Hydraulic accumulator and method of manufacture
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorEdward J. Hummelt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An accumulator for a hydraulic system includes a polymer liner defining a cavity. A metal bellows assembly is housed in the cavity and separates the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, with the first and second chambers isolated from one another by the bellows assembly. A composite shell substantially encases the liner. The liner and shell are configured so that the first chamber receives hydraulic fluid from and delivers hydraulic fluid through an opening in the liner and the shell as the bellows assembly expands and compresses due to pressurized gas in the second chamber balancing fluid pressure changes in the first chamber. In one embodiment, the metal bellows assembly includes hydroformed bellows.
Claims13
An accumulator for a hydraulic system comprising:
- a multi-piece polymer liner defining a cavity;
- wherein the multi-piece polymer liner includes a piece that is a straight tubular portion and includes end portions attached to the tubular portion;
- a metal bellows assembly housed in the cavity and separating the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, with the first and second chambers isolated from one another by the bellows assembly;
- a composite shell substantially encasing the liner;
- wherein the liner and shell are configured so that the first chamber receives hydraulic fluid and delivers hydraulic fluid through an opening in the liner and the shell as the bellows assembly expands and compresses due to pressurized gas in the second chamber balancing changes in fluid pressure in the first chamber.
An accumulator comprising:
- a pressure vessel with:
- a composite shell defining a cavity with an opening;
- and
- a multi-piece polymer liner lining an inner surface of the shell to substantially isolate the cavity from the composite shell;
- wherein the multi-piece polymer liner includes a piece that is a straight tubular portion and includes end portions attached to the tubular portion;
- a metal bellows assembly housed in the cavity and separating the cavity into a hydraulic fluid chamber and a gas chamber, with the hydraulic fluid chamber outside of the bellows assembly and in communication with the opening in the vessel, and with the gas chamber inside of the metal bellows assembly and not in contact with the polymer liner;
- and
- wherein the bellows assembly contracts and expands due to pressurized gas in the gas chamber balancing changes in fluid pressure in the fluid chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.