A hydro-pneumatic tensioner includes a barrel having an inner bore and a
pressurized fluid contained within to form at least part of a primary
accumulator having a preset volume of gas at a nominal pressure. A piston
having a piston rod extending from an aperture in the barrel is slidably
carried in the bore of the barrel and is in communication with the
pressurized fluid and positioned to increase the fluid pressure when the
piston strokes in the direction of the pressurized fluid. A secondary
accumulator also has a preset volume of gas at a preselected pressure. A
fluid separator maintains functional separation of the fluid volumes of
the primary and secondary accumulators when the primary accumulator
pressure is less than the preselected secondary accumulator pressure. The
fluid separator allows functional combining of the fluid volumes of the
primary and secondary accumulators when the primary accumulator pressure
equals or is greater than the preselected secondary accumulator pressure.