Pressure vessel

Claim 1

A pressure accumulator comprising a rigid container having a pair of ports with a deformable partition intervening therebetween to define two chambers, said portition comprising a bladder having one end closed and having a mouth at its other end in communication with one of said ports for charging of the chamber defined by the interior of said bladder with fluid under pressure, said bladder being mounted at its mouth end in said container so as to be axially aligned therewith and with said other port, said bladder having a valve member defining a valve element secured to its closed end and axially aligned therewith, said valve member comprising a button of rigid material integral with said bladder and having a diameter greater than that oF said other port, said button having a flat peripheral portion, said other port having a tubular member coaxial therwith and extending outwardly therefrom, a separate annular valve seat coaxial with said other port and encompassing the latter, said valve seat defining a second valve element, said valve member being movable into engagement with said valve seat to close said other port upon expansion of said bladder to force the fluid charged into the other of said chambers out of said other port, said valve seat comprising a shock absorbing surface engaged by the flat peripheral portion of said button upon closure of said other port to minimize closing impact, said annular valve seat comprising a gasket of resilient material having a central opening coaxial with said other port, the inner surface of the peripheral portion of said gasket adjacent said opening defining the seat for said flat peripheral portion, said gasket being positioned against the inner surface of the end of the container through which the other port extends coaxial with the bladder.