Hydraulic buffer with fast startup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10245714-B2
Application number	US-201514941395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

An accumulator assembly includes a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion. The accumulator assembly includes a flexible membrane extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The membrane may divide the vessel into a first interior chamber and a second interior chamber. The accumulator assembly includes a receptacle located proximate the vessel. The receptacle may be in fluid communication with the second interior chamber. The accumulator assembly includes a plunger located at least partially within the receptacle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accumulator assembly for a hammer assembly, the accumulator assembly comprising:
a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion;
a flexible membrane extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the membrane dividing the vessel into a first interior chamber and a second interior chamber;
a receptacle located proximate the vessel and in fluid communication with the second interior chamber;
a plunger located at least partially within the receptacle; and
a dampener facing the plunger, the dampener receiving an initial load from a machine, wherein a resistance force to the load drives the plunger towards the dampener, the dampener driving the plunger into the receptacle.

2. The accumulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is configured to displace a fluid in the receptacle into the second interior chamber.

3. The accumulator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fluid is displaced through an escape channel that is in fluid communication with the second interior chamber.

4. The accumulator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the displaced fluid propels the membrane towards the cover and expands the volume of the second interior chamber.

5. The accumulator assembly of claim 3 , wherein upon completing an operation of the hammer assembly, the fluid automatically flows back into the receptacle from the second interior chamber.

6. The accumulator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pressurized fluid source in fluid communication with the second interior chamber.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Moore Cody T

Classifications

• B25D9/12 Primary

  comprising a built-in liquid motor {, i.e. the tool being driven by hydraulic pressure} · CPC title

• F15B2201/31

  having rigid separating means, e.g. pistons · CPC title

• F16F9/00

  Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium (F16F5/00 takes precedence; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; {braking devices, stops or buffers for wing-operating appliances E05F3/00, E05F5/00}) · CPC title

• F15B2201/3151

  the flexible separating means being diaphragms or membranes · CPC title

• F16F9/082

  characterised by the hydropneumatic accumulator · CPC title