Patents Assigned to Normand Trust
  • Patent number: 4506431
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing an accumulator device including a shell portion having an open mouth and a cap member affixed over the open mouth after a bladder assembly has been secured within the shell portion of the pressure vessel. The method comprises in the provision of an exterior annular weld connecting the cap member to the outer wall portion of the vessel as well as an interior weld connection between the interior wall portion of the cap member and the upwardly directed end edge of the mouth of the pressure vessel. By locating the metallic skirt member which functions to support the bladder such that the top of the skirt forms a dam for containing the weld which secures the cap member interior to the uppermost edge of the pressure vessel, the possibility of weld fragments falling into the bladder causing damage to the latter is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: The Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4448217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic accumulator and particularly to a low cost pressure accumulator having improved life cycle and operating characteristics. More particularly, the invention pertains to a hydraulic accumulator wherein means are provided for prolonging the bladder life and effecting an improved seal at the oil port end of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: The Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4429718
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an accumulator device and method of making the same. The pressure vessel in accordance with the invention includes a shell portion having an open mouth and a cap member affixed over the open mouth after a bladder assembly has been secured within the shell portion of the pressure vessel. A characterizing feature of the invention resides in the provision of an exterior annular weld connecting the cap member to the outer wall portion of the vessel as well as an interior weld connection between the interior wall portion of the cap member and the upwardly directed end edge of the mouth of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: The Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4338968
    Abstract: An accumulator device is characterized in the provision of plural mechanisms for maintaining the oil port sealing valve member in open position, one said mechanism comprising a spring and the other comprising a control device member which may be activated to its valve stem releasing condition responsive to pressure drops of a predetermined magnitude or after a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4321949
    Abstract: A pressure vessel comprises a rigid envelope enclosing a chamber and consisting of a body and cover, the rim of the cover being inserted in the rim of the body, and the body and cover being secured to each other. Defined between the overlapping rims is an annular groove adapted to receive a flange at the periphery of a circular flexible diaphragm, which serves to divide the chamber into two compartments of variable volume. There is a fluid orifice in both the body and cover, the two orifices being axially alinged and communicating one with each variable-volume compartment. To ensure a good seal between the compartments, and to enhance retention of the flange in the groove, the annular groove is of less height and greater width than the flange on the diaphragm, before the flange is sandwiched into the groove between the rims of the cover and body, so that the flange is deformed into the groove, when the cover is assembled on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: The Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4298030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for dampening pulses in a hydraulic system and is characterized by the provision of a hydraulic accumulator device having disposed in the hydraulic flow path a baffle member shiftable from the exterior of the dampener in a direction normal to the flow path and toward and away from the oil port of the accumulator whereby the device may be critically adjusted or tuned to deal effectively with pulses of a variety of frequencies and amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4248269
    Abstract: A pulse dampener device in which the effective cross section of the flow path through the dampener assembly may readily be varied thereby enabling the device to be adjusted or tuned to deal most effectively with any of a variety of pulse variables encountered in a particular installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4234017
    Abstract: An accumulator device or the like comprising a pressure vessel having a cylindrical interior with a port at each end and an elastomeric separator or bladder interposed between the ports. An annular supporting member engages an enlarged bead at the open mouth portion of the bladder. The device is characterized by the supporting member which is in a non-critical manner bonded to the inner walls of the casing, cooperating with the bead by virtue of the special shapes thereof to coordinate with the bead and with the casing in such manner that the bead is deformed in the mounted position thereof so as to define a fluid-tight seal between the supporting member and casing. The spacing of the terminal end of the supporting member remote from the portion connected to the casing is spaced from the inner wall of the casing a radial distance substantially equal to or greater than the wall thickness of the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4206908
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydropneumatic accumulator comprising a pressure vessel or casing having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical container closed at both ends slidably mounted within said bore, the container having restricted flow passages communicating the bore of the casing to the interior of the container, and an expansible bladder member disposed within the container adapted to separate the container into two chambers communicating, respectively, with the bore of the casing and a gas input orifice in the end of the container external of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: The Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier
  • Patent number: 4192350
    Abstract: A pressure vessel comprising a casing or container formed from two substantially cup-shaped shells, each of said shells having their free edges or rims located in juxtaposition by means of an internal annular retainer member which properly spaces such free edges to permit connection thereof by an annular weld and which also serves as the support for a deformable partition positioned in the container. The retainer member formed from a metal having a melting point below that of the shells has a first thickened annular portion of relatively great mass on one side of said annular weld and a second annular portion of smaller mass on the other side of said annular weld, said annular portions having outer surfaces in intimate contact with the inner surface of the casing and define two annular contact zones separated by an intervening zone in which the weld is formed, said deformable partition being supported by said retainer member at the edge of said first annular portion remote from the annular weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Normand Trust
    Inventor: Jacques H. Mercier