Expansion Joint Configurations
Gimbal Expansion Joint
A gimbal expansion joint extends the hinged-joint idea one step further: two pairs of hinge pins, set 90° apart on a gimbal ring, let the bellows rotate in any plane rather than just one — a single joint doing the work of several angular joints.
Representative example — real Uma Bellows universal expansion joint:
How it works
The gimbal ring transmits pressure thrust to the structure through whichever pair of pins is aligned with the load at that moment, while the bellows absorbs the actual angular deflection. This is common in large ducting and piping systems — power plant and turbine exhaust ducting especially — where movement direction isn't predictable in advance.
- Permits angular rotation in any direction, not just one plane
- Gimbal ring plus two hinge-pin pairs carries pressure thrust
- Common in power plant and turbine exhaust ducting
- Reduces the number of joints needed versus multiple angular joints
Related: Angular Expansion Joint · In-Line Ball Joint Bellows · Expansion Joints
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