortened by only one-sided interaction of tools on a profile page, the inner fiber of the tube and thereby called a bend of the tube on the principle of the American bow out. This procedure can be used for any profile cross sections.

To control the incremental cross-sectional deformation and the bending deformation, it is advantageous if the deflection of the tools of each of the tool stations and the distance of the tool stations to each other in the feed direction of the tube are changed and controlled so that the passage of the tube through the tool stations the desired bending deformation of the tube is caused. The control of the tools of the individual tool stations is carried out advantageously automated and possibly adaptive, so that simplest and without large conversions a variety of bending transformations and incremental transformations can be performed.

In another embodiment, it is conceivable that the tools of the at least two tool stations are constructed differently and act unevenly transforming the pipe. Thus, for example, the tools of at least one of the tool stations in the relative movement between pipe and tool, the tube only locally locally incremental transform, whereas the tools make at least one of the other tool stations exclusively a bending deformation. It is conceivable for this purpose that one of the tools as described in DE 10 2010 025 593 A1 has a number of individually controllable forming tools, whereas the tool for pure bending deformation is formed from a known bending tool for pipes, as has long been the case on conventional pipe bending machines Use comes. This could be about a Rotationszugbiegewerkzeug, a three-roll bending tool or one of the many other known tube bending tools that are already used on corresponding bending machines. Again, the advantage of the complete machining of the tube comes through both incremental cross-sectional change and by bending deformation on a machine and possibly in one pass to fruition. Furthermore, it would also be conceivable that at least one or a number of tool stations during the relative movement between the pipe and tool locally reshape the tube and bend forming locally, whereas the other of the tool stations make only a bending deformation. So it is e.g. conceivable, by the simultaneous incremental deformation and bending deformation in two or more of the similar tool stations downstream of a pure bending deformation in a dissimilar working tool station, in the e.g. As with a three-roll bender larger bending deformation can be realized. There is no limit to the combination of such identically constructed and nonuniform tool stations. Also, several pure Biegeumform tool stations are connected in series.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the tube is further deformed as a pre-formed semi-finished product, in particular as a pre-bent blank. In particular, for larger degrees of deformation, it may be useful, similar to the already in DE 10 2010 025th 593 A1 described for the cross-sectional shaping, preformed semi-finished products also with regard to the bending forming use. For example, pre-bent tubular semi-finished products can be used in order to more easily achieve the required degrees of deformation when passing through the device according to the invention.

Of importance is that the bending deformation of the tube by the position of the tools of the tool stations is multi-dimensional, especially in two spatial directions perpendicular to the feed direction of the tube. The deflection of the tube as it passes through such tool stations can thus also allow skew bending transformations, which allow the most complex geometrical beamlines required by the market today. In particular, although the distance between the or individual tool stations is changed depending on the degree of bending deformation of the tube, both bends with small bending radii and bends with large bending radii in the manner described can be easily made.

The invention further relates to a device for forming profile tubes, in particular profile tubes with varying cross-sections over the longitudinal axis, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a clamping device for the incrementally reshaping tube and at least one tool station with at least one tool, the clamping device and thus the clamped tube and the tool station are arranged relative to each other displaceable and / or rotatable and a single or each tool in the tool station can perform at least one relative movement relative to the tool station, wherein the clamped tube is formed incrementally. Such a generic device is further formed in accordance with the invention that the device before or after the passage of the first tool station has at least one further tool station with tools whose forming effect on the pipe or exclusively causes a bending deformation of the tube along the longitudinal extent of the tube. The basic structure of such tool station has already been described in DE 10 2010 025 593 A1 and will not be explained further here. By connecting two or more such tool stations in series and / or Combination with known pure Biegeumformwerkzeugen can achieve the advantages and properties mentioned above for the method.

