Universal Expansion Joint Archives

11 Foot Long Universal Gimbal Expansion Joints Designed for an Oil Refinery in Canada

September 10, 2024

Type:	Universal Gimbal Expansion Joint
Size:	102″ – 133″ L \| 41.5″ W \| 41.75″ H \| 32″ diameter
Material:	Carbon Steel \| 304 Stainless Steel
Design:	100°F @ 285 psig \| 102 lb/in/degree Rotational Spring Rate \| 15.4″ Lateral Deflection
Testing:	Hydrotested @ 428 PSIG

U.S. Bellows custom designed these universal gimbal expansion joints for an oil refinery in Canada. The bellows and liners are fabricated from 304 stainless steel, and the remainder of the components are fabricated from carbon steel. The units range from 102" to 133" long respectively, and sizes supplied are 12"NPS with a gimbal box 27" wide, 27.5" tall and 24"NPS with a gimbal box 41.25" wide, 41.75" tall. They are designed for an operating temperature of 100°F at 285 psig, with a 102 lb/in/degree rotational spring rate and 15.4" of lateral deflection. The expansion joints were 100% dye-penetrant tested and hydro-tested at 428 psig prior to shipment.

Gimbal expansion joints are used in a variety of industrial applications where piping systems experience multidirectional movements due to thermal expansion, vibrations, or other external forces. Here are some common areas where gimbal expansion joints are utilized:

Power Plants: In both fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, gimbal expansion joints are used in the steam, water, and exhaust systems to accommodate thermal expansion and prevent stress on the piping.

Refineries and Petrochemical Plants: These joints are essential in refineries and petrochemical facilities to manage the thermal expansion in pipelines carrying various fluids, including high-temperature hydrocarbons, to ensure safe and efficient operations.

Oil and Gas Industry: Gimbal expansion joints are employed in pipelines that transport oil, gas, and other fluids, especially in offshore drilling platforms, to handle the dynamic movements caused by waves, currents, and thermal effects.

Shipbuilding: In marine applications, gimbal expansion joints are used in the exhaust systems of ships to absorb vibrations and accommodate thermal expansion caused by the operation of engines and other machinery.

Aerospace and Defense: These joints are also found in aerospace applications, such as in rocket propulsion systems, to absorb the significant thermal expansion and mechanical stresses during launch and flight.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 10012018

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

July 11, 2023

U.S. Bellows, Inc. custom-designed a pressure-balanced tee universal expansion joint for a boiler feed pump turbine exhaust within a power plant for a major electric utility provider in the midwest with its founding roots in the 1880s, almost 140 years ago. Today they serve over 1.7M customers in the US, focusing on electricity generation, electric power transmission, and electricity distribution.

The expansion joint is 96" in diameter and 288" OAL and is designed for 2" axial movement and 1/8" lateral movement at both 15 psig and Full vacuum (-14.7 psig) at 315 deg.F. 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.

Our U.S. Bellows division is a member of the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association – EJMA. EJMA is recognized as the world’s leading authority on the proper selection and application of metallic bellows-type expansion joints for safe and reliable piping and vessel installation. As a proud member, we design and manufacture our expansion joints to meet or exceed the guidelines and practices set forth by this association.

PT&P REF. ORIGINAL POST 03/02/2021

Tied Universal Elbow Expansion Joint Custom-Designed for Ammonia and Waste Processing for a Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant

July 5, 2022

Type:	Tied Universal Elbow Expansion Joint
Size:	20″ Dia. \| 112″ Face-of-Flange to Center Line of Elbow OAL
Material:	Inconel® 625 Bellows \| 304 H Stainless Steel
Design	Operating Temp: 1,150°F at 140 psig \| 4″ Lateral Deflection
Testing:	Dye Penetrant Examined \| 100% X-Rayed Bellows \| Hydro-tested

U.S. Bellows, Inc. custom-designed a tied universal elbow expansion joint for ammonia and waste processing for a nitrogen fertilizer plant. The bellows and liner are fabricated from Inconel® 625. The pipe, tie rods, and flanges are fabricated from 304 H stainless steel. It is designed for an operating temperature of 1,150°F at 140 psig and 4″ of lateral deflection. The assembly is 20″ in diameter and 112″ face-of-flange to the centerline of elbow OAL. The unit was 100% x-rayed, dye-penetrate examined, and hydro-tested before shipment.

