How does a Gas Strut work?

• A gas strut consists of a piston rod which moves in a closed cylinder under pressure
• The piston rod has a piston at the end which prevents it from sliding out of the cylinder and which guides the piston rod
• The force of the gas pressure spring is calculated from the cross-section of the piston rod times the pressure in the cylinder
• The higher the gas pressure, the higher the force of the cylinder
• Filling the gas strut with incombustible nitrogen has the advantage that the relatively large gas molecules can be better prevented from escaping from the cylinder by the seal
• Gas struts are most commonly used as a counterbalance for raising and lowering doors and hatches
• Typical applications are vehicle tailgates and boot lids, luggage compartments, skylights and machine guards
• The tube containes a small amount of oil to lubricate the rod and to control damping at the end of the stroke
• Gas struts should always be mounted with the rod downwards to prolong their service life