Pressure accumulator

Abstract

A pressure accumulator has at least one accumulator housing (103) with at least one connection (111; 113) for a pressure medium (149), especially in the form of a fluid that can be accumulated in the accumulator housing (103). A filling material (119) that has hollow chambers or that forms at least one hollow chamber for accommodating at least part of the pressure medium (149) introduced into at least sections of the accumulator housing (103). An interior (117) of the accumulator housing (103) is completely filled with the filling material (119) to such an extent that the filling material (119) contacts the entire surface of a wall (120) of the accumulator housing (103).

Claims

1. A pressure accumulator, comprising: at least one accumulator housing having at least one connection for entry of a pressure medium to be stored in said accumulator housing and having an inner surface; and a filling material having cavities in said accumulator housing to accommodate the pressure medium and filling completely an interior of said accumulator housing, said filling material contacting said inner surface of said accumulator housing over a full area thereof, said filling material being formed from a cellular material having different densities within said accumulator housing created by one of repeated injection or repeated foaming.

2. A pressure accumulator according to claim 1 wherein said filling material is elastically compressible.

3. A pressure accumulator according to claim 1 wherein said different densities vary along a longitudinal axis of said accumulator housing.

4. A pressure accumulator according to claim 3 wherein said filling material is denser adjacent said connection.

5. A pressure accumulator according to claim 4 wherein said filling material becomes less dense in a direction away from said connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Referring to the drawing that forms a part of this disclosure and that is not drawn to scale:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section of a fluid storage bottle, in particular a gas storage bottle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) FIG. 1 shows a pressure accumulator 101 according to the invention in the form of a gas storage bottle. The gas storage bottle may be a nitrogen bottle in particular. The pressure accumulator 101 has an accumulator housing 103. A central section 105 of the accumulator housing 103 has a tubular design. Cup-shaped end pieces 107, 109, in particular in the form of hemispherical end pieces, are shaped on this tubular section 105. The end pieces 107, 109 each have an opening 111, 113 as the connection. An opening 113 is sealed with a stopper 115.

(4) The interior 117 of the accumulator housing 103 is filled completely with a filling material, so that the filling material 119 is in full surface contact with the wall 120 of the accumulator housing 103. However, it is also conceivable for the interior 117 to be filled only partially with filling material 119. The accumulator volume can be adjusted in a flexible manner in this way. The filling material 119 contains a plurality of cavities into which the pressure medium 149 to be stored in the pressure accumulator 101 can flow in the form of a working gas such as nitrogen. The filling material 119 is a sintered material or a cellular material, such as a foam, in particular. Plastic foams are recommended here, in particular, but metal foams and woven or nonwoven textiles may also be usedas backings for foam materials. Meanwhile, the gaseous pressure medium 149 can completely permeate the filling material 119. The filling material 119 in the present case may, but need not necessarily, be elastically compressible. Due to this compressibility, a spring characteristic and/or a damping characteristic is formed. These characteristics are influenced by the choice of the filing material 119, its density, its arrangement in the gas storage bottle 101, its introduction temperature or working temperature, etc.

(5) In a preferred embodiment of the hydraulic accumulator (not shown in detail), the foam-type filling material may also be filled into sandwich-type individual layers. The density profile and the damping properties of the foam can then be adjusted accurately in this way, in particular in the longitudinal direction LR of the accumulator. Furthermore, a homogeneous temperature profile is thus achieved within the accumulator during its operation, which profile protects the media introduced into the accumulator.

(6) While one embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.