Elastic hydraulic accumulator/reservoir system
AssigneeVanderbilt University
InventorsEric J. Barth, Alexander V. Pedchenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a combination accumulator and reservoir which stores energy when the accumulator deforms from its original shape in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid from the reservoir. The stored energy is returned when the fluid flow is reversed and the accumulator discharges the fluid and returns to its original shape. At least one part of the novelty of the invention is that the accumulator and the fluid reservoir reside in the same housing such that the volume of each varies inversely. Accordingly, the invention is more compact and weighs less than conventional accumulators. Another feature of the invention is that fluid is located around the bladder accumulator to lubricate contact between the bladder and sides of the reservoir.
Claims11
An accumulator system, comprising:
- a housing, wherein the housing defines a reservoir;
- a seal attached to the housing, wherein the seal is attached to the housing by a threaded engagement;
- a bladder attached to the seal, wherein the bladder is contained within the housing;
- a fluid, wherein the fluid is inside the bladder and in the reservoir surrounding the bladder.
A compact accumulator system, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir having a first opening;
- a seal attached to the first opening of the fluid reservoir by threaded engagement,
- a bladder attached to the seal and in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid reservoir contains the bladder so that the accumulator system is compact;
- a fluid in communication with the bladder and the fluid reservoir;
- a pump/motor in fluid communication with the bladder and the fluid reservoir.
A compact accumulator system, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir;
- a bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid reservoir and the bladder are contained within the same structure so that the accumulator system is compact;
- a fluid in communication with the bladder and the fluid reservoir;
- a pump/motor in fluid communication with the bladder and the fluid reservoir;
- wherein the accumulator system is an open system;
- an overflow reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the pump/motor so that the opening to atmospheric pressure is on the low pressure side of the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.