TIPS FOR CORRECT APPLICATION

The life cycle of a gas spring is mainly tied to the normal wear of the seals. Endurance tests have shown that our springs fully reach 100,000 opening and closing cycles. This value, however, is affected by the various uses to which the spring may be put. To give designers and manufacturers a guide for best use of this product, some basic rules are given below:

The gas spring should be fitted so that when fully closed the stem point of attachment is always facing downwards, even in applications where the gas spring, due to full rotation, has the stem facing upwards in the fully open position (see drawing). The recommended position facilitates lubrication of the guide and the seals, while allowing an excellent braking effect.

The stem surface is important for maintaining gas pressure and should therefore not be damaged by blunt or abrasive objects or by any corrosive chemical substances.

The gas spring should be applied by aligning the upper and lower connections so that the seal is not under strain. The alignment should be maintained during the entire stem stroke. Should this be impossible, use jointed attachments which allow their alignment.

Vibrations on the machine to which the gas springs are applied may be discharged onto the seals through attachments that are connected too rigidly to the frame. Leave a small clearance between the fixing screws and the attachments or fix the spring using at least one jointed attachment.

When applying the gas spring, make sure that the pulling forces are greater than the thrust force of the gas spring, so that the normal stem sliding speed is not exceeded.

The normal operating temperature for a gas spring is between -30 °C and + 80 °C; particularly damp and cold environments may create frost on the seals.

The gas spring has been designed and made to lighten or counter-balance a weight that is otherwise very heavy for the user or for the structure into which it is inserted. Any other use (shock absorber, decelerator, stop) should be carefully assessed by the designer and by the manufacturers with regard to durability of the spring and safety.