Silent-acting hydraulic accumulator device

Claim 1

A silent acting hydraulic accumulator-pulsation dampener device comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel including a gas charging port at one end and an oil port at the other end, said oil port including a removable flared valve seat portion directed toward the interior of said vessel, a distensible elastomeric bladder assembly mounted within said vessel and dividing the same into two chambers in communication, respectively, with said oil port and said gas charging port, a metallic insert member fixed to an end portion of said bladder in opposed relation to said oil port, said insert member including a base embedded in the wall of said bladder with no portion of said insert extending into said chamber communicating with said gas charging port, a stop shoulder spaced from said base and directed toward said valve seat, and a threaded stem projecting beyond said shoulder, and a replaceable valve member mounted on said stem, said valve member comprising a frusto-conic elastomeric shell portion sized to pass through said oil port and including a major base engaging said end portion of said bladder, a minor base of smaller diameter directed toward said seat, and side walls tapered to conform to the flare of said seat, an internal, upwardly open cavity formed within said shell portion and including an undercut annular groove, and a metallic retainer member disposed within said cavity and including flange portions extending into said undercut groove to lock said retainer member to said shell, said retainer member including an axially directed, internally threaded bore in registry with said upward opening in said shell, said opening being sized to expose upwardly facing portions of said retainer surrounding said bore; said bore being threadedly connected to said stem of said insert member, with said upwardly facing portions of said retainer engaged against said stop shoulder of said insert member, whereby said shell is mounted to said end of said bladder for movement into sealing and unsealing positions of said valve seat responsive to expansion and contraction of said bladder.