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United States Patent (191: Broyles

1. The patent describes a non-metallic expansion joint for connecting sections of ducts carrying high temperature gases, such as from gas turbines. 2. Key components include upstream and downstream frame portions connected to the ducts, a peripheral fabric belt connecting the frame portions, and thermal insulation. 3. The expansion joint aims to reduce thermal stress on frame components by insulating them, using flexible conical members in the frame, and including multiple layers of insulation and floating thermal panels between insulation layers.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
126 views8 pages

United States Patent (191: Broyles

1. The patent describes a non-metallic expansion joint for connecting sections of ducts carrying high temperature gases, such as from gas turbines. 2. Key components include upstream and downstream frame portions connected to the ducts, a peripheral fabric belt connecting the frame portions, and thermal insulation. 3. The expansion joint aims to reduce thermal stress on frame components by insulating them, using flexible conical members in the frame, and including multiple layers of insulation and floating thermal panels between insulation layers.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USOO5358284A

United States Patent [191 [11] Patent Number: 5,358,284


Broyles [45] Date of Patent: Oct. 25, 1994

[54] HIGH TEMPERATURE NON-METALLIC Primary Examiner-Dave W. Arola


EXPANSION JOINT Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lane, Aitken & McCann
[75] Inventor: Robert K. Broyles, Knoxville, Tenn. [57] ABSTRACT
[73] Assignee: Pathway Bellows, Inc., Oak Ridge, An expansion joint for connecting sections of a duct
Tenn. carrying high temperature gases includes upstream and
downstream frame portions connected to the ducts, a
[21] Appl. No.: 1,762 peripheral fabric belt connecting the frame portions,
[22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1993 and thermal insulation positioned between the belt and
a primary internal liner mounted on a frame portion and
[51] Int. Cl.5 ........................ .; .................. .. F16L 11/12
projecting toward the opposite frame portion. A ther
[52] us. 01. .......................... .. 285/47; 285/229 mal insulation pillow is positioned between the primary
[58] Field of Search ........................ .. 285/229, 300, 47
internal liner and the ?owpath, and a thermal panel
[56] References Cited made up of ?oating segments is positioned between the
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS insulation pillow and the ?owpath. At least the up
stream frame portion includes a conical member extend
3,460,856 8/1969 Van Tine et a1. ............ .. 285/300 X ing at an oblique angle to inner and outer sides of the
3,730,566 5/1973 Kazmierski et a1. .. .... .. 285/229 frame portion. In the illustrated embodiments, a second
3,997,194 12/1976 Eifer et al. ................ .. 285/300 X
ary liner is mounted on the opposite frame portion and
4,283,078 8/ 1981 Ross et al. . . . . . . . . .. 285/229 X
4,685,703 8/1987 Brock .... .... .... . . . . .. 285/300 X
projects toward the frame portion carrying the primary
4,848,803 7/1989 Bachmann .................... .. 285/229X liner, the primary internal liner being positioned be
tween the secondary internal liner and the gas ?owpath.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS An insulation pillow and thermal panel is also provided
Sealing Components, Expansion Joints, For Lower on the secondary internal liner.
Life-Cycle Costs in Hot Air and Gas Handling Appli
cations, Manville (selected page). 20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets

GAS FLOW
US. Patent Oct. 25, 1994 Sheet 1 of 3 5,358,284

nJ
2/

2
U.S. Patent Oct. 25, 1994 Sheet 2 of 3 5,358,284

2.:m5
5,358,284
1 2
ment helps the thermal panels accommodate expansion
HIGH TEMPERATURE NON-METALLIC and contraction. In addition, the plates are connected to
EXPANSION JOINT the liners by fasteners on which the plates can move
radially outward. The thermal panels also act as smooth
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION surfaces to reduce the turbulence of the gas ?ow at the
The present invention relates to expansion joints and, joint.
