Accumulator pressure monitoring system
AssigneeCaterpillar SARL
InventorAdam Adeeb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An accumulator pressure monitoring system for monitoring pressure in a hydraulic circuit. The accumulator includes a first chamber filled with a gas, a second chamber filled with a liquid and a movable separator disposed between the first and second chambers. A pressure sensor measures the pressure in the first chamber; and a control unit receives pressure readings from the pressure sensor and compares the pressure readings to threshold pressure values and may control the accumulator based upon this comparison.
Claims15
An accumulator pressure monitoring system comprising:
- an accumulator having a first chamber filled with a gas, a second chamber filled with a liquid, and a movable separator disposed between the first and second chambers, the movable separator effecting a fluid seal between the first chamber and the second chamber;
- a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the first chamber, such that the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the first chamber, the movable separator blocking fluid communication between the pressure sensor and the second chamber;
- and
- a control unit operatively connected to the pressure sensor, the control unit being configured to receive pressure readings from the pressure sensor and to compare the pressure readings to threshold pressure values.
A machine comprising:
- a hydraulic fluid circuit;
- and
- an accumulator pressure monitoring system, the accumulator pressure monitoring system including:
- an accumulator having a first chamber filled with a gas, a second chamber filled with a liquid, and a movable separator disposed between the first and second chambers, the movable separator effecting a fluid seal between the first chamber and the second chamber,
- the second chamber being in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid circuit, the movable separator blocking fluid communication between the first chamber and the hydraulic fluid circuit;
- a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the first chamber, such that the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the first chamber, the movable separator blocking fluid communication between the pressure sensor and the second chamber;
- and
- a control unit operatively connected to the pressure sensor, the control unit being configured to receive pressure readings from the pressure sensor and to compare the pressure readings to threshold pressure values.
A method for detecting abnormal pressure conditions in an accumulator,
- the accumulator including a first chamber filled with a gas, a second chamber filled with a liquid, and a movable separator disposed between the first and second chambers, the movable separator effecting a fluid seal between the first chamber and the second chamber,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring pressure readings of a gas in the first chamber of the accumulator via a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being disposed in fluid communication with the first chamber, the movable separator blocking fluid communication between the pressure sensor and the second chamber;
- providing the pressure readings of the gas to a control unit;
- and
- comparing the pressure readings with threshold pressure values via the control unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.