🔍 Key Concepts

• Bladder-type hydraulic accumulator construction (gas side vs. fluid side) • Purpose of preload (precharge) pressure in an accumulator • Safe procedure for setting gas charge when the hydraulic side is pressurized or depressurized

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens to the bladder if you raise gas pressure while full hydraulic system pressure is still on the fluid side. • When you "charge" an accumulator, are you matching the gas pressure to system design pressure, or to a lower preload value? • Consider which step should come first: removing hydraulic pressure, or adding pneumatic (gas) pressure.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify that all hydraulic system pressure status is correct (on or off) before charging. • Check whether the gas precharge is normally set to full system design pressure or a specified preload percentage of it. • Eliminate any option that could cause the bladder to be overstretched or crushed by pressure on the wrong side.