26′-10″ Long Universal Expansion Joint & Ductwork for a Chemical Plant

February 16, 2022

Us bellows universal expansion joint 144495

Type:	Universal Expansion Joints with Ductwork
Size:	322″ Centerline-to-Centerline \| 48″ Diameter
Material:	304 Stainless Steel \| Carbon Steel
Design	400°F Operating Temp. @ 91 psig \| 3.3″ Lateral
Testing:	100% Dye-Penetrant \| PMI \| Hydro-tested

U.S. Bellows custom designed this 26 ft. -10 in. long universal expansion joint with ductwork for a chemical plant. The bellows, ductwork, and flanges were fabricated from 304 stainless steel and the rest of the components from carbon steel. The unit is designed for 48″ diameter piping with an operating temperature of 400°F at 91 psig and 3.3″ of lateral deflection. The expansion joint was completed in 12 weeks and was 100% dye-penetrant, PMI, and hydro-tested before shipment. Chemical plants for which these are typically required process chemicals such as ethylene oxide/glycols, toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl isocyanate, hydrochloric acid, polyether polyols, butanediol, GBL, n-methyl pyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran, 2-pyrrolidone, PVP/PVPi, specialty amines, aniline, acetylene, surfactants, polytetrahydrofuran, and methylamines. The end products include furniture, automotive antifreeze, foams, carpets, construction, steel pickling, oil well acidizing, biodegradable plastics, lithium-ion battery production, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, gas treatment, water treatment, toothpaste, detergent, spandex fibers, engineered high-performance plastics, and animal feed.

U.S. Bellows has the scale and manufacturing agility to produce expansion joints and ductwork ranging in order size from a small scale of sub-1000 of dollars to upwards of 1M dollar large capital projects. We regularly support overnight lead times and tight project deliverables with evolving project requirements per the client and site needs. Last month, over half of our production capacity, was dedicated to this kind of work. A glimpse into our capabilities is outlined below from some projects we did last year:

– Refurbished 6, 48″-64″ diameter refractory-lined expansion joints for a large Houston refinery during a 45-day turnaround
– Completed a large ducting project for a major chemical facility in Texas with on-time delivery
– In the last 6 months, 40% of our expansion joint jobs have shipped in 2 weeks

We invite you to visit our facility and meet our team to get a first-hand look at our capabilities for your upcoming projects.

US-B REF. ORIGINAL POST 11122019

Expansion Joint with “Testable” Bellows for Auxiliary Column Overhead Line

December 14, 2021

U.S. Bellows, a division of PT&P, custom-designed universal tied expansion joints with oversized, testable bellows for an auxiliary column overhead line in a refinery. This design can also be used in BioFuels plants, Wastewater Treatment Plants, and various Green Energy facilities. The expansion joint pictured is 100″ long and fabricated with carbon steel flanges, liner, cover, and hardware. The bellows are 36″ diameter and formed utilizing Inconel-625 LCF material. The expansion joints are designed for an operating temperature of 650°F at 50 psig with 2.75″ lateral movement. Tests included dye Penetrant examination of all welds, x-ray test of butt-welds, and bellows long seams. We conducted PMI tests on all alloys along with the welds, as well as, a pneumatic test and bellows ply leak test.

