How does a gas spring work?
Gas spring are self-contained ,pneumatic devices capable of producing very large forces (30N to 2500N) from a compacted piece. A typical gas spring consists of a shaft connected to a piston head,which moves witin a cylinder. The cylinder contains nitrogen at high pressure.The piston has an orifice which allows gas pressure to pass through and act equally on both sides. It is the pressure acting on the shaft cross-sectonal area which provides the spring its force.

Should a gas spring be mounted rod up or rod down?
Rod down is the preferred orientation for mounting a gas spring. Optimum design permits the support to be oriented rod down thrugh its entire actuation.

To achieve damping or cushion at the end of the gas spring’s stroke,the piston assembly inside of the gas spring must travel through oil at the end of the stroke. This oil will pool at the low point of the cylinder. Additionally,the rod seal has maimum life when it is constantly lubricated by the internal oil volume.This reduces seal wear and helps to prevent corrosion.

How does temperature affect the life and performance of gas spring?
Temperature affects gas springs in two ways. As the temperature of the gas spring changes, the internal pressure also changes. As the internal pressure changes,so does the output force. The nominal force will change by approximately 3% for every 10°C change.

Very high or very low temperatures can adversely affect the gas spring’s ability to retain its gas charge. At very high temperatures,the permeability of the seal increases and gas molecules may diffuse through the seal more quickly. Usually, gas spring can support and perform reliably at temperatures ranging from -30°C to 80 °C