Blog Archives | US Bellows

Rubber Expansion Joints for a 24″ Dia. Pipeline at an Offshore Production Facility

June 14, 2021

U.S. Bellows provided rubber expansion joints for a 24” diameter pipeline at an offshore production facility. Used near rotating equipment such as pumps and compressors, rubber expansion joints provide a viable alternative when metal joints cannot be used. Expansion joints can be used in plants such as biofuels green energy that utilize trash/waste as feedstock help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The retaining rings are fabricated from A240-316 stainless steel. The expansion joints are 28-1/8” O.D. x 24” long. Each unit was hydro pressure tested and inspected prior to shipping overseas. U.S. Bellows can provide rubber expansion joints up to 144” in diameter or higher for custom applications. Rubber pipe expansion joints are often used to compensate for minor misalignment and offset. The design is chemical and abrasion resistant while limiting sediment buildup. They have an integrally flanged design where no gaskets are required and are designed to absorb noise, vibration, and shock. This single, wide arch, spool-type rubber expansion joint is used to accommodate thermal growth while relieving piping stress during operation. This is just one of many types of rubber expansion joints we can provide to meet your specifications. If needed, using stress analysis, our experienced expansion joint engineers can assist in the design and development of expansion joints for your application.

Thick Wall Expansion Joints for Large Diameter Piping in a Heat Exchanger

May 12, 2021

U.S. Bellows, Inc. custom-designed thick wall flanged and flued head expansion joints for large diameter piping in a heat exchanger application. The expansion joints, including the liners, are fabricated from 316 stainless steel. The first unit is 60″ O.D. x 84″ O.D., the second unit is 36″ O.D. x 60″, and both units have a 1/4″ nominal thickness. They were designed for 4.4 psig at 210°F with a 122″ water column. A dye penetrant exam on the circumferential welds was conducted prior to shipping.

U.S. Bellows Designed an Expansion Joint & Duct Work Assembly during a Plant Turnaround

April 26, 2021

U.S. Bellows designed a universal expansion joint and duct work assembly for a 3rd pass outlet converter to economizer duct work application at a chemical plant in 8 weeks. Expansion joints are used in many economizer ductwork applications near boilers. Plant turnarounds are a vital part of a plant’s maintenance program. They involve a scheduled stoppage of part or all of a plant’s operations. During this time, existing equipment such as expansion joints are removed and replaced with new or upgraded expansion joints. On-time delivery is critical to the plant turnaround schedule in order to limit the amount of time the plant is in shutdown. The total assembly included a universal expansion joint, over 125 feet of custom-built 60” diameter duct work, including elbows, tees, saddles, nozzles, and spring supports. The expansion joints were designed for 0.3 degrees angular movement, 2.875″ lateral, and 3.25″ axial extension. The design conditions were 5 psig at 890 degrees F. The liner, cover, and ducting are fabricated from 304 stainless steel and the bellows are 321 SS. A dye penetrant exam, soap & air test, and spot x-ray on all duct seam welds were performed before shipping. U.S. Bellows has worked extensively on boiler units within the chemical industry and has provided products and designed supports for the unique requirements of economizers including the use of stainless steel and super alloys to support applications such as this involving highly corrosive media.

78” Dia. Universal Expansion Joint Custom-Designed for One of the Oldest Scientific Innovators in the Engineering Industry

March 29, 2021

U.S. Bellows, Inc. custom-designed universal expansion joints for one of the oldest scientific innovators in the engineering industry. Large diameter steam pipelines are a part of almost every plant and are associated with innovations in areas like nanotechnology, fuel cells, biomaterials from renewable resources, materials for personal protections (which have been especially important in the time of COVID), emerging video display technologies, and semiconductors. These plants manufacture polymers such as neoprene, nylon, chlorofluorocarbons, synthetic pigments. In this case, the universal expansion joint bellows and liner are fabricated from A240 Gr. 321, the pipe, tie rods, and flanges are fabricated from A240 Gr. 304 stainless steel. They are designed for low pressure (8 PSI) and range from 36” pipe x 60” long up to 78” pipe x 117” long. Per our QC requirements and/or client specifications, the expansion joints were dye-penetrate examined and soap, air bubble tested prior to shipment.

Us bellows universal expansion joint 137373 fab sm — 78″ Universal Expansion Joint in Fabrication

Pressure Balanced Tee Universal Expansion Joint for a Boiler Feed Pump Turbine Exhaust

March 2, 2021

U.S. Bellows, Inc. custom-designed a pressure balanced tee universal expansion joint for a boiler feed pump turbine exhaust. The expansion joint is 96” diameter and 288” OAL and is designed for 2″ axial movement at 315°F and 15 psig. The bellows, liner, and turning vanes are 304 stainless steel. The remainder of the assembly is fabricated from carbon steel. The expansion joint was dye penetrant examined, and a chemical cleaning of the interior surfaces was performed to remove any oil and grease. U.S. Bellows also conducted a stress analysis and a pneumatic test at 23 psig.

