Time delay device for a gas spring

Claim 1

A gas spring adapted for movement between compressed and extended positions, said spring comprising a cylinder and a piston capable of being displaced axially in said cylinder, said piston defining the boundary of an inner space of the cylinder, said inner space filled with a compressible fluid which varies in volume in accordance with a force acting upon a piston rod operatively connected to said piston, said inner space arranged so as to communicate via an openable and closable valve with a closed space, a control device for actuating said valve, said control device adapted to close said valve once said piston has moved past a predetermined axial position in said cylinder to thereby prevent fluid flow from said inner space to said closed space and lock said spring in its compressed position, and further adapted to open said valve at a predetermined time after closing of said valve to permit fluid flow between said inner space and closed space to thereby allow said spring to return to its extended position, said gas spring further including a choke arranged in series with said valve and a check valve arranged in parallel with said choke, whereby said choke has substantially no effect on the rate of fluid flow when fluid flows from said inner space to said closed space but affects the rate of fluid flow from said closed space to said inner space upon the expiration of said predetermined time.