Patent ID: 8281897

Claim:
A grease accumulator apparatus for use in a subsea application, the grease accumulator apparatus comprising: a bottle having an internal chamber; a plunger positioned within said internal chamber of said bottle and slidable therealong; an end cap assembly affixed to one end of said bottle, said end cap assembly having an indicator member slidably positioned thereto, said indicator member cooperative with said plunger such that an end of said indicator member moves outwardly of said end cap assembly as said plunger moves in said bottle toward said end cap assembly, said end cap assembly comprising: a body; a housing affixed to one end of said body, said housing having a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet formed through a wall thereof, said indicator member having a notch formed into a surface thereof, said indicator member movable between a first position in which said notch fluidically connects said hydraulic fluid inlet and said hydraulic fluid outlet and a second position in which said indicator member blocks fluid flow between said hydraulic fluid inlet and said hydraulic fluid outlet, said body having an internal cavity formed therein so as to open at an end thereof facing said internal chamber of said body; a shaft slidably mounted in said internal cavity, said shaft having a portion extending outwardly of said body and into said internal chamber of said bottle; and a spring positioned urging against said shaft, said spring positioned in said internal cavity of said body, said body having a first channel formed therein and opening to said internal chamber of said bottle and a second channel formed therein and opening to said internal chamber of said bottle, said first and second channels positioned on opposite sides of said shaft.