Under the hood of a tractor, in the protective cab of an excavator, or integrated in the design of the driver seat – gas springs and dampers from STABILUS are used abundantly in the manufacture of modern utility vehicles. Their duties are manifold: They will make lifting heavy body parts easier, assist in the easy opening of cab doors and windows, provide a safe, shock-absorbing seating position for the operator, and make handling maintenance covers more convenient.
Currently, it’s mostly the hydropneumatic gas springs from the LIFT-O-MAT and BLOC-O-LIFT lines as well as the hydraulic dampers from the STAB-O-SHOC line that allow engineers to design more ergonomics, safety, and convenience into vehicles and trailers. Thanks to a variety of models and a large selection of fitting elements within these product lines, STABILUS can provide manufacturers with options for handling even the most unusual applications or challenging mounting positions. Going far beyond the functions of a normal LIFT-O-MAT gas spring, a HYDRO-LIFT type gas spring will securely hold a cab window, roof light or maintenance cover in several positions. And with the ELEKTRO-LIFT, electrical functions can be added via a switch – such as engine compartment lighting.
While the non-locking gas springs of the LIFT-O-MAT family are used mainly for lifting, lowering, moving and adjusting body lids, engine hoods and cab windows, the locking BLOC-O-LIFT gas springs are the mounting element of choice for designing height-adjustable steering columns and individually adjustable driver seats. The hydraulic dampers of the STAB-O-SHOC line provide comfort and shock absorption in driver seats and are functional elements in trailer couplings and V-belt tensioners. The dampers are suited for operating temperatures of -40° C to +130° C and, depending on the model, can be installed both in a position-dependent or in an omnidirectional manner.
With its many types and models, the STABILUS standard program will always provide the right gas spring or suitable damper for a wide variety of possible installation positions and designs in utility vehicle construction. For highly unusual cases, the design engineers at the Koblenz-based company will also develop customer-specific solutions. With its expertise accumulated over many decades, STABILUS is the right partner for implementing particularly innovative adjustment and drive systems for the manufacture of construction, agricultural and forestry machines.