Largest Pantograph Style Expansion Joint

Ever Built by Senior Flexonics Pathway

Increasing maintenance problems accelerated the schedule of a recent turn around at the Mobil Beaumont Refinery. Fast delivery was required for two pantograph style expansion joints. A quick specification was produced by RTI of Houston, Texas and Senior Flexonics Pathway received the award to produce the expansion joints on a crash basis.

The largest expansion joint incorporated cold wall design with vibracast refractory and packed bellows. The smaller expansion joint was hot wall design with an AA-22 refractory lining. Pantographic llinkages were incorporated to support the heavy center spools during offset and axial motion of the expansion joint.

Of greatest significance was the size of the assemblies. The largest of the two expansion joints was 63" diameter by 32.5 feet long. This was clearly the largest pantograph style expansion joint that Senior Flexonics Pathway had built up to that time. Vibracasting the longest sections of pipe on end required all work to be done in Senior Flexonics Pathway’s 40 foot high bay where 20 ton cranes were available to position the 49,000 lb. finished assembly. A second pantograph style expansion joint was 55" diameter by 14 feet long.

All expansion joint fabrication was highly expedited. The order was placed in early July. The production drawings were finished within 8 days of the order. Production and testing was completed over a seven week manufacturing cycle.

For more information about fast deliveries of engineered expansion joints, contact Senior Flexonics Pathway.