Beakbane

Over the years Beakbane Bellows have established an ever-increasing number of applications throughout industry. Today, they vary from the simplest of applications to the specialised requirements of high technology.

Bellows fall into two broad classes of use:

• Seals
• Connectors

When used as seals, bellows are required to protect reciprocating mechanisms, keeping them free from contamination by their environment.

When used as a connector, a bellows function is to contain substances passing between fixing points it connects. In this mode, the bellow can also be designed to take up vibration, thermal expansion, and some misalignment in the system.

Beakbane has perfected many alternative manufacturing techniques that utilise a wide range of materials to produce bellows that will meet most operational requirements.

Materials include the following

• Neoprene
• Rubber
• Polyurethane
• Neoprene coated cotton
• Neoprene coated nylon
• Silicone
• PVC coated nylon
• Silicone glasscloth

Beakbane designers select the correct materials, design and construction to solve your protection needs. Large or small, all our bellows are designed and manufactured in-house, to suit customer's applications and are Quality Assured to ISO 9001:2008 certification.

Beakbane Sewn Bellows, noted for their durability, are a cost effective solution for applications where small or medium batch quantities are required.

Traditional fabrics have been supplemented with specially developed materials to counter contaminants; from everyday rust, dust and dirt to weld spatter; and temperatures from -60°C to +250°C. Food grade materials are also available.

Where it is not possible or practical to dismantle equipment, sewn bellows can be supplied split, ready for fitting around a shaft. The split is closed after installation using a 'tape and clip' joint.

Sewn bellows are widely used in the protection of precision shafts and mechanisms of: -

• Pneumatic cylinder rods
• Hydraulic Cylinder rods
• Screw jacks
• Linear-motion rails
• Ballscrews

When your application calls for a low-volume moulded rubber bellows solution, Beakbane provides a cost-effective range of options. Our bellows require no expensive tooling, making the manufacture of small quantities of rubber bellows a viable proposition. A wide range of materials is available to suit your application, including Beakaprene a tough rubberised nylon material developed by our own research and development team.

Benefits include:-

• Operational temperatures from -20°C to +100°C
• Extremely durable and versatile
• Excellent resistance to abrasion
• Compliant with flameproof tests BS 3120 and BS 6853
• Established track record within the rail, steel and water industries
• Can be supplied split with Velcro or zips for maintenance retrofit
• Available in circular, rectangular or ellipsoidal shapes
• Can be steel-reinforced for extra resilience

Benefits include:-

• Operational temperatures from -30°C to +60°C
• Excellent resistance to chemicals and hazardous contaminants
• Maximum flexibility
• Frequently used on special-purpose machinery and in the medical, renewable energy and nuclear power industries
• Can also be supplied in flame-retardant PVC film
• Suitable for air conditioning and ductwork connectors
• Available in welded construction for increased extension:compression ratio
• Aesthetically pleasing, available in black or translucent film

Beakbane Silicone Bellows are ideal for high temperature and pressure applications. Silicone bellows are reinforced with layers of Polyester or Aramid.

Benefits include:-

• Operational temperatures from -55°C to +250°C
• Designs available up to 100 psi working pressure
• Resistant to a wide range of chemical and environmental conditions including ozone and UV
• Meets EU food and pharmaceutical requirements
• High electrical resistance, typically 1014 - 1016 ohm-cm

Beakbane Flexible Connectors are designed to contain substances passing between fixed points. Whether this be air in a heating, ventiliating and air conditioning (HVAC) system or cement between hopper and wagon in a bulk materials handling application.

Beakbane Flexible Connectors can also accommodate movement in metal ductwork caused by misalignment, vibration, thermal expansion or shrinkage.

Benefits include:-

• Operational temperatures from -60°C and +250°C.
• Available in circular or rectangular shapes.
• Large diametres of up to 1500mm are available.
• Integral steel reinforcement ensures stability
• Efficient control of environmental pollution
• Specially developed materials can counteract the high temperatures, pressures and chemical concentrations found in modern industry.

Applications include:-

• Flexible ducting.
• Wide range of designs available for HVAC applications.
• Cement handling.
• Grain loading.
• Food processing.

Robust construction, coupled with good looks, ensures that Beakbane Folding Bellows are the first choice for situations where durability and excellent aesthetics are essential.

• Strong, two-part laminated construction
  
  
• Extensively used in the medical sector

Where Health and Safety is an issue, Beakbane Lift-table Bellows provide excellent all-around protection from the hazards of scissor-lift mechanisms. They can be designed to protect 1, 2, 3 or all 4 sides and are available in a range of sizes to suit most lift tables.

Other features include:-

• UV and ozone resistant materials allow for indoor and outdoor use
• Lightweight and durable
• Tested to two million cycles
• Can be used for new and existing lifts
• Excellent stroke : compression ratio
• Minimum maintenance
• Manufactured in a range of brightly coloured materials for vivid visual warning of hazards