Patent ID: 6179099
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A gas spring, comprising:a cylinder containing a fluid, at least part of which is a compressed gas;a piston affixed to a piston rod, said piston being received in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two working chambers;the piston having a one-way valve responsive to the direction of motion of the piston in the cylinder and a pressure-control valve comprising a spring and a valve body arranged in parallel with the one-way valve;the piston having a sleeve section and a base, and the base having a passage which is blocked by the valve body of the pressure-control valve when the pressure-control valve is closed;the sleeve section of the piston having a sealing piece on which a portion of the spring of the pressure-control valve is supported;the sealing piece having a fluid connection to the working chamber remote from the piston rod;a bypass in a first stroke region of the piston which allows fluid flow past the one-way valve and the pressure-control valve, the first stroke region being adjoined by a bypass-free stroke region, the gas spring being arrested in the bypass-free stroke region;the spring of the pressure-control valve exerting a temperature-dependent elastic force, the elastic force being greater with increasing operating temperatures;whereby the compressive force necessary for opening the pressure-control valve increases in correspondence with increases in operating temperatures of the gas spring.