Rubber compensators

Flange compensator made of NR, in light food quality

Flange compensator made of NR, in light food-grade quality

Flange expansion joint with pleat

Rectangular expansion joint made of electrically conductive NBR fabric-reinforced flanges

Rectangular expansion joint made of electrically conductive NR

Rectangular expansion joint with branch, electrically conductive EPDM

Rectangular with pleats, FDA-compliant

Vase expansion joint with fold

Rectangular expansion joint

Rubber expansion joints for piping systems

Expansion joints are flexible components in pipelines and joints. They are resistant to high temperature loads, chemically resistant to the corresponding flow media and stable in the event of overpressure or underpressure.

More than 35 years of experience are behind the production of our rubber expansion joints for energy technology, plant construction and many other areas of application in the most diverse branches of industry. Since expansion joints are exposed to the highest demands in use, we use only the highest quality rubber compounds. We have gradually developed and expanded our range of expansion joints so that solutions are available from AL Gummi und Kunststofftechnik for practically every application specification.

Custom-made rubber expansion joints are one of AL Gummi und Kunststofftechnik’s strengths.

Talk to our technicians about your special application requirements.

The exact design of the compensator is determined by its place of use. The basic shapes are round and angular. Cross-section-changing expansion joints are also used. In addition to the basic designs, AL Gummi und Kunststofftechnik is also able to manufacture special types that are precisely tailored to special customer requirements.

We produce single pieces and series in our production facilities. According to the installation position between a pipeline and the expansion mount, we supply precisely manufactured rubber expansion joints.

Rubber compensatorsin round design

In the round design, we supply single- or multi-flute rubber expansion joints with or without flange. Optionally, the expansion joints can also be manufactured with a vacuum support ring. The dimensions can be manufactured individually up to a maximum size of DN 1400.
Round expansion joints are particularly suitable for axial, lateral and angular movements.

Round compensator with flanges
Compensator round with flanges and shaft
Compensator conical with flanges
Round compensator for clamp fastening without shaft/with shaft

Rubber compensatorin rectangular design

AL Gummi- und Kunststofftechnik produces multi-shaft rectangular rubber expansion joints with flange or optionally with vacuum support ring. The dimensions can be manufactured individually up to a maximum size of DN 1400.

Rectangular expansion joint with flanges and shaft
Rectangular expansion joint with flanges

Design featuresRubber compensators

By constantly developing their material construction, we have made our rubber expansion joints real all-rounders in terms of temperature, pressure and media resistance, as well as in the way they absorb movement.

These rubber compensating elements have a triple effect. They compensate for axial, lateral and angular expansions from thermal changes in the length of the pipeline. They prevent the transmission of mechanical vibrations from machines, apparatus or pumps to the connected pipeline. They compensate for stresses and assembly inaccuracies.

In our production, we produce individual pieces and series up to a diameter of 1,400 mm as free-hand articles.

Depending on the expansion absorption and installation position between the sliding and fixed bearings of a pipeline, we supply precisely fitting rubber expansion joints with and without axial bracing.

Structure and functionof rubber compensators

The rubber compensator consists of vulcanised rubber layers that can be selected depending on the medium and the desired resistance. Different carrier layers such as nylon cord, aramid cord or steel cord are available for pressure and temperature resistance. Rubber expansion joints are characterised by high flexibility in axial, lateral and angular directions, as well as high expansion absorption with extremely short construction lengths.

In addition to expansion absorption, they also have an excellent sound- and vibration-reducing effect. Rubber expansion joints isolate up to 98% of vibrations and provide excellent sound insulation.

Rubber bellows are particularly suitable for absorbing pressure surges and damping acoustic or mechanical vibrations in piping systems, sections and equipment.

Directions of movementin piping systems

Depending on the direction of expansion, we distinguish between three different types of systems. These systems cause an axial, an angular or a lateral movement compensation.

AxialeExpansion joints

Axially acting compensators absorb movements along the pipe axis.

In axial compensation, the thermal expansion of a straight section of pipe between two fixed points is absorbed by an axial compensator. The distance between the two fixed points determines the pipe length to be compensated and thus the axial movement to be performed by the compensator.

AngulareExpansion joints

Angular compensators absorb movements in the form of angular movements.
For angular compensation of thermal expansion, at least two, and for full compensation even three angular compensators are therefore required. Angular compensators thus offer a variety of possible combinations in these so-called two- or three-joint systems.

LateraleExpansion joints

Lateral compensators are suitable for absorbing lateral movements, i.e. movements transverse to the pipe axis of the compensator. Lateral compensation is also associated with a 90° deflection of the flow within the planar or spatial pipe system. Usually, existing right-angled deflections in the system are used for the installation of lateral compensators.

The movement of a lateral expansion joint always consists of the desired lateral movement and a slight, unavoidable axial movement from the expansion joint itself.
The simple lateral expansion joints for lateral movements in only one plane allow a much greater expansion absorption compared to the axial expansion joints. Lateral compensators that move in all directions also allow simultaneous expansion absorption of two line sections of different directions.