| When you think of the word "bellows" you
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| | is manufactured by one of two processes.
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| probably have a picture in your mind of
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| | These processes are mechanical forming,
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| the leather bellow historically used to
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| | and hydroforming. Formed bellows are
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| blow air into their fireplace. However,
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| | generally more expensive for a custom
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| there is another kind of bellow, a metal
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| | bellows than if it were welded. The
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| bellows, which is a high-technology
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| | higher cost is due to the tooling
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| product used in machinery, medical and
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| | required to produce the original form.
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| industrial applications. Metal bellows
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| | However, once the original form has been
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| are manufactured and sold by companies
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| | created then the subsequent bellow can be
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| specializing in metal expansion joints
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| | produced at a lower cost than
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| and other piping systems. Some bellows
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| | individually welded bellow.
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| are microscopically small while others
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| | Formed bellow must be made of metals
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| are very large.
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| | which have high elongation
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| Simply stated, metal bellows are
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| | characteristics. For this reason, most
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| thin-walled flexible elements which allow
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| | formed bellow are made of brass. Formed
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| for expansion in a system of pipes, while
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| | bellows generally are used in
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| at the same time containing gasses and
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| | applications where a lower performance is
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| liquids in a pressure-filled environment.
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| | acceptable. Formed metal bellows are also
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| A metal bellow is also commonly referred
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| | generally larger than those which are
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| to by the names: flexible metal element,
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| | individually welded.
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| element, corrugations, and compensator.
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| | Welded Bellows - A welded metal bellows
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| Each metal bellow is made by taking into
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| | is manufactured by welding individual
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| account its pitch, convolution height,
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| | formed diaphragms to each other. A welded
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| thickness, number of plies, convoluted
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| | bellows can be fabricated in many shapes
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| length, skirt length, and inside
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| | and sizes and is generally a higher
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| diameter. Every metal bellows has a
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| | performance option than a formed bellows.
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| unique working pressure, life cycle, and
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| | Welded bellow can be made of any metal or
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| spring rate which are entirely dependent
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| | alloy which can be welded. Generally,
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| on their shape and the material in which
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| | materials such as stainless steel,
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| they are made of. These considerations,
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| | titanium, and other non-corrosive
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| and some specific mathematical formulas,
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| | materials are used to fabricate welded
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| insure that a metal bellow meets the
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| | bellows.
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| standards set by the Expansion Joint
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| | Formed metal bellow generally are used in
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| Manufacturers Association. The EJMA
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| | larger applications such as HVAC, and
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| specifications exist to make sure that a
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| | large piping systems. Welded bellows are
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| metal bellow is able to perform under the
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| | generally very small and have to be
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| specifications it claims to. This is for
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| | manufactured in laboratories using high
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| both productivity and safety.
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| | levels of magnification. Welded bellows
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| There are generally two different types
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| | are generally used in medical and
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| of metal bellow available on the market
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| | aerospace applications.
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| today. These two types of bellows are
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| | As you can see there are many metal
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| formed and welded. Let's look a bit at
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| | bellows available to fit many needs.
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| each of them:
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| | Bellows are available from companies who
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| Formed Bellows - A formed metal bellows
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| | fabricate metal expansion joints.
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