Patent ID: 6845793

Claim:
Method of filling a pressure medium accumulator, said accumulator including a housing having an inner space that is subdivided into first and second chambers by a metallic pleated bellows used as a media-separating element, the first chamber thereof being filled with a gas and the second chamber being filled with a liquid pressure medium, and wherein a bottom valve is provided in a hydraulic port connected to said second chamber and includes a mechanical mechanism located within said bottom valve for opening or keeping open the bottom valve and a distance sensor located adjacent said mechanical mechanism wherein a closing member of said bottom valve is operable by the media-separating element, wherein said bottom valve permits filling of the second chamber with pressure medium and preventing a complete evacuation of the second chamber, said method comprising the steps of: a) actuating the bottom valve using the mechanism b) evacuating the second chamber c) filling of the second chamber with said liquid pressure medium d) filling said gas into the first chamber sensing and monitoring the movement of said mechanical mechanism for mechanically opening or keeping open said bottom valve, and measuring the position of the closing member of the bottom valve.