The bellows, being two-ply, provide for 100% redundancy; therefore, if a leak occurs in the inner ply (which can be detected by a leak detection system), the outer ply is designed for the full pressure and temperature. Pipe strain, misalignment, and vibration can affect the lifecycle of expansion joints located near pumps, compressors, and other rotating equipment. This design allows for the critical piping system to continue operating while plans for replacement can be formulated. This can prevent unexpected shut-downs saving field maintenance valuable time and money. Two-ply bellows also make it possible to pressure test (using the installed test ports) and inspect for leaks during field inspections and in some cases, if conditions permit, the expansion joint can be tested while in service. Most expansion joints in oil refineries, especially FCC units use two-ply bellows, but they are also ideal for regenerated catalyst standpipe, spent catalyst standpipe, recirculation cooled catalyst flue gas piping, and hot gas expanded piping.

Universal Expansion Joints Custom-Designed for a Hot Air Blower

July 12, 2021

These universal expansion joints were custom-designed with guided tie rods, internal liners, and bellows protection covers for a hot air blower. These expansion joints are used in a plant that manufactures tires for cars and light-duty trucks. High Heat is required in the manufacturing process to vulcanize rubber to components made of steel and polyester and to also cure the rubber. The universal expansion joint can allow for large amounts of lateral deflection that can occur in more than one plane. By increasing or decreasing the distance between the two bellows by varying the length of a section of pipe spool, the designer can accommodate for the given amount of lateral deflection. These expansion joints are designed for an operating pressure of 50 psig at 383 degrees F. A total of 18 were supplied with half of the units measuring 40” dia. x 74-7/8” long x 58-1/2” overall outer dia. The rest measure 36” dia. X 60-1/4” long x 53-3/4” overall outer diameter. The bellows, flange, middle pipe, liner, and lugs are fabricated from 316/316L stainless steel. The rods, nuts, and cover are 316 stainless steel. The 40” dia. unit is designed for 0.394” axial compression and the 36” dia. unit is designed for 0.20” axial compression. Both units are designed for 0.394” lateral movement. Each expansion joint was inspected by quality control and hydraulic pressure tested before shipment. We manufacture expansion joints to relieve stress in piping systems whether the thermal movement is axial, lateral, or angular in plants such as Food Processing, Automotive, Hospital Steam Lines, Semiconductors, and other types of Green Energy plants.

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

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.

Universal Expansion Joint with Oversized Bellows for a Crude Oil Line Application in Saudi Arabia

September 3, 2019

Type:	Universal Expansion Joints
Size:	48″ Diameter \| 77″ FTF
Material:	316 Stainless Steel \| Carbon Steel
Design	150°F Operating Temp. @ 25 psig \| 5.3″ Axial \| 2″ Lateral
Testing:	Hydro-tested @ 50 psig

U.S. Bellows custom designed this universal expansion joint for a crude oil line at an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. This expansion joint was specially designed with oversized bellows to keep a smooth flow of oil along the line and avoid turbulence. The bellows were fabricated from a 316 stainless steel with all of the other components from carbon steel. The unit is 48″ in diameter and 77″ face-to-face. It is designed for an operating temperature of 150°F at 25 psig, 5.3″ of axial compression, and 2″ of lateral deflection. The unit was hydro-tested at 50 psig prior to shipment.

Universal Expansion Joints Designed for a Tank Farm

September 3, 2018

Universal-Expansion-Joint-155090v2

Type:	Universal Expansion Joint
Size:	24″ Dia. x 48″ F-F \| 20″ Dai. x 50″ F-F
Material:	Carbon Steel \| 316 Stainless Steel
Design:	Operating Temperature: 180°F Pressure: 264 PSIG Movement: 2.75″ Lateral Deflection
Testing:	100% Dye-penetrant tested, X-rayed, Hydro-tested

These universal expansion joints were designed by U.S. Bellows for a tank farm application in Saudi Arabia. 16 of the units were 24″ dia. x 48″ face-to-face and 8 of the units were 20″ dia. x 50″ face-to-face. The bellows were fabricated from 316 stainless steel with the rest of the components from carbon steel. They are designed for an operating pressure of 264 psig at 180°F with 2.75″ of lateral deflection. The units were 100% dye-penetrant tested, x-rayed and hydro-tested prior to shipment.

