High Temperature Hinge and Gimbal Expansion Joints

For the piping on an engine test facility being built by Allied Signal for Garrett Fluid Systems in Tempe, Arizona, hinge and gimbal expansion joints were required to minimize stresses on sensitive rotating equipment and to reduce strain on the piping. The expansion joint designs were unique because the operating requirement was 750 psig at 1,350 degrees F. on 11 of the 13 expansion joints required. The low allowable stress at this temperature required the pipe and all the pressure restraint hardware to be very heavy in cross section. The material for the bellows, weld ends, reinforcing rings and hardware that attached to the weld ends was alloy 800H.

High temperature design is a specialty at Senior Flexonics Pathway. To find out more about high temperature expansion joint applications, contact Senior Flexonics Pathway.