more particularly, to high temperature, non-metallic The frame includes conical members positioned be
expansion joints for use in a high heat rate environment tween the inner and outer sides of the frame. The coni
in ducts carrying gases. cal members are more flexible than radially extending
Expansion joints are needed in ducts carrying high members and, therefore, are better able to accommo
temperature gases. The demands on the expansion joints date expansion and contraction.
are greater where the high temperature gases are char
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
acterized by high turbulence, fast heat rate, high gas
?ow rate, or any combination of these, and/or where FIG. 1 is a front view of an exhaust duct for a gas
large movements and high cycles of movement are turbine having two expansion joints according to the
required of the expansion joint. These conditions can present invention;
exist in cogeneration facilities for generating electricity FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-section through a portion
and/or steam, gas transmission pump stations, power of one of the expansion joints of FIG. 1;
peaking plants, dryers and gas turbine engine test FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3-3 in
stands. 20 FIG. 2; and
The frames associated with known non-metallic ex FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-section through a portion
pansion joints for use under these conditions experience of a second embodiment of the expansion joint accord
cracking as a result of 1) high heat rates, 2) high temper ing to the present invention.
ature differentials across the frame, and 3) high local
ized stresses, primarily in welds attaching liners, or 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
sleeves, to the rest of the expansion joint. The liners are PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
made of plates adjacent to and parallel to the ?owing As can be seen from FIG. 1, a duct, such as the duct
high temperature gases and surrounding the ?owing 1, is needed to direct the flow of hot gases from a
gases. As a result of this con?guration, the liners heat source, such as a gas turbine 2. Arrangements of a
quickly and tend to expand quickly as a result of the fast source of hot gases and an associated duct are found in
temperature rise. However, they are welded to mem cogeneration plants for generating electricity or steam,
bers of the expansion joint which extend away from the gas transmission pump stations, power peaking plants,
hot gases and, therefore, heat and expand more slowly dryers and gas turbine engine test stands. The gas tur
than the liners. Consequently, high stresses occur in the
welds attaching the liners to the other members, leading 35 bine 2 is charactistically turned on and off often and,
to failures in the expansion joint at the welds. when it is turned on, there is a sudden ?ow of very hot
Furthermore, some prior art frames include members gases through the duct 1. The temperature of the gas in
which extend perpendicular to the ?owpath of the gases the duct typically goes from ambient temperature to
all the way from an inner side of the frame to the outer about 700 F. (371 C.) in about 4 seconds, and then
side of the frame. Such members are particularly unable 40 continues to rise to about 1100 F. (593 C.). Even tem
to accommodate expansion from the thermal shock peratures of 1250 F. (677 C.) can be encountered. The
from the start-up of, for example, a gas turbine, as well duct 1 is made of metal which expands signi?cantly
as the contraction due to the thermal shock of shutting with increases in temperature, and so expansion joints
down the turbine. In addition, poor frame configuration 10 are needed in the duct 1 to accommodate the expan
and insulation schemes have led to premature failure of 45 sion and contraction of the metal of the duct 1.
the non-metallic expansion joint components. As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, a ?rst embodi
ment of the expansion joint according to the present
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION invention, which is designated generally by the refer
By the present invention, thermal stress in the frame ence numeral 10, joins two sections 1a and 1b of the
components is reduced. In order to reduce the thermal duct 1 de?ning a ?owpath for hot gases. Only an upper
stress, the frame components are insulated, thereby portion of the expansion joint 10 and upper portions of
reducing the rate of heating of the frame components the sections 1a and 1b of the duct 1 are shown in FIG.
and allowing them to heat more uniformly. This is espe 2, the duct 1 having external insulation 11. In the illus
cially true where frame elements, such as the liners, are trated embodiment, the expansion joint 10 and the duct
welded. More speci?cally, insulation is placed between 1 are circular, forming a cylinder around the hot ?ow
the liners and the gas ?ow to act as a buffer between the ing gases. However, the expansion joint 10 according to
hot gas and the frame components. Thus, the insulation the present invention is also applicable to ducts which
slows the temperature rise in the liner, so that the rate of are rectangular in cross section or which have other
temperature rise in the liner is closer to the rate of the shapes. Thus, the portion of the expansion joint 10 and
temperature rise in the frame members to which the 60 the duct 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 represents one side of the
liner is welded. perimeter of the expansion joint 10 and the duct 1.
