Expansion joint and compression system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003389-A1
Application number	US-201314768627-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 22, 2013
Priority date	Feb 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An expansion joint, which connects pipes to each other and is capable of expanding and contracting, the joint being provided with: a first end pipe and a second end pipe; a connecting pipe for connecting the first end pipe to the second end pipe so as to be capable of approaching and separating from each other; and a thrust-absorbing means having a pressure chamber, which can expand and contract in the direction in which the first end pipe and the second end pipe are linked and into which a fluid pressure that differs from the pressure inside the pipes can be introduced, the pressure chamber comprising a first pressure-receiving section, which is fixed to the first end pipe and faces in the direction from the second end pipe toward the first end pipe, and a second pressure-receiving section, which is fixed to the second end pipe and faces in the direction from the first end pipe towards the second end pipe.

First claim

1 . An expansion joint which connects pipes to each other and is capable of expanding and contracting, comprising:
an end pipe on one side and an end pipe on the other side; a connecting pipe which connects the end pipe on one side and the end pipe on the other side so as to be capable of coming close to each other and separating from each other; and thrust-absorbing means having a pressure chamber which can expand and contract in a direction connecting the end pipe on one side and the end pipe on the other side and into which a fluid pressure different from a pressure in the pipes can be introduced, the pressure chamber having a pressure-receiving section on one side, which is fixed to the end pipe on one side and faces in a direction from the end pipe the other side to the end pipe on one side, and a pressure-receiving section on the other side, which is fixed to the end pipe on the other side and faces in a direction from the end pipe on one side to the end pipe on the other side.

2 . The expansion joint according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure-receiving section on one side is provided in an annular member on one side, which is fixed in an axial range of an outer peripheral surface of the end pipe on one side, and
the pressure-receiving section on the other side is provided in an annular member on the other side, which is fixed to an extension section extending toward the end pipe on one side from an outer peripheral surface of the end pipe on the other side and is disposed on a side opposite to the end pipe on the other side of the annular member on one side.

3 . The expansion joint according to claim 2 , wherein the annular member on the other side is provided with a tubular portion extending in a direction of the annular member on one side from an outer peripheral portion, and
the expansion joint further includes a seal member on one side, which seals a gap between an outer peripheral portion of the end pipe on one side and an inner peripheral portion of the annular member on the other side, and a seal member on the other side, which seals a gap between an inner peripheral portion of the tubular portion of the annular member on the other side and an outer peripheral portion of the annular member on one side.

4 . The expansion joint according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the seal member on one side and the seal member on the other side is a lip seal.

5 . The expansion joint according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the seal member on one side and the seal member on the other side is an O-ring.

6 . The expansion joint according to claim 2 , wherein the annular member on one side and the annular member on the other side are connected by a bellows.

7 . A compression system in which pipes are connected by the expansion joint according to claim 1 .

8 . The compression system according to claim 7 , comprising:
compression mechanisms of plural stages, wherein a pipe for circulating a compressed gas discharged from the compression mechanism of an upstream stage and a pipe for circulating a compressed gas which is supplied to the compression mechanism of a downstream stage are connected by the expansion joint.

9 . The compression system according to claim 8 , wherein the thrust-absorbing means of the expansion joint is provided with a supply pipe which supplies a compressed gas compressed in the compression mechanism further toward the downstream side than the expansion joint.

10 . The compression system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
pressure adjustment means for adjusting a fluid pressure which is supplied to the thrust-absorbing means.

11 . A compression system in which pipes are connected by the expansion joint according to claim 2 .

12 . A compression system in which pipes are connected by the expansion joint according to claim 3 .

13 . A compression system in which pipes are connected by the expansion joint according to claim 4 .

14 . A compression system in which pipes are connected by the expansion joint according to claim 5 .

15 . A compression system in which pipes are connected by the expansion joint according to claim 6 .

16 . The compression system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
pressure adjustment means for adjusting a fluid pressure which is supplied to the thrust-absorbing means.

17 . The compression system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
pressure adjustment means for adjusting a fluid pressure which is supplied to the thrust-absorbing means.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Compressor Corp

Inventors

• Nagao Hideki

Classifications

• F04D25/163 Primary

  driven by a common gearing arrangement · CPC title

• F16L27/12751

  the threaded bolt extending longitudinally · CPC title

• F04D29/4206

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/601

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/644

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title