The Superflex 1000 provides double arch movements with a single low profile wide arch. Manufactured utilizing tire industry technology, the Style 1000 has been designed to provide greater strength and pressure capabilities. The construction combines woven polyester fabric and polyester tire cord into a fabric matrix bonded with an elastomer then reinforced with wire to create a product with superior performance characteristics.
The wide, self-flushing arch provides more movement than a traditional spool type joint. When built with a filled arch for smooth bore service, (such as slurry applications) the movements are the same as single open arch spool type joints. The double reinforced construction gives longer life expectancy and is also available in a full range of elastomers to enable multi-purpose applications.
The Style 1000 is available in these elastomers and constructions:
The Style 1000 is hand-wrapped to allow for design variations including offset, non-standard face-to-face dimensions, muti-arch configurations, and special flanges or drillings while still offering wide arch movement.
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%
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.
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.
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: