General about KALLER Gas Spring
What are Safety Features?
At KALLER, safety and reliability has always been a top priority. Below are some examples of what we do to help provide a safer working environment. We recommend that those responsible for purchasing and use, refer to this guide when selecting gas springs and gas or oil hose linked systems.
What are Reliability Features?
At KALLER, safety and reliability has always been a top priority. Below are some examples of what we do to help provide a safer working environment. We recommend that those responsible for purchasing and use, refer to this guide when selecting gas springs and gas or oil hose linked systems.
What is PED?
The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) was adopted in Europe in 1997, and came into force on May 29, 2002, throughout the European Union. Its purpose is to standardize the regulations regarding the design, manufacture, testing and assessment of pressure equipment including nitrogen gas springs and systems. All gas springs must be judged to be safe, and designed and manufactured according to sound engineering practices. In addition, gas springs with an internal gas volume above one litre must meet additional safety requirements.
The PED is among the most demanding manufacturing and quality requirements. Strömsholmen manufacturing facility has been certified to design, manufacture and test gas springs, accumulators and counterbalancing systems.
In receiving these certifications, Strömsholmen continues to strengthen its position of quality leadership in the production of nitrogen products.
What is the difference between self-contained gas springs and a hosed system?
Self-contained Gas Springs
- Each gas spring operates independently of one another.
- The gas springs can be ordered pre-charged or individually adjusted in the field.
- Requires the least initial investment.
- The gas springs are simply dropped into a spring pocket, bolted down, or flange mounted.
- Force increase from initial to full stroke ranging from 30% to 71%.
Hosed System
- The valve is removed from the charge port of each gas spring and the gas springs are connected with hoses out to a control panel.
- The entire system is charged from a central control panel.
- Uniform pressure throughout the entire system.
- The pressure can be easily monitored and adjusted.
- The pressure rise can be customized by the addition of a compression tank.
How do gas springs work?
Gas springs are charged with nitrogen gas to a high pressure and the gas is sealed inside the spring. The gas pressure acts on the piston rod or the piston (depending on design) of the spring and provides a resistant force. By using the equation Force = Charge Pressure times the Area of the piston, the initial force of the gas spring is calculated.
The larger the effective cross sectional area of the piston rod or the piston, the more “powerful” the gas spring will be. When the gas springs are compressed, the movement of the piston rod or the piston displaces gas volume resulting in increased spring force.
I have never used nitrogen gas springs before. Do I have to purchase additional components in order to install and run nitrogen gas springs?
Self-contained gas springs require no additional accessories if ordered pre-charged from the factory. Hosed systems require a high-pressure nitrogen bottle and a charging assembly (including a regulator).
Should I use self-contained gas springs or a hosed system for my application?
Self-contained gas springs offer easier initial installation. However, when it is important to be able to adjust the pressure in all springs simultaneously a hosed system should be considered.
I am currently using another brand of gas springs. Can you retrofit to their existing dimensions?
KALLER gas springs are dimensionally equivalent to other gas spring brands.
Please contact your local KALLER distributor or Strömsholmen AB directly for cross-over information.
Why are gas springs preferred over mechanical coil springs?
- Gas springs provide full load on contact. There is no need to pre-load.
- Gas springs provide greater tonnage per diameter than coil springs; therefore one gas spring can replace several coil springs.
- Gas spring output force can be easily adjusted. At a given deflection, coil springs cannot be adjusted. To increase or decrease force, an alternative duty group or spring size must be substituted.
What is the maximum working stroke of the gas springs?
The nominal stroke (defined as S in the catalog) may be utilized to 100% in all KALLER gas springs.
Our recommendation, however, is to not use the last 5 mm or 10% of the nominal stroke. This is to prevent the gas spring from being “over-stroked” as a result of changes or mishappenings in the tool.