摘要 |
<p>Figure 1 This invention relates to apparatus for minimising the amount of fluid leaked from a component in a hydraulic power system when the component has failed. The apparatus comprises a tank 1 for use as a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid, the tank 1 having a first chamber 2 for storing a main volume of the fluid and a second chamber 3 communicating with the first chamber 2 for storing a reference volume of the fluid. The second chamber 3 is provided with a fluid level switch 23 which deactiates the system power source when the quantity of fluid in the second chamber 3 has fallen to or below a preset level as a result of its leakage from the system via a burst hose or the like. The chambers 2 and 3 are dimensioned so that for a given quantity of fluid entering or leaving the tank 1, fluid level fluctuation in the second chamber 3 is greater than the corresponding fluid level fluotuation which would occur in the first chamber 1 if the fluid were only entering or leaving the first chamber 2.</p> |