Patent ID: 8292274

Claim:
A spring system comprising a housing having an axis, an internal chamber, and axially opposite bottom and top ends; a rod member coaxial with said axis and positioned within said internal chamber and having an inner end in said housing and an outer end axially outwardly of said top end of said housing; a guide member on said inner end of said rod member supporting said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto; first and second compression springs each extending between said guide member and the bottom end of said housing; and top and bottom bushings, said top bushing positioned at least closely adjacent to said top end of said housing and said bottom bushing positioned at least closely adjacent to said bottom end of said housing; said top bushing including an opening to enable a portion of said rod member to pass therethrough and to support said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto, said top bushing including a sealing arrangement positioned at least closely adjacent to a bottom of said top bushing to inhibit fluid from entering into and escaping from said internal chamber between said top bushing and said top end of said housing, said first and second springs being coaxial with one another and with said axis, at least one of said springs at least partially applying a force on said guide member as said rod member moves between fully retracted and fully extended positions, said guide member designed to move into engagement with or move to a position closely adjacent to said top bushing when said rod member moves to a fully extended position, at least one of said springs having a free length that is at least a majority length of said internal chamber, both of said springs contacting said bottom bushing when said rod member in said fully retracted position, said guide member dividing said internal chamber into at least two sub-chambers, said guide member including a first passageway that at least partially regulates fluid flow between said at least two sub-chambers during said reciprocation of said rod member, said first passageway fully spaced from an outer edge of said guide member and passing fully through said guide member, said outer end of said rod member including a mounting element.