U.S. Bellows designed and fabricated a 180″ long double gimbal expansion joint with a 90° elbow and flanged and flued head bellows, and a 114″ long single hinged expansion joint with flanged and flued head bellows. After performing a pipe stress analysis on the line, it was determined that spring supports were necessary, so F-Type variable spring supports were also provided for this project and shipped with the expansion joints.
All material in contact with the service fluid is fabricated from 304 H stainless steel and all external hardware is 304 stainless steel. The expansion joint bellows is designed for 5° angular movement and 1100°F at 10 psig. A spot x-ray test, soap and air test, and 100% dye penetrant examination on all welds were performed prior to shipment.
U.S. Bellows offers all types of metallic expansion joints. Each type has advantages and limitations that can provide flexibility, load reduction, structural integrity and reliability required in a piping system.
Metal expansion joints can withstand the design temperatures and pressures, as well as provide the capacity necessary to absorb thermal growth of the piping system. The thermal movement required can be axial, lateral or angular. In some cases, the pressure thrust of an expansion joint must be restrained by the use of tie rods, hinges or a gimbal while allowing the bellows to move through its design deflections.
Learn more about the different types of metallic expansion joints:
Single Expansion Joints —— Universal Expansion Joints ——- Hinged Expansion Joints
Categories: Metallic Expansion Joints Tags: Dresser® Style, Externally Pressurized Expansion Joints, Flanged & Flued Head Expansion Joint, Gimbal Expansion Joints, Hinged Expansion Joints, In-line Pressure Balanced Expansion Joint, Pressure Balanced Elbow Expansion Joints, Rectangular Metallic Expansion Joints, Single Expansion Joints, Slip-type Expansion Joints, Thick-wall Expansion Joint, Toroidal Bellow Expansion Joint, Universal Expansion Joints
44″ Double Gimbal Universal Expansion Joint
Reducer
This gimbal expansion joint is designed for angular rotation in two planes of up to 4° in each plane. It has an overall length of 140″ with a total assembly weight of 11,000 lb. It is fabricated with 316 stainless steel bellows and carbon steel piping. This expansion joint was 100% dye-penetrant examined and hydro-tested prior to shipment. U.S. Bellows, Inc. and Piping Technology & Products, Inc. also furnished the spring supports and pipe attachments for this project.
