ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMPACT ACCUMULATOR
An accumulator assembly (10) comprises an accumulator cylinder (12) formed of a cylindrical, gas-impermeable shell (18) and a cylindrical gas-impermeable sleeve (20) disposed within and substantially concentric with the shell (18), An interstitial space (30) is formed between the sleeve (20) and the shell (18). A piston (22) slidably is disposed within the sleeve (20), the piston (22) separating an interior of the sleeve (20) into a first chamber (29) configured to contain a compressed gas, and a second chamber (31) configured to contain a pressurized fluid. A pair of removable axial closures (14, 16) retained to the gas-impermeable sleeve (20) at opposing ends and sealingly engaged with corresponding opposing ends of the gas-impermeable shell (18) is configured to provide maximum resistance to the tensional stress of the sleeve (20).