Expansion joint deformation monitoring device
By using mechanical structure shrinkage deformation diagrams and displacement deformation diagrams, the interference problem caused by space constraints in expansion joint deformation monitoring was solved, realizing simple, low-cost and reliable expansion joint deformation monitoring, and extending service life.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 王创
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
Smart Images

Figure CN224382387U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of expansion joint monitoring technology, specifically to an expansion joint deformation monitoring device. Background Technology
[0002] An expansion joint is a flexible element that effectively compensates for axial deformation. For example, expansion joints welded to the shell of a fixed tubesheet heat exchanger have high axial flexibility and are easy to deform. They can compensate for the thermal expansion difference between the tubes and the shell due to different wall temperatures, reduce their axial load, and thus reduce the thermal stress of the tubes, tubesheet, and shell, avoiding strength failure, instability failure, and tube pull-out failure. However, due to deviations from design conditions in actual operation and errors in on-site assembly, the actual axial shrinkage deformation and radial displacement deformation of the expansion joint may exceed the design compensation amount, leading to failure phenomena such as rupture, instability, and leakage, affecting the safe operation of the pipeline. Therefore, monitoring the deformation of expansion joints is a crucial part of their use.
[0003] In existing technologies, monitoring the deformation of expansion joints primarily relies on electronic components such as sensors. However, in practical monitoring environments, the space reserved after the expansion joint is assembled is limited, and most electronic components, such as sensors, have specific environmental requirements, necessitating the design of dedicated protective devices. This complexity makes them prone to interference with the expansion joint, leading to incomplete or simplistic deployment. Furthermore, expansion joints typically have a design lifespan of over 10 years, and electronic components like sensors inevitably age and fail during monitoring, requiring frequent replacements and resulting in high operating costs.
[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a monitoring device that can monitor the deformation of expansion joints without using electronic components such as sensors, so as to avoid interference with the expansion joints due to the limited space reserved after the expansion joints are assembled. The device should have a simple structure, a long service life, and reduced operating costs. Utility Model Content
[0005] The present invention aims to provide an expansion joint deformation monitoring device that can monitor the deformation of the expansion joint without using electronic components such as sensors. This avoids interference with the expansion joint due to the limited space reserved after the expansion joint is assembled. The device has a simple structure, extends service life, and reduces operating costs.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an expansion joint deformation monitoring device, comprising a shrinkage deformation indicator and a displacement deformation indicator. The shrinkage deformation indicator includes a first mounting base and a scale, with the scale fixedly connected to the first mounting base. The displacement deformation indicator includes a second mounting base and a measuring scale, with the measuring scale fixedly connected to the second mounting base. The first and second mounting bases are respectively detachably mounted on the flange surfaces at both ends of the expansion joint. The measuring scale is provided with a connecting hole, and the scale and measuring scale are movably connected through the connecting hole. A transverse gap is provided between the mounting hole and the scale.
[0007] The beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: This technical solution can directly reflect the deformation of the expansion joint through a mechanical structure, eliminating the need for electronic components such as sensors and avoiding interference problems caused by space limitations. The relative movement of the contraction deformation indicator and the displacement deformation indicator can intuitively display the axial and radial deformation of the expansion joint. The structure is simple, reliable, and has a long service life. The detachable design facilitates installation and maintenance, and the sleeve structure ensures the relative movement relationship between the two, accurately reflecting the actual deformation of the expansion joint. Compared with existing technologies, this device has advantages such as simple structure, low cost, and strong adaptability, effectively solving practical problems in expansion joint deformation monitoring.
[0008] Furthermore, the lateral gap is 3cm to 6cm.
[0009] Furthermore, the scale is vertically connected to the first mounting base, and the measuring tape is vertically connected to the second mounting base.
[0010] Furthermore, the cross-sections of the first mounting base and the second mounting base are arc-shaped, and the arc edge of the arc is a dominant arc.
[0011] Furthermore, the superior arc extends outward from the flange face to form a connecting part, and the connecting part is perpendicularly connected to the scale and measuring rod.
[0012] Furthermore, the scale is elongated, and the measuring rod is cuboid with a through-hole in the middle; at the initial monitoring position, the central axis of the scale coincides with the central axis of the measuring rod in the connecting hole.
[0013] Furthermore, the scale has a marking surface I on its outer side for indicating the amount of shrinkage deformation, and the measuring scale has a marking surface II on its outer side for indicating the amount of displacement deformation.
