Lift-O-Mat

Lift-O-Mat Gas Struts are typically used in applications with just two end positions, such as doors and flaps that need to be moved comfortably from a closed to open position, for example, on car tailgates.

The adjustment or spring force is generated by the gas pressure inside the device, while damping is generated by the piston package. In principle, a piston with a simple nozzle bore would be sufficient for hydraulic damping of a gas spring motion, however, the bore could easily become clogged and would therefore not guarantee safety, while it would also be difficult to influence the damping characteristics. To overcome these problems, the Lift-O-Mat, like all STABILUS hydraulically dampened gas springs, uses a labyrinth piston, which damps the motion of the piston when the gas spring extends, providing a defined speed relating to the length of the labyrinth channel.

The LIFT-O-MAT with hydraulic damping takes advantage of the flow resistance of the piston nozzle, which is lower in gas than oil. If the gas spring is mounted vertically with the piston rod pointing down, the oil accumulates at the seal and guide element of the gas spring. As soon as the piston dips into the oil when the piston rod is pushed out, the piston rod moves much more slowly. By combining different oils and labyrinth pistons, these braking effects can be customised to meet the requirements of the application.

To adapt the functionality of the Lift-O-Mat further, the gas struts can be specified with end-position locking to meet safety requirements and protect against unintentional adjustment. Additionally, internal mechanical locking can also be selected so that the gas spring operates in much the same way as a ball point pen - this is ideal for applications involving hidden compartments that are required to be revealed with a single push. Indeed, a major advantage of this variant compared with end position locking is the gas strut can be released and adjusted with one hand.