Expansion joint for fluid piping with rotation prevention member

• US 5,370,427 A
• Filed: 01/10/1994
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Storage, Michael R., Hoelle, James S., Umney, Michael A., Peterson, Ivan H., Wakeman, Thomas G., Meyer, Mark K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US08/179,286
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 285/299, 285/300, 285/301, 285/226, 285/227, 285/228
• US Class Current: 285/301
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/026 Universal and axially displaceable joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/11 the sleeve having the form of a bellows with multiple corrugations

Abstract

An expansion joint for connecting first and second fluid-carrying pipes comprising first and second annular couplings which are operably affixable to respective ones of the pipes. In a preferred embodiment the couplings include cylindrical bores of substantially the same diameter disposed relative to one another to form a passage for providing flow communication between the pipes. An annular bellows extends between the couplings for accommodating relative axial movement and angular misalignment between the pipes and is disposed radially outward of the passage to capture any fluid leaking between the interfacing surfaces of the couplings. A second cylindrical bore of a first one of the couplings engages an outer spherical surface of the second coupling to allow the second coupling to pivot in a manner which accommodates angular misalignment between the pipes. Means are provided for limiting the pivoting of the second coupling and for preventing the first coupling from rotating about a centerline of the joint, thereby avoiding unacceptable bending and torsional loading of the bellows. The expansion joint further includes means for limiting the axial compression and axial extension of the bellows.

Claims

1. An expansion joint for use in connecting first and second fluid-carrying pipes, said expansion joint comprising:

a) A first annular coupling having a first cylindrical bore and a first end operably affixable to said first fluid-carrying pipe;

b) a second annular coupling having a cylindrical bore and a first end operably affixable to said second fluid-carrying pipe;

c) a passage extending through said first and second couplings for providing flow communication between said first and second fluid-carrying pipes;

d) an annular bellows extending axially between said first and second couplings for accommodating axial movement of said first and second fluid-carrying pipes relative to one another, said annular bellows having opposite ends fixedly connected to said first and second couplings, respectively, and wherein said annular bellows is disposed radially outward of said passage so as to form a primary sealing means for capturing any fluid leaking between said first and second couplings from said passage;

e) said first coupling having a second cylindrical bore formed in a second end thereof;

f) said second coupling including an enlarged second end having a spherical outer surface;

g) said spherical outer surface engaging said second cylindrical bore so as to allow said second coupling to pivot about a geometric center of said enlarged second end of said second coupling and so as to allow said second coupling to slide axially relative to said first coupling, wherein said spherical outer surface and said second cylindrical bore combine with said bellows means to accommodate angular misalignment between said first and second fluid-carrying pipes and to accommodate axial movement of said first and second fluid carrying pipes relative to one another, said spherical outer surface and said second cylindrical bore also combining with one another to form a secondary sealing means of said expansion joint;

h) a radially outwardly extending annular flange attached to said second coupling;

i) an annular shield disposed coaxially with and fixedly attached to said first coupling, said shield being disposed radially outward of said annular bellows;

j) wherein said radially outwardly extending flange is radially inward of and radially spaced from said shield so as to limit the pivoting of said second coupling about said geometric center of said enlarged second end;

k) a means for preventing rotation of said second coupling relative to said first coupling about a longitudinally extending centerline of said expansion joint;

l) said preventing means comprising at least one pin protruding radially outwardly from said outer spherical surface of said second end of said second coupling and at least one axially extending groove formed in said second end of said first coupling, said groove receiving said pin.

2. An expansion joint for use in connecting first and second fluid-carrying pipes, said expansion joint comprising:

a) A first annular coupling having a first cylindrical bore and a first end operably affixable to said first fluid-carrying pipe;

b) a second annular coupling having a cylindrical bore and a first end operably affixable to said second fluid-carrying pipe;

c) a passage extending through said first and second couplings for providing flow communication between said first and second fluid-carrying pipes;

d) an annular bellows extending axially between said first and second couplings for accommodating axial movement of said first and second fluid-carrying pipes relative to one another, said annular bellows having opposite ends fixedly connected to said first and second couplings, respectively, and wherein said annular bellows is disposed radially outward of said passage so as to form a primary sealing means for capturing any fluid leaking between said first and second couplings from said passage;

