Stainless Steel Expansion Joints

 

Stainless steel expansion joints are used extensively in a wide range of industrial application including power generation, process plants, chemical and petrochemical installations, engine exhaust systems, steam and thermal fluid distribution pipework, chimneys and flues and building services pipework.

Metalic Expansion JointBellows Technology stainless steel axial expansion joints incorporate a single set of convolutions that are designed to absorb thermal pipe expansion and vibration in pipelines, ducting and exhaust system. Axial expansion joints are what are referred to as ‘unrestrained joins; therefore, the system anchors and pipe guides are positioned as to make sure correct pipe alignment and sufficient fixed point anchoring of the stem, stainless steel axial expansion joints can be supplied ‘pre-set’ in order to offer maximum compression or extension respectively.

Buckley Industrial supplies all types of restrained and unrestrained joints from simple single-bellows units to hinged, tied and pressure-balanced arrangements.

We can offer expansion joints in sizes from 40mm to 6000mm with various pressure ratings.  The different components of the expansion joint are available in a range of materials including stainless steels and high-nickel alloys. They are available with flanges, welding ends and special fittings as required to exactly suit customer requirements.

Pertinent design codes are applied during the design process, the bellows are designed using the EJMA (Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association) standard or EN 13445 with the general requirements of associated piping and vessel codes such as ASME / API / BS 5500 taken into account as appropriate.

Enquiries and orders for our metallic expansion joints are dealt with on a project basis to ensure that optimum solutions for individual applications are achieved; most units we supply are designed and manufactured as bespoke items.

We are able to offer a service to replace existing units by designing and manufacturing suitable expansion joints which will replace existing parts without the need to modify the system to accommodate them. When units are required for plant breakdowns we can usually deliver replacements on short lead time.

Our expansion joints are supported by documentation including 3,1 material certificates and pressure test certification.

All hose assemblies supplied by Buckley Industrial comply with the Pressure Equipment Directive (EC/97/23)

Buckley Industrial’s range of stainless steel axial expansion joints is available with the following design and construction options.

The size range includes 50mm/2 DN up to and including 3000mm/120” DN

Materials: Bellows membranes available in stainless steels and high alloy exotic materials.

 

Standard supplied lengths include: 

  • 50mm – 100mm DN inclusive: 120mm up to and including 220mm
  • 125mm – 150mm DN inclusive: 130mm up to and including 320mm
  • 200mm – 300mm DN inclusive: 150mm up to and including 360mm
  • 350mm – 100mm DN inclusive: 200mm and above
  • 1100mm – 3000mm DN inclusive: 200mm and above
End Connections:

  • Flanged to PN/ANSI/JIS standards in carbon and stainless steel

(non-standard flanges available on request)

  • Pipe stub ends available with standard schedule wall thicknesses in carbon and stainless steel

(non-standard pipe diameters and wall thicknesses are available on request)

  • Fixed and/or Swivel flanges
  • Non Destructive Testing
  • Limit or control rods
  • External protective shrouds
  • Specialist flange coatings
  • Certification and Documentation in line with customer requirements

Universal expansion joints (this is commonly referred to as double axial expansion joints) they incorporate two twin sets of convolutions which are joined with a connecting spool, or pipe and can accept large amounts of angulation, lateral and axial movements and are commonplace in systems such as low pressure ducting, exhaust and silencer applications.

Construction options can include the following:

Single tied flexible pump connectors incorporate a single set of convolutions, designed to absorb relatively small amounts of lateral travel or more commonly to isolate pumps and plant equipment from the effects of vibration and shock loadings, they are restrained expansion joints and with the integral tie-bar assembly, designed to restrain the pressure thrush what is generated when the unit is operating under a large amount of pressure, therefore, relatively light anchors and guides may be utilised as only minimal forces are transferred to the adjacent equipment.

Single tied flexible pump connectors can be supplied with multiply convoluted membranes as well as rubber top-hat vibration where’s or with metallic spherical sheers for higher pressure-temperature applications. These flexible pump connectors can also be supplied without the use of tie bars.

Construction options can include the following:

Single tied flexible pump connectors incorporate a single set of convolutions, designed to absorb relatively small amounts of lateral travel or more commonly to isolate pumps and plant equipment from the effects of vibration and shock loadings, they are restrained expansion joints and with the integral tie-bar assembly, designed to restrain the pressure thrush what is generated when the unit is operating under a large amount of pressure, therefore, relatively light anchors and guides may be utilised as only minimal forces are transferred to the adjacent equipment.

Single tied flexible pump connectors can be supplied with multiply convoluted membranes as well as rubber top-hat vibration where’s or with metallic spherical sheers for higher pressure-temperature applications. These flexible pump connectors can also be supplied without the use of tie bars.

Construction options include the likes of

  • 50mm – 3000mm DN inclusive, Lengths to suit, Multiply convoluted membranes
  • Stainless steel expansion joints can be supplied with flanged, weld-end or slotted terminations in line with our customer requirements
  • Material combinations can include stainless steels, carbon steels and high alloy ‘exotic’ materials
  • Internal flow sleeves and liners
  • Fixed and/or Swivel flanges
  • Metallic spherical washers or rubber
Top-hat washer options

  • External protective shrouds
  • Specialist flange coatings
  • Non Destructive Testing
Hinged or angular expansion joints 

Angular expansion joints inornate a hinge assembly so as to allow the angulation in a single plane. Hinged expansion joints are used in combination with hinged or gimbal expansion joins to create these effective ‘2-pin’ or ‘3-pin’ systems. This allows the angulation to take place in a single plane. Hinged expansion joints are mostly used in union with other hinged or gimbal expansion joins to create ‘2-pin’ or ‘3-pin’ systems, by effectively converting relatively large amounts of axial movement into relatively small amounts of angulation.

As a restrained expansion joint, the integral hinge design on an angular expansion join retrains the thrust of the pressure of the system – relatively light anchors and guides can be utilised as the only minimal forces are transferred to the adjacent pipework installation. Hinged expansion joins, on the other hand, can be manufactured as double hinged expansion joints which allow the lateral deflection in one plane only through, the angulation of each of the bellows elements. bellows technology hinged angular expansion joints are often utilised on pipe systems which could be carrying steam, water, oil and condensate.

  • 50mm – 3000mm DN inclusive
  • Lengths to suit
  • Multiply convoluted membranes
  • Stainless steel expansion joints can be supplied with flanged, welded or slotted terminations in line with our customer requirements
  • Material combinations can include stainless steels, and carbon steels
High alloy exotic’ materials

  • Internal flow sleeves and liners
  • Fixed and/or Swivel flanges
  • External protective shrouds
  • Specialist flange coatings
  • Non Destructive Testing