Specialists in the production of superior quality stainless steel bellows assemblies

Background

Foreword

Bellows have been in common use since the turn of the 20th century. Orginally these were manufactured as tubing rolled with corrugations. However other production methods were soon developed including hydroforming and chemical/electro-deposited bellows.

Formed bellows are limited by the types of ductile materials used in their manufature. Electro-deposited bellows are generally made from a small selection of materials.

At the end of World War II, welded metal bellows were introduced. Essentially, these consisted of metal discs welded at both the inner diameter (ID) and the outer diameter (OD). With this type of manufacture : spring rates can be more precisely controlled and longer stroke ranges are achievable. These can be made from a wider range of materials, for practically any application!

What are bellows ?

In broad terms - they are expansion joints designed to accept movement, typically in piping systems, whilst maintaining absolute leak tightness through a wide range of pressures and temperatures. Temperatures from - 190 deg. C to + 800 deg. C and pressures from 10 minus 9 mm Hg (ultra high vacuum) to greater than 3000 psi. Unlike rubber seals, metal bellows, are virtually impervious to most liquids and gases and do not degrade in areas of high radiation.

What is the function of a bellows ?

Mainly for volume compensation - to absorb pressure variations in pumped liquid systems and for use as stored energy devices for emergency "blowdown" operations for sub-sea applications. Bellows are frequently used for particle beam lines and actuating devices that are associated with linear accelerators, cyclotrons, storage rings, neutron sources and other high technology systems used in medical and nuclear physics research.Palatine currently manufacture bellows products for the UK, USA, Europe, and Australia and although we are a small company, we are competing with major companies world-wide.