PRESSURE COMPENSATOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PRESSURE COMPENSATOR
First Claim
1. A pressure compensator for providing pressure compensation for a subsea device, comprising:
- a compensator wall enclosing a compensation chamber;
at least one bellows assembly includinga metal bellows forming part of the compensator wall, the metal bellows being deformable to change an inner volume of the compensation chamber, andan elastomeric bellows provided on the compensator wall and covering at least the metal bellows, wherein the elastomeric bellows includes a shape adapted to a shape of the metal bellows; and
a seal sealing a space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows, wherein said space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows is provided with a vacuum so that a pressure applied by a medium to the compensator wall will urge the elastomeric bellows into contact with the metal bellows.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure compensator for providing pressure compensation for a subsea device is provided. The pressure compensator has a compensator wall enclosing a compensation chamber and at least one bellows assembly. The bellows assembly includes a metal bellows that forms part of the compensator wall. The metal bellows is deformable to change the inner volume of the compensation chamber. The bellows assembly further includes an elastomeric bellows provided on the compensator wall and covering at least the metal bellows. A seal seals the space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows. The space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows is provided with a vacuum.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pressure compensator for providing pressure compensation for a subsea device, comprising:
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a compensator wall enclosing a compensation chamber; at least one bellows assembly including a metal bellows forming part of the compensator wall, the metal bellows being deformable to change an inner volume of the compensation chamber, and an elastomeric bellows provided on the compensator wall and covering at least the metal bellows, wherein the elastomeric bellows includes a shape adapted to a shape of the metal bellows; and a seal sealing a space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows, wherein said space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows is provided with a vacuum so that a pressure applied by a medium to the compensator wall will urge the elastomeric bellows into contact with the metal bellows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. A method of manufacturing a pressure compensator for providing pressure compensation for a subsea device, the method comprising:
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providing a compensator wall enclosing a compensation chamber; providing at least one bellows assembly including a metal bellows forming part of the compensator wall, the metal bellows being deformable to change the inner volume of the compensation chamber, and an elastomeric bellows provided on the compensator wall and covering at least the metal bellows, wherein the elastomeric bellows includes a shape adapted to a shape of the metal bellows; sealing the space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows; and evacuating the space between the metal bellows and the elastomeric bellows such that a pressure applied by a medium to the compensator wall urges the elastomeric bellows into contact with the metal bellows.
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Specification