Gas Spring

Abstract

The invention consists of a gas spring which can absorb movements perpendicular to its operating axis. To do that, it has a hollow cylindrical body ( 1 ) with an open end, a piston rod ( 2 ) located in the hollow cylindrical body ( 1 ) which can be moved therein and a sliding element ( 3 ) connected to the free end of the piston rod ( 2 ) and laterally displaceable with respect thereto. It also has a connection means ( 4 ) between the sliding element ( 3 ) and the piston rod ( 2 ) which comprises an internal part which is located inside the piston rod ( 2 ) and an external part ( 5 ) which projects out of the free end of the piston rod ( 2 ), the sliding element ( 3 ) being situated on the free end of the piston rod ( 2 ) and the sliding element ( 3 ) and the connection means ( 4 ) being configured so that the sliding element ( 3 ) is laterally displaceable with respect to the external part ( 5 ) of the connection means ( 4 ).

1 . A gas spring which comprises:
 a hollow cylindrical body with an open end,   a piston rod located in the hollow cylindrical body which is displaceable therein through the open end thereof,   a sliding element connected to the free end of the piston rod and laterally displaceable with respect thereto,   
       wherein it further comprises a connection element between the sliding element and the piston rod which comprises an internal part that is located inside the piston rod and an external part which projects from the free end of the piston rod, with the sliding element being situated on the free end of the piston rod and the sliding element and the connection element being configured so that the sliding element is laterally displaceable with respect to the external part of the connection element. 
     
     
         2 . The gas spring, of  claim 1 , characterised in that the connection element is located in the centre of the piston rod and the sliding element is disposed surrounding the external part thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a space between the external part of the connection element and the sliding element for the lateral displacement of the sliding element. 
     
     
         4 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that the sliding element has a greater height than the external part of the connection element. 
     
     
         5 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that the connection element and the sliding element are configured so that the connection element comprises a projection corresponding to a recess of the sliding element for the fastening thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises an elastic element between the external part of the connection element and the sliding element. 
     
     
         7 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that the free surface of the piston rod is straight, in correspondence with the adjacent surface of the sliding element. 
     
     
         8 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that the sliding element comprises a first body and a second body situated between the first body and the free surface of the piston rod, at least one of the bodies comprising a convex support surface corresponding to another concave support surface of the adjacent element so that the sliding element is laterally displaceable and displaceable in the direction of the concave surface with respect to the piston rod. 
     
     
         9 . The gas spring of  claim 8 , characterised in that the second body comprises a convex surface corresponding to the adjacent concave surface of the piston rod. 
     
     
         10 . The gas spring of  claim 1 , characterised in that the connection element comprises a central threaded orifice for maintenance which permits the removal of the gas spring.