Gimbal Expansion Joint

What is Gimbal Expansion Joint?

Design to absorb the system thurst and torsional twist while allowing angulation in any plane. This is a single expansion joint designed to permit angular rotation in any plane by the use of two pairs of hinges affixed to common floating gimbal ring.

Gimbal Expansion Joint

Double Bellows Gimbal Expansion Joints with weld ends

Gimbal Expansion Joints are used to absorb angular rotation in any plane direction, using two pairs of hinges attached to a common floating gimbal ring. This type of construction provides a close control over the movement imposed up on the bellows and also supports the dead weight of the pipe. The wind and shear loads are also taken care of by the gimbal structure. Gimbal bellows joints are designed to absorb the full pressure thrust load of the expansion joint and thus guard the adjacent equipment from damage due to thrust loading. Gimbal bellows joints are not limited to a single plane, they provide greater usability. 

Gimbal Expansion Joint with Weld Ends

Gimbal Expansion Joint is the most reliable expansion joint since it is capable  of absorbing angular motion in all the planes direction.  Although single bellows joints can be used in isolation the most common applications use a pair of gimbal bellows  joints to absorb  a complex multi - plane motion in a piping system 

Single Gimbal Bellow

The use of gimbal bellows joints results in the best system which eliminates the effects of thermal growth and lowers both reaction forces and reduces the installation costs. Expensive main anchors are eliminated and only minimal guiding is required.

Benefits of Gimbal Expansion Joint

• Absorbs angular movements in all plane direction and angular rotations, or any combinations of these.
• Eliminates pressure thrust loads.
• Positive control over the movements.
• Supports dead weight of the intermediate piping.
• Transmits external loads like wind loading and shear loading.