Thermal panels connected to the liners are positioned The expansion joint 10 includes a ?rst frame portion
between the insulation and the gas stream in order to 12 attached to an upstream duct section 1a and a second
protect the insulation from the eroding action of the hot frame portion 14 attached to a downstream duct section
?owing gases. The thermal panels are made of a plural 65 1b. The upstream and downstream duct sections 1a, 1b
ity of floating plates, or segments, covering an inner include ?anges 16 and 18, respectively, to facilitate the
surface of the insulation and overlapping one another in attachment of the frame portions 12, 14 of the expansion
the circumferential direction. The overlapping arrange joint 10 to the duct sections. Each frame portion 12, 14
5,358,284
3 4
includes a ?rst member 20, 21 extending radially away the upstream conical member 22 by studs 54 and speed
from the longitudinal axis of the duct 1, a second, coni washers 56 which are spaced circumferentially along
cal member 22, 23 extending at an oblique angle toward the conical member 22. The insulation pillow 52 extends
the opposite frame portion 12 or 14, and a third, outer across the width of the expansion joint 10, ?rst perpen
member 24, 25 having a width parallel to the longitudi dicularly from the conical member 22 to approximately
nal axis of the duct 1 and extending from a circumferen the upstream end of the secondary internal liner 50 and
tial line of attachment to a second end of the conical then parallel to the exterior surface of the secondary
member 22, 23 and away from the opposing frame por internal liner 50 to the ?rst member 21 of the down
tion 12, 14. In the illustrated circular embodiment, each stream frame portion 14, so that a bend is formed in the
of the aforesaid ?rst frame members 20, 21 is annular. In insulation pillow 52. The insulation pillow 52 typically
a rectangular embodiment, the length of each of the ?rst includes a body of ?berglass wrapped with cloth mate
frame members 20, 21 extends transverse to the longitu rial which is stapled along the edges, and that is
dinal axis of the duct 1, for the full length of one of the wrapped with wire mesh. The insulation pillow 52 is
sides of the perimeter of the rectangular expansion joint. connected to the outer surface of the secondary internal
In the embodiment illustrated, the upstream ?rst frame liner 50 by studs 58 and speed washers 60 secured to the
member 20 has a greater transverse, or radial, dimension downstream end of the liner 50.
than does the downstream ?rst frame member 21, mak In conventional expansion joints, the flow of hot
ing the expansion joint 10 well-suited for installation gases in the ducts impinges the plate of the primary
where the upstream duct section 1 is smaller than the circular internal liner 48, thereby rapidly heating the
downstream duct section, such as at the exhaust of a gas 20 plate. The rapid heating causes stress in the plate, espe
turbine. The ?rst frame members 20, 21 are attached to cially at the welds attaching the plate to the upstream
the ?anges 16, 18 of the duct sections 1 by bolts 28 and frame portions.
nuts 30, as is conventional. As can be seen from FIG. 2, additional insulation is
A fabric belt 32 extends across and between the outer
provided between the inner surface of the primary in
frame members 24 and 25 and all around the perimeter 25 ternal liner 48 and the longitudinal axis of the expansion
of the expansion joint 10. Edges of the fabric belt 32 are
secured to the outer frame members 24, 25 by clamping joint 10 and duct 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the
the edges between the outer frame members and backup insulation takes the form of an insulation pillow 66 of
bars 34, which extend along each side of the perimeter ceramic ?bers attached to the inner surface of the pri
of the expansion joint 10. The clamping force is pro mary internal liner 48, substantially covering the sur
vided by a plurality of bolts 36 and nuts 38 spaced along face. The attachment is accomplished by studs 68
the circumference of the outer frame members 24, 25 welded to the inner surface of the primary internal liner
and backup bars 34. Gasket strips 40 are provided be 48 and extending through the insulation pillow 66.