[0014] Furthermore, the marking surface I is parallel to the axial direction of the expansion joint, and the marking surface II is perpendicular to the axial direction of the expansion joint.
[0015] Furthermore, the marking surface I is provided with a shrinkage-deformation safety color mark part I, and the marking surface II is provided with a displacement-deformation safety color mark part II.
[0016] Furthermore, the flange surface is provided with a threaded section, and the first mounting base and the second mounting base are provided with mounting holes corresponding to the threaded section, for detachably mounting the first mounting base and the second mounting base on the flange surface. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a side view of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 2 This is a front view of the present invention;
[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An enlarged schematic diagram of part A in the middle;
[0020] Figure 4 This is a top view of the shrinkage and deformation schematic component of this utility model;
[0021] Figure 5 This is a top view of the displacement and deformation schematic component of this utility model.
[0022] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method:
[0023] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: scale 1, measuring scale 2, expansion joint 3, first mounting base 4, second mounting base 5, flange face 6, mounting hole 7, bolt hole 8, connecting part 9, safety color mark part I 10, safety color mark part II 11, and connecting hole 12. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.
[0025] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.
[0026] The basic implementation examples are as follows: Figure 1-5As shown in the figure: The expansion joint 3 deformation monitoring device of this embodiment includes a shrinkage deformation indicator and a displacement deformation indicator. The shrinkage deformation indicator includes a first mounting base 4 and a scale 1, with the scale 1 fixedly connected to the first mounting base 4. The displacement deformation indicator includes a second mounting base 5 and a measuring scale 2, with the measuring scale 2 fixedly connected to the second mounting base 5. The first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 are detachably mounted on the flange faces 6 at both ends of the expansion joint 3. The measuring scale 2 is provided with a connecting hole 12, and the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2 are movably connected through the connecting hole 12. A transverse gap is provided between the mounting hole 7 and the scale 1. The length of the shrinkage deformation indicator 1 can be designed according to the shrinkage deformation range of the expansion joint 33. The detachable installation method includes, but is not limited to, bolt connection, snap connection, or magnetic connection, which facilitates on-site assembly and maintenance. As a preferred embodiment, the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 can be fixed to the flange face 6 by bolt connection. The scale 1 can be made of stainless steel, which has sufficient rigidity and corrosion resistance. The connecting hole 12 of the measuring scale 2 can be designed as an elongated hole, allowing the scale 1 to move within a certain range. The lateral clearance allows the scale 1 to move freely, thus accurately reflecting the deformation of the expansion joint 3. The scale 1 and the measuring scale 2 can be marked with laser engraving to improve reading accuracy.
[0027] In this embodiment, the lateral gap is 3cm to 6cm. This gap range enables the monitoring function of the expansion joint 3's contraction deformation and displacement deformation through the movable connection between the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2. The fit between the connecting hole 12 and the scale 1 allows the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2 to not interfere with each other when the expansion joint 3 deforms. Since the expansion joint 3 mainly undergoes contraction deformation in actual use, the amount of deformation caused by displacement deformation is relatively small, and the amount of contraction deformation accounts for a large proportion. Therefore, setting a certain lateral gap between the mounting hole 7 and the scale 1 can ensure that the scale 1 can slide freely in the connecting hole 12 without interfering with the measuring scale 2 during the monitoring process. This avoids measurement interference caused by too small a gap and prevents connection instability caused by too large a gap.
[0028] In this embodiment, the scale 1 is vertically connected to the first mounting base 4, and the measuring scale 2 is vertically connected to the second mounting base 5. The vertical connection can be achieved through welding, bolting, or integral molding. This technical solution, by vertically mounting the measuring components on the base, ensures that the measuring reference remains perpendicular to the flange surface 6. When the expansion joint 3 undergoes axial contraction or radial displacement, the vertical arrangement of the scale 1 and measuring scale 2 can avoid measurement errors and improve the accuracy of the monitoring data. Compared with existing technologies, this structure does not require complex electronic sensors; stable and reliable deformation monitoring can be achieved solely through mechanical connections, solving the problems of limited sensor installation space and susceptibility to aging and damage.
