Gas spring filler valve

A filler valve for a gas spring having a casing with a fill passage comprising:

• a body with a passage therethrough, an externally threaded first portion, a second portion axially inward of the first portion and of smaller diameter than the first portion, an integral frusto-conical shoulder between the first portion and second portion and opposed open ends of the body each communicating with the fill passage of the casing,
• a valve seat surrounding the passage defined in the body and disposed between the opposed ends of the body, and
• a poppet slidably received in the passage for reciprocation between an open position spaced from the valve seat and a closed position adjacent the valve seat to prevent the flow of gas through the passage and the fill passage, the poppet has a valve head engageable with the valve seat and a valve stem extending from the valve head and constructed to project through the valve seat at least when the poppet is its closed position, an end portion extending from the valve head opposite the valve stem, projecting through an open end of the body at least when the poppet is in its open position and constructed to bear on the casing from within the fill passage to limit the travel of the poppet,
• whereby the poppet is constructed to be moved to its closed position solely by the force of pressurized gas in the gas spring acting on the poppet to substantially prevent gas from leaking from the gas spring through the passage and the poppet may be moved to its open position by displacing the valve stem of the poppet projecting through the valve seat to displace the valve head from the valve seat.

A gas spring comprising:

• a casing having a chamber therein for containing a gas under pressure, an annular wall defining an opening at one end of the chamber, a base closing one end of the annular wall and a fill passage formed in the base and communicating the chamber with the exterior of the casing, said fill passage having a first portion with internal threads and leading to a second portion of smaller diameter than the first portion with a shoulder between the first portion and second portion;
• a rod received in the chamber for generally axial reciprocation therein and projecting from the chamber;
• a seal between the rod and the casing to substantially prevent the gas from leaking from the chamber around the rod;
• and
• a filler valve carried by the base of the casing within the fill passage and having a body with a complimentary externally threaded portion threaded into the first portion of the fill passage, a valve passage therethrough opening into opposed open ends of the body each communicating with the fill passage of the casing, a valve seat surrounding the valve passage between the opposed ends of the body,
• a poppet slidably received in the valve passage for reciprocation between an open position spaced from the valve seat and a closed position adjacent the valve seat to prevent the flow of gas from the chamber through the valve passage and the fill passage,
• a tab carried by the body, extending into the valve passage and constructed to retain the poppet within the body,
• the poppet having a valve head and an end portion which extends through an open end of the body at least when the poppet is in its fully open position and engages the casing to prevent engagement of the valve head and the tab, and
• a shoulder integral with the body between the opposed ends of the body and engageable with the shoulder in the fill passage to limit insertion of the filler valve into the fill passage,
• whereby the poppet is moved to its closed position solely by the force of pressurized gas in the chamber acting on the poppet to prevent gas from leaking from the chamber through the fill passage and the poppet may be moved to its open position to permit gas flow through the valve passage and hence, through the fill passage of the casing.

A filler valve for a gas spring having a casing with a fill passage comprising:

• a body with a passage therethrough, an externally threaded first portion, a second portion axially inboard of the first portion and of smaller diameter than the first portion, an integral shoulder between the first portion and second portion, and opposed open ends of the body each communicating with the fill passage of the casing,
• a valve seat surrounding the passage through the body and disposed between the opposed ends of the body, and
• a poppet having a head slidably received in the passage for reciprocation between an open position spaced from the valve seat and a closed position bearing on the valve seat to prevent the flow of gas through the passage and the fill passage,
• a tab carried by the body to retain the head in the passage through the body,
• an end portion of the poppet extending from the head and which extends through an open end of the body at least when the head of the poppet is in its fully open position and engages the casing to prevent engagement of the head and the tab, and
• the poppet is constructed to be moved to its closed position solely by the force of pressurized gas in the gas spring acting on the poppet to substantially prevent gas from leaking from the gas spring through the passage.