If you’ve ever tried lifting the tailgate of an SUV or a car hatchback with just one finger, you’ve discovered the magic of a gas spring. Gas springs (aka gas struts, gas shocks, gas props, etc) are used to provide lift assistance in a variety of applications. The most common and easily recognizable application is on car/SUV hatchbacks.
The lifting force of the gas spring provides assistance in opening and keeping open, the hatchback at full position, providing ergonomics, safety, and comfort to the consumer. In the standard product line, there is not an internal mechanical coil spring to provide the lift assistance, but, rather, the combination of nitrogen gas and oil, sealed inside the tube portion, provides the needed lift force. The nitrogen gas provides the output force or lift assist and the oil provides lubrication to the seal and slows down the motion near full extension.