The EPE Bladder Accumulator comprises a steel shell in which is
fitted a bladder complete with a gas valve and fluid port with the
poppet valve (fig. 2):
• The shell is a pressure vessel forged or fabricated from high
grade steel designed and manufactured to meet the relevant
international standards.
For special applications various surface coatings are available as
well as a stainless steel construction.
• The bladder, which separates the gas from the liquid, is
made in nitrile rubber in the standard version.
Bladders in butyl, neoprene, ethylene-propylene etc. are available
for special uses. The main feature of the EPE bladder, which
makes it unique, is the special manufacturing process thanks to
which it is produced in one single piece without joints, even in the
larger sizes, so as to avoid all the problems which poor gluing
may involve.
Another advantage of the EPE bladder is the gas valve which, not
being vulcanised to the bladder, can be fit to it and removed
simply and safely.
For this reason the same bladder can be supplied with gas valve
in different versions, or the valve can be reused, thus reducing
the cost of spare parts.
• The gas valve is connected to the bladder by a rubber
coated washer to ensure a gas tight joint and a non return valve
is incorporated for bladder inflation. The bladder, complete with
the gas valve, is fixed to the accumulator shell by a lock nut, and
the assembly is protected by a cover.
• The fluid port valve prevents the bladder from extruding into the fluid port and, at the same time, allows the liquid
to flow. In the high pressure range is used a poppet valve, while
in the low pressure range is used a drilled disc. In t