Accumulator with secondary gas chamber
Presented herein are systems and methods that allow for adapting at least one dimension of an accumulator in a hydraulic system when faced with certain dimensional constraints and to vary the compliance or stiffness of an accumulator.
1. An accumulator of a hydraulic active suspension system, comprising:
a first liquid-filled volume in fluid communication with a compression volume or an extension volume of a hydraulic actuator of the active suspension system;
a flow path through which liquid may be exchanged between the first liquid-filled volume and the compression volume or the extension volume of the hydraulic actuator;
a first gas-filled chamber;
a moveable barrier separating the first liquid-filled volume from the first gas-filled chamber;
a second gas-filled chamber; and
a first gas flow path that connects the first gas-filled chamber to the second gas-filled chamber.
2. The accumulator of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner cylindrical housing;
an outer cylindrical housing, wherein at least a portion of the outer cylindrical housing encircles at least a portion of the inner cylindrical housing;
wherein the first liquid-filled volume and the first gas-filled chamber are defined at least partially by an inner surface of the inner cylindrical housing; and
wherein the second-gas filled chamber is defined at least partially by an inner surface of the outer cylindrical housing.
3. The accumulator of claim 2 , wherein the second-gas filled chamber is defined at least partially by an outer surface of the inner cylindrical housing.
4. The accumulator of claim 2 , wherein the outer cylindrical housing is arranged coaxially with respect to the inner cylindrical housing.
5. The accumulator of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid restriction located along the first gas flow path.
6. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the restriction is a valve.
7. The accumulator of claim 6 , wherein the valve is configured to vary flow resistance of the first gas flow path.
8. The accumulator of claim 7 , wherein the valve is an electrically or electromechanically controlled valve.
9. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator comprises an accumulator housing rigidly coupled to a housing of the hydraulic actuator.
10. The accumulator of claim 2 , wherein the outer cylindrical housing is an accumulator housing that is rigidly coupled to a housing of the hydraulic actuator.