Expansion joint

Details Expansion joint Expansion joint

1999-01-04

2001-01-23

Nicholson, Erik K. (Department: 3629)

Pipe joints or couplings

With support

C285S298000, C285S302000, C285S231000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176526

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
In various chemical processes, gases and/or liquids need to pass from one tank to another. For example, in some spray drying processes, hot air from a ring main duct is injected radically into a concentric dryer shell through equally spaced ports. In such processes, the portions connecting the tanks (concentric bodies) has been known to fail or have unacceptable performance due to expansion differences of the two bodies resulting from their dissimilar temperatures. In addition, the connecting parts, or expansion joints, are typically at an angle different from the plane of the concentric bodies to allow for the drainage of fluids or slurries from one body to another. Expansion of angled components has lead to the design of relatively complicated expansions joints.
Traditionally these expansion joints are of two types, multi-layer flexible high temperature fabric and steel meshes that flex to allow for expansion differences or a bellows style steel expansion joint. These two types of expansion joints can have unacceptable performance for a variety of reasons. For example, uneven puckering of the flexible type causes air flow imbalance between the many connecting ports, chemicals attack the fabrics which are heat resistant but not chemical resistant and the pooling or damming of fluids in the bellows prevent complete gravity draining from one body into the other body. Also, due to the need for custom shape and dimension, these types of joints can be cost prohibitive.
Therefore, there is a need for a low cost expansion joint that would allow for different expansion rates of two or more concentric bodies. There is also a need for an expansion joint between two or more concentric bodies that can completely gravity drain without pooling or damming as the bodies expand and/or contract.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure provides a connection between two or more concentric bodies having different expansion rates. The connection is particularly useful when the connection is angled with respect to the horizontal plane defined by at least one of the concentric bodies. This angled connection allows for complete gravity drainage of fluids that pass through the connection. In a most preferred embodiment, the expansion joint is a slip joint design with two tubes of different dimensions to create a minimum gap between the tube surfaces. Because expansion occurs radically between the bodies, the outer concentric body is preferably supported on lubricated skids at the same angle as the expansion joint in order to allow expansion in the same plane defined by the joint.
In a most preferred embodiment, the expansion joint is a slip joint made from two different dimensioned connecting portions with the smaller connecting portion connected to the concentric body that has the connection point higher than the connection point of the other body. This allows for gravity drainage not to be impeded due to the dimensional differences. The connecting portions preferably overlap enough to not separate when full expansion has occurred. The gap between the connecting portions can be filled with a heat resistant gasket, most preferably, with a heat resistant ‘tadpole’ gasket that is held in place with a backing flange.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2807506 (1957-09-01), Gehring
patent: 3188070 (1965-06-01), Lee
patent: 3662696 (1972-05-01), Mahr et al.
patent: 3875904 (1975-04-01), Astrom
patent: 3958819 (1976-05-01), Tifft
patent: 3997194 (1976-12-01), Eifer et al.
patent: 4023832 (1977-05-01), Legille et al.
patent: 4099798 (1978-07-01), Steinmetz
patent: 4160625 (1979-07-01), Dyhr et al.
patent: 4290589 (1981-09-01), Luhrsen et al.
patent: 4465265 (1984-08-01), Kryczun et al.
patent: 4807834 (1989-02-01), Cohen
patent: 4865298 (1989-09-01), Jordan
patent: 4987838 (1991-01-01), Mailliet et al.
patent: 5009455 (1991-04-01), Irvine et al.
patent: 5119743 (1992-06-01), Mailliet et al.
patent: 5209657 (1993-05-01), Benck et al.
patent: 5227018 (1993-07-01), Bro et al.
patent: 5328157 (1994-07-01), Mantey
patent: 5462433 (1995-10-01), Benck et al.
patent: 6003814 (1999-12-01), Pke et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Expansion joint does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Expansion joint, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Expansion joint will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2440626