Universal Expansion Joints Designed for a Fuel Tank Farm

March 5, 2018

Type:	Universal Expansion Joint
Size:	8″ x 16″ FTF \| 24″ OAL
Design:	316 Stainless Steel \| Carbon Steel
Material:	185°F at 264 psig & 2.75″ Lateral
Testing:	Hydro-tested at 395 psig & 100% Dye-Penetrant

These universal expansion joints were designed for fuel tank farm in Saudi Arabia. The units are 8″ x 16″ face-to-face and 24″ OAL. The bellows were fabricated from 316 stainless steel and the rest of the unit from carbon steel, with a custom 3-layer paint coat. They are designed for an operating temperature of 185°F at 264 psig and 2.75″ of lateral deflection. The expansion joints were 100% dye-penetrant tested and hydro-tested at 395 psig prior to shipments.

Tied Double Elbow Universal Expansion Joints for a Liquid Hydrocarbon Service Application at a Paraxylene Complex

January 8, 2018

Type:	Universal Expansion Joint
Size:	118″ CL-to-CL, 132 3/8″ FTF, & 24″ OD
Material:	304 Stainless Steel/Carbon Steel
Design:	400°F at 310 psig & 1 1/8″ Lateral Movement
Testing:	Dye-Penetrant, PMI, X-Ray, and Hydrotested at 465 psig

U.S. Bellows custom designed 2 of these tied double elbow universal expansion joints for a liquid hydrocarbon service application at a paraxylene complex in Saudi Arabia. The bellows were fabricated from 304 stainless steel and the piping and hardware from carbon steel, and has a 3-coat paint system. The unit is 118″ CL-to-CL of the elbow, 132 3/8″ face-to-face, and 24″ OD. They are designed for an operating pressure of 310 psig at 400°F with 1 1/8″ of lateral deflection. The unit was hydro-tested at 465 psi, X-ray tested the bellows long seam and pipe, PMI all alloys, and 100% dye-penetrant exam on all weld prior to shipment

Custom 335″ Long Universal Expansion Joint for an ACC Unit in New York

October 2, 2017

Type:	Universal Expansion Joint
Size:	118″ CL-to-CL, 132 3/8″ FTF, & 24″ OD
Material:	304 Stainless Steel/Carbon Steel
Design:	400°F at 310 psig & 1 1/8″ Lateral Movement
Testing:	Dye-Penetrant, PMI, X-Ray, and Hydrotested at 465 psig

U.S. Bellows custom designed 8 of these 335″ long universal expansion joints for a vacuum ducting service, exposed to high velocity steam and condensate for an ACC unit in New York. The bellows were completely fabricated from 304 stainless steel, with the weld-ends and hardware from carbon steel. The units are 127″ in diameter and 335″ in length. They are designed for an operating pressure at full vacuum to 15 psi at -10 to 250°F and 7.25″ of lateral deflection. The units were vacuum tested at 28.5″ of mercury, 100% dye-penetrant examined, and X-ray long seam bellows.

This expansion joint was featured in our lastest Technical Bulletin:
Click here to learn more about air-cooled condenser expansion joint

Custom 22′ Long Universal Expansion Joint for a Combined Cycle Power Plant in Texas

June 5, 2017

Type:	Universal Expansion Joints
Size:	9′ 2″ diameter and 22′ 10″ OAL
Material:	321 Stainless Steel and Carbon Steel
Design:	250°F at 7.25 psig/FV and 1.5° angulation
Testing:	Dye-penetrant, high vacuum (70 mbar), and hydrotested

U.S. Bellows custom-designed 23 of these tied universal expansion joints for a combined cycle power plant in Texas. This expansion joint is one of 23 units constructed and has a nominal diameter of 9′ 2″ with an overall length of 22′ 10″. The bellows are fabricated from 321 stainless steel with a carbon steel shell and tie rods. This tied joint is part of a condenser duct complex that is designed to operate at 250° F at 7.25 psig/FV, with compression of 3/16″, lateral deflection of 5 7/8″, and +/- 1.5° angulation. All expansion joints were 100% dye-penetrant tested, hydro-tested, and high vacuum (70 mbar) tested prior to shipment.

