Abstract: An expansion joint for coupling two conduits in a manner allowing relative axial movement therebetween and including an external shell or housing receiving the ends of both conduits and receiving an end of at least one of the conduits in a manner allowing relative axial movement of the end of the conduit in the shell, a flexible metal bellows in the shell connected to the shell and to the end of the one conduit for allowing relative axial movement between the ends of the conduits and for providing a fluid seal between the interiors of the conduits and the end of the expansion joint which receives the one conduit, and characterized by a safety flow restrictor operatively associated with the shell and with the one conduit for restricting fluid flow out the end of the expansion joint which receives the one conduit in the event the bellows fails to maintain the afore-mentioned fluid seal.

Abstract: An expansion joint of the bellows type for installation between the end portions of two aligned pipes utilizes two stop members within the bellows being movable relative to one another and each being supported by opposite end portions of the joint for limiting the axial extension of the joint. Each stop member includes a tubular sleeve being fixed at one end to a respective end portion of the joint and a ring at the sleeve end opposite its attached end. When the joint extends axially a predetermined amount, the rings engage one another and prevent any further joint extension.