Low profile tension style flexible joint

A low profile tension style flexible joint comprising:

• an annular flange, having a sealing flange disposed radially outward therefrom, the annular flange fixedly attached to the duct;
• a female mating flange, having female threads disposed internally thereon, the female mating flange fixedly attached to the port;
• an annular seat collar having male threads disposed externally thereon;
• a bellows seal sealingly positioned between the sealing flange and the female mating flange;
• a locking ring disposed over at least a portion of a circumference of the female mating flange and including end portions;
• and
• a plurality of tabs spaced around an outer annular surface of the annular seat collar including channels formed therebetween;
• wherein
• the male threads threadably attach the female threads;
• the annular seat collar has a spherical portion contacting the sealing flange when the joint is assembled;
• and
• the locking ring includes end portions bent outward from the tab channels, thereby preventing rotational motion of the annular seat collar when the joint is assembled.

A low profile tension style flexible joint for use in ducting compressor air to a turbomachine combustor, comprising:

• an annular flange, having a sealing flange disposed radially outward therefrom, the annular flange fixedly attached to the duct;
• a female mating flange, having female threads disposed internally thereon, the female mating flange fixedly attached to the port;
• an annular seat collar having male threads disposed externally thereon;
• a bellows seal sealingly positioned between the sealing flange and the female mating flange;
• a protuberance on a distal end, relative to the port, of the female mating flange;
• a radial face axially positioning the annular seat collar to contact the protuberance when the annular seat collar is threadably attached the port, thereby maintaining the working cavity length for the joint;
• a locking ring disposed in a channel over at least a portion of a circumference of the female mating flange, the looking ring including end portions;
• and
• a plurality of tabs spaced around an outer annular surface of the annular seat collar including channels formed therebetween;
• wherein
• the male threads threadably attach to the female threads;
• the annular seat collar has a spherical portion contacting the sealing flange when the joint is assembled;
• the joint has a length of less than about 1.5 inches and a diameter of about 1.0 inch greater than the diameter of the duct;
• and
• the locking ring end portions are bent outward from the tab channels, thereby preventing rotational motion of the annular seat collar when the joint is assembled.

A method for joining a duct and a port comprising:

• attaching an annular flange to the duct, the annular flange having a sealing flange disposed radially outward therefrom;
• providing a female mating flange attached to the port, the female mating flange having threads disposed internally thereon;
• providing a plurality of tabs on the outer circumferential surface of the annular seat collar, the plurality of tabs including channels formed therebetween;
• threadably engaging the female threads of the female mating flange with male threads of an annular seat collar having the male threads disposed externally thereon;
• threading the male threads with the female threads to a point to cause contact between a portion of the sealing flange and the annular seat collar;
• disposing a locking ring over at least a portion of a circumference of the female mating flange;
• bending end portions of the locking ring from the channel over the outer circumferential surface of the annular seat collar;
• and
• engaging the end portions with the plurality of tabs thereby preventing rotational motion of the annular seal collar when the joint is assembled.

A pneumatic duct having at least one joint on at least one end thereof for attaching the duct to a port, the joint comprising:

• an annular flange having a sealing flange disposed radially outward therefrom, the annular flange attached to the duct;
• a female mating flange having female threads disposed internally thereon, the female mating flange attached to the port;
• an annular seat collar having male threads disposed externally thereon;
• a bellows seal positioned between the sealing flange and the female mating flange;
• a locking ring disposed in a channel over at least a portion of a circumference of the female mating flange and including end portions;
• and
• a plurality of tabs spaced around an outer annular surface of the annular seat collar including channels therebetween;
• wherein
• the male threads threadably attach to the female threads;
• the annular seat collar having a spherical portion contacting the sealing flange when the joint is assembled;
• and
• the locking ring end portions are bent outward from the tab channels, thereby preventing rotational motion of the annular seat collar when the joint is assembled.