GB191513247A - Improvements in Air Recuperator Apparatus for Storing Part of the Recoil Energy of Ordnance. - Google Patents

Abstract

13,247. Dawson, Sir A. T., and Horne, J. Sept. 16. Accumulators. - Relates to hydro-pneumatic accumulators, for storing part of the recoil energy of ordnance so that water pressure is available for working for example the ammunition hoist or rammer, and of the kind comprising a cylinder with a floating piston separating the liquid from the air. According to the invention (1) the floating piston is provided with a displaceable part which is acted upon by a fixed stop when the liquid on one side is depleted so that liquid pressure is produced between the parts of the piston to make the packing airtight, and (2) the floating piston opens a valve to release the liquid when the air is sufficiently compressed. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the liquid under pressure produced by the recoil passes through a non-return valve A' .into the left-hand end of the cylinder A and through the medium of the floating piston B, B' compresses air in the right-hand end. The floating piston is in two parts B, B' which are pressed apart by a spring B<2> and the liquid under pressure has access to the space between the parts through a non-return valve b<2>. If the liquid becomes depleted, the part B' of the piston comes against a stop A<1Î> and the liquid pressure thereby produced between the parts of the piston keeps the packing air-tight. To prevent the cylinder becoming over-charged with liquid, the piston B after moving a predetermined distance to the right operates on a collar C<2> on a rod C' and opens a valve C to release the liquid through passages a, a, a'. The passage A<1> communicates with the apparatus to be worked by the pressure liquid.