Gas struts or gas springs or gas lifts are important in most industries. Their mechanism enables them to control the vertical motion, supporting in lifting or lowering an object, holding it as well while working on a more broad range of applications from automotive hoods to industrial machinery.
Gas strut basics selecting the correct gas struts for your application is key to function, safety and longevity The following guide serves as your one-stop resource for everything you need to consider, the different types of gas struts available at Schutts Industrial, and how to choose the right fit.
Understanding Gas Struts
Gas struts use a piston driven by compressed gas and are mechanical devices. Mostly, they are there to create a controlled and smooth movement and support weight (if the application involves lifting or balancing). The heavy duty gas strut is used in a broader range of applications than you could imagine, from cars and trucks to furniture and industrial equipment.
- Bottle neck: A gas strut is comprised of a couple of major components as below
- Cylinder: Contains the compressed gas and piston.
- Piston Rod: This is responsible for extending or retracting to provide force and motion.
- Seals as well as Bearings: Maintain gas stress as well as your tool will certainly run efficiently.
- End Fittings: to attach to the application like brackets or eyelets.
Things to Keep in Mind While Selecting a Gas Strut
There are multiple parameters to consider when picking the gas strut to ensure compatibility and functionality. The following are the elements you will need to keep in mind:
· Application Requirements
Know what you are looking for related to your application. What is the purpose of the gas strut, lift, hold or damping? From controlled lifting and holding on car trunk lids to heavy-duty struts for industrial equipment; each part is used in a range of applications.
· Load Capacity
Gas Strut Load Capacity indicates how much weight the strut can hold. Determine the weight of the item you are lifting or resting on to then select your correct gas strut force rating (N).
· Stroke Length
The stroke length refers to the extension or retraction length of the piston rod. Verify the movement of the stroke length for you application.
· Mounting Orientation
Think about how the gas strut will be mounted: vertically, horizontally and at what angle? As shown above, performance can be impacted by orientation — this is particularly true for gas struts that utilize oil damping.
· Material and Finish
Gas struts intended for demanding environments (e.g., marine or outdoor use) should be constructed from corrosion-resistant materials, like stainless steel. Even better is to apply a protective coating (epoxy or zinc plating).
Conclusion
Gas struts are also affected by temperature, so while it has to come up high enough on this list because the extreme cold and heat can impact the pressure inside the cylinder. Choose a strut for the temperature range of your application. Make sure the gas strut end fittings match your mounting points. Ball sockets, clevis brackets and threaded studs are some of the usual types.