It is particularly advantageous if the adjustment of individual or all of the tools of the tool stations via automatically, preferably programmatically controlled actuators of the tools. In this case, while adjusting the tools of the tool stations, both the adjustment of the tools relative to the tool station and the adjustment of the tool stations, e.g. be understood in their distance from each other. The adjustment may e.g. numerically controlled and thus very flexibly changeable and adaptable.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is conceivable that the tool station has a preferably closed receiving frame, relative to which the tools are arranged adjustable. Such a receiving frame forms a compact unit and can be used in particular as stable storage of the individual tools and their drives. In a further embodiment, the tools can be arranged in such a way on the receiving frame, preferably four tools crosswise to each other, that the tube can be formed from all sides and / or bending-transformed. Of course, it is also conceivable to use more than e.g. to provide four individual tools arranged crosswise, e.g. a larger number of tools according to the desired shape of the cross section of the tube to be produced. It is advantageous here if the tools can independently perform radial adjustment movements to the tube. As a result, most typical cross-sectional changes are possible and at the same time a good support of the tube in the bending deformation achieved.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the tools are formed like a prick, and for example have a spherical or spherical machining section, which interacts with the tube in the incremental deformation and the bending deformation. Such prick-like tools, for example with crowned or spherical end regions, permit a substantial adaptation to cross-sectional shapes of the pipe to be produced, without the need for special tools in each case. Such tool stations can for example be integrated in a conventional bending machine for pipes or adapted to a three-roll bending machine for pipes. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the tool station is built on a special machining center for pipes.

It is also advantageous if the tool stations in the feed direction of the tube staggered to each other are arranged adjustable, since this can easily be the bending radius of the tube can be influenced. For larger bending radii, e.g. the distance between the tool stations also be made correspondingly large. For small bending radii, for example, a plurality of tool stations can also be arranged at a small distance from one another and, if necessary, combined together in a common forming head.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention and of the device according to the invention is shown in the drawing.

Show it:

1 shows a frame-like structure of a tool station according to the invention for incremental forming and bending forming with a receiving frame and four individually adjustable tools arranged in a crosswise direction, FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the use of the tool station according to FIG. 1 on a conventional bending machine with roll bending device arranged at the end;

FIGS. 3a-3c show different variants of the method for combining incremental shaping and bending deformation according to the method according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a method variant for combining incremental deformation before bending deformation according to the method according to the invention, FIG. 5 shows a further variant of the method for combining bending deformation prior to an incremental deformation according to the method according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a special machining center for combining incremental deformation and bending deformation;

Figure 7 - Combination of incremental forming and bending deformation according to the principle of the American bow.

In the figure 1 is a schematic representation of the frame-like structure of a tool station 1 according to the invention for the incremental forming and bending deformation with a receiving frame 5 and here as an example four crosswise arranged individually adjustable tools 3 to recognize the tools 3 on not recognizable drives in the adjustment 8 in the interior of the receiving frame 5 in or out of the interior of the receiving frame 5 can be moved out again. This arrangement of the tools 3 on the receiving frame 5 shown in FIG. 1 is only a purely exemplary arrangement; also fewer or more than four tools 3 are arranged on the receiving frame 5, e.g. a larger number of tools 3 offset at uniform or non-uniform angles to each other in the circumferential direction and radially inwardly into the receiving frame 5 slidable tools. 3

The tools 3 are also indicated only schematically on the receiving frame 5 and form approximately stylet-like tools 3, which with e.g. semi-circular or otherwise rounded or bevelled working surfaces 12 act on the tube 2 to be deformed. The number of processing surfaces 12 of the tools 3 thus forms a quasi a boundary of a passage zone for the tube 2, which is pushed in the feed direction 4 through the interior of the receiving frame 5 and thus formed by the tools 3 in an already known manner incrementally.

The adjustment of the tools 3 and thus the geometry of the boundary of the passage zone for the tube 2 can be numerically controlled and over the non-illustrated drives of the tools 3 are controlled, so that each tool 3 can be positioned at any position at any position within the passage zone of the receiving frame 5.

The design of the tool station 1 forms a very compact and space-saving, but at the same time easy to handle and controllable arrangement for the tools 3, which is also formed by the rigid support frame 5 very stable.

Such equipped with individual tools 3 receiving frame 5 can be seen as in Figure 2 integrated on a conventional bending machine 13 so that the receiving frame 5 provided with appropriate guides placed on the guides 15 of the machine bed 14 and controlled along these guides 15 can. Thus, e.g. the tube 2, the end is held in a chuck or rotary transformer 17 of a machine inenkopfes 10, pushed through the receiving frame 5 with the tools 3 in the feed direction 4 and thereby deformed incrementally.

