What is important when mounting gas springs?

Mounting a gas spring correctly will help prolong its service life.

Correct mounting and use of a gas spring is extremely important for its service life and optimal function.

Gas springs must be stored and fitted with the piston pointing downwards and at 45 degrees to the horizontal. This is important, as this fitting will ensure that internal glands will remain lubricated by the oil inside the gas spring. If a gas spring is fitted horizontally or with the piston upwards, the oil will run out of the glands, and thus wear and leaking glands will be the result of incorrect fitting. For each fitting you must ensure that there is no sideways deflection or other forces that will affect the gas spring in any way other than free axial movement in the gas spring’s longitudinal direction

Do not burn, puncture, squash or dent the gas spring, and do not weld the surface of the cylinder. Do not scratch, paint or bend the piston

Always fit stainless steel gas springs in places exposed to a damp environment or for use in the food industry. Note that the oil in the gas spring is not approved for use in the food industry. Do not, therefore, fit gas springs directly over production, as a worn gas spring can leak oil. Do not expose the gas spring to vibrations.

Gas springs are designed to perform no more than 5 strokes per minute at 20° C. If this is exceeded, there will be a build-up of heat inside the gas spring that may result in leaky glands. Gas springs are designed to keep to 30,000 movements when fitted correctly. It is recommended that physical stops always be used in constructions. This will ensure that the gas spring is not used with loads in excess of those for which it was designed. Movement of the gas spring is only dampened for the last section against the full extension of the piston. Gas springs will lose pressure slightly over time, compared with the original pressure at the time they were fitted. A pressure loss of up to 10% may be expected.