Thorburn Equipment - Flexible Piping, Expansion Joints and Ducting Systems

Thorburn is an innovative manufacturer of specialized, engineered flexible piping systems. Since 1960, Thorburn's corporate mission evolution and business philosophy have been customer driven and targeted to selected niche applications where Thorburn can achieve clear positions of sustainable technological and market-share leadership. Our range of expansion joints include pressure piping expansion joints, high temperature expansion joints and non-metallic expansion joints. We also supply metallic and non-metallic hose assemblies and quick couplings and adapters.

PRESSURE PIPING BELLOWS EXPANSION JOINTS

Thorburn's metallic bellows is a flexible seal. The convoluted portion of an expansion joint is designed to flex when thermal movements occur in the piping system. The number of convolutions depends upon the amount of movement the bellows must accommodate or the force that must be used to accomplish this defection.

The convoluted element must be strong enough circumferentially to withstand the line pressure of the system, yet responsive enough longitudinally to flex. The longitudinal load (pressure thrust) must then be absorbed by some other type of device. These are usually anchors, tie rods, hinges or gimbal structures.

HIGH TEMPERATURE EXPANSION JOINTS

Thorburn's high temperature metallic expansion joints are designed in accordance with the 7th edition of the standards of the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association (EJMA) and are specifically designed to isolate, absorb or compensate for duct motion problems found in ducting systems (i.e. thermal growth, vibration, agitation). Applications include:

• Dust collection and fume extraction ductwork systems
• Turbine condenser ducting
• Ducting systems to scrubbers, precipitators, condensers, boiler breaching and other gas or large "off-gas" systems

NON-METALLIC EXPANSION JOINTS

Thorburn's fabric expansion joints are non-metallic, custom-built and designed to provide stress relief by absorbing movements caused by temperature changes, vibration and ducting misalignments.

METALLIC HOSE ASSEMBLIES

Since 1954, Thorburn has devoted its expanding facilities and engineering expertise to the design, development and manufacture of flexible piping systems. Integrally associated with this product mix are Thorburn's metallic braided and unbraided hose assemblies. Thorburn's growing success has been achieved through outstanding customer service and strictly enforced quality control procedures.

Why use a Thorburn metal hose assembly? Because metallic pipe systems require lateral deflection or vibration isolation while transferring steam, gas, vacuum, air or liquids at high or cryogenic temperatures.

Thorburn's standard annular flexible core starts its life as a coil of stainless steel strip which is mechanically formed into a tube and then longitudinally butt welded. Considerable care is taken to ensure that the strength of the butt weld is greater than that of the parent material. This rigid tube is then transferred to the corrugating machine where the corrugations are formed. After the tube has been corrugated, it is pressure tested to ensure that there are no leaks.

Thorburn's "Tight Weave" braid design is carefully calculated to ensure that the number of wire gage and the angle of lay give optimal performance. After the attachment of the end fittings, the hose is pressure tested to 1-1/2 times the working pressure. Test certificates are available upon request.