Floating Piston Accumulator Pressurization Without a Filling Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas over liquid accumulators require a filling port for pre-charging, which increases the cost and weight of the accumulator housing and poses a risk of leaks if the plug or expander is compromised.
Innovation Solution
A method of pressurizing a floating piston accumulator without using a filling port, involving positioning the floating piston outside the inner volume of an end cap, supplying pressurized gas through an open end of the end cap, and mechanically deforming the end cap to create a radially inwardly extending projection that restricts removal of the floating piston.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filling port with plug or expander is used for pre-charging the accumulator, then the accumulator can be filled with pressurized gas, but the housing requires thicker walls increasing weight and cost, and leaks may occur if the plug or expander is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the filling port and its associated plug or expander components from the accumulator housing. Instead, the floating piston itself serves as the sealing element that is inserted through an open end of the housing, removing the need for separate filling port sealing mechanisms and thereby reducing housing wall thickness requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating piston is given a dual function: it serves both as the movable component that separates gas and liquid chambers and as the sealing element that closes the housing end. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate filling port plugs or expanders, reducing structural requirements and weight.
2Reliability
If a filling port with plug or expander is used for pre-charging the accumulator, then the accumulator can be filled with pressurized gas, but the housing requires thicker walls increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the filling port and its associated plug or expander components from the accumulator housing. Instead, the floating piston itself serves as the sealing element that is inserted through an open end of the housing, removing the need for separate filling port sealing mechanisms and thereby reducing housing wall thickness requirements.
3Reliability
If surface treatment such as anodizing is applied after assembly to improve sealing, then sealing characteristics are improved, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs the surface treatment on the floating piston before assembly, allowing the sealing surface to be properly prepared in advance. The floating piston is then inserted into the housing in its final position, eliminating the need for post-assembly surface treatment operations and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method eliminates the need for a filling port, reducing the weight and cost of the accumulator housing while minimizing the risk of leaks and allowing for surface treatments to improve sealing characteristics before assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The end cap is mechanically deformed to define a radially inwardly extending projection that restricts removal of the floating piston from the end cap
Data Source
AI summary
A method of pressuring an accumulator including an end cap and a floating piston comprises positions the floating piston outside an inner volume of the end cap. Pressurized gas is supplied to the inner volume through an open end of the end cap. The floating piston is inserted through the open end and sealing engagement with the end cap to define a pressurized gas chamber within the end cap. The method further includes mechanically deforming the end cap to define a radially inwardly extending projection that restricts removal of the floating piston from the end cap.