The design of tools 3 for the incremental forming of tubes 2 which is essentially known from DE 10 2010 025 593 A1 is now further developed according to the invention by e.g. a further tool station 6 is arranged in the machine direction 4 behind the receiving frame 5, which also deforms the tube 2.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of one or more such tool stations 1 and 6, the figure 3c, in which a plurality of similar of the tool stations 1 and 6 constructed as above are connected in series and will pass from the tube 2 in the feed direction 4 successively. The basic idea is that individual or all such tool stations 1 and 6 not only perform an incremental deformation of the tube 2, but the tools 3 of each or all of the tool stations 1 and 6 to each other and arranged to the feed direction 4 of the tube 2 be that the tube 2 is urged out of its feed direction 4 during its movement through the successively arranged tools 3 of the tool stations 1 and 6 and the tube 2 is bent thereby. This can be thought of as such that the tools 3 of the respective tool stations 1 and 6, which in each case pass through form zones for the tube 2, offset relative to each other with respect to the feed direction 4 of the tube 2 are arranged, and thereby the tube 2 is deflected and bent when passing through these passage zones. This process takes place at the same time to an incremental deformation of the tube 2 in the respective tool station 1, but there may also be tool stations 1 and 6, which perform only an incremental deformation and others, which cause only the described bending deformation.

Once the tube 2 has passed through such an array of tool stations 1 and 6 staggered one after another, e.g. changed the position of the tools 3 relative to the receiving frame 5 and a re-run of the already deformed in the first pass tube 2 are made. This pass can e.g. also done reversing. In each pass, the tube 2 is again incrementally reshaped and / or bend formed, so that after a corresponding number of passes the tube 2 has reached its deformed cross-section 7 and its desired bending shape and can be removed.

In the limiting case, such a combined incremental forming and / or bending deformation can be carried out with only two such identically constructed tool stations 1 and 6, which are consecutively passed in the feed direction 4 of the tube 2 and one of which. only the incremental forming and the other performs only the bending deformation, as indicated in Figure 2. At e.g. reversing operation, each of the two tool stations at each stitch their function by corresponding position of the tools 3 relative to the receiving frame 5 and the feed direction 4 of the tube 2 change. It is also conceivable that in one of the tool stations 1 and 6, the tube 2 is both incrementally deformed and bending formed by the tools 3 are set in the tool station 6 so that the tube 2 is also deflected from the feed direction 4.

In another embodiment, such tool stations 1 and 6 configured with mounting frames 5 can also be used in combination with other tool stations 6 known per se, as can be seen, for example, as a rotary tension bending tool 6 in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3b or also as three-roller Bending tool as indicated schematically in Figure 6 or one of the many other known tube bending tools. The tool station 6 with such a pure bending tool can then of course only perform a pure bending deformation, but combined with the one or more incremental transformations of the other tool stations 1 combined to form a total deformation of the tube 2. Such a division of the incremental forming on one or more tool stations 1 with separately adjustable tools 3 of the form described above with a tool station 6 with a pure bending deformation has the advantage that realized in the bending deformation in the tool station 6 larger degrees of deformation for the bending deformation in one pass can be. Rotationszugbiegewerkzeuge 6 as in Figure 2 or Figure 3b or three-roller bending tools are known and should therefore not be further explained here. It goes without saying that such Biegeumformwerkzeuge also controlled automatically and included in the above-described processing of the tube 2. Thus, for example, according to FIG. 3a, a deflection roller 11 in a tool station 6 can be moved into the feed 4 of the pipe 2 after the passage of the pipe 2 through the tool station 1 in such a way that the pipe 2 is deflected laterally (in FIG is bent by it. Due to the more or less strong employment of the roller 1 to the feed path of the tube 2 so that the degree of bending deformation and thus the bending of the tube 2 is changed.

