Bootstrap hydraulic reservoir

A hydraulic fluid system comprising:

• a hydraulic pump comprising an inlet and an outlet;
• a pressure line;
• a device actuator fluidly connected to the outlet of the hydraulic pump via the pressure line;
• and
• a bootstrap hydraulic reservoir comprising:
• a bootstrap chamber to hold hydraulic fluid;
• a piston chamber fluidly connected to the pressure line;
• a piston comprising a bootstrap end portion held within the bootstrap chamber and a pressure end portion held within the piston chamber;
• a hydraulic accumulator fluidly connected to the pressure line such that the hydraulic accumulator is configured to accumulate pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pressure line during operation of the hydraulic fluid system;
• and
• a valve fluidly connected to the pressure line between the hydraulic accumulator and the outlet of the hydraulic pump, the valve comprising a closed position, wherein the valve comprises a valve actuator to selectively move the valve to an open position when the pressure line is de-pressurized as a result of the hydraulic fluid system being shut down to enable the hydraulic accumulator to supply the device actuator with a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid through the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system.

A bootstrap hydraulic reservoir for a hydraulic fluid system, the bootstrap hydraulic reservoir comprising:

• a bootstrap chamber to hold hydraulic fluid;
• a piston chamber fluidly connected to a pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system;
• a piston comprising a bootstrap end portion held within the bootstrap chamber and a pressure end portion held within the piston chamber;
• a hydraulic accumulator fluidly connected to the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system such that the hydraulic accumulator is configured to accumulate pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pressure line;
• and
• a check valve fluidly connected to the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system between the hydraulic accumulator and an outlet of a pump of the hydraulic fluid system, the check valve being biased to a closed position wherein the hydraulic accumulator supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston chamber, the check valve comprising a valve actuator to selectively move the check valve against the bias to an open position when the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system is de-pressurized as a result of the hydraulic fluid system being shut down to enable the hydraulic accumulator to supply a device actuator of the hydraulic fluid system that is fluidly connected to the outlet of the pump with a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid through the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system.