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Custom Universal Hinged Expansion Joint Completed in less than 12 weeks for a Refinery in Texas

December 4, 2017

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Type: Universal Hinged Expansion Joint
Size: 86″ Height, 234″ Long, & 42″ OD
Material: Inconel 625/Chrome-Moly/Carbon Steel
Design 1025°F at 45 psig, 3/4″ of Axial, & 12.5″ of lateral
Testing: 100% Radiographic Examined, Pneumatic Tested at 61 psi, Leak Tested at 51 psig, & Dye-Penetrant

U.S. Bellows custom fabricated this universal hinged expansion joint with oversized bellows, movement indicators, and test ports, in less than 12 weeks for a refinery turnaround in Texas. The unit is 86″ in height, 234″ long, and has a 42″ OD. The bellows were fabricated from Inconel 625, the piping from chrome-moly, the hinge hardware from carbon steel, and the covers from 304 stainless steel. It is designed for an operating temperature of 1025°F at 45 psig, with 3/4″ of axial compression and 12.5″ of lateral deflection. The unit was post-weld heat treatment and 100% radiographic examined the circumferential and long seams after the post-weld heat treatment, plus pneumatically tested at 61 psi, the bellows were leak tested to 15 psig between the plies, and dye-penetrant tested prior to shipment.

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Single Expansion Joints Custom Designed for a Power Generation Application

September 20, 2016
Single Expansion Joints Custom Designed for a Power Generation Application
Type: Single Tied Expansion Joint
Size: 4” in diameter by 9-3/4;” in OAL, to 8” in diameter by 10-7/8” in OAL
Material: 304 Stainless Steel Bellows / Carbon Steel
Design: 400°F at 400 psig
Testing: hydro-tested at 600 psig

U.S. Bellows custom designed these single tied expansion joints for a power generation application in Virginia. The expansion joints vary in size from 4” in diameter by 9-3/4” in OAL, to 8” in diameter by 10-7/8” in OAL. The bellows are fabricated from 304 stainless steel and the rest of the components from carbon steel. The expansion joints are designed for 400°F at 400 psig and are capable of 0.39” of lateral movement. A hydro-test at 600 psig was performed on the units prior to shipment

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Gimbal Expansion Joints Designed for a Flare Gas and Steam Application in a Methanol Plant

December 7, 2015

Gimbal Expansion Joints Designed for a Flare Gas and Steam Application in a Methanol Plant
U.S. Bellows designed these single gimbal expansion joints with floating ring gimbal attachment to the pipe for a flare gas and steam application at a methanol plant in Texas. The bellows were fabricated from Inconel® 625 LCF, the liner and the weld-ends from 316H stainless steel, the cover from 304 stainless steel, and the gimbal structure from A516 carbon steel. The expansion joints are 48″ diameter and are 61 3/8″ in overall length, and are designed for an operating temperature of 752°F at 50 psig. All expansion joints were 100% dye penetrant, X-ray, and hydrotested prior to shipment.

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10′ Long Expansion Joints Designed for a Nuclear Energy Facility

September 15, 2015

10' Long Expansion Joints Designed for a Nuclear Energy Facility

Type: Single Expansion Joint
Size: 18″ Diameter and 120″ OAL
Material: 316 Stainless Steel
Design  35 PSIG at an Operating Temperature 1200°F
Testing: 100% Dye Penetrant | Hydro-tested

US Bellows manufactured these single expansion joints for a nuclear energy facility in Ohio. The expansion joints are 18″ in diameter and 120″ in OAL. All components are fabricated from 316 stainless steel. The assemblies are capable of 1.1″ axial movement, 0.5″ lateral movement, and are designed for 35 psig at an operating temperature of 1200°F. One end is beveled for welding, and the other end is fitted with a special 316 stainless steel clamp assembly. The expansion joints were dye-penetrant tested and hydro-tested prior to shipment.

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30″ Dia. Single Tied Expansion Joint Designed for an Oil Refinery

February 15, 2015

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U.S. Bellows custom designed this single tied expansion joint for an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. The bellows and liner are fabricated from 304 stainless steel and the cover, tie rods, and flanges are carbon steel. This expansion joint is 30″ in diameter and is 24″ in length. The unit is designed for 800°F at 275 psig and capable of 1″ axial movement. Prior to shipment, all welds were dye penetrant examined, hydrotested, and the bellows longitudinal weld was 100% x-rayed.

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6″ Dia. Single Expansion Joints Designed for an Oil Refinery in China

December 6, 2014

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U.S. Bellows custom designed single expansion joints for an oil refinery in China. They were fabricated with Incoloy 800H bellows and ASTMA 240TP 304H stainless steel weld ends. The expansion joints have a diameter of 6″ with an overall length of 11″. The assemblies were designed for a spring rate of 362 lb./in., 1″ axial movement at 1112°F and 5 psig. All expansion joints were dye penetrant examined and hydro-tested prior to shipment.

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42″ Dia. Hinged Universal Expansion Joint Designed with Pantographic Linkage

August 4, 2014

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This 42″ dia. hinged universal expansion joint was designed with pantographic linkage flue gas application in a Columbian refinery. The redundant two-ply testable bellows are fabricated from Inconel 625 LCF and the remainder of the assembly was fabricated with refractory lined carbon steel. It is designed for an axial movement of 1.1″ at 1,000°F and 50 psig. All welds were 100% dye penetrant examined, the bellows longitudinal seam and pipe seams were 100% X-ray examined. The complete assembly was pneumatically tested to 50 psig due to the internal insulation. All the pressure bearing components such as the hinge plates, pantrographic linkage, gimbal ring and hinge support rings were designed and engineered per latest EJMA, ASME B31.3 codes

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42″ Dia. Single Expansion Joint Refurbished for a Chemical Plant

December 7, 2013
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This 42″ dia. x 13-3/4″ OAL single expansion joint was refurbished for a chemical plant. The bellows were replaced with 304 stainless steel and the flanges were sand blasted and painted. The expansion joint was designed for a spring rate of 4,253 lb./in., 5/8″ axial movement at 222°F and 50 psig. A dye penetrant examination and air soap and bubble test was conducted prior to shipping.

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102″ Dia. Single Hinged Expansion Joint and Duct Work Assembly and Two 92″ Single Expansion Joints

February 4, 2013
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U.S. Bellows designed a 102″ dia. single hinged expansion joint and duct work assembly, along with two 92″ single expansion joints for a coal gasification facility in Mississippi. Both the assembly and expansion joints were fabricated from carbon steel with 304 stainless steel bellows, and designed for 3.6° angular movement at 825°F and 3 psig. The expansion joints were dye penetrant examined, 100% x-rayed and soap and air tested prior to shipment.

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