Likewise, according to FIG. 3 b, it is conceivable to equip a tool station 6 with a rotary drawing tool 18 and to further deform the tube 2 that has been incrementally formed in the tool station 1 and bent by a further bending movement 9.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable, according to FIGS. 4 and 5, to change the processing sequence of the tool stations 1 and 6, wherein, according to FIG. 4, the tube 2 is first only incrementally formed in the tool station 1 and only bend-formed in the tool station 6 or according to FIG. 5 first only bending formed in the tool station 6 and then the pre-bent tube 2 is incrementally formed in the tool station 1 and at the same time bending overfilled. FIG. 6 shows a correspondingly modified embodiment of the device according to the invention in the form of a special machining center in which two guides 15 are arranged perpendicularly to one another on a plate-shaped machine table 16, on which a machine head 10 can be moved freely in the plane of the machine table 16 of the tube 3 can be arranged. Also at the level of the machine table 16, a first tool station 1 in the form of a receiving frame 5 with tools 3 can be seen, through which the tube 2 can be pushed through. In the machine direction behind the tool station 1 with a receiving frame 5, a further tool station 6 in the form of a Rotationszugbiegewerkzeugs and another tool station 6 ^' in the form of a three-roll bending tool on the plane of the machine table 16 and can also be passed through the tube 2.

The mode of operation of the special machining center according to FIG. 6 is to be described very briefly in such a way that the pipe 2 is moved by the relative positioning of machine head 0, tool station 1 and the tool station 6 or 6 ^' as well as further tool stations 1 or 6 not shown here can be processed very freely and thus a variety of different pipe sections and pipe bends can be made.

FIG. 7 shows a special type of bending in one of the already described tool stations 1, namely the bend in the form of the so-called American bow. Here, for example, only some of the tools 3, indicated in the figure 7 as the lower tool 3, retracted into the path of the feed 4 of the tube 2, the other tools, indicated in Figure 7 as the upper tool 3, only slightly touch the undeformed Contour of the cross section of the tube 2. As a result, when passing through the tube 2 by the tool station 1 essentially only the lower fibers (the inner fibers) of the tube 2 are influenced and shortened. This results in a one-sided bending of the tube 2 down, which is known per se as a bend according to the principle of the American bow. This so-called American bow can also be produced particularly easily with the aid of a tool station 1 designed according to the invention. Sac number list

1 - Tool station incremental forming and bending forming

2 - pipe in the initial state

3 - Tool

4 - relative longitudinal displacement tube

5 - Recording frame

6 - Tool Station Bending Forming

7 - curved profile shape

8 - relative directions of movement tool

9 - bending direction

10 - machine heads

1 1 - Bending tool

12 - Machining surfaces

13 - Bending machine

14 - machine bed

15 - guides

16 - table

17 - chuck / rotary joint

18 - rotary tensile bending tool

Claims

claims

1 . Method for forming profile tubes (2), in particular profile tubes (2) with cross sections varying over the longitudinal extent, in which a tube (2) having an outlet profile cross section by means of a feed device (14, 15) at least once at a tool station (1) with at least one tool (3) is passed, the tool (3) and the tube

(2) are arranged adjustable relative to one another in at least one degree of freedom and the tool (3) locally locally incrementally transforms the pipe cross-section during the relative movement between pipe (2) and tool (3), characterized in that the pipe (2) before or after the incremental Forming in the first tool station (1) at least once past at least one other tool station (6) whose forming effect on the tube (2) also or exclusively causes a bending deformation of the tube (2) along the longitudinal extent of the tube (2).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tools

(3) the at least two tool stations (1, 6) constructed substantially similar and substantially similar in the respective tool station (1, 6) are arranged.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the tools (3) of the at least two tool stations (1, 6) relative to the advancing movement (4) of the tube (2) are arranged and form a kind Umformkanal, so that the tube (2) with its feed movements (4) by the tool stations {1, 6) locally incrementally reshaped and bending formed.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the tools (3) of the at least two substantially similar tool stations (1, 6) when passing the tube (2) offset from each other relative to the feed direction (4) of the tube (2) be arranged and a kind of forming - 2 - channel, that the tools (3) also or exclusively cause a bending deformation of the tube (2) along the profile length.

