Expansion joint for pipe system

1. An expansion joint for a pipe system comprising:

a first pipe section defining a first passageway having a longitudinal axis;

a second pipe section defining a second passageway having a longitudinal axis;

a deformable section interconnecting the first and second pipe sections so that the first and second passageways are fluidly connected, the deformable section being constructed to deform upon relative movement of the first and second pipe sections with respect to each other;

a first mount secured to the first pipe section in the first passageway, wherein the first mount includes a hub defining a passage, and a plurality of braces extending radially from the hub of the first mount and secured in the first passageway;

a second mount secured to the second pipe section in the second passageway, wherein the second mount includes a hub defining a passage, and a plurality of braces extending radially from the hub of the second mount and secured in the second passageway; and

a flexible tension member tethering the first and second mounts to each other to limit a linear separation between the first and second pipe sections, the flexible tension member extending through the deformable section and within the respective passages defined by the hubs of the first and second mounts,

wherein each of the first and second mounts includes a plurality of braces secured to the first and second pipe sections in the corresponding first and second passageways, and wherein the expansion joint further comprises stiffening members for each of the first and second mounts, the stiffening members extending between adjacent braces of each of the first and second mounts.

2. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 1 wherein the braces of the first mount are spaced equally around the longitudinal axis of the first passageway and the braces of the second mount are spaced equally around the longitudinal axis of the second passageway.

3. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 2 wherein the braces of the first mount have thicknesses extending generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first passageway, and the braces of the second mount have thicknesses extending generally transversely with respect to longitudinal axis of the second passageway.

4. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a generally rigid compression member operatively connected to the flexible tension member between the first and second mounts and disposed for engaging the mounts to restrain movement of the mounts toward each other.

5. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 4 wherein the compression member comprises a sleeve received over the flexible tension member.

6. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tension member comprises a stainless steel wire rope.

7. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second mounts has a percentage of effective open area that is within a range from about 95% to about 97%.

8. An expansion joint for a pipe system comprising:

a first pipe section defining a first passageway having a longitudinal axis;

a second pipe section defining a second passageway having a longitudinal axis;

a deformable section interconnecting the first and second pipe sections so that the first and second passageways are fluidly connected, the deformable section being constructed to deform upon relative movement of the first and second pipe sections with respect to each other;

a first mount secured to the first pipe section in the first passageway;

a second mount secured to the second pipe section in the second passageway;

a flexible tension member tethering the first and second mounts to each other, the flexible tension member extending through the deformable section;

another flexible tension member tethering the first and second mounts to each other,

wherein the first mount includes: a plurality of first braces secured in the first passageway and extending generally transversely with respect to the first passageway; and a first securement plate operatively connected to the first braces,

wherein the second mount includes: a plurality of second braces secured in the second passageway and extending generally transversely with respect to the second passageway; and a second securement plate operatively connected to the second braces,

wherein each of said flexible tension members are attached to the first and second securement plates.

9. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 8 wherein the first securement plate comprises a fixed securement plate fixedly attached to the first braces, and wherein the second securement plate comprises a sliding securement plate configured for sliding, radial movement relative to the second braces.

10. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 9 wherein the second securement plate further includes a base securement plate that is fixedly attached to the second braces, wherein the sliding securement plate is coupled to the base securement plate and adapted to slide on the base securement plate.

11. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 10 wherein the base securement plate has a convex bearing surface and the sliding securement plate has a concave bearing surface that engages the convex bearing surface for relative sliding movement.

12. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of the first and second securement plates define openings that receive the flexible tension members.

13. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 12 wherein the openings are spaced at equal intervals around centers of the respective first and second securement plates.

14. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 8 further including a compression member having open opposite ends operatively connected to an engageable with the first and second mounts for limiting convergence of the first and second mounts.

15. An expansion joint as set forth in claim 14 further comprising mounting inserts projecting outward from the first and second mounts and into the open opposite ends of the compression member so that the compression member is capable of sliding axially on the mounting inserts.