Stabilus Gmbh

Gas Spring Company, Div. of Fichtel & Sachs Industries, Inc.

Gerhard Reichert

Herbert Freitag

A flap member, e.g. a trunk lid of a motor vehicle, is pivotally mounted on a framework, e.g. a motorcar framework. The flap member is assisted in its upward movement by a gas spring. The thrust of the gas spring biases the flap member towards an upper position. In this upper position further upward movement of the flap member is locked by a relief pressure valve between the working chambers of the gas spring. By applying external force to the flap member assisting the thrust of the gas spring, the flap member may be moved beyond said upper position while opening said relief pressure valve. If the external upward directed force ceases the relief pressure valve closes again and the flap member is maintained in the new position by the thrust of the gas spring and the locking action of the relief pressure valve. When the flap member is to be lowered, an external force is applied opposite to the trunk lid and as a result thereof a direction-responsive is opened in parallel to the relief pressure valve.

Construction assembly

A gas spring, having a collapse safety feature operable in the event of psure loss, is provided, for use, for example, as a counterbalance for flaps or vertically adjustable structures. A movable partition is arranged between the piston and the head of the cylinder of the gas spring, and is exposed on one side to a closed gas chamber under pressure, while on the other side the gas volume effecting the extension force of the piston rod is present between the piston and the partition. In event of pressure loss in the gas volume on either side of the piston, the movable partition will meet the piston and act as a safety to prevent abrupt release or lowering of the object for which the gas spring is to serve as a counterbalance.

Growing community of inventors

Neuwied, Germany

Gerhard Reichert