Patent ID: 6516696
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: B21D,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
In combination, a gas spring and a work tool, the gas spring comprising:a body having a generally cylindrical bore formed therethrough; a piston comprising an annular sleeve slidably received for reciprocation within the bore of the body between first and second positions and having generally opposed ends and a bore through the sleeve, the sleeve having a shoulder in the bore, and the sleeve being constructed and arranged to removably receive the work tool therein and carry the work tool; the work tool having a shank which extends axially through the sleeve, has opposed ends each axially spaced beyond an adjacent end of the sleeve and the body, bears on the shoulder in the sleeve, and is received in the sleeve for co-reciprocation in unison with the sleeve; and an annular gas chamber encircling the sleeve and the work tool when received therein and defined at least in part between the sleeve and the body and constructed to contain a gas under pressure whereby a force applied to the work tool displaces the sleeve towards its second position thereby decreasing the volume of the gas chamber and increasing the pressure of the gas within the gas chamber so that when the force applied to the work tool tending to displace the sleeve towards its second position is reduced or no longer applied to the work tool, the gas in the gas chamber acts on the sleeve to displace the sleeve towards its first position and move the work tool therewith.