Bellows

How to select the right bellows to suit your requirements
By Howard Robertson The use of bellows is a significant component in many fields, including the aerospace, defense, semiconductors, nuclear and petrochemical industries. Apart from the application of conventional fireplace bellows, you can use bellows as volume compensators, torque couplings, vacuum connectors and mechanical seals.   
 

Bellows available in the market come in different materials and different shapes. You can choose a metal bellow, a rubber bellow or a plastic bellow that has a round, square or rectangular shape.

Some important parameters you must consider before buying bellows are:

1. Maximum outer diameter and minimum inner diameter
2. Compressed and extended length
3. Useful cycle life for the bellows
4. Operating pressure and temperature for the bellows

Buy metal bellows

Metal bellows have excellent tension and pressure transfer characteristics. You can buy metal bellows made of aluminum, copper, nickel or titanium depending on your needs. You can also opt for metal alloy bellows such as beryllium, copper, brass and steel bellows.
Try: Flexial is a reputable bellows pump manufacturer that also offers bellows and other accessories. Ameriflex, a manufacturer of bellows and expansion joints, provides copper and stainless steel bellows. Senior Aerospace Metal Bellows supplies edge welded bellows with different configurations such as flat plate, crescent sweep and nesting ripple. Tara Technologies also offers edge welded bellows for aerospace and military applications. UHV Design provides ultra vacuum products including vacuum bellows, vacuum pumps and accessories. You can also buy metal bellows from Simrit and Fulton Bellows.

Buy rubber bellows

Rubber bellows provide better flexibility as compared to other types of bellows. You can use rubber bellows to seal a connection between rigid pipes in plumbing systems.
Try: Columbia Engineered Rubber provides standard and customized rubber bellows for the protection of automobile components from dust. Timco Rubber is another bellow manufacturer that offers extruded bellows and molded rubber bellows. Minor Rubber offers both standard and customized rubber bellows. Custom Rubber, a custom manufacturer, offers both natural rubber bellows and synthetic rubber bellows. Team Products is another supplier of customized rubber products including rubber bellows.

Buy plastic bellows

Plastic bellows are highly resistant to abrasives, oils and chemicals. You can order customized plastic bellows for extreme temperature applications.
Try: Centryco is a custom manufacturer of dip-molded bellows suitable for enclosing industrial equipment. McCammon Engineering designs and manufactures plastic bellows suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. NUBS Plastics is another manufacturer of plastic components that also provides plastic bellows. Gagne offers standard and customized plastic bellows suitable for a range of operating temperatures.

• Ensure that you are not stretching or compressing bellows beyond their specified limits.
• If your bellows crack or break, consult experts that provide bellows repair and rebuild services, and avoid using tapes or wraps as an alternative.
• Use a buckling protector for metal bellows, as buckling may result in the entangling of bellows into other components.
• Use proper meeting parts, such as coupling and flanges, to join bellows with other components.