tween the backup bars 34 and the exterior surface of the Washers 69 are slidably positioned on the studs 68, one
fabric belt 32. Other gasket strips 42 are provided be 35 washer on each side of the liner 48. A thermal panel 70
tween the outer frame members 24, 25 and the interior is positioned between the insulation pillow 66 and the
surface of the belt 32, and still other gasket strips 44 are axis of the expansion joint 10, and is supported by the
provided between the outer frame members 24, 25 and washers 69, between the washers at the inner ends of the
washers 46 employed with the nuts 38 at the bottoms of studs 68.
the bolts 36. All of the gasket strips can be made of As can be seen from FIG. 3, the thermal panel 70 is
woven ?berglass. made up of a plurality of panel segments covering the
A primary circular internal liner, or sleeve, 48, made inner annular surface of the insulation pillow 66, the
of an annular metal plate, has a circumference around panel segments overlapping one another in the circum
the gas ?owpath de?ned by the duct 1 and the expan ferential direction so as to accommodate rapid thermal
sion joint 10 and an axial dimension parallel to the direc 45 expansion. The washers 69 are slidably mounted on a
tion of ?ow, that is, parallel to the longitudinal axis of ' reduced diameter portion of the studs 68, and the axial
the duct 1. The primary internal liner 48 is secured to length of the reduced diameter portion is greater than
the upstream ?rst frame member 20 by welding or other the combined thicknesses of the thermal panel 70 and
suitable arrangement. The axial dimension of the pri washers 69. Accordingly, upon thermal expansion, the
mary internal liner 48 extends most of the distance segments of the thermal panel 70 are free to move out
across the axial dimension, or width, of the expansion ward on the reduced diameter portions of the studs 68.
joint 10. A secondary circular internal liner, or sleeve, The insulation pillow 66 acts as a heat shield reducing
50 is made from an annular metal plate, such as a plate the rate of heating of the primary internal liner 48. This
secured by welding to the ?rst frame member 21 of the brings the heating rate and thermal expansion rate of the
downstream frame portion 14. 55 primary internal liner 48 more in line with the corre
The secondary internal liner 50 extends upstream sponding rates of the ?rst frame member 20 to which
slightly more than half the width of the expansion joint the primary internal liner is welded. As a result, the
10 and has a larger circumference than the primary stress on the liner 48 and the member 20, and especially
internal liner 48. Accordingly, the primary and second on the welds, is reduced, and cracking of the liner 48
ary internal liners 48, 50 overlap axially with an annular, 60 and the member 20, and especially on the welds is re
radial gap between them. Since high temperatures are duced, and cracking of the liner 48, the member 20
involved, for example, temperatures of 1250 F. (677 and/or the welds is avoided. The thermal panel 70 in
C.), insulation is provided in the expansion joint 10, cludes a ?ange 72 on each panel segment angled toward
between the fabric belt 32 and the duct 1 carrying the the primary internal liner 48, terminating adjacent to
hot gases, in order to protect the fabric belt 32 from the 65 the downstream end of the liner. The upstream end of
high temperatures of the hot gases. In the illustrated the thermal panel 70 almost touches the upstream frame
embodiment, the insulation includes an insulation pil portion 12. Thus, the thermal panel 70 and the primary
low, or bag, 52 of, for example, ?berglass connected to internal liner 48 form an enclosure for the insulation
5,358,284
5 6
pillow 66, thereby protecting the insulation pillow from stream duct section 84. The ?rst frame members 96, 102
the eroding action of the hot ?owing gases. are attached to the ?anges 92, 94 of the duct sections 82,
An insulation pillow 74 of ceramic ?bers, similar to 84 by bolts 116 and nuts 118.
