I know that I am going to open a can of worms here, but I like worms.
Most of the discussion here so far has concerned stored energy. From a stored energy perspective, a gas strut is no different than a spring. They differ only in the manner of energy storage. So if a spring is legal, then, from, a stored energy perspective, a gas strut is legal. There could be arguments about where the initial energy to deform the spring/strut comes from in either case.
The real question about legality is brought up by
this Q& response.
While I will stop short of saying they don't exist, I have yet to see or hear of a gas strut that is not, at least partially, filled with oil. The familiar gas strut, is simply an oil filled damper (or shock absorber), pre-charged with nitrogen at about 1500 PSI.
While not a formal authority, a description from
McMaster Carr might help:
Quote:
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Note: All gas springs contain pressurized nitrogen gas as well as hydraulic fluid that lubricates the seal and provides slam-resistant damping at the end of the stroke. To avoid loss of force, you should store and install gas springs rod-end down.
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