An accumulator for storing fluid that includes a shell that defines an interior volume of the accumulator. The shell includes at least one port for providing fluid to a fluid system. The accumulator also includes an accumulator shaft disposed in the interior volume and extending at least partially across the interior volume from a first interior surface of the shell along a longitudinal axis of the shell, e.g., a central axis. The accumulator includes a piston-plate disposed in the interior volume such that the piston-plate and a second interior surface of the shell define a chamber in the interior volume. The accumulator further includes a motor disposed in the interior volume. The accumulator is configured such that rotational movement of the motor translates to linear movement of the piston-plate along the accumulator shaft.

An exemplary method of actuating an operational device includes activating a propellant in a pyrotechnic pressure generator, the pyrotechnic pressure generator comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially from a barrier to the second end, a piston slidably disposed in the bore, the propellant located in a chamber between the first end and the barrier, a gas outlet orifice through the barrier providing gas communication between the chamber, and a port at the second end in communication with the operational device; producing a gas in the chamber in response to activating the propellant, the gas escaping through the gas outlet orifice into the bore and the gas applying a force to the piston; moving the piston in a stroke from a position proximate to the barrier to a position proximate to the second end; communicating a pressure to the operational device that is equal to or greater than an operating pressure of the operational device in response to moving the piston; and actuating the operational device in response to communicating the pressure to the operational device.

An exemplary method includes using a pressure supply device (PSD) to actuate a hydraulic customer includes activating, when in the first position, a first gas generator of the multiple gas generators thereby driving the piston to the second position, pressurizing the hydraulic fluid, and discharging the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the customer; actuating the customer in response to receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid; resetting the piston to first position by transferring a resetting hydraulic fluid into the reservoir; and exhausting gas and condensate from the gas chamber in response to resetting the piston to the first position.

An exemplary gas generator driven hydraulic accumulator includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially from a barrier to the second end; a piston slidably disposed in the bore; in use a gas generator located in a chamber between the first end and the barrier; an orifice through the barrier providing fluid communication between the chamber and the bore; in use a hydraulic fluid disposed in the bore between the piston and the second end whereby the hydraulic fluid is exhausted under pressure through a discharge port in response to activation of the gas generator; and in use a one-way flow control device connected in a flow path of the discharge port to permit one-way flow of the hydraulic fluid from the bore and to block return fluid from through the discharge port into the bore.

An accumulator includes a pressure container, a tubular bellows, a bellows cap divisionally defining a liquid chamber and a gas chamber in cooperation with the bellows. A stay provided with a through hole partitions the liquid chamber into a closed liquid chamber on a side of the bellows and an open liquid chamber on a side of the liquid pressure port. The bellows cap includes an elastic abutment part provided with an annular sealing part positioned around the through hole to face the through hole, a buffering part is positioned on a radially inner side of the sealing part, and communication passages always communicating with the through hole are formed in the buffering part of the elastic abutment part.

An exemplary gas generator driven hydraulic accumulator includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially from a barrier to the second end; a piston slidably disposed in the bore; in use a gas generator located in a chamber between the first end and the barrier; an orifice through the barrier providing fluid communication between the chamber and the bore; in use a hydraulic fluid disposed in the bore between the piston and the second end whereby the hydraulic fluid is exhausted under pressure through a discharge port in response to activation of the gas generator; and in use a one-way flow control device connected in a flow path of the discharge port to permit one-way flow of the hydraulic fluid from the bore and to block return fluid from through the discharge port into the bore.

A system for stabilizing pressure fluctuations in a hydraulic line of a hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic vessel coupled to the hydraulic line; a separator element disposed within the vessel to define a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber within the vessel; and a relief valve disposed in communication with the second fluid chamber of the vessel. The vessel includes a first fluid receivable in the first fluid chamber from the hydraulic line and a second fluid that is disposed within the second fluid chamber. The separator element is moveable within the vessel in response to a volume change of the first fluid received from the hydraulic line. The relief valve is configured to selectively release the second fluid from the vessel in response to a pressure of the first fluid exceeding a pre-determined amount of pressure within the hydraulic vessel.

An expansion tank includes two half-shells coupled to each other, an inner flexible membrane suited to divide the inside of the casing in two compartments, a counter cap made of a thermoplastic material, a pipe fitting suited to provide a connection and having a first tubular portion and a second portion in the shape of a flat ring that are made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the second ring-shaped portion is joined to the counter cap at the level of an opening in the tank.

An exemplary system for supplying hydraulic pressure to an operational device includes two or more pressure supply devices connected in a pod, the pressure supply devices including an elongated body having an internal bore extending axially from a first end to a discharge end; a gas generator operationally connected at the first end; a piston movably disposed in the internal bore; a hydraulic fluid disposed in the internal bore between the piston and the discharge end, wherein a portion of the hydraulic fluid is exhausted under pressure through a discharge port in response to activation of the gas generator; the operational device in hydraulic connection with the discharge port to receive the exhausted hydraulic fluid.

The present invention is a distributed piston elastomeric accumulator which stores energy when its elastomeric member stretches from its original length in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid. The stored energy is returned when the fluid flow is reversed and the accumulator discharges the fluid as its elastomeric member returns to its original length and moves the piston to its initial position. At least one part of the novelty of the invention is that the accumulator is not subject to radial strain gradients and the accumulator allows for precise pressure and linear position measurements. Accordingly, the invention allows for optimization of the energy strain storage capacity of a given elastomer.