This expansion joint was featured in our lastest Technical Bulletin:
Click here to learn more about air-cooled condenser expansion joints

Custom 178″ Diameter Tied Universal Expansion Joints for an Exhaust Duct Application at a Power Plant in Virginia

April 17, 2017

Type:	Tied Universal Expansion Joint
Size:	178″ in diameter and 276″ in length
Material:	321 Stainless Steel and Carbon Steel
Design:	248°F at 22.5 psig, operating load of 1256 lb/in, and 6.25″ lateral deflection
Testing:	Dye-Penetrant and Soap & Air

U.S. Bellows custom designed five of these 178″ tied universal expansion joints for an exhaust duct application in a power plant in Virginia. The expansion joints are 178″ in diameter and 276″ in length. The bellows were fabricated from 321 stainless steel and the rest of the assembly from carbon steel. They are designed for an operating temperature of 248°F at 22.5 psig, an operating load of 1256 lb/in, and 6.25″ of lateral deflection. All units were 100% dye-penetrant and soap and air tested prior to shipment. Because of the sheer size of the units, all of the tie rod supports were FEA analyzed.

This expansion joint was featured in our lastest Technical Bulletin:
Click here to learn more about air-cooled condenser expansion joints

116″ Universal Expansion Joint for a Water Supply System in California

January 30, 2017

Type:	Universal Expansion Joint
Size:	116″ in diameter/60″ long
Material:	AL6XN Stainless Steel/Carbon Steel
Design:	100°F at 220 psig, 9″ axial compression
Testing:	Dye penetrant, radiographic, and hydro tested

U.S. Bellows custom designed this 116″ universal expansion joint for a water supply system in California. The unit measures 116″ in diameter and 60″ long. The bellows and pipe spool were fabricated from AL6XN stainless steel and the flanges from carbon steel. It is designed for a temperature of 100°F at 220 psig and 9″ of axial compression. The expansion joint was dye penetrant, radiographic, and hydro tested prior to being shipped out.

82″ Long Universal Expansion Joint for a Power Plant in Chile

July 5, 2016

U.S. Bellows custom designed this universal expansion joint for a steam line extraction application at a power plant in Chile. The unit is 8″ in diameter with an overall length of 82″. The bellows were fabricated from 321 stainless steel with the weld ends and tie rods from carbon steel. The expansion joint is designed for an operating pressure of 145 psig at 678°F with 1.25″ of lateral deflection. All welds were 100% dye-penetrant examined and hydrotested prior to shipment.

U.S. Bellows Emergency Response Team Refurbishes a Universal Expansion Joint on a Rush Basis for a Chemical Plant in Louisiana

June 13, 2016

Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Bellows team received an emergency request from a large chemical plant who needed to refurbish an expansion joint by replacing both of the bellows. Within 30 minutes, the customer had a response and the project was under way.

U.S. Bellows engineers consulted with the customer and requested the unit be shipped to the facility immediately. After receiving the expansion joint, the team performed a positive material identification (PMI) test. U.S. Bellows assessed the expansion joint and determined the 316 stainless steel bellows could be refurbished. Once the results were concluded, engineering drawings and calculations were finalized.

U.S. Bellows made certain that, despite the Holiday weekend, a skilled team of engineers, fitters, welders and quality control personnel were all involved to ensure the success of the project. The customer service and project success rates are unparalleled because U.S. Bellows has the expertise and the tools we need to get it done right, the first time.

As with any last minute project, there were some unforeseen challenges. However, this didn’t stop the completion of the project, or even slow it down! The 30″ diameter universal expansion joint was refurbished and shipped back to the customer within 24 hours. The unit is back in service at the chemical plant with minimal down time due to the fast-acting U.S. Bellows team.

If you have an emergency request, including field service needs, please call us on our Emergency Hotline at (800) 787-5914 or via our online Emergency Request Form

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