Thermal expansion compensating back flush manifold

摘要

Thermal expansion compensating arrangement including a vessel and a first member anchored to the vessel so that it can thermally expand uniformly radially outwardly in a given direction from a longitudinal axis of the vessel. A second member is disposed in the vessel with a desired alignment in the given direction relative to the first member at a base temperature, the second member being made of the same material as the first member. An anchoring arm is provided for anchoring the second member to the vessel. The anchoring arm has one end which forms a rigid connection with the vessel and another end which forms a rigid connection with the second member. The anchoring arm is made of material having a coefficient of thermal expansion for causing the anchoring arm to expand away from its rigid connection with the vessel while the second member thermally expands away from the rigid connection with the anchoring arm. The coefficients of thermal expansion and anchoring arm length are selected based upon a predetermined relationship for causing the thermal expansion of the anchoring arm to compensate for the thermal expansion of the second member so that upon an increase in temperature from the base temperature the second member will thermally expand uniformly radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis to thereby maintain the desired alignment with the first member.