ABSTRACT
Accumulators supplement system pump capacities. They provide an additional supply of pressurized fluid for immediate use. Being "on line" they react instantly to system pressure drops. They deliver fluid to the system when system pressure goes below the pressure level of the gas pressure in the accumulator. Conversely, they will accept fluid available from the system up to the setting of the system relief valve or the setting of the compensator of a variable-displacement pressure-compensated pump. These characteristics frequently allow the system to use a smaller pump than would otherwise be required.
