Abstract: An industrial gas spring with a pressure chamber in a casing with an end wall, a piston rod received at least in part in the casing for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions and a pressure relief assembly carried by the end wall. The pressure relief assembly may have a membrane communicating with the pressure chamber and a plunger configured to breach the membrane when engaged and moved by the piston rod when it overtravels its design intended retracted position.

Abstract: A gas pressure relief valve assembly with a normally closed check valve received in a main body. An actuator pin slidably received in a guide body threadably carried by the main body may be advanced to open the check valve and retracted to permit the check valve to close. A knob connected to the actuator pin and threadably carried by the guide body may be manually rotated in opposite directions to advance and retract the actuator pin. Rotary loosening of the threaded knob and/or loosening of the threaded guide body will retract the actuator pin and prevent opening of the check valve.

Abstract: An industrial gas spring with a pressure chamber in a casing with an end wall, a piston rod received at least in part in the casing for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions and a pressure relief assembly carried by the end wall. The pressure relief assembly may have a membrane communicating with the pressure chamber and a plunger configured to breach the membrane when engaged and moved by the piston rod when it overtravels its design intended retracted position.

Abstract: A simple and easy repair kit to restore the structural integrity of damaged agricultural bins, specifically to repair a corner of a bin. The repair kit consists of two parts: a structural tube and a collar.

Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder with a piston rod movable to fully extended, intermediate and fully retracted positions. The cylinder may have a first head engaging one end of a first tube with a first piston slidably received therein, an intermediate connector engaging the other end of the first tube and one end of a second tube with a second piston slidably received therein, and a second head engaging the other end of the second tube. The piston rod may be attached to the second piston for movement therewith and extend through the intermediate connector, first piston, first tube, and the first head to the exterior thereof.

Abstract: A process and machine for filling a container with a top opening with swarf. The machine may include an apparatus to deposit a pile of swarf in the container with a portion of the pile extending above the top opening, a blade extending laterally across this portion and an actuator configured to move the blade across at least part of the pile to move at least part of the top portion of the pile into the container and desirably below the top opening.

Abstract: A gas spring with a casing with an axially extending side wall, an open end and a closed end wall spaced from the open end and a pressure chamber provided in part by the walls to receive a gas therein under pressure and a piston rod slidably received in a housing received in the casing and movable between extended and retracted positions. A pressure relief collar slidably carried around the piston rod and normally projecting axially outwardly of the casing can be displaced axially inwardly during an overtravel condition of the piston rod to displace a portion of a piston rod seal to open an overpressure relief path to allow pressurized gas in the pressure chamber to escape to the outside of the gas spring.

Abstract: A gas spring for forming equipment may have a casing with an axially extending side wall, an open end, and a closed end wall with the walls defining in part a pressure chamber to receive a gas under pressure, a bearing assembly received in the casing, a piston rod slidably received in the bearing assembly for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions, a piston retainer received in the casing and separate from and normally carried by the piston rod, a deforming member in the casing adjacent its closed end wall, and configured to plastically deform the retainer when the piston rod is forced into the pressure chamber into an overtravel retracted position beyond its designed intended maximum retracted position and after such overtravel the piston rod returns to at least its extended position and the deformed retainer engages the bearing assembly and is fractured and separated from the piston rod.

Abstract: A piston rod housing assembly for a gas spring includes a piston rod housing having an interior end, an exterior end axially spaced from the interior end, and an overtravel pressure relief passage extending through the piston rod housing and intersecting the exterior end.

Abstract: A gas spring for forming equipment. A casing includes an axially extending side wall, an open end, a transversely extending closed end wall axially spaced from the open end, and a pressure chamber established in part by the side and end walls to receive a gas under pressure. A piston rod is received at least partially in the casing for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions. A piston rod housing is received at least in part in the casing between the piston rod and the casing. An overtravel pressure relief feature includes a vent path that is disposed between the pressure chamber and the outside of the gas spring and that includes a vent passage through the side wall of the casing and a seal that sealingly interrupts the vent path, wherein displacement of the housing into the casing results in opening of the vent path.

Abstract: A gas spring for forming equipment, including a piston received at least partially in a cylinder for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions, and including a throttling passage disposed between the piston and the cylinder in fluid communication between first and second pressure chambers during at least a portion of the reciprocation of the piston. The throttling passage is of variable cross-sectional area, which varies with a length of the passage to at least partially restrict gas flow therethrough in a manner varying with return of the piston toward its extended position to decelerate the piston at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A piston rod housing assembly for a gas spring includes a piston rod housing having an interior end, an exterior end axially spaced from the interior end, and an overtravel pressure relief passage extending axially through the piston rod housing and intersecting the exterior end. The assembly also includes an overtravel pressure relief member carried in the overtravel pressure relief passage and having an exterior end that projects axially beyond the piston rod housing.

Abstract: Toe clamps generally shaped like hollow cylinder sectors or ring segments, methods of manufacturing such toe clamps, a toe clamping arrangement including such toe clamps, and a fixture for use in manufacturing such toe clamps.

Abstract: A gas spring for forming equipment, a piston rod for the gas spring, and a shock collar for the gas spring carried by the piston rod. The shock collar may be resiliently flexible, and plastically deformable so as to at least partially collapse, and the piston rod may include features to disrupt a gas spring seal upon at least partial collapse of the shock collar.

Abstract: A piston rod housing assembly for a gas spring includes a piston rod housing having an interior end, an exterior end axially spaced from the interior end, and an overtravel pressure relief passage extending axially through the piston rod housing and intersecting the exterior end. The assembly also includes an overtravel pressure relief member carried in the overtravel pressure relief passage and having an exterior end that projects axially beyond the piston rod housing.

Abstract: An overpressure relief plug including a rupture disc and engaging a fill valve in series downstream fluid communication with respect thereto. A gas spring may include a fill port, and the overpressure relief plug and the fill valve in the fill port.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a fill valve, and a rupture disc carried by the fill valve. An overpressure relief and fill valve assembly includes a valve housing with a valve passage, the fill valve carried by the valve housing and including a valve stem extending into the valve passage and an overpressure relief passage extending through the fill valve, and a rupture disc carried by the fill valve in communication with the overpressure relief passage. A gas spring may include the valve assembly therein.

Abstract: Toe clamps generally shaped like hollow cylinder sectors or ring segments, methods of manufacturing such toe clamps, a toe clamping arrangement including such toe clamps, and a fixture for use in manufacturing such toe clamps.

Abstract: A guide and retention assembly for spaced apart confronting plates of a die set for guiding the plates for relative reciprocal movement toward and away from the other. The assembly includes a housing with a mounting flange and a sleeve with a through bore, and a rod extending through the bore and slidably received in at least one bushing in the sleeve.

Abstract: A gas spring for forming equipment, a piston rod for the gas spring, and a shock collar for the gas spring carried by the piston rod. The shock collar may be resiliently flexible, and plastically deformable so as to at least partially collapse, and the piston rod may include features to disrupt a gas spring seal upon at least partial collapse of the shock collar.