U.S. Bellows Custom-Designed Tied Universal Expansion Joints for Service at a Chemical Plant

February 9, 2021

Universal expansion joints such as these are used in chemical plants that manufacture petrochemicals (such as ethylene and styrene monomer), polymers, and building products (PVC profiles for windows, doors, and decking). The units range from 26” to 48” in length and 8” to 20” in diameter. The bellows were fabricated from 321 stainless steel, the weld ends, pipe spools, and flanges from 304 stainless steel, and the tie rods and hex nuts from carbon steel. They are designed for temperatures ranging from -150°F to 800°F, operating pressures ranging from 50 to 240 psig, and 0.25” to 2.25” of lateral deflection. The expansion joints were air, soap, and bubble tested, 100% dye-penetrant tested and hydro-tested before shipment. The universal pipe expansion joint consists of two bellows separated by a pipe section or spool. The primary purpose of this arrangement is to have a unit that will accept large amounts of lateral deflection. The amount of lateral deflection they can accept is a function of the amount of angulation each bellows can absorb and the distance between the bellows. For a given bellows element, the amount of lateral deflection capability can be increased or decreased by simply changing the length of the center spool.

Gimbal Expansion Joints for Crude Oil Pipelines in Canada

January 12, 2021

U.S. Bellows custom-designed and fabricated universal gimbal expansion joints for 24” diameter crude oil pipelines at a power plant in Canada. The bellows are fabricated from A240 316 stainless steel bellows, the flanges are A105N carbon steel, and the plates are A516 70 carbon steel. The expansion joints are designed for a 10 degrees angular rotation at 285 psig up to 100 degrees F. They are designed for an angular spring rate of 4900 in-lb/dec and vertical offset of 10-1/4”. The units measure 43” x 43” x 110” and 38” x 38” x 79”.

Us bellows gimbal ej 3d model

3D Modeling was done so that our engineers can check the “fit-up” to confirm the design, perform stress analysis, or other modeling benefits prior to fabrication. We performed hydro tests, completed NDE reports, and supplied Material Test Reports per the client requirements.

Hinged Expansion Joints Custom-Designed for a Process that Produces High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

December 15, 2020

U.S. Bellows custom designed these hinged expansion joints for a Polyolefin process which produces High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) resin at a chemical plant. Polyolefins are a family of polyethylene and polypropylene thermoplastics. The job included expansion joints ranging from 12″ to 32″ NPS. The units pictured above have a nominal pipe size of 16″. The bellows and liner were fabricated from 304 stainless steel and the flanges, cover, and hardware from carbon steel. They are designed for an operating temperature of 176°F at 145 psig and 1° of angular movement. The expansion joints were 100% dye penetrant tested, the bellows longitudinal seam welds were 100% X-rayed, PMI examined, and hydro-tested prior to shipment.

Custom-Designed Single Flanged Expansion Joints

October 12, 2020

Us bellows single expansion joint 157943

Type:	Single Flanged Expansion Joint
Size:	6″ to 18″ Dia. Range
Material:	321 Stainless Steel \| 304 SS \| 316 SS
Design	1055°F \| 2 psig \| 5/8 ” Axial Travel \| 5/8″ Lateral Offse
Testing:	100% Dye-Penetrant \| Air, Soap, & Bubble

U.S. Bellows provided single expansion joints custom-designed for an oil refinery. The 12” diameter bellows are fabricated from 321 stainless steel, the liner is 304 stainless and the flanges are fabricated from carbon steel. The remaining bellows ranged in diameter from 6” to 18” and were fabricated with 316 stainless steel bellows, liners, and flanges. Design conditions: design temperature = 1055°F, operating pressure = 2 psig, axial travel = 5/8”, lateral offset = 5/8”. Each unit was hydrostatically tested prior to shipment. U.S. Bellows provides expansion joint solutions for all markets and applications including biofuels/bioenergy, carbon black industry, paper mills, sugar mills, and wastewater management.

Single Flanged Expansion Joints for a Leading Manufacturer & Designer of Transformers & Power Supplies for an Industrial Applications Company

August 24, 2020

U.s. bellows custom designed single fanged expansion joints for a leading manufacturer & designer of transformers & power supplies for an industrial applications company

Type:	Single Flanged Expansion Joint
Size:	5″ Length \| 6″ ID \| 11″ O.D.
Material:	ASTM A240-316 Stainless Steel
Design	200°F \| 150 psig \| 7,942 lb/in. Lateral Spring Rate 0.625 ” Axial Travel \| 803 lb/in. Axial Spring Rate 0.125″ Lateral Offset \| 225 psig Test Pressure
Testing:	100% Dye-Penetrant \| Air, Soap, & Bubble

The single expansion joint type is simply a bellows element with end connections. It is the least expensive type but requires that the piping be controlled as to the direction of the movements required of the unit. This type of expansion joint should not be expected to control the movement of the pipe. If the piping analysis shows that the expansion joint must accept axial compression, then the piping must be guided and constrained in other locations so that only that axial movement will occur. The flanges and bellows are fabricated from ASTM A240-316 stainless steel. The units are 6″ in diameter, 5″ long, and have an 11″ outside diameter. Design conditions are: design pressure = 150 psig, test pressure = 225 psig, design temp. = 200°F, axial travel = 0.625″ compression, axial spring rate = 803 lb/in., lateral offset = 0.125″, and lateral spring rate = 7,942 lb/in. *Designed in accordance with the Standards of the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association, 10th E, and welding per ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section IX.

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