5. The method according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the tools (3) of at least one of the at least two substantially similar tool stations (1, 6) when passing the tube (2) the tube (2) such from the Deflect feed direction (4) that a bending deformation of the tube (2) along the profile length results.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that only some of the tools (3) of a tool station {1, 6) while passing the tube (2) the pipe (2) in such a way from the feed direction (4) deflect that a bending deformation of Pipe (2) on the principle of American arc along the profile length results.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the deflection of the tools (3) of each of the tool stations (1, 6) and the distance of the tool stations (1, 6) to each other in the feed direction (4) of the tube (2 ) are changed and controlled so that during the passage of the tube (2) through the tool stations (1, 6), the desired bending deformation of the tube (2) is caused.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tube (2) guided in several stitches at the tool stations (1, 6) over and successively formed and / or bend-transformed more and more.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that by multiple passage of the tube (2) through the tool stations (1, 6), the degree of bending deformation is successively increased by the position of at least individual tools (3) relative to the feed direction (4 ) of the tube (2) is always changed. - 3 -

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tools (3) of the at least two tool stations (1, 6) are constructed non-uniform and non-uniformly transforming acting on the tube (2).

1 1. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the tools (3) at least one of the tool stations (1, 6) in the relative movement between the tube (2) and tool (3), the tube (2) only locally incre- mentally reforming whereas the tools (3) at least one of the other tool stations (1, 6) exclusively make a bending deformation.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the tools (3) at least one of the tool stations {1, 6) in the relative movement between the tube (2) and tool (3) the tube (2) locally fnkrementell reshape and bend, whereas the tools (3) make at least one of the other tool stations (1, 6) exclusively a bending deformation. 3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tube (2) is further deformed as a preformed semifinished product, in particular as a pre-bent blank.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending deformation of the tube (2) by the position of the tools (3) of the tool stations (, 6) multidimensionally, in particular in two spatial directions perpendicular to the feed direction (4) of the tube (2 ) he follows.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the or individual tool stations (1, 6) depending on the degree of bending deformation of the tube (2) is changed.

16. A device for forming profile tubes (2), in particular of profile tubes (2) with varying over the longitudinal axis cross-sections, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a clamping device (17) for the inkrernentell reshaping tube (2) and at least one tool station (1) with at least one tool (3) - 4 -, the clamping device (17) and thus the clamped tube (2) and the tool station (1) are arranged relative to each other displaceable (4) and / or rotatable and a single or each tool (3) in the tool station (1 ) can perform at least one relative movement (8) relative to the tool station (1), wherein the clamped tube (2) is formed incrementally, characterized in that the device before or after the passage of the first Werkzeugstatton (1) at least one further tool station (6) with tools (3) whose forming effect on the pipe also or exclusively causes a bending deformation of the tube (2) along the longitudinal extent of the tube (2).

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the tool stations (1, 6) has a number of individually adjustable tools (3), between which the tube (2) locally formed incrementally and / or is bend-formed.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that individual or all of the tools (3) of the tool stations (1, 6) are independently adjustable relative to the pipe to be deformed (1).

19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that the adjustment of individual or all of the tools (3) of the tool stations (1, 6) via automatically, preferably programmatically controlled actuators of the tools (3).

20. Device according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the tool station (1, 6) has a preferably closed receiving frame (5) relative to which the tools (3) are arranged adjustable.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the tools (3) on the receiving frame (5), preferably four tools - 5 -

(3) are arranged crosswise to each other, that the tube (2) can be formed from all sides and / or bend-formed.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the tools (3) independently of each other to the pipe (2) perform radial adjustment movements (8).

23. Device according to one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that the tools (3) are formed like a nail.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that the tools (3) have a spherical or spherical machining section (12) which interacts with the tube (2) in the incremental deformation and the bending deformation.

25. Device according to one of claims 16 to 24, characterized in that the tool station (1, 6) in a conventional bending machine for pipes (2) can be integrated.

26. Device according to one of claims 16 to 25, characterized in that the tool station (1, 6) is adaptable to a three-roller bending machine for pipes (2).

27. The device according to one of claims 16 to 26, characterized in that the tool station (1, 6) on a special machining center for pipes (2) is buildable.

28. Device according to one of claims 16 to 27, characterized in that the tool stations (1, 6) in the feed direction (4) of the tube (2) staggered to each other are arranged adjustable.

29. Device according to one of claims 6 to 28, characterized in that as a further tool station (6) for the pure bending deformation conventional Rohrbbiegewerkzeuge can be used.