the insulation pillow 66, is attached to the inner surface A fabric belt 120 extends across and between the
of the secondary internal liner 58, substantially covering outer frame members 112 and 114, to which edges of the
the surface. The attachment is accomplished by studs 68 fabric belt 120 are secured by clamping the edges be
and washers 69 in the same manner as for the insulation tween the outer frame members and back-up bars 122.
pillow 66. A thermal panel 76 is similar to the thermal The clamping force is provided by bolts 124 and nuts
panel 70 and is made up of a plurality of panel segments 126, and gasket strips 128 are provided between the
covering the inner annular surface of the insulation back-up bars 122 and the exterior surface of the fabric
pillow 74. The thermal panel 76 includes on each panel belt 120. Other gasket strips 130 are provided between
segment a ?ange 78 angled toward the secondary inter the outer frame members 112, 114 and the interior sur
nal liner 50, terminating adjacent to the upstream end of face of the belt 120.
the liner. A primary internal liner 132, made of an annular
The frame members 20-25, the primary internal liner metal plate, is secured to the upstream second frame
48, the secondary internal liner 50, and the segments of member 108. A secondary internal liner 134 is made
the thermal panels 70 and 76 can all be made of T347 from an annular metal plate and secured by welding to
stainless steel. the second frame member 110 of the downstream frame
As can be seen from FIG. 4, another embodiment of portion 90. The secondary internal liner 134 has a larger
the expansion joint according to the present invention 20 circumference than the primary internal liner 32, and
which is designated generally by the reference numeral the liners overlap considerably with a substantial annu
80, connects an upstream duct section 82 and a down lar gap between them. An insulation pillow 136 is se
stream duct section 84 of a duct 86. Only an upper cured in the space between the fabric belt 120 and the
portion of the expansion joint 80 and upper portions of secondary internal liner 134, extending substantially the
the sections 82 and 84 of the duct 86 are shown in FIG. 25 entire distance between the oblique members 108 and
2. The duct has external insulation 87, and gas ?ow is 110 of the ?rst and second frame portions 88, 90 and
from left to right. The expansion joint 80 and the duct throughout the annulus de?ned by the expansion joint
86 can be circular in transverse cross-section, or can be 80. One edge of the insulation pillow 136 is secured to
rectangular, or have other shapes. The construction, an outer surface of the secondary internal liner 134 by a
materials, and functioning of the expansion joint 80 is plurality of circumferentially spaced studs 138 on which
the same as that of the expansion joint 10 except as speed washers 140 are secured. The studs 138 are
distinguished by the present description and/or the mounted on the secondary internal liner 134, and the
drawing ?gures. speed washers 140 retain the insulation pillow 136 on
The expansion joint 80 includes a ?rst frame portion the studs. The opposite edge of the fabric belt 120 is
88 attached to the upstream duct section 82 and a sec held next to the conical member 108 by angled studs 140
ond frame portion 90 attached to the downstream duct extending from the conical member 108 and projecting
section 84. The duct sections 82, 84 include radially outward toward the fabric belt 120. Speed washers 142
extending ?anges 92 and 94, respectively, to which the are secured on the studs 141.
