Patent ID: 8146417
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: F15B

Abstract:
1. A system for measuring the charge condition of stored energy within a cylinder comprising a hydraulic accumulator; a first element configured to move linearly along a longitudinal axis within an interior volume of the hydraulic accumulator to adjustably separate an oil-containing portion of the interior volume on an oil side of the accumulator from a gas-containing portion on a gas side of the accumulator; a sensor package for sensing a current position of the first element along the longitudinal axis; and an electrical connector connected to the sensor package for signaling the position of the first element within the hydraulic accumulator, wherein the hydraulic accumulator is a piston-type accumulator and the first element comprises: a piston having a cylindrical wall and a base wall, the cylindrical wall extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the base wall extending transversely away from the longitudinal axis, the cylindrical wall and the base wall being integrally joined to define a closed, distal end of the first element, an extender fixedly attached to a surface of the base wall within an interior volume of the piston and extending along the longitudinal axis beyond an open, proximal end of the first element, and a centering disk that carries the extender, the centering disk being positioned away from the base wall within an interior volume of the piston and extending transversely away from the longitudinal axis to meet an interior surface of the cylindrical wall, whereby the centering disk and the base wall maintain the position of the extender along the longitudinal axis.