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  Compact temperature compensating gas springRelated Patent Categories: Brakes, Internal-resistance Motion Retarder, With Means Compensating For Change In Temperature Or ViscosityThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060185946. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to gas and pneumatic springs. In particular, the invention relates to a temperature compensating gas spring having a compact design. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Gas springs are employed in a variety of applications. Gas springs are used to assist in the opening and holding open of various hinged items such as trunk lids, engine hoods, lift gates, vehicle doors, cabinet doors, and windows. The force exerted by gas springs varies with the temperature of the gas in the spring. Higher temperatures increase gas pressures in the spring requiring higher closing forces while lower temperatures decrease gas pressures and reduce lifting and hold open forces. [0003] Solutions exist in the art that employ secondary gas volumes separated from the primary gas volume by a temperature sensitive check valve. These secondary gas volumes, although effective in compensating for temperature variations of the gas within the gas spring, either increase the diameter or length of the gas spring. Increases in package diameter or length prevent the use of these temperature compensated gas springs, in many applications. A gas spring is needed that provides temperature compensation while maintaining a compact package profile. [0004] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of a temperature compensating gas spring 100, in accordance with the prior art. A hollow cylinder 110 is separated into a front chamber 112 and a rear chamber 114 by a temperature compensation module (TCM) 116. A piston assembly 120 includes a solid piston 122 connected to a solid piston rod 124. Hollow cylinder 110 is charged with a pressurized gas 118, such as nitrogen, which pressurizes the front chamber 112 and the rear chamber 114. [0005] TCM 116 operates in response to temperature. At temperatures above a design temperature of the TCM 116, the temperature compensating gas spring 100 operates as if the rear chamber 114 does not exist. When the temperature falls below the design temperature of the TCM 116, a valve 134 on the TCM 116 opens and the operating volume of the gas spring 100 is increased. [0006] Other temperature compensation schemes exist involving various types of valves that control the flow of the gas from one area of the gas spring to another at varying rates. Still others use pumps to regulate the pressure in the gas spring. These solutions require additional components that increase their size, weight and cost. Still other temperature compensation schemes involve multiple gas types within the gas spring increasing the complexity of manufacture and requiring strict separation of the different gases. [0007] It is therefore desirable to provide a temperature compensating gas spring that overcomes the limitations, challenges, and obstacles described above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a compact temperature compensating gas spring including a gas filled hollow cylinder and a piston assembly slidably received in the gas filled hollow cylinder. The piston assembly includes a piston head and a piston rod. The piston rod includes a temperature compensation chamber. The piston head includes an aperture formed therein in communication with the temperature compensation chamber. A temperature activated valve is operably connected to the aperture to control gas flow between the cylinder and the temperature compensation chamber. [0009] Another aspect of the present invention provides a compact temperature compensating gas spring assembly including a gas filled hollow cylinder having a sealed end; a piston assembly slidably received in the gas filled hollow cylinder, the piston assembly having a closed end and including a piston head and a piston rod, the piston rod including a temperature compensation chamber, the piston head including an aperture formed therein in communication with the temperature compensation chamber; a temperature activated valve operably connected to the aperture to control gas flow between the cylinder and the temperature compensation chamber; a fixed component operably connected to one of the sealed end and the closed end; and a load component operably connected to the other of the sealed end and the closed end. [0010] Another aspect of the present invention provides a compact temperature compensating gas spring including a gas filled hollow cylinder; and a piston assembly slidably received in the gas filled hollow cylinder and including a temperature compensation chamber; and means for controlling gas flow between the cylinder and the temperature compensation chamber based on temperature. [0011] The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation a compact temperature compensating gas spring, in accordance with the prior art; [0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a compact temperature compensating gas spring, in accordance with the present invention; [0014] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the temperature activated valve of FIG. 2 responding to a pressure difference between the first chamber and the temperature compensation chamber, in accordance with the present invention; [0015] FIG. 3a shows a schematic representation of the temperature activated valve of FIG. 2 responding to temperature below the preset temperature, in accordance with the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3b shows a schematic representation of the temperature activated valve of FIG. 2 responding to a temperature above the preset temperature, in accordance with the present invention; [0017] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the temperature activated valve of FIG. 2 disposed within the aperture, in accordance with the present invention; [0018] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of temperature activated valve of FIG. 2 including a coiled bimetallic strip in accordance with the present invention; [0019] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of hollow piston rod of FIG. 2 including a plurality of sections in accordance with the present invention; and [0020] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the compact temperature compensating gas spring used in conjunction with a fixed component and a load component, in accordance with the present invention. 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