US 10,240,618 B2 · Accumulator volume detector using an optical measurement

Abstract

A laser piston position sensor for determining the position of a piston within an accumulator, the laser piston position sensor configured to attach to an end of the accumulator, and the accumulator having an aperture in the end thereof exposing the piston within the accumulator to the laser piston position sensor. The laser piston position sensor including a sensor housing enclosing a cavity containing a low pressure gas, and defining an opening from the cavity toward the accumulator, a laser sensor positioned within the cavity for emitting a laser toward the piston of the accumulator via the opening in the sensor housing and the aperture in the accumulator, and a transparent lens positioned between the laser sensor and the accumulator to allow passage of the laser from the laser sensor to the piston, and to separate gases in the accumulator from gases in the cavity of the sensor housing.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A hydraulic accumulator for use in powering components of a subsea drilling system, comprising:

an accumulator housing enclosing a cavity, the accumulator housing defining an aperture in a first end, and having a longitudinal axis;
a piston disposed within the cavity and movable relative to the accumulator housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis;
and
a laser piston position sensor attached to an end of the accumulator housing adjacent the aperture in the first end, comprising:
a sensor housing enclosing a cavity and defining a recess in an outer surface of the sensor housing, the sensor housing comprising:
a gas fill line;
and
a gas valve attached to an end of the gas fill line at an outer surface of the sensor housing;
the gas fill line providing fluid communication from the gas valve into the hydraulic accumulator so that gas can be added to or removed from the hydraulic accumulator;
a lens positioned in the recess of the sensor housing, and exposed to the cavity in the sensor housing, the lens positioned between the cavity in the sensor housing and the aperture of the accumulator housing;
and
a laser sensor attached to the sensor housing in the cavity, that emits a laser directed through the lens and aperture in the accumulator housing to the piston.

9 more elements

A laser piston position sensor for determining the position of a piston within a hydraulic accumulator, the laser piston position sensor configured to attach to an end of the hydraulic accumulator, and the hydraulic accumulator having an aperture in the end thereof exposing the piston within the hydraulic accumulator to the laser piston position sensor, the laser piston position sensor comprising:

a sensor housing enclosing a cavity containing a low pressure gas, and defining an opening from the cavity toward the hydraulic accumulator, the sensor housing comprising:
a gas fill line;
and
a gas valve attached to an end of the gas fill line at an outer surface of the sensor housing;
the gas fill line providing fluid communication from the gas valve into the hydraulic accumulator so that gas can be added to or removed from the hydraulic accumulator;
a laser sensor positioned within the cavity for emitting a laser toward the piston of the hydraulic accumulator via the opening in the sensor housing and the aperture in the hydraulic accumulator;
and
a transparent lens positioned between the laser sensor and the hydraulic accumulator to allow passage of the laser from the laser sensor to the piston, and to separate gases in the hydraulic accumulator from gases in the cavity of the sensor housing.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Accumulator volume detector using an optical measurement

Life of this patent

Accumulator volume detector using an optical measurement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18