[0029] In this embodiment, the cross-sections of the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 are arc-shaped, and the arc edge of the arc is a dominant arc; such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the arc-shaped cross-section refers to the shape of the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 on a cross-section parallel to the flange surface 6. The dominant arc refers to an arc with an arc length greater than a semicircle. During manufacturing, the required arc-shaped cross-section of the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5, with the arc edge of the arc being the dominant arc, can be directly cut using a chord longer than the radius and smaller than the diameter as the cutting line. This process is simple. As a preferred embodiment, the central angle of the dominant arc can be set to 200°–300°. Anti-slip textures or rubber pads can be provided on the contact surface between the mounting base and the flange surface 6 to enhance installation stability and reduce vibration impact. The mounting base can be made of metal to improve structural strength and durability. The thickness of the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 can be adjusted according to the actual load conditions. By adopting an arc-shaped cross-section with a dominant arc edge, the base can better adapt to the shape of the flange surface 6, improving installation stability. The dominant arc design increases the contact area between the base and the flange surface 6, resulting in a more uniform load distribution and reducing the risk of localized stress concentration. Furthermore, the arc-shaped cross-section structure has high bending stiffness, which can effectively resist the bending moment generated during the deformation of the expansion joint 3. Compared with the traditional flat base, this design has higher structural efficiency with the same amount of material. Due to the natural fit between the arc shape and the flange face 6, no complicated alignment adjustment is required during installation, thus improving installation efficiency.
[0030] The outwardly extending flange face 6 of the curved section forms a connecting part 9, which is perpendicularly connected to the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2; as shown Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the extension of the flange face 6 to form the connecting part 9 refers to the portion of the arc that extends beyond the outer edge of the flange face 6 to form the connecting part 9. The length of the extension can be adjusted according to the actual installation space. The vertical connection between the connecting part 9 and the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2 can be achieved by welding, bolting, or integral molding. As a preferred embodiment, the connection between the connecting part 9 and the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2 can adopt an arc transition design to reduce stress concentration. The arc design extending beyond the outer edge of the flange face 6 provides sufficient operating space for the movable connection of the scale 1 and the measuring scale 2. The vertical connection design of the connecting part 9 can effectively transmit axial and radial deformation and avoid measurement errors caused by installation angle deviation.
[0031] In this embodiment, the scale 1 is elongated, and the measuring scale 2 is cuboid with a connecting hole 12 extending through its center; the connecting hole 12 is cuboid in shape. At the initial monitoring position, the central axis of the scale 1 coincides with the central axis of the measuring scale 2 within the connecting hole 12. The cross-sectional shape of the elongated scale 1 includes, but is not limited to, rectangles, circles, or ellipses, and its length is adjusted according to the flange spacing of the expansion joint 3. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the thickness of scale 1 is slightly smaller than the width of the cuboid connecting hole 12, forming a clearance fit that allows scale 1 to slide freely within the hole. The initial monitoring position refers to the reference state after installation when no deformation has occurred; at this point, machining is used to ensure that the two center axes coincide.
[0032] Deformation monitoring is achieved through the mechanical fit of a rigid structure. The fit design between the elongated scale 1 and the perforated gauge 2 can simultaneously detect axial contraction and radial displacement. When the expansion joint 3 deforms, the change in the relative position of the scale 1 within the connecting hole 12 directly reflects the amount of deformation. The initial axis coincidence design ensures accurate zero-point reference and avoids cumulative errors. Compared to sensor monitoring methods, this structure requires no power supply and is corrosion-resistant, making it particularly suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
[0033] In this embodiment, the scale 1 has a marking surface I on its outer side for indicating the amount of shrinkage deformation, and the scale 2 has a marking surface II on its outer side for indicating the amount of displacement deformation; the marking surface I is parallel to the axis of the expansion joint 3, and the marking surface II is perpendicular to the axis of the expansion joint 3; as shown Figure 1 As shown, the outer surface refers to the side of scale 1 and measuring scale 2 furthest from expansion joint 3. Marking surfaces I and II are graduation marks, which can be formed by etching, spraying, or pasting labels. The graduation direction of marking surface I is parallel to the axis of expansion joint 3, used to visually display the axial contraction deformation; the graduation direction of marking surface II is perpendicular to the axis of expansion joint 3, used to visually display the radial displacement deformation. As a preferred embodiment, marking surface I can be set with millimeter-level precision graduation lines, and marking surface II can be set with centimeter-level precision graduation lines to adapt to deformation monitoring needs of different ranges. By setting marking surfaces with clear graduation marks, the axial contraction and radial displacement deformation of expansion joint 3 can be directly read visually. The axial and radial deformation are displayed independently through mutually perpendicular marking surfaces, avoiding confusion of measurement data.
