A hydraulic accumulator is a device in which potential energy is stored in the form of a compressed gas or spring, or by a raised weight to be used to exert a force against a relatively incompressible fluid.

They are used in fluid power systems to accumulate energy and to smooth out pulsations. A hydraulic system utilizing an accumulator can use a smaller fluid pump since the accumulator stores energy from the pump during low demand periods. This energy is available for instantaneous use, released upon demand at a rate many times greater than could be supplied by the pump alone.

The variety and versatility of the piston-type design allows it to be utilized in over 90% of all potential applications. From a volume of a few cubic inches to hundreds of gallons, and up to 20,000 PSI MAWP, the piston-type hydro-pneumatic accumulator can meet the diverse needs of many industries with a standard or custom design.

The typical bladder accumulator makes use of the considerable differences in the relative compressibility between a gas and a fluid. A typical design consists of a gas proof elastomer membrane enclosed within a steel shell. The membrane contains compressed gas (normally dry nitrogen) and separates the gas from the hydraulic fluid. The compressed gas provides a pneumatic spring action to force stored hydraulic fluid from the accumulator into the system as needed.

The “Econolator II®” is a Tobul product series which is a transition from piston-type accumulators to bladder-type accumulators, and incorporates characteristics of both designs…

Utilizes a cylindrical steel cylinder with heads similar to piston-types. The fluid cap (bottom) is precision machinewelded into the steel cylinder to form a durable vessel.

A standard hydro-pneumatic accumulator can provide approximately 25 to 30% of its fluid capacity in usable volume (e.g., approx. 38 gallons of capacity in a piston-type to obtain 10 gallons of fluid volume; approx. 42 gallons of capacity in a bladder-type to obtain 10 gallons of fluid volume).