Superflex Wide Arch Design Rubber Expansion Joint

All Super-Flex Expansion Joints have a minimum 3 to 1 safety factor at rated operating temperatures and pressures. To conform to ASTM F1123-87 Standards, which require a minimum 4:1 safety factor, you must reduce the above working pressures by 25%

Directional Movement Absorption

A major engineering concern in any rigid pipe system involves directional movements caused by thermal expansion. When a piping system is in use the temperature increases the internal and external surfaces of the alloys that make up the piping structure expanding the pipe, and causing the system to deform in a 3-Dimensional field.

To explain the 3-D Field we will call the axis that runs along the ID/OD of the joints and pipe system as the “X” axis the axis of movement perpendicular to the “X” in a north/south direction if the “Y” axis and the axis perpendicular to the “X” in an east/west direction if the “Z” axis. These movements can be defined as:

Axial Compression: Axial compression is defined as the movement along the “X” axis which follows the Internal Diameter of the pipe itself causing a decrease in the spacing between two segments of the pipe. This decrease is spacing places undue compression stress on the area between the two segments. The flexibility of the Polymer based expansion joint absorbs this compression stress and protects the metal pipe on either end.

Axial Elongation: Axial Elongation is the opposite reaction of the axial compression. Elongation occurs when the two segments of pipe are being pulled apart by thermal expansion in the system. The Polymer based expansion joint is designed to absorb this tensile stress thus protecting the metal components of the system from undue stresses.

Lateral Deformation: Lateral Deformation occurs along the “Y” or “Z” axis and misaligns the faces of the segments of pipe. On an unprotected system this would create sheer stress on the pipe itself decreasing its life span and possibly damaging the machine to which it is attached.

Angular Deformation: Angular Deformation occurs in a combination of the axial and lateral forces in which the piping system is forced in a misalignment not related to an axis. The angular force causes a segment of the pipe to rotate on a pivot point near the connection creating an area of compression along one side of the pipe and an area of extension along the opposite side.

Dealing with Slurry

The wide arch of the Superflex style 1000 allows for better flow and less turbulence in the piping system sometimes caused by the arch of an expansion joint. The wide arch also decreases the entrapment of solid materials from depositing within the arch by allowing the flow to continually flush the arch. Some Slurry mixtures require a filled arch design to eliminate deposits of solid material in the arch. The Superflex features standard arch open movements in a filled configuration.

Hand Wrapped Construction

The Superflex Style 1000 is the most popular expansion joint offered by UIP International, Inc. The Superflex can be constructed in a multitude of configurations to meet virtually any need. The hand-wrapped construction of the Style 1000 allows the joint to configure several ways:

• Concentric Reducers
• Eccentric Reducers
• Misaligned Offset
• Various Drill Patterns
  • 150 Lb Drilling
  • 300 Lb Drilling
  • Navy Drilling
  • Metric Drill Patterns

Material Selection

When choosing your materials for your Superflex Style 1000 you need to consider several factors, the environmental temperatures and exposures of the joint, the internal temperature of the piping system and the media travelling through the system. Some of the polymer compounds are more conducive to acidic solutions as well as others are better suited for basic or caustic solutions. The internal temperature peaks of the material being transferred will also play a factor into which materials should be chosen to ensure the most reliability and provide the best service.