[0034] In this embodiment, the marking surface I is provided with a shrinkage-deformation safety color mark part I10, and the marking surface II is provided with a displacement-deformation safety color mark part II11. The safety color mark part I10 and the safety color mark part II11 can be made of fluorescent paint or reflective material. Fluorescent paint emits visible light under ultraviolet light, while reflective material reflects light under illumination. Fluorescent paint provides visual indication in low-light environments, while reflective material enhances visibility by reflecting external light sources. Contrast color coatings achieve rapid identification through color differences. As a preferred embodiment, the color mark can be set as a red, yellow, and green stripe. The red area indicates that the deformation is close to the design limit, the yellow area indicates that the deformation is within the warning range, and the green area indicates that the deformation is within the safe range. The safety color mark part I10 and the safety color mark part II11 can be made of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, such as polyurethane coating or ceramic coating, to ensure that they do not fade over long-term use. The safety color mark part and the corresponding indicator part can also be detachably installed using a threaded connection or snap-fit structure, facilitating maintenance and replacement in case of damage. Figure 2 As shown, the red, yellow, and green stripes can be arranged in different patterns to make them easier to distinguish. For example, the green stripes can be square, the yellow stripes can be horizontal, and the red stripes can be diagonal.
[0035] This technical solution uses safety color marks on the axial and radial deformation indicator pieces to directly reflect the axial and radial deformation of the expansion joint 3 by utilizing visual differences. When the expansion joint 3 undergoes axial or radial deformation, the relative displacement of the axial deformation indicator piece and the radial deformation indicator piece will cause the safety color mark piece I10 and the safety color mark piece II11 to change position. This allows operators to intuitively judge whether the deformation of the expansion joint 3 exceeds the safety threshold at the first moment. Compared with the existing technology, this solution does not require the use of electronic sensors, avoiding installation interference problems caused by space limitations. At the same time, the physical marking method has advantages such as simple structure, aging resistance, and low maintenance cost.
[0036] In this embodiment, the flange face 6 is provided with a threaded section, and the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 are provided with mounting holes 7 corresponding to the threaded section, for detachably mounting the first mounting base 4 and the second mounting base 5 onto the flange face 6; Figure 1 As shown, the threaded section can be configured with bolt holes 8 that mate with the mounting holes, and the mounting holes 7 can be designed as through holes or blind holes.
[0037] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge such as specific technical solutions and / or characteristics are not described in detail here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical solutions of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.
Claims
1. A device for monitoring the deformation of an expansion joint, characterized in that: The device includes a shrinkage deformation indicator and a displacement deformation indicator. The shrinkage deformation indicator includes a first mounting base and a scale, with the scale fixedly connected to the first mounting base. The displacement deformation indicator includes a second mounting base and a measuring scale, with the measuring scale fixedly connected to the second mounting base. The first and second mounting bases are detachably mounted on the flange surfaces at both ends of the expansion joint. The measuring scale has a connection hole, and the scale and measuring scale are movably connected through the connection hole. A lateral gap is provided between the mounting hole and the scale.
2. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lateral gap is 3cm to 6cm.
3. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scale is vertically connected to the first mounting base, and the measuring tape is vertically connected to the second mounting base.
4. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cross-sections of the first mounting base and the second mounting base are arc-shaped, and the arc edge of the arc is a dominant arc.
5. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The superior arc extends outward from the flange face to form a connecting part, and the connecting part is perpendicularly connected to the scale and measuring rod.
6. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scale is elongated, and the measuring rod is cuboid with a through-hole in the middle; at the initial monitoring position, the central axis of the scale coincides with the central axis of the measuring rod in the connecting hole.
7. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scale has a marking surface I on its outer side for indicating the amount of shrinkage deformation, and the measuring scale has a marking surface II on its outer side for indicating the amount of displacement deformation.
8. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The marking surface I is parallel to the axis of the expansion joint, and the marking surface II is perpendicular to the axis of the expansion joint.
9. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The marking surface I is provided with a safety color mark part I that shrinks and deforms, and the marking surface II is provided with a safety color mark part II that shifts and deforms.
10. The expansion joint deformation monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flange surface is provided with a threaded section, and the first mounting base and the second mounting base are provided with mounting holes corresponding to the threaded section, for detachably mounting the first mounting base and the second mounting base on the flange surface.