Expansion Joint Protective Cover

The bellows element in an expansion joint is relatively thin and vulnerable to physical damage during plant construction and routine maintenance activities. A bellows cover provides essential protection against falling tools, weld spatter, natural hazards (hail or rocks), accidental contact with pipes, hangers, and equipment that can render a bellows unsafe or unusable. At US Bellows, we offer standard carbon steel removable protective bellows covers attached to the end connection, sized to permit free flexing of the expansion joint. For applications where fluids impinge on the bellows exterior, such as turbine exhaust systems, special thick-wall welded bellows covers should be specified for maximum protection.

Metallic Pipe Expansion Joint with Covers		Metallic Pipe Expansion Joint with One Cover Removed
Being relatively thin, the bellows element should be protected on the outside from damage during plant construction and later maintenance activities. Falling tools, standing on the bellows, contact with pipes, hangers and equipment, and weld and burning spatter can render a bellows unsafe or unusable. PT&P offers, as an optional accessory, standard carbon steel removable covers attached to the upstream end connection, and sized to permit free flexing of the pipe expansion joint. In certain applications where fluids can impurge on the bellows exterior, such as in steam extraction piping in turbine exhaust systems, special thick wall, welded type covers should be specified.