Gimbal Expansion Joint for applications with primarily angular movements any axis

A Gimbal Type Expansion Joint (or Gimbaled Expansion Joint) is another variation of the Hinged Type Expansion Joint. However, this type of unit absorbs angular rotation in any plane. This is accomplished by the use of two pairs of half hinges, two half pairs attached to each end of the Expansion Joint with the pin ends attached 90 deg apart to a floating ring. This creates an Expansion Joint which will generate a cone of rotation equal to twice the allowable angular rotation of the bellows when one end of the joint is considered to be held fixed. The gimbal attachment, like the hinge attachment, must be designed to withstand the pressure thrust and all other externally applied loads.

Hinged Expansion Joint has one bellows, can be either non-equalizing or self-equalizing type, and is designed to permit angular rotation in only one plane by the use of a pair of hinges attached to the ends of the Expansion Joint.

A Swing Type Expansion Joint is a modification of the Hinged Expansion Joint, in which two bellows are attached to a common center nipple, and the outboard ends of the assembly are tied together by the use of two swing bars attached to the ends by hinge pins. This type of unit is designed to absorb lateral deflection and/or limited angular rotation in one plane only.

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