WELDED BELLOWS Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: instrument engineering; pipeline fittings. SUBSTANCE: welded bellows have membranes coupled in succession for drawing together and separation and profiled by concentric circular sections. Extreme membranes are connected rigidly to end parts, and each of the remaining membranes is coupled to one of neighboring membranes by external weld and to other membrane by internal weld. Every pair of membranes in zone of their coupling by internal weld is provided with circular stiffening rib in the form of band bent out at a distance of at least 0.5 mm from the weld at an angle of not less than 15 deg to transverse plane of bellows. Due to presence of stiffening rib and geometry of membranes, weld area is relieved of bending mechanical loads completely or partially, and weld is not destroyed in process of operation. EFFECT: enhanced reliability of bellows. 8 cl, 3 dwg