HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
First Claim
1. An accumulator for a hydraulic system comprising:
- a polymer liner defining a cavity;
a metal bellows assembly housed in the cavity and separating the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, with the first and second chambers isolated from one another by the bellows assembly;
a composite shell substantially encasing the liner;
wherein the liner and shell are configured so that the first chamber receives hydraulic fluid and delivers hydraulic fluid through an opening in the liner and the shell as the bellows assembly expands and compresses due to pressurized gas in the second chamber balancing changes in fluid pressure in the first chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An accumulator for a hydraulic system includes a polymer liner defining a cavity. A metal bellows assembly is housed in the cavity and separates the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, with the first and second chambers isolated from one another by the bellows assembly. A composite shell substantially encases the liner. The liner and shell are configured so that the first chamber receives hydraulic fluid from and delivers hydraulic fluid through an opening in the liner and the shell as the bellows assembly expands and compresses due to pressurized gas in the second chamber balancing fluid pressure changes in the first chamber. In one embodiment, the metal bellows assembly includes hydroformed bellows.
22 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An accumulator for a hydraulic system comprising:
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a polymer liner defining a cavity; a metal bellows assembly housed in the cavity and separating the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, with the first and second chambers isolated from one another by the bellows assembly; a composite shell substantially encasing the liner; wherein the liner and shell are configured so that the first chamber receives hydraulic fluid and delivers hydraulic fluid through an opening in the liner and the shell as the bellows assembly expands and compresses due to pressurized gas in the second chamber balancing changes in fluid pressure in the first chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An accumulator comprising:
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a pressure vessel with; a composite shell defining a cavity with an opening; and a multi-piece polymer liner lining an inner surface of the shell to substantially isolate the cavity from the composite shell; a metal bellows assembly housed in the cavity and separating the cavity into a hydraulic fluid chamber and a gas chamber, with the hydraulic fluid chamber outside of the bellows assembly and in communication with the opening in the vessel, and with the gas chamber inside of the metal bellows assembly and not in contact with the polymer liner; and wherein the bellows assembly contracts and expands due to pressurized gas in the gas chamber balancing changes in fluid pressure in the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of manufacturing a hydraulic accumulator comprising:
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hydroforming metal annular bellows; placing the bellows within a tubular polymer liner portion; securing polymer end portions to opposing ends of the tubular liner portion to enclose the bellows within the liner; and covering the liner with composite material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification