Did You Know These Facts About Gas Struts

When it comes to counterbalance solutions, there are many products on the market, including different brands of Gas Struts. With varying size, force, lengths, and materials, there is a lot to consider when choosing a product. But how much do you know about Gas Struts? d

Did You Know These Facts About Gas Struts? 

What are Gas Struts? Are they different from Gas Springs? When it comes to counterbalance solutions, there are many products on the market, including many other brands. Depending on region and industry, each product may be referred to differently. In addition, with varying size, force, lengths, and materials, there is a lot to consider when choosing a product. 

Here are 10 fast facts about Gas Struts:

1. Gas Struts are also referred to as Gas Springs. Regionality and industry are often contributors to the use of two names, but on ASRaymond.com, the two names refer to the same product. 
2. Gas Struts consist of a precision rod attached to a piston, moving within a sealed cylinder containing pressurized nitrogen gas and oil. Raymond® Mechanical Struts (another counterbalance solution) are oil-less, gas-less, and seal-less.  
3. Gas Struts provide lift assistance and counterbalance to applications, by providing a push or pull force acting around a pivot axis. 
4. Their force is equal to the internal pressure acting on the, acting on the cross-sectional area of the rod. 
5. All Compression Gas Struts contain a small amount of oil to lubricate the seal and rod. This oil can also provide damping effects at the end of the stroke, which provides velocity control and aids in the prevention of shock loading. 
6. Because the oil is intended to keep the seal lubricated and from drying out, Gas Struts are often stored and installed rod-down. Unless designed otherwise, Gas Struts are recommended to be installed at an angle less than 60 degrees from vertical. 
7. While a nitride Gas Strut provides some level of corrosion resistance, a stainless-steel Gas Strut is tested to meet a 500-hour salt spray requirement per ASTM B117. 
8. Gas Springs have threaded rods to allow easy attachment of various End Fittings. 
9. Force can be adjusted on Gas Struts that are fitted with release valves. While some Gas Springs have adjustable forces through a release valve, attempting to recharge a Gas Strut can be dangerous and is not recommended. 
10. Gas Springs are self-contained units which means they do not require periodic maintenance or service. Repair of Gas Springs is not possible as loss of force is caused by main seal damage, and the Gas Spring should be replaced.  

If you have more questions about Gas Struts, and if they are right for your application, reach out to one of our experienced account representatives. To learn more about how Gas Struts differ from Shock Absorbers and Dampers, read this blog! ASRaymond has more than 12,000 Gas Struts available in nitride and stainless steel. Try the Counterbalance Configurator Tool to help you find the right product for your application. 

About ASRaymond

ASRaymond, a business of Barnes Group Inc, is a global leader in providing manufacturers with precision-engineered force and motion control solutions from world-renowned brands such as Raymond®, Industrial Gas Springs™, SPD™, and SPEC®. Servicing a wide range of industrial markets, including Construction and Agriculture, Lift Equipment, Marine, Medical, and Heavy-Duty Trucks, ASRaymond has the breadth and depth of standard products to match any application's demands. Additionally, ASRaymond's global team of engineers are available to customize components when standard products are not suitable. For more information, visit ASRaymond.com.