370 gal Air Hydraulic Accumulator (No. 2 West Works), O/No. 8682, c.1939

Order 8682 for Northern Aluminium Ltd., Rogerstone, c.1939

D7338/14/10/3870
Gloucestershire Archives
D7338/14/10/3870A
Gloucestershire Archives

This centralised water hydraulic accumulator system was used to power a number of horizontal extrusion presses in No.2 West Works. The useful stored capacity was 370 gal between the upper and lower levels. The upper limit, or max. safe working pressure, was 3500 psi (as shown on each bottle).

The system comprised a large air/water bottle in the foreground and a number of air back-up bottles both sides to the rear.

Duplicate control tubes (one in use and one spare), with tube isolating valves top and bottom, are shown in front of the air/water bottle.  Located between the isolating valves are a number of electrical sensors (search coils). Inside each control tube is a float that rises and falls in line with the water level in the main bottle. An electrical signal is generated when the float passes the sensor and the signal is amplified and used to control the demand from the pumps (not shown). A small lamp box is shown attached to the air/water bottle.  This would indicate abnormal high and low water levels when the air/water bottle would be isolated. To the left of the lamp box is a bell that would be triggered in the event of abnormal high water level. To the right of the lamp box is a siren that would be triggered in the event of abnormal low water level. A contact pressure gauge (not shown) would trigger abnormal low or high pressure.

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Click on this hyperlink to see the hydraulic pumps associated with the accumulator.

Click on this hyperlink to see other Notable Orders from the 1930s

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