| Expansion Joints refers to a metal bellows | | | | You can find these joints used in any system that |
| expansion joint designed to absorb axial, lateral | | | | transports fluids or liquids. You may not know this, |
| and angular motions in piping systems. They are | | | | but even food production uses these joints in |
| designed to alleviate piping stress, compensate for | | | | mechanical systems. |
| movement, reduce noise, and isolate vibration. | | | | I know one plant involved in food production |
| Expansion joints are designed just for your | | | | where the piping system transported milk, cream, |
| individual needs. Either metal bellows or sliding | | | | high fructose corn syrup, and a variety of other |
| expansion joints are used in a wide range of | | | | food ingredients into the production area. |
| situations with each installation designed to hold up | | | | Expansion joint solutions have been created for |
| to extremes of pressure temperature and | | | | industries and technologies like airline altitude |
| sometimes even traffic. | | | | sensors, piping for machine coolants, |
| Each application has its own unique properties and | | | | petrochemical processing industry, applications |
| challenges, so each one will require a | | | | involving high and low pressure steam, the nuclear |
| custom-made solution. You want to stick to an | | | | power industry, medical technology, food |
| experienced fabricator when you specify the type | | | | ingredient management, Industrial engines and |
| of expansion joint that you need. Skilled engineers | | | | pump systems. |
| have many years of experience in this area and | | | | All of these material handling systems had |
| will be glad to assist you in designing an expansion | | | | expansion joints to deal with the temperature |
| joint that meets your demands. | | | | variations. In addition to normal production stress, |
| Each metal bellow is designed from scratch with | | | | we also have to consider the temperature |
| specifications for pitch, convolution height, | | | | fluctuations that occur during cleaning. Sometimes |
| thickness, number of plies, convoluted length, skirt | | | | these range from very high temperatures to low |
| length, and inside/ outside diameter requirements. | | | | temperatures in the course of a very short |
| Joint design has specifications for working | | | | length of time. |
| pressure, life cycle, and spring rate which are | | | | When designing your expansion joints it will |
| entirely dependent on the situation and needs for | | | | certainly be wise to stick with a manufacturer |
| the final assembly. | | | | that has experience. One mistake in fabrication or |
| These considerations, and some very specific | | | | an engineering specs can cause an entire process |
| mathematical formulas, are part of what insures | | | | to break down at a time when you don't want it |
| that an expansion joint meets the standards set | | | | to. Infrastructure is very important part of any |
| by the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association. | | | | company and not something to be taken lightly. |
| EJMA specifications have been created to ensure | | | | Expansion joints need to be carefully designed to |
| that expansion joints are able to perform under | | | | take the extremes of pressure and heat in a |
| the specifications that are listed for it. This is for | | | | piping system so little-known possibilities are |
| the benefit of everybody's productivity and | | | | accounted for in the system and all through your |
| safety. | | | | business. |