Expansion Joint / Expansion Joint
Primary Application
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Designed for piping systems that experience multi-directional thermal movements (simultaneous axial, lateral, and angular displacements).
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Commonly installed in low-pressure pipelines, exhaust gas ducting, ventilation systems, and broad plant piping layouts.
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Ideal for installations where space is constrained and lightweight configurations are preferred over heavy bolted flange setups.
Structure & Specifications
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Bellows: Twin (double) bellows configuration made of Stainless Steel SUS316 separated by a central pipe spool (Provides high flexibility and excellent resistance to corrosion and chemical attack).
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Components Material: Available in Mild Steel, SUS304, or SUS316 depending on application requirements.
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Ending Type: Tube End (Plain ends designed for direct butt-welding into the pipeline, ensuring a seamless, leak-proof joint).
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Tie Rods: No (Unrestrained type; the piping system must be equipped with high-quality main anchors and guides to absorb internal pressure thrust).
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Inner Sleeve (Liner): SUS304 or SUS316 (Protects the dual bellows from high-velocity media erosion and minimizes flow turbulence).
Movement
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Axial Movement: Yes (Absorbs compression and elongation along the longitudinal pipeline axis).
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Lateral Movement: Yes (The dual-bellows configuration allows for substantial parallel offset in all directions).
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Angular Movement: Yes (Accommodates angular rotation and rotational deflections at the joint).
Key Features & Benefits
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Multi-Directional Flexibility: By combining two bellows with a center pipe section, this unrestrained universal joint can absorb larger combinations of thermal expansion, lateral shear, and angular misalignment than single-bellows units.
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Lightweight and Compact: The tube-end design eliminates the added weight, bulk, and potential leak paths associated with heavy matching flanges, facilitating a streamlined installation.
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Low Pressure Drop: The inclusion of an inner sleeve ensures smooth fluid dynamics across both bellows sections, reducing turbulence and preventing product accumulation in the corrugations.