Expansion joint mount

1 . An expansion joint for use with a tenter system having at least two tenter chain and rail mechanisms adjustably separated by a width adjustment means, each chain and rail mechanism including at least two elongated sections of a tenter rail that conducts a tenter chain therein, the expansion joint comprising:

a mounting means adapted for attachment to the width adjustment means of the tenter system;

an elongated C-shaped rail cage adapted to substantially enclose abutting ends of each tenter rail section, the elongated C-shaped rail cage including a partially open side through which pin plates fixed to the tenter chain may project as the chain moves through the tenter rail, the elongated C-shaped rail cage adapted for fixing with the mounting means and receiving slidably through open ends thereof each end of one of the rail sections, the elongated C-shaped rail cage including a removable side selectively secured to the elongated C-shaped rail cage with at least one mechanical fastener, whereby the side of the elongated C-shaped rail cage may be removed to access the ends of each section of tenter rail therein;

whereby as the tenter rails longitudinally expand and contract, the ends of each section thereof are kept in longitudinal alignment by the elongated C-shaped rail cage.

2 . The expansion joint of claim 1 wherein the mounting means is a metal bracket that includes at least one selectively removable mechanical fastener.

3 . The expansion joint of claim 2 wherein each selectively removable mechanical fastener is a threaded flat-head bolt adapted to screw into a threaded aperture formed in the width adjustment means.

4 . The expansion joint of claim 1 wherein an internal cavity of the rail cage is adapted to fit around the tenter rail with substantially no radial play, such that the tenter rail is only free to move longitudinally therein.