525

Accumulator Circuits
Circuits shown here are limited to basic components. Such items as filters, speed control
valves, gauges, etc., are omitted for the sake of clarity. Each circuit shows a basic idea, and
the features of more than one circuit can be combined, if desired, to get the desired results.
Accumulator Unloading. When the
accumulator has been charged to adjustment
setting on unloading valve V2, pilot pressure
opens V2 and unloads the pump. When the
system pressure has dropped about 20%, V2
closes and loads the pump. V2 is not a relief
or by-pass valve; it is a special unloading
valve with snap action characteristics.
This circuit is used for small pumps, up to
20 GPM. For larger pumps, one of the
following circuits may be used.
High Volume Unloading uses a
relatively small accumulator unloading valve,
V2, to vent the main relief valve, V1, which is
a pilot-operated type of high flow capacity to
suit the circuit. Accumulator unloading valves
are not usually available in high flow
capacities.
Electrical Unloading uses a pressure
switch, PS, to load and unload the pump
for charging the accumulator. This system
may work out better with systems using
solenoid valves in other parts of the circuit.
Cut-in and cut-out pressures can be selected
if the pressure switch has an adjustable
differential.
Basic Accumulator Circuit. For circuits in which the oil flow is required intermittently,
with relatively long resting periods between cycles. A low volume pump, PF, running
continuously, can store high pressure oil in the accumulator, to be used in large volumes for
short periods. Cylinder bore must be large enough so that sufficient force will be obtained
even at the end of the required accumulator discharge, just before the pump is connected
to recharge the accumulator. Recommendations on the preceding page may be followed
to determine the total accumulator capacity needed for a given design. Recharging of the
accumulator may take place at any part of the cycle loading, curing, etc. Relief valve V1 is
optional, but is recommended for extra safety.
Hi-Lo Circuit. The use of one large and one small accumulator is arranged to perform
much like a Hi-Lo pump circuit. During resting periods, both accumulators are charged to full
system pressure. When V5 is shifted, oil from the large accumulator provides the necessary
volume for rapidly advancing the cylinder, with oil trapped and held at full pressure in the
small accumulator during this phase. When the limit switch is actuated, oil from the small
accumulator is released by V2 to do the high pressure holding. This high pressure oil closes
check valve V4, and the pump starts recharging the large accumulator during the holding cycle.
At any time in the loading, pressing, or curing parts of the cycle that the accumulators become
fully recharged, valve V1, which is an accumulator unloading valve, will unload the pump.
ACC.
PRESS.
OUT
V3
PF
V1 V2
ACC.
PRESS.
OUT
V3
PF
V1
V2
ACC.
PS
PRESS.
OUT
V3
V2
PF
V1
V2
V3
ACC.
PF
V4
V2
V1
526
Fast closing of the cylinder is made possible using an accumulator kept charged by a
relatively small volume, low pressure pump, PF1. When the cylinder bottoms out against the
work load, PF2, a low volume, high pressure pump, takes over to build up high pressure in the
cylinder while PF1 recharges the accumulator. V1 should be an accumulator unloading valve.
During idle periods in the cycle, the very low volume of pump PF2 is allowed to discharge
over relief valve V2.
Economical Circuit for Long Holding Cycles. Rapid traverse of the cylinder is done
with combined oil from both pumps and the accumulator. When the cylinder stalls against
the load, pump PF2 takes over and has sufficient flow to maintain full force from the cylinder,
with the excess flow charging the accumulator through the restrictor, V4. During the cylinder
holding time, pump PF1 is completely unloaded through valve V1, which may be any type of
pilot-operated bypass valve. A variation of this circuit would be to omit PF1, V1, and V3 if high
cylinder speed is not required.
Regeneration plus accumulator oil plus pump oil combine to give very rapid advance.
Pump plus accumulator plus small rod area combine to give very rapid retraction. Circuit as
shown is for high speed travel at low force, as no valving has been provided to get full force
on the blind side of the piston at any time.
For best results use a large-rod (2:1 ratio) cylinder. Valves V5 and V6 are pilot-operated
check valves for connecting cylinder blind end either to tank or to rod end. V4 may be a
4-way valve of low capacity, as it handles oil only for the pilots of V5 and V6. Valve V2 is
the conventional accumulator unloading valve to unload the pump when the accumulator
becomes fully charged. This circuit works best in applications requiring high speed while the
cylinder is in motion, but with a relatively long idle time between cycles to give the accumulator
time to be recharged. Do not use this circuit on continuously reciprocating applications.
V2
V1 V3
ACC.
LARGE
PF
V4
ACC.
SMALL
V6
V5
PF2 PF1
V3 V4
V5
ACC.
V1 V1
PF2 PF1
V3
V4
V5
ACC.
V6
V2
V1
PF
V3
V4
V6
V5
ACC.
V2
V1