Expansion joint and incineration ash treatment equipment

An expansion joint that absorbs displacement occurring at a point of connection between upstream and downstream pipes through which a powdery and/or granular material is transferred by gravity, the expansion joint comprising:

• an outer tube including opposite first and second ends and extending from the first end to the second end in an axial direction of the expansion joint, the outer tube further including a first flange and a second flange, the first flange being located at the first end, the second flange being located at the second end and connectable to the downstream pipe;
• an inner tube including opposite third and fourth ends and extending from the third end to the fourth end in the axial direction, the inner tube being located inside the outer tube and further including a third flange and a middle flange, the third flange being located at the third end and connectable to the upstream pipe, the middle flange being located at a middle portion between the third and fourth ends;
• and
• a closure including an outer peripheral portion connected to the first flange, an inner peripheral portion connected to the middle flange, and an elastic portion connecting the outer peripheral portion to the inner peripheral portion, wherein
• the first end is spaced from the third end in the axial direction and located between the third and fourth ends in the axial direction,
• the first flange and the middle flange are at the same location in the axial direction, and
• an outer diameter of the middle flange is greater than an inner diameter of the second flange and smaller than an inner diameter of the first flange.