e) said first coupling having a second cylindrical bore formed in a second end thereof;

f) said second coupling including an enlarged second end having a spherical outer surface;

g) said spherical outer surface engaging said second cylindrical bore so as to allow said second coupling to pivot about a geometric center of said enlarged second end of said second coupling and so as to allow said second coupling to slide axially relative to said first coupling, wherein said spherical outer surface and said second cylindrical bore combine with said bellows means to accommodate angular misalignment between said first and second fluid-carrying pipes and to accommodate axial movement of said first and second fluid carrying pipes relative to one another, said spherical outer surface and said second cylindrical bore also combining with one another to form a secondary sealing means of said expansion joint;

h) a radially outwardly extending annular flange attached to said second coupling;

i) an annular shield disposed coaxially with and fixedly attached to said first coupling, said shield being disposed radially outward of said annular bellows;

j) wherein said radially outwardly extending flange is radially inward of and radially spaced from said shield so as to limit the pivoting of said second coupling about said geometric center of said enlarged second end;

k) said first coupling includes an axially facing shoulder formed between said first and second cylindrical bores;

l) said shoulder is disposed relative to said second end of said second coupling so as to limit axial compression of said bellows;

m) said annular shield includes a distal end comprising a radially inwardly extending flange;

n) said radially inwardly extending flange of said shield is disposed relative to said radially outwardly extending flange attached to said second coupling so as to limit axial extension of said bellows.

3. An expansion joint as recited in claim 2, wherein a diameter of said first cylindrical bore of said first coupling is substantially equal to a diameter of said cylindrical bore of said second coupling thereby minimizing the pressure drop of the fluid flowing through said passage.

4. An expansion joint as recited in claim 2 wherein:

a) said expansion joint further comprises a means for preventing rotation of said second coupling relative to said first coupling about a longitudinally extending centerline of said expansion joint;

b) said preventing means comprising at least one pin protruding radially outwardly from said outer spherical surface of said second end of said second coupling and at least one axially extending groove formed in said second end of said first coupling, said groove receiving said pin.

5. An expansion joint for use in connecting first and second fluid-carrying pipes, said expansion joint comprising:

a) A first annular coupling having a first cylindrical bore and a first end operably affixable to said first fluid-carrying pipe;

b) a second annular coupling having a cylindrical bore and a first end operably affixable to said second fluid-carrying pipe;

c) a passage extending through said first and second couplings for providing flow communication between said first and second fluid-carrying pipes;

d) an annular bellows extending axially between said first and second couplings for accommodating axial movement of said first and second fluid-carrying pipes relative to one another, said annular bellows having opposite ends fixedly connected to said first and second couplings, respectively, and wherein said annular bellows is disposed radially outward of said passage so as to form a primary sealing means for capturing any fluid leaking between said first and second couplings from said passage;

e) said first coupling having a second cylindrical bore formed in a second end thereof;

f) said second coupling including an enlarged second end having a spherical outer surface;

g) said spherical outer surface engaging said second cylindrical bore so as to allow said second coupling to pivot about a geometric center of said enlarged second end of said second coupling and so as to allow said second coupling to slide axially relative to said first coupling, wherein said spherical outer surface and said second cylindrical bore combine with said bellows means to accommodate angular misalignment between said first and second fluid-carrying pipes and to accommodate axial movement of said first and second fluid carrying pipes relative to one another, said spherical outer surface and said second cylindrical bore also combining with one another to form a secondary sealing means of said expansion joint;

h) a radially outwardly extending annular flange attached to said second coupling;

i) an annular shield disposed coaxially with and fixedly attached to said first coupling, said shield being disposed radially outward of said annular bellows;

j) wherein said radially outwardly extending flange is radially inward of and radially spaced from said shield so as to limit the pivoting of said second coupling about said geometric center of said enlarged second end;

k) said second coupling includes an annular shoulder portion disposed proximate said enlarged second end of said second coupling;

l) said shoulder portion is disposed relative to said second end of said first coupling so as to limit axial compression of said bellows;

m) said annular shield includes a distal end comprising a radially inwardly extending flange;

n) said radially inwardly extending flange of said shield is disposed relative to said radially outwardly extending flange attached to said second coupling, so as to limit axial extension of said bellows.