Actuator assist apparatus, actuator system and method

An actuator assist apparatus 20 for use with an actuator 22 has a housing 40 and a piston member 42 slidably disposed in the housing 40. The piston member 42 divides the interior of the housing 40 into a first fluid chamber 44 and a second fluid chamber 46. The actuator assist apparatus 20 may be configurable between a first, primed, configuration and a second, activated, configuration. A force applicator 56 is configured to store energy when the apparatus 20 is in the primed configuration and release the energy to move the piston member 42 relative to the housing 40. Movement of the piston member 42 applies a force which assists in urging the actuator 22 towards an extended configuration, thereby reducing the minimum operating pressure (MOP) of the actuator 22. The force application arrangement may comprise a biasing arrangement such as a spring 56.