Patent ID: 8418821

Claim:
A piston cylinder unit comprising: a cylinder; a piston rod guided axially within the cylinder and extending therefrom; a piston rod protector surrounding the piston rod and having at least one axially facing retaining surface extending circumferentially inside the protector, the piston rod protector having elasticity; and an end cap having a radial shoulder extending around at least part of the cylinder, the shoulder having an axially facing stop surface extending circumferentially around at least part of the cylinder, a primary assembly bevel portion facing oppositely from the stop surface, and an auxiliary assembly bevel portion facing oppositely from the stop surface, wherein the primary assembly bevel portion forms a continuous helical transition into the auxiliary assembly bevel portion and is configured to contact the piston rod protector, wherein the piston rod protector is slideably arranged on the end cap and is retained between and configured to contact the stop surface and a flange axially spaced from the stop surface, whereby, during installation of the protector, the retaining surface can be moved progressively over the primary and auxiliary assembly bevel portions until the retaining surface engages the stop surface.