Abstract: A gas spring assembly is used to control movement of a vehicle body panel relative to a vehicle body member. The gas spring assembly includes a rod and piston that are received within a tube or cylinder. A first rod end is coupled to the piston to move the piston back and forth within the cylinder. A second rod end is mounted to one of the vehicle body panel or the vehicle body member. The cylinder is mounted to the other of the vehicle body panel or the vehicle body member. The gas spring assembly includes a resilient cover that covers the rod and cylinder and extends from the second rod end to a distal cylinder end. The resilient cover extends and retracts with rod movement and is sealed at each end of the resilient cover to provide a completely sealed gas spring assembly.

Abstract: A piston assembly for a gas spring or damper includes first and second orifice plates that are axially spaced apart from each other. First and second low-friction rings are positioned between the first and second orifice plates. The first and second low-friction rings are separated from each other by a resilient member, which reacts between the first and second low-friction rings to eliminate dead-band operation as the piston assembly moves between extension and compression positions.

Abstract: A gas spring and a retractable device cooperate to provide a two-way assist mechanism for controlling movement of a body panel. The retractable device includes a spring assembly received within a tube that is attached to the gas spring. The body panel is attached to a vehicle frame with a pivotal connection. One of the gas spring and retractable device is connected to the vehicle frame and the other of the gas spring and retractable device is connected to the body panel. The retractable device acts as a solid link as the body panel moves from a closed position towards an open position. Once a center of gravity of the body panel rotates beyond the pivotal connection, the retractable device resists further movement of the body panel until a fully open position is achieved.

Abstract: A gas spring assembly is used to control movement of a vehicle body panel. The gas spring assembly includes a magnetic collar that allows an end user to position an intermediate stop position at a desired location. The magnetic collar is externally supported on a tube of the gas spring assembly. The end user selectively adjusts the intermediate stop position by moving the magnetic collar relative to the tube. The gas spring assembly includes a piston that is received within the tube and connected to a rod. The rod moves relative to the tube between a fully extended position and a fully compressed position. The magnetic collar includes a magnet that cooperates with the piston assembly to stop and hold the vehicle body panel at the intermediate stop position as the rod moves from the fully compressed position toward the fully extended position.

Abstract: A vehicle decklid system uses a planetary gear drive to move a decklid relative to a vehicle body. The planetary gear drive includes a rotatable gear that is disposed between two fixed gears. One fixed gear is rigidly mounted to the decklid and one fixed gear is rigidly mounted to the vehicle body. A rotating link connects centers of the rotatable gear and two fixed gears. The combination of the planetary gear drive and rotating link make it possible to provide powered complex, two-dimensional motion of the decklid requiring a four-bar linkage.

Abstract: A power mechanism for opening and closing a vehicle trunk decklid includes power-operated guides that move the linkages on the decklid. The guides are moved by push-pull cables operated by a motor and disposed in a guide rail located in a trunk sill. The motor may be controlled by a controller that receives a user signal and operates the motor based on the signal.

Abstract: An improved gas spring has a drive motor for driving a piston. A piston head has a thread at an outer periphery that is guided along a mating thread in an inner periphery of a cylinder. The piston is caused to rotate relative to the cylinder, and is guided for reciprocating movement. In this manner, a drive motor is incorporated into the gas spring such that the gas spring has both a driven and a manual mode. The inventive gas spring has particular application in attaching a vehicle closure to a vehicle frame.

Abstract: A gas spring assembly includes a gas spring and a linear electric motor which assists in operation of the gas spring. A coil assembly for a linear electric motor is mounted to a body of the gas spring. The coil assembly generates a magnetic field which interacts with a magnet mounted to a piston. Driving the magnet within an electric field assists in driving the piston of the gas spring. To assist in operation of the gas spring while reducing the packaging space of the gas spring.

Abstract: A gas spring is mounted through a unique mount structure including a socket joint. The socket joint is mounted in a yoke for rotation through 180° about an axis of the yoke. The inventive structure provides greater freedom of movement than the prior art, and in many applications will allow rotation for more than 180°.

Abstract: A gas spring provides an outer cylinder which is partitioned into a multiple of auxiliary volumes. A multiple of temperature compensation valves are located within a piston cylinder which sequentially open or close. As the temperature increases, the temperature compensation valves open sequentially and as the temperature decreases the temperature compensation valves close in reverse sequence. Between each pair of adjacent temperature compensation valves is a passage which provides communication between the working volume and an auxiliary volume to effectively increase or decrease the working volume of gas within cylinder through communication with or isolation of the auxiliary volumes.