Which of the following is a consequence of the accumulator providing additional oil to the cylinder?

• A. Decreased oil viscosity
• B. Increased speed of cylinder movement
• C. Higher fuel efficiency
• D. Reduced system noise

Answer: (B)

Providing extra oil to the cylinder from an accumulator raises the instantaneous flow available to the actuator. The cylinder’s speed is largely governed by how much hydraulic fluid can be moved into the chamber per unit time (the flow rate) and the load being moved. When the accumulator dumps additional oil, it delivers a surge of fluid that reduces acceleration lag and allows the piston to move more quickly, so the cylinder speeds up.

Oil viscosity, which affects flow, is a property of the fluid and temperature, not something changed by a pulse of oil from the accumulator. Higher fuel efficiency isn’t a direct consequence because the accumulator’s job is to supply hydraulic flow, not to improve overall energy efficiency, and noise reduction isn’t guaranteed since rapid fluid delivery can create pressure transients.