Accumulator loading valve

A pressure-responsive accumulator loading valve for distributing fluid under pressure delivered by a pump connection to a consumer through a consumer connection and to an accumulator through an accumulator connection, respectively, said accumulator loading valve comprising:

• a reservoir connection;
• pilot valve means including:
• (a) a valve having an inlet opening to said accumulator connection with a first flow cross-section and a discharge bore opening to said reservoir connection with a second flow cross-section which is larger than said first flow cross-section,
• (b) an operating piston,
• (c) a closing member actuated by said operating piston and adapted to open and close said valve inlet opening and said valve discharge bore opening, and
• (d) a space-saving helical spring element having a constant spring rate for elastically prestressing said operating piston,
• said pilot valve means adapted to respond to the pressure in said accumulator and having:
• (e) a first position in which said closing member closes said discharge bore opening to prevent communication between said reservoir connection and said accumulator connection and opens said inlet opening to allow communication between said pump connection and said accumulator through said accumulator connection when the pressure in said accumulator is below a predetermined switching pressure, and
• (f) a second position in which said closing member opens said discharge bore opening to allow communication between said reservoir connection and said accumulator connection and closed said inlet opening to prevent communication between said pump connection and said accumulator through said accumulator connection when the pressure in said accumulator reaches said predetermined switching pressure;
• and
• priority valve means disposed between said pump connection and said consumer connection responsive to the pressure in said accumulator.