Automatic accumulator switching apparatus and system

A grease accumulator apparatus for use in a subsea application comprising:

• a bottle having an internal chamber;
• a plunger positioned within said internal chamber and slidable therealong;
• an end cap assembly affixed to one end of said bottle, said end cap assembly comprising:
• a housing having a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet formed through a wall of said housing, said housing having a channel formed therein;
• a first shaft slidably positioned within said channel of said housing, said first shaft having a notch formed therein, said first shaft movable between a first position in which said notch fluidically connects said hydraulic fluid inlet and said hydraulic fluid outlet and a second position in which said first shaft blocks fluid flow between said hydraulic fluid inlet and said hydraulic fluid outlet;
• a body having an internal cavity formed therein so as to open at an end thereof facing said internal chamber of said bottle;
• a second shaft slidably mounted in said internal cavity, said second shaft having a first end connected to said first shaft and a second end extending outwardly of said body and into said internal chamber of said bottle, said second shaft having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said flange having an outer periphery adjacent a wall of said internal cavity;
• and
• a spring positioned within said internal cavity and urging against said flange of said shaft.

An automatic accumulator switching system comprising:

• a first bottle having an internal chamber;
• a first plunger positioned within said internal chamber of said first bottle and slidable therealong;
• a first end cap assembly affixed to one end of said first bottle, said first end cap assembly comprising:
• a first housing having a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet formed through a wall of said housing, said housing having a channel formed therein;
• and
• a first shaft slidably positioned within said channel of said housing, said first shaft movable between a first position in which said hydraulic fluid inlet is fluidically connected to said hydraulic fluid outlet and a second position in which said first shaft blocks fluid flow between said hydraulic fluid inlet and hydraulic fluid outlet;
• a first closure member affixed over an end of said first bottle opposite said first end cap assembly, said first closure member having a fluid passageway opening to said internal chamber of said first bottle;
• a second bottle having an internal chamber;
• a second plunger positioned within said internal chamber of said second bottle and slidable therealong;
• a second end cap assembly affixed to one end of said second bottle, said second end cap assembly comprising:
• a second housing having a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet formed through a wall of said second housing, said second housing having a channel formed therein;
• and
• a second shaft slidably positioned within said channel of said housing, said second shaft movable between a first position in which said hydraulic fluid inlet of said second housing is fluidically connected to said hydraulic fluid outlet of said second housing and a second position in which said second shaft blocks fluid flow between said hydraulic fluid inlet of said second housing and hydraulic fluid outlet of said second housing;
• and
• a second closure member affixed over an end of said second bottle opposite said second end cap assembly, said second closure member having a fluid passageway opening to said internal chamber of said second bottle, said hydraulic fluid outlet of said first housing of said first end cap assembly fluidically connected to said fluid passageway of said second closure member.