Hydraulic pressure compensator

Claim 2

In a hydraulic system, a combination comprising a hydraulic conduit for the flow of hydraulic fluid; a pressure vessel having a chamber provided with an opening; a flexible partition wall subdividing said chamber into a first compartment communicating with said opening, and a second compartment containing a body of gas under pressure so that said partition wall is normally flexed into said first compartment and against said opening to close the same; and connecting means connecting said hydraulic conduit with said opening, said connecting means defining a first flow path for said hydraulic fluid which conducts said hydraulic fluid in its entirety through said first compartment when said flexible partition wall is out of contact with said opening, and a second bypass flow path for said hydraulic fluid which is open and bypasses said first compartment when said flexible partition wall is in contact with said opening.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second flow paths comprise walL means defining an input passage communicating with said conduit and said opening, and an output passage also communicating with said conduit and said opening, said passages communicating with one another only via said first compartment.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said partition includes a portion which is normally urged by said body of gas into engagement with said opening, said portion having a side facing said opening and provided with a recess which communicates with said opening and said passages when said portion is in engagement with said opening, so that fluid can flow through said conduit, said passages and said recess when said portion is in engagement with said opening.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 1, said connecting means comprising a connecting passage connecting an input and an output passage which communicate with said opening; and a valve interposed in said connecting passage and adapted to permit flow of hydraulic fluid from said input passage into said output passage.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1, said connecting means comprising an input passage and an output passage which each communicate with said opening and said conduit; a slide member arranged in said opening and having opposite sides which respectively face said input passage and said output passage and which are each provided with a recess which communicate with one another, so that said passages are in communication even when said partition wall is deflected against said opening; and biasing means biasing said slide member inwardly of said first compartment.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 1, said connecting means comprising an input passage and an output passage each communicating with said conduit, a pair of bores each communicating with one of said passages and with said first compartment, and a pair of spring-biased shiftable partially hollow cylindrical slide members accommodated in the respective bores and provided with recesses via which said passages communicate with one another in dependence upon the extent to which said partition wall is deflected against said opening.

Claim 8

In a hydraulic system, a combination comprising a hydraulic conduit for the flow of hydraulic fluid; a pressure vessel having a chamber provided with an opening; a flexible partition wall subdividing said chamber into a first compartment communicating with said opening and a second compartment containing a body of gas under pressure, so that said partition wall is normally flexed into said first compartment and against said opening to close the same; connecting means connecting said hydraulic conduit with said opening, including a hollow cylindrical valve body located in said opening and forming an inlet passage and being provided with a plurality of radial ports therein, and an outlet passage, so that hydraulic fluid flowing in said opening is conducted in its entirety through said first compartment at such time as said flexible partition wall is out of contact with said opening; and biasing means acting upon said valve body and tending to displace the same between a first position in which said inlet and outlet passages communicate via said radial ports and a second position in which said inlet and outlet passages communicate via said first compartment.

Claim 9

In a hydraulic system, a combination comprising a hydraulic conduit for the flow of hydraulic fluid; a pressure vessel having a chamber provided with an opening; a flexible partition wall subdividing said chamber into a first compartment communicating with said opening and a second compartment containing a body of gas under pressure, so that said partition wall is normally flexed into said first compartment and against said opening to close the same; connecting means connecting said hydraulic conduit with said opening, including a hollow cylindrical valve body located in said opening and forming an inlet passage and being provided with a plurality of radial ports therein, and an outlet passage, so that hydraulic fluid flowing in said opening is conducted in its entirety through said first compartment at such time as said flexible partition wall is out of contact with said opening; and biasing means acting upon said valve body and tending to displace the same between a first position in which said inlet and outlet passages communicate via said radial ports and a second position in which said inlet and outlet passages communicate via said first compartment.