As things stand, Ho Ho, with the elevator there are a few unknowns. "What can you afford to distort?" is a good basis for examination. If you can mount the connecting bits, whatever they might be, on the usual slot & shoulder bolt set up you will be home & dry. Saves messing about with the machine proper.

I'm reminded of the self appointed Piping Designer who designed a high pressure steam line in a large petrochemical refinery in the North of England. On start up the pipe bents swayed about a bit & some rather important joints in product lines sprung leaks. The alleged designer's reply was " Nobody said nowt (anything) to me about expansion!" It was a long time ago; but even so it makes you wonder. ■

So, taking a 'scientific' engineering approach

1) establish the true material temperature at the elevator inlet

2) establish the true material temperature at the elevator outlet

3) establish the specific heat of the material

4) calculate the heat lost by the material while in the elevator

5) make an estimate of how much of the heat loss is passed (by radiation?) to the elevator casing

6) calculate the temperature rise of the casing allowing for radiation from the outside of the casing

7) calculate the linear expansion on the casing due to the temperature rise

8) make a decision if an expansion joint is required

Alternatively, do what I would do. Find an elevator handling hot material and try putting your hand on the casing to see if it's actually hot or just mildly warm. If warm don't worry. ■

You should look at it.

Thermal expansion can create a lot of force

This will go somewhere - we have experinced this in some ductings

We had a belt elevator with same arrangement but less temp and someone decided to fit a drive access platform tied to structure and elevator > on one side and led to mis tracking !!!

If if does not look right, then it is not.

Cheers

James ■