frame portions 88 and 90 are secured. The frame portion As with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the primary inter
88 includes a ?rst, generally L-shaped member 96 hav 40 nal liner 132 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 includes an
ing a ?rst leg 98 extending parallel to and in alignment insulation pillow 144 positioned between the inner sur
with the ?ange 92, and a second leg 100 extending gen face of the primary internal liner 132 and the longitudi
erally parallel to the duct section 82. The frame portion nal axis of the expansion joint 80 and duct 86. The insu
90 includes a ?rst, L-shaped member 102 having a ?rst lation pillow 144 is attached to the inner surface of the
leg 104 extending parallel to and in alignment with the 45 primary internal liner 132, substantially covering the
?ange 94, and a second leg 106 extending parallel to the surface. The attachment is accomplished by studs 146
duct section 84. Each frame portion 88, 90 also includes and washers 147 and 148 in the same manner as in the
a second, conical member 108 and 110, respectively, FIG. 2 embodiment. In addition, a thermal panel 150 is
which is secured to the leg 98, 104 of the ?rst member positioned between the insulation pillow 144 and the
88, 90. Each conical member 108, 110 extends generally axis of the expansion joint 80, and is supported by the
away from the ?owpath of the gas and at a slight incli washers 147. The thermal panel 150 comprises a plural
nation toward the opposite frame portion of the expan ity of panel segments each having a ?ange 152 angled
sion joint 80. Each frame portion 88, 90 further com toward the primary internal liner 132, terminating adja
prises a third, outer member 112, 114 having a width cent to the downstream end of the liner. The conical
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the duct 86, extending member 108 is welded to the leg 100 of the L-shaped
from a circumferential line of attachment to a second ?rst member 96 slightly downstream of the end of the
end of the oblique member 108, 110 and away from the leg member. The thermal panel 150 overlaps and en
opposing frame portion 88, 90. Where the expansion gages the portion of the leg member 100 extending
joint 80 encompasses a circle, each of the ?rst, second beyond the conical member 108.
and third members of the frame portions 88 and 90 is 60 In addition to providing thermal protection for the
annular. In a rectangular embodiment, the length of primary internal liner 132, the embodiment of Fig. 4
each of the members extends transverse to the longitu provides thermal protection for the secondary internal
dinal axis of the duct 86. In the embodiment illustrated liner 134. More speci?cally, an insulation pillow 154
in FIG. 4, the upstream ?rst frame member 96 has a attached to the inner surface of the secondary internal
greater transverse, or radial, dimension than does the 65 liner 134, substantially covering the surface. The attach
downstream second frame member 102, making the ment is accomplished by studs 146 and washers 147 and
expansion joint 80 well-suited for installation where the 148 in the same manner as the insulation pillow 144 is
upstream duct section 82 is smaller than the down attached to the primary internal liner 132. The insula
5,358,284
7 8
tion pillow 154 includes a tapering portion 156 extend 5. The expansion joint of claim 3, further comprising
ing toward the leg 106 of the L-shaped member 102. A means for thermally insulating said second metal ele
thermal panel 158 is positioned between the insulation ment from the high-temperature medium.
pillow 154 and the axis of the expansion joint 80, and is _ 6. The expansion joint of claim 5, wherein said means
supported by the washers 147, 148 between the washers 5 for thermally insulating said second metal element com
at the inner ends of the studs 146. Like the insulation prises thermal insulation material positioned between
pillow 144, the insulation pillow 154 acts as a heat shield said second metal element and the high temperature
reducing the rate of heating of the secondary internal medium.
liner 134. As a result, the stress on the liner 134 and the 7. The expansion joint of claim 6, wherein the high~
conical member 110 of the downstream ?ame portion 10 temperature medium is a gas, and the expansion joint
90, and especially on the welds between them, is re further comprises means for protecting from the gas the
duced, and cracking of the liner 134 and the welds is thermal insulation material positioned between said
avoided. The thermal panel 158 comprises a plurality of second metal element and the high-temperature me
panel segments each having an angled portion 160 an dium.
gled toward the end of the leg 106 of the L-shaped ?rst 15 8. The expansion joint of claim 6, wherein the thermal
member 102, terminating adjacent to the upstream end insulation material positioned between said second
of the leg. The end of the angled portion 160 almost metal element and the high-temperature medium com
touches the upstream end of the leg 106, thereby form prises ceramic ?bers.
