Mechanical tensioner strut with uni-directional friction damping

A mechanical tensioner strut, comprising:

• a housing including a first internal space;
• a plunger at least partially disposed within the first internal space and including a first outer circumferential surface tapering in a first axial direction;
• a primary spring including a first end and a second end engaged with the housing;
• a wedge element disposed within the first internal space and including at least one first inner circumferential surface tapering in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, and directly engageable with the first outer circumferential surface;
• and,
• a secondary spring directly engaged with the wedge element and at least a portion of the plunger to urge the at least a portion of the plunger in the second axial direction, wherein:
• the secondary spring is located radially outward of the primary spring;
• the primary spring extends past the secondary spring in the first and second axial directions;
• the primary spring urges the plunger in the second axial direction, with respect to the housing, with a first force;
• in a fully extended mode, the plunger is displaced a maximum distance in the second axial direction with respect to the housing;
• in a contracted mode, the plunger is displaced a second distance, with respect to the housing, in the first axial direction in response to application of a second force, greater by a first amount than the first force, on the plunger in the first axial direction;
• and,
• when the second force is decreased by a second amount, the plunger is configured to displace with respect to the housing in the second axial direction.