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The spring rate is equal to the spring rate of both flow bellows plus the spring rate of the balancing bellows.

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Elbow Pressure Balanced Pipe Expansion Joint

Bellows squirm because they have surpassed the critical design pressure limit. This can occur in small diameter bellows with a large number of convolutions.

Example of Bellows Squirm
Example of Bellows Squirm

By using an in-line pressure balanced expansion joint.

In line pressure balanced expansion joint diagram
In-line pressure balanced expansion joint diagram

 

Axial deflection refers to the movement of the expansion joint in regards to changes in the dimensional length of the bellows parallel to the centerline of the expansion joint.

Axial deflection
Axial Deflection

Hinged expansion joints take angular rotation in only one place. Gimbal expansion joints take angular rotation in two planes.

102 dia tied universal and hinged expansion joints 6975870849 o
Hinged Expansion Joint
U.S. Bellows, Inc., a Division of Piping Technology & Products, Inc., Designed and Fabricated a 44" Double Gimbal Universal Expansion Joint for an Oil Refinery in Wyoming.
Double Gimbal Universal Expansion Joint

We do not put slots on our expansion joints, but we leave a minimum gap between the nuts and the lug depending on the lateral movement.

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Tied Universal Expansion Joints Designed for a Power Generation Plant in Texas

Loads on a tied universal bellows are not transferred because pressure thrust is contained within the tie rods and is not transferred to the piping system equipment.

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Diameter Tied Universal Expansion Joints

The lateral movement in a tied universal expansion joint is achieved by having the bellows work together in angular rotation in order to obtain the correct lateral deflection.

72" Diameter Tied Universal, Thick-wall Expansion Joint for a Sulfuric Acid Plant
72″ Diameter Tied Universal, Thick-wall Expansion Joint for a Sulfuric Acid Plant

Universal expansion joints are typically used in z-bend or l-shape pipe arrangements where the expansion joint allows for lateral motion

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Universal Expansion Joints

The length of a universal expansion joint is dependent upon the amount of lateral motion to be absorbed by the expansion joint. This is determined on a case by case basis.

30 inch double hinged expansion joint with duct work
Universal Expansion Joint and Duct Work

Yes, a tied expansion joint is a correct application for tied expansion joints to eliminate pressure thrust on the turbine exhaust nozzle.

Single joint
12″ Single Expansion Joints with Tie Rods

The number of tie-rods on a universal expansion joint is calculated according to the amount of pressure thrust that the particular expansion joint will absorb. Low-pressure expansion joints may have two rods, for example, while high-pressure expansion joints may have four or more.

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12″ Universal Expansion Joint with Tie Rods

Yes, hinged expansion joints do need to be designed to accommodate for pressure thrust.

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Hinged Expansion Joint

Expansion joints have one loose flange when specified to facilitate the alignment of flanges on the piping system during installation.

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Single Tied Expansion Joints with Carbon Steel Flanges

We do not recommend the annealing of stainless steel bellows because the bellows strength increases while decreasing the cycle life.

Metallic expansion joints should be replaced if they are leaking or can simply be replaced on a scheduled maintenance program in order to avoid leaks that may occur in the future.

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36″ Rectangular Metal Expansion Joint

We get inquiries for steel and rubber expansion joints for pump suction and discharge.

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Rubber Expansion Joints

If bellow thickness is increased, then the bellows spring rate will increase substantially.

72 inch thick wall expansion joint for a sulfuric acid plant
72″ inch thick wall pipe expansion joint
You can find a slide show on an introduction to U.S. Bellows that covers a wide variety of metallic expansion joints at the following link:

A toroidal convolution consists of a circular tube (or totus) wrapped around weld ends or pipe ends having a gap at the I.D. to permit axial stroke. A toroidal expansion joint may consist of one convolution or multiple convolutions. This joint is also known as an Omega bellows expansion joint for it resembles the Greek letter Omega. Most toroidal bellows are hydraulically formed which requires high pressure. Others are free formed, similar to blowing up a balloon. More accurate convolution shapes may be formed into toroidal dye cavities. Since this forming pressure is high, pressure resistance is also high. “U” shaped bellows cause a bending stress due to the pressure load on the convolution side wall. This generally determines the maximum pressure, however, the toroid contains only membrane stress thus determining the maximum pressure. Due to the toroidal shape, deflection is limited. With “U” shaped convolutions, more deflection can be achieved but allowable pressures are lower.

Expansion joint toroidal
Toroidal Expansion Joint

How does a toroidal expansion joint work?

A toroidal convolution consists of a circular tube (or totus) wrapped around weld ends or pipe ends having a gap at the I.D. to permit axial stroke. A toroidal expansion joint may consist of one convolution or multiple convolutions. This joint is also known as an Omega bellows expansion joint for it resembles the Greek letter Omega. Most toroidal bellows are hydraulically formed which requires high pressure. Others are free formed, similar to blowing up a balloon. More accurate convolution shapes may be formed into toroidal dye cavities. Since this forming pressure is high, pressure resistance is also high. “U” shaped bellows cause a bending stress due to the pressure load on the convolution side wall. This generally determines the maximum pressure, however, the toroid contains only membrane stress thus determining the maximum pressure. Due to the toroidal shape, deflection is limited. With “U” shaped convolutions, more deflection can be achieved but allowable pressures are lower.

Expansion joint toroidal
Toroidal Expansion Joint
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