# US 11,905,981 B2 · Hydraulic accumulator autostart

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- Number: US 11,905,981 B2
- Document ID: US11905981B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/310,080
- Filed: 2023-05-01
- Published: 2023-11-02
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-05-01
- Assignees: GJR Meyer Service, Inc.
- Applicants: GJR Meyer Service, Inc.
- Inventors: Gary Michael Elsik; Noel Donavan McKim; Frank Michael Gonzalez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905981B2

## CPC

- F15B 1/033: with electrical control means
- F15B 21/048: Arrangements for compressed air preparation, e.g. comprising air driers, air condensers, filters, lubricators or pressure regulators
- H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)}
- E21B 33/06: Blow-out preventers {, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers (rotating blow-out preventers E21B33/085)}
- F15B 2201/51: Pressure detection
- F15B 2211/205: Systems with pumps
- F15B 2211/20515: Electric motor
- F15B 2211/20523: Internal combustion engine
- F15B 2211/20538: constant capacity
- F15B 2211/30505: Non-return valves, i.e. check valves
- F15B 2211/50518: using pressure relief valves
- F15B 2211/50536: using unloading valves controlling the supply pressure by diverting fluid to the return line
- F15B 2211/5157: being connected to a pressure source and a return line
- F15B 2211/526: electrically or electronically
- F15B 2211/62: Cooling or heating means
- F15B 2211/6306: representing a pressure
- F15B 2211/6309: the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure
- F15B 2211/633: representing a state of the prime mover, e.g. torque or rotational speed
- F15B 2211/6343: representing a temperature
- F15B 2211/6346: representing a state of input means, e.g. joystick position
- F15B 2211/6651: Control of the prime mover, e.g. control of the output torque or rotational speed
- F15B 2211/6658: Control using different modes, e.g. four-quadrant-operation, working mode and transportation mode
- H02J 7/32: for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover {rotating at constant speed}
- H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

## Abstract

A system for automatically actuating a hydraulic accumulator—useful for oil collection systems—capable of operation while maintaining a zero or near zero draw of electrical energy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for maintaining hydraulic pressure at a hydraulic accumulator, the system comprising:
a pressure sensor electrically coupled to a control unit;
a check valve hydraulically coupled to the pressure sensor through a first hydraulic connector; and
a pump hydraulically coupled to the check valve through a second hydraulic connector and electrically coupled to the control unit;
wherein the pressure sensor is configured to mechanically detect a pressure at the first hydraulic connector;
the pressure sensor is further configured to transmit an electrical signal to the control unit when the pressure at the first hydraulic connector falls below a first threshold,
the pressure sensor is further configured to cease transmitting the electrical signal to the control unit when the pressure at the first hydraulic connector exceeds a second threshold,
the control unit is configured to control the pump to urge, at a first time, hydraulic fluid through the check valve into the first hydraulic connector through the second hydraulic connector when the control unit receives the electrical signal, and
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the pump to cease urging hydraulic fluid through the check valve into the first hydraulic connector through the second hydraulic connector when the control unit stops receiving the electrical signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second threshold is at least two thousand pounds per square inches greater than the first threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
an engine; and
a rechargeable battery,
wherein the engine is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and operably coupled to the pump, and
wherein the electrical signal is based on a voltage signal from the rechargeable battery.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical signal is a modulated signal based on the voltage signal and modulated by the pressure sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic accumulator hydraulically coupled to the pressure sensor and the check valve through the first hydraulic connector.

### Claim 6

A system for maintaining hydraulic pressure at a hydraulic accumulator, the system comprising:
a pressure sensor electrically coupled to a control unit;
a check valve hydraulically coupled to the pressure sensor through a first hydraulic connector;
a pump hydraulically coupled to the check valve through a second hydraulic connector and electrically coupled to the control unit;
an unloader valve hydraulically connected to the pump through the second hydraulic connector and electrically coupled to the control unit; and
a tank hydraulically connected to the unloader valve through a third hydraulic connector and hydraulically connected to the pump through a fourth hydraulic connector;
wherein the pressure sensor is configured to mechanically detect a pressure at the first hydraulic connector,
the pressure sensor is further configured to transmit an electrical signal to the control unit when the pressure at the first hydraulic connector falls below a first threshold,
the control unit is configured to control the pump to urge, at a first time, hydraulic fluid through the check valve into the first hydraulic connector through the second hydraulic connector when the control unit receives the electrical signal
the control unit is further configured to close the unloader valve at a second time,
the second time is subsequent to the first time, and
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the unloader valve to reduce a rate at which the unloader valve transmits fluid received through the second hydraulic connector to the tank through the third hydraulic connector over a period commencing at a third time and ending at the second time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the third time is later than the first time.

### Claim 8

A method for maintaining pressure in a hydraulic accumulator, the method comprising:
providing a pressure sensor electrically coupled to a control unit;
providing a check valve hydraulically coupled to the pressure sensor through a first hydraulic connector;
providing a pump hydraulically coupled to the check valve through a second hydraulic connector and electrically coupled to the control unit;
mechanically detecting, using the pressure sensor, a pressure at the first hydraulic connector;
transmitting, using the pressure sensor, an electrical signal to the control unit when the pressure at the first hydraulic connector falls below a first threshold;
receiving, by the control unit, the electrical signal;
controlling the pump, using the control unit, to urge, at a first time, hydraulic fluid through the check valve into the first hydraulic connector through the second hydraulic connector responsive to the control unit receiving the electrical signal;
ceasing, using the pressure sensor transmission of the electrical signal to the control unit when the pressure at the first hydraulic connector exceeds a second threshold; and
ceasing, by the pump, to urge hydraulic fluid through the check valve into the first hydraulic connector through the second hydraulic connector responsive the control unit detecting that the control unit has stopped receiving the electrical signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the second threshold is at least two thousand pounds per square inches greater than the first threshold.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
providing an engine;
providing a rechargeable battery; and
electrically coupling the engine to the rechargeable battery and operably coupling the engine to the pump,
wherein the electrical signal is based on a voltage signal from the rechargeable battery.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising modulating, by the pressure sensor, the voltage signal to form the electrical signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising hydraulically coupling a hydraulic accumulator to the pressure sensor and the check valve through the first hydraulic connector.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
providing an unloader valve hydraulically connected to the pump through the second hydraulic connector and electrically coupled to the control unit;
providing a tank hydraulically connected to the unloader valve through a third hydraulic connector and hydraulically connected to the pump through a fourth hydraulic connector; and
closing, under control of the control unit, the unloader valve at a second time,
wherein the second time is subsequent to the first time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising causing, under control of the control unit, the unloader valve to reduce a rate at which the unloader valve transmits fluid received through the second hydraulic connector to the tank through the third hydraulic connector over a period commencing at a third time and ending at the second time.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the third time is later than the first time.