ing an enclosure for the insulation pillow 154. This 9. The expansion joint of claim 1, wherein said means
arrangement not only protects the insulation pillow 154 20 for thermally insulating said ?rst metal element com
from the eroding action of the hot ?owing gases, it also prises thermal insulation material positioned between
substantially reduces direct ?ow of hot gases against the said ?rst metal element and the high-temperature me
secondary internal liner 134 and the welds connecting dium.
the liner to the oblique member 110. -
10. The expansion joint of claim 9, wherein said ther
25 mal insulation material comprises ceramic ?bers.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is
11. The expansion joint of claim 9, wherein the high
contemplated that variations and/or changes in the temperature medium is a gas, and the expansion joint
embodiments illustrated and described herein may be further comprises means for protecting from the gas the
made without departure from the present invention. thermal insulation material positioned between said ?rst
For example, the secondary internal liner, which is the 30 metal element and the high-temperature medium.
downstream liner, and its associated insulation blanket 12. The expansion joint of claim 11, wherein each of
and thermal panel, can be omitted. In addition, the said ?rst frame portion, said second frame portion, said
downstream frame portion can be constructed without means for connecting said ?rst and second frame por
a conical member and include instead a member or tions, said ?rst metal element, and said means for ther
members of different con?guration. Furthermore, other 35 mally insulating said ?rst metal element from the high
variations and/or changes can be made without depar temperature medium de?ne structures surrounding the
ture from the present invention. Accordingly, it is in gas.
tended that the foregoing description is illustrative 13. The expansion joint of claim 11, wherein said
only, not limiting, and that the true spirit and scope of protecting means is a plate interposed between said
the present invention will be determined by the ap 40 thermal insulation material and the gas.
pended claims. 14. The expansion joint of claim 13, wherein said
I claim: plate is mounted on said ?rst metal element.
1. An expansion joint for use in connection with a 15. The expansion joint of claim 14, wherein the gas
high-temperature medium, comprising: ?ows relative to the expansion joint, and said plate has
a ?rst frame portion having a length; 45 a downstream end with respect to the gas ?ow and a
a second frame portion having a length, said ?rst and ?ange projecting toward said ?rst metal element at said
second frame portions being spaced from one an downstream end.
other in a direction transverse to said lengths; 16. The expansion joint of claim 1, wherein said ?rst
means for connecting said ?rst and second frame metal element is welded to said ?rst frame portion.
portions to one another; 17. The expansion joint of claim 1, wherein said con
a ?rst metal element connected to said ?rst frame necting means is a fabric belt.
portion, said ?rst element projecting from said ?rst 18. The expansion joint of claim 1, wherein the expan
frame portion toward said second frame portion; sion joint has a side on which the high-temperature
thermal insulation positioned between said ?rst metal medium is present, and said ?rst frame portion is gener
element and said connecting means; and 55 ally transverse to said ?rst metal element, said ?rst
means for thermally insulating said ?rst metal ele frame portion extending beyond said ?rst metal element
ment from the high-temperature medium. in a direction away from the side of the expansion joint
2. The expansion joint of claim 1, wherein said ther on which the high-temperature medium is present.
mal insulation is positioned between said connecting 19. The expansion joint of claim 1, wherein said ?rst
means and the high-temperature medium. and second frame portions each have an inner side adja
3. The expansion joint of claim 1, further comprising cent to the high-temperature medium and an outer side
a second metal element connected to said second frame distal to the high-temperature medium, and said ?rst
portion, said second metal element projecting toward frame portion includes a conical member extending at
said ?rst frame portion and overlapping said ?rst metal an oblique angle to said inner and outer sides.
element. 65 20. The expansion joint of claim 19, wherein said
4. The expansion joint of claim 3, wherein said ther second frame portion includes a conical member ex
mal insulation is positioned between said connecting tending at an oblique angle to said inner and outer sides.
* * * * *
means and said second metal element.

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