The Expansion Joints Blog

Looking for an expansion joint, but don’t know where to start? Browse through our photo gallery and view the different types of expansion joints grouped by the following categories.

Duct Work Photo Gallery
Fabric Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Gimbal Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Refractory Lined Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Single Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Universal Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Slip Type Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Elbow Pressure Balanced Joints Photo Gallery

Externally Pressurized Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Hinged Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

In-line Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Thick Wall Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Finite Element Analysis of Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Rectangular Metal Expansion Joints Photo Gallery

Date: Thursday, June 6, 2013 / Time: 10:00 am CST

To Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/934691782

* Live Webinars are approved for 1 PDH credit for TX P.E.’s

Get to know U.S. Bellows from introducing our team and manufacturing capabilities to exploring design details in technical drawings for large-scale projects. View case studies that lead to the creation of new standards and designs. Learn about cost saving measures for expansion joint failures and how to prevent future problems.

U.S. Bellows, Inc., a division of PT&P, has more than 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing expansion joints, along with replacement and repair services.

U.S. Bellows designed and manufactured a 64” diameter custom elbow pressure balanced expansion joint for an exhaust duct in a power plant in Alberta, Canada. It is 386” in overall length and is fabricated from carbon steel with 321 stainless steel bellows. This expansion joint is designed for 1-1/8” axial movement, ½” lateral movement at 482°F and 174 psig. Tests performed on the unit include 100% dye penetrant, x-ray, and ultrasonic on pressure bearing welds. The unit was also hydrotested at 291 psig prior to shipment.

These single expansion joints are 20″ in overall length and range in diameter from 3″ to 56″. They are composed of 321 stainless steel bellows, 316L flanges and angles, and include carbon steel covers. The expansion joints were designed for 194°F at 22 PSIG and were dye penetrant examined and soap and air tested prior to shipping to Peru.

Tie rods are necessary in some applications to continuously restrain the full pressure thrust during normal operation while permitting only lateral deflection. Here is an example of what can happen when tie rods are not specified or the piping has not been anchored.

This Webinar is over, but you can view the recording at: http://info.usbellows.com/instantly-access-webinar-archives/

* Live Webinars are approved for 1 PDH credit for TX P.E.’s

Listen to in-depth explanations on how to choose the type of expansion joint that will best suit your system. Learn about the bellows movements throughout the piping system due to thermal changes of mechanical motion. Increase your understanding of the different types of expansion joints and value-added services offered by U.S. Bellows.

U.S. Bellows, Inc., a division of PT&P, has more than 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing expansion joints, along with replacement and repair services.

This refractory lined expansion joint is composed of 321 stainless steel bellows and A588-A Corten angle flanges. It is lined with a 4″ thick refractory lining and measures 7′-2″ x 4′-6″ x 134″ F-F. The expansion joint was dye penetrant tested and will be utilized in flue gas service associated with a clean fuels project at an oil refinery.

U.S. Bellows custom designed tied universal expansion joints with 304 stainless steel bellows from 2″ to 18″ diameter for a chemical plant in Texas. The expansion joints are designed for 3″ lateral movement at 122°F and 100 psig. The expansion joints were hydro-tested at 150 psig and delivered in six weeks.

U.S. Bellows refurbished a 54″ dia. custom crossover expansion joint for a power plant in Kansas. The flow end and balancing end bellows were replaced. The pressure balanced expansion joint was designed for 1″ axial movement at 700°F and 150 psig. The bellows longitudinal weld seams were 100% x-rayed and the assembly was hydro-tested at 180 psig prior to shipment. The refurbishment was completed in three weeks to meet the customer’s outage requirements.

Splicing of fabric expansion joints is a critical operation which needs to be performed correctly for the expansion joint splice to hold up under system operating conditions. ensureAsplice is the answer to assure that a splice is made correctly.

U.S. Bellows material is a thin, flexible, lightweight, PTFE material that clearly indicates when the proper conditions have been established for achieving a successful test splice on FLEXXCEL Fabric Expansion Joint materials. The U.S. Bellows material accomplishes this in two ways. First, a dramatic color change in the product during the splicing procedure ensures that the critical sealing temperature has been reached in the splice area. In addition, the material bonds to the expansion joint’s PTFE surface, confirming that sufficient pressure was applied during the splicing operation.

The sealing process requires that all splice components be assembled between the heat sealer and the product. As the splice heats up, the U.S. Bellows product changes from a light shade of red to a much darker shade of the red. The easily observed color change can only take place after the splice components have reached the critical sealing temperature required for PTFE products. If sufficient pressure has been applied as the color change occurs, the product will adhere to the expansion joint’s PTFE surface, confirming that the proper splicing conditions were achieved.

A successfully completed test splice utilizing the ensureAsplice material will ensure that the variables that exist during a field splice have been accounted for. The actual splice on the expansion joint can now be completed with confidence.

Variables to consider:

1. Ambient conditions
2. Length of extension cord
3. Acceptable voltage
4. Proper “backer board” usage
5. Heat Seal Iron in good working condition
6. Allow iron time to reach required temperature
7. Be sure the green light is illuminated
8. Proper amount of time used to splice
9. Proper amount of pressure applied during splice
10. Follow U.S. Bellows splice procedures
    

Shown are the items required to produce a test splice with the product
(Heat seal iron, backer board, FLEXXCEL belting material, PFA heat sealing film, ensureAsplice product, stapler, scissors, blade knife, tape measurer, marking pen)

2. Begin by placing the product on the “Backer Board” surface. 

3. Overlap the 2 pieces of FLEXXCEL belt material. The overlap should be the same width as the PFA Film. Make sure the PFA film is residing between the two belt ends in the overlap splice area. Staple the PFA Film in place.

View the full instructions at: http://www.usbellows.com/fabric-catalog/ensureasplice.html