Feather ball
The Spring Ball , also sphere called, is the central element of hydropneumatic Citroën - suspension .
construction
The spring ball is a spherical steel container into which a rubber membrane (diaphragm) is inserted, which separates the volume of the ball into two parts, one for gas and the other for liquid. So it is a special form of an expansion tank .
Nitrogen part: This part is filled with nitrogen gas under high pressure, the so-called taring pressure.
Fluid part: This area is filled by the hydraulic fluid, which acts from the hydraulic system of the hydropneumatic wheel suspension against the pressure of the nitrogen gas.
functionality
The nitrogen gas, which fills the entire volume of the sphere under its taring pressure of up to 75 bar , is compressed by the hydraulic fluid via the flexible membrane, which reduces the gas volume.
The filling pressure is usually dimensioned in such a way that, during normal operation, there is an equilibrium between the high pressure hydraulic fluid and the gas it compresses. Half of the ball is filled with gas and the other half with hydraulic oil, both under very high pressure.
The suspension that gives this ball its name is realized by this gas cushion, which is more or less compressed by a piston / cylinder of the wheel suspension via the medium hydraulic oil.