Flexible coupling for conduits

Claim 2

A flexible expansion joint for connecting the spaced ends of two conduits for conveying a high temperature fluid stream in one direction and which expand and contract axially toward and away from each other and also move laterally and radially with respect to each other including frame members attached to the end portions of each conduit and extending away from the perhiers of the conduits and a flexible belt-like structure connected to the outer portions of said frame members to bridge the space between the ends of said conduits while being radially spaced outwardly from said space, between the ends of said conduits the combination of: baffling mechanism attached to at least one of said conduits and bridging the space therebetween and extending downstream toward the axis of said conduits, said baffling mechanism including radially spaced portions to form a continuous space therebetween facing away from said stream, whereby said frame members, said belt-like structure and said baffling mechanism form an enclosure except for said continuous space and means forming a flexible obstruction spanning said continuous space and attached to said baffling mechanism.

Claim 3

The expansion joint defined in claim 1 wherein said baffling mechanism includes overlapping horizontal portions to form said continuous space with said flexible obstruction therebetween.

Claim 4

The expansion joint defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible obstruction is a rope-like structure of temperature resistant material interposed between said horizontal portions.

Claim 5

The expansion joint defined in claim 3 wherein said rope-like structure comprises a cover of heat resistant material such as aluminized asbestos cloth stuffed with soft heat insulating material such as fiberglass, whereby the rope-like structure fills said continuous space and yet yields to the relative movement of said overlapping horizontal portions.

Claim 6

A flexible expansion joint for connecting the spaced ends of two conduits for conveying high-temperature fluid streams in one direction, said conduits being expansible and contractible axially toward and away from each other and also moveable radially or laterally with respect to each other, all under the influence of a variety of temperature changes in said streams, said conduits and various portions of said joint, the combination of: frame members attached to the end portions of each conduit and having vertical portions extending substantially away from the peripheries of said conduits and horizontal flange portions extending away from said vertical portions and from the ends of said conduits and radially spaced outwardly from said peripheries, a flexible, heat-resistant belt-like sructure whose opposite edge portions rest exclusively on said horizontal flange portions and which bridges the space between the ends of said conduits while being radially spaced outwardly from said stream and means fastening said edge portions of said belt-like structure to said horizontal flange portions of said frame members, whereby the temperature of the fluid contacting said beltlike structure is substantially below that of the fluid in said stream flowing through said conduits and the temperature of said horizontal flange portions of said frame members engaging said belt-like structure is substantially below the temperature of said conduits.

Claim 7

A flexible expansion joint for connecting the spaced ends of two conduits for conveying high-temperature fluid streams in one direction, said conduits being expansible and contractible axially toward and away from each other and also moveable radially or laterally with respect to each other, all under the influence of a variety of temperature changes in said streams, said conduits and various portions of said joint, the combination of: frame members attached to the end portions of each conduit and having vertical portions extending substantially away from the peripheries of said conduits and horizontal flange portions extending away from said vertical portions and from the ends of said conduits and radially spaced outwardly from said peripheries, a flexible, heat-resistant belt-like sructure whose opposite edge portions rest exclusively on said horizontal flange portions and which bridges the space between the ends of said conduits while being radially spaced outwardly from said stream and means fastening said edge portions of said belt-like structure to said horizontal flange portions of said frame members, whereby the temperature of the fluid contacting said beltlike structure is substantially below that of the fluid in said stream flowing through said conduits and the temperature of said horizontal flange portions of said frame members engaging said belt-like structure is substantially below the temperature of said conduits.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 5 wherein there is baffling means substantially bridging the space between the ends of said conduits and spaced inwardly from the inner surfaces of said conduits.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said baffling means includes overlapping horizontal axially spaced sections to provide a continuous space therebetween.