Expansion Joint Configurations
Angular Expansion Joint (Hinged Bellows)
An angular (hinged) expansion joint uses a single bellows fitted with hinge pins that restrict its movement to rotation about one axis — a controlled, single-plane bend rather than free movement in every direction.
Representative example — real Uma Bellows universal expansion joint:
How it works
The hinge pins carry the pressure thrust that would otherwise load the pipe anchors, while the bellows itself absorbs the angular rotation. Hinged joints are usually installed in sets of two or three, oriented at different angles, to accommodate multi-directional movement in large-diameter systems.
- Restricts movement to rotation in a single plane
- Hinge pins carry pressure thrust, not the anchors
- Typically installed in sets of two or three for multi-directional systems
- Common in large-diameter power and process piping
Related: Gimbal Expansion Joint · Lateral Expansion Joint · Expansion Joints
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