Pressure vessel with accumulator isolation device

• US 20070131295A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Rexroth Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Rexroth Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Rose, Kenric
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/08 using a gas cushion; Gas charging devices; Indicators or floats therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2201/40 Constructional details of accumulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A pressure vessel assembly is provided for a pressurized fluid system. The pressure vessel assembly comprises an outer casing defining an interior cavity within the outer casing, at least one fluid-pressure accumulator disposed within the interior cavity in the outer casing, and at least one isolation device disposed between the at least one fluid-pressure accumulator and the outer casing.

Claims

1. A pressure vessel assembly for a pressurized fluid system, said pressure vessel assembly comprising:

a hollow outer casing defining an interior cavity within said outer casing;

at least one fluid-pressure accumulator disposed within said interior cavity in said outer casing; and

at least one isolation device disposed between said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator and said outer casing.

2. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer casing includes a hollow sidewall section and at least one closure member provided at one end of said sidewall section to define an interior cavity within said outer casing;

and wherein said at least one isolation device is disposed between said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator and said at least one closure member of said outer casing.

3. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said at least one closure member is removably attached to said sidewall section of said outer casing.

4. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one isolation device includes an isolator ring.

5. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said isolator ring is made of a substantially elastomeric material.

6. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one isolation device further includes an isolator ring support member supporting said isolator ring and a spring member disposed between said at least one closure member and said isolator ring support member for biasing said isolator ring toward said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator.

7. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said isolator ring is made of a substantially elastomeric material.

8. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said isolator ring support member has an annular support flange receiving said isolator ring and a substantially cylindrical guided neck slidably extending through an opening in said outer casing in the direction away from said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator.

9. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said support flange of said isolator ring support member receives said isolator ring in a groove formed on one side thereof facing said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator, and wherein said spring member engages the other side of said support flange facing said outer casing.

10. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer casing includes a hollow sidewall section and two closure members provided at opposite ends of said sidewall section of said outer casing;

and wherein said at least one isolation device includes two isolation devices each disposed at one of opposite ends of said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator between said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator and one of said closure members of said outer casing.

11. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein one of said isolation devices includes an isolator ring.

12. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said isolator ring is made of a substantially elastomeric material.

13. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the other one of said isolation devices includes an isolator ring, an isolator ring support member supporting said isolator ring and a spring member disposed between said adjacent one of said endplate members and said isolator ring support member for biasing said isolator ring toward said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator.

14. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said isolation devices includes an isolator ring.

15. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said isolation devices includes an isolator ring, an isolator ring support member supporting said isolator ring and a spring member disposed between said adjacent one of said endplate members and said isolator ring support member for biasing said isolator ring toward said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator.

16. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said hollow outer casing is substantially cylindrical in shape.

17. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said hollow outer casing is substantially prismatic in shape.

18. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator has an elongated outer shell.

19. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said outer shell of said at least one fluid-pressure accumulator is fabricated of a composite material.

20. The pressure vessel assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said hollow outer casing is mounted within a housing of a component module of a pressurized fluid system.