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 delay return gas spring including a piston at least partially received in a cylinder for reciprocation between extended and compressed positions over a cycle including a compression stroke and a return stroke. A seal disposed between the cylinder and the piston separates a primary chamber on one side of the seal from a secondary chamber on another side of the seal during a portion of the cycle. A passage communicates with the secondary chamber and with the primary chamber. The seal is relatively movable between an open position permitting free flow of gas through the passage to a closed position at least partially restricting gas flow through the passage so as to permit gas in the secondary chamber to be compressed in response to movement of the piston toward its extended position, thereby reducing a net return force on the piston and decreasing a velocity of the piston.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a gas spring includes a casing having an inner surface defining in part a gas chamber, a piston rod and a seal. The piston rod is received at least partially in the casing for reciprocation along an axis between extended and retracted positions. The piston rod has an internal cavity defining a hollow space, a stop and a rod guide disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the casing to guide the reciprocation of the piston rod at least in part. The seal generally is provided between the piston rod and the casing to prevent gas leakage from the gas chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus may have a cylinder including a piston rod and a chamber in which a working fluid is received to resist movement of the piston rod into the chamber, and an accumulator having a first chamber in communication with the cylinder chamber to receive fluid from the cylinder chamber upon movement of the piston rod into the cylinder chamber. The apparatus may also have a pressure controller having a fluid chamber where some of the working fluid may be received and an actuator operable to increase the volume of the fluid chamber when the piston rod is retracted into the cylinder chamber to increase the total volume in which the working fluid may be received, wherein the increased volume of the fluid chamber may accommodate fluid movement in the assembly not caused by movement of the piston rod.

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 pressure indicating device includes a case including a gas passage, and a movable indicator carried by the case. The indicator has an end in fluid communication with the gas passage and an indicator end projectable out of a portion of the case when pressure in the gas passage is at least a predetermined minimum pressure. A spring may retract the indicator when pressure in the gas passage is below the predetermined minimum pressure.

Abstract: A reaction device for forming equipment includes a base, a reaction member movably spaced therefrom by guides, and a return gas spring carried by the base and operatively engaged to the reaction member for yieldably biasing the reaction member away from the base. The base has a return gas spring passage and guide shaft passages spaced apart therefrom. A return gas spring is received in the return gas spring passage of the base, and has a piston rod with an end arranged for contact with the reaction member. The guides include guide shafts arranged for engagement with the reaction member and disposed in guide bushings, which are received in the guide shaft passages of the base and preferably project below the base for use in locating the reaction device on the forming equipment.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated press-driven tool actuation system includes a press-driven hydraulic power device and/or a hydraulically-powered tool actuator. In the tool actuator, at least two pistons are carried by a housing, and at least one return device is carried by the housing laterally inboard of the pistons. In the power device, a pump includes a piston disposed in a pump cylinder for pressurizing hydraulic fluid therein. An accumulator is in fluid communication with the pump cylinder, and includes a piston disposed in an accumulator cylinder that houses hydraulic fluid on one side of the piston. A body supports the pump and accumulator thereon and is in fluid communication between the pump and accumulator cylinders. The body includes a pressure relief valve downstream of the pump cylinder and upstream of the accumulator cylinder, and a check valve downstream of the accumulator cylinder and upstream of the pump cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus may have a cylinder including a piston rod and a chamber in which a working fluid is received to resist movement of the piston rod into the chamber, and an accumulator having a first chamber in communication with the cylinder chamber to receive fluid from the cylinder chamber upon movement of the piston rod into the cylinder chamber. The apparatus may also have a pressure controller having a fluid chamber where some of the working fluid may be received and an actuator operable to increase the volume of the fluid chamber when the piston rod is retracted into the cylinder chamber to increase the total volume in which the working fluid may be received, wherein the increased volume of the fluid chamber may accommodate fluid movement in the assembly not caused by movement of the piston rod.

Abstract: Proofed dough is formed into pizza crusts which am formed and frozen without baking. The dough is positioned on corrugated paperboard preforms within a tray having multiple circular openings. The preforms have sidewardly opening corrugations. The trays are conveyed through the forming apparatus in a continuous process, with formed crusts being removed and fresh preforms being inserted. The preforms are positioned in a rectangular array within the openings in the conveyed tray. A quantity of raw dough is positioned on each preform within the tray. The dough is conveyed on the preforms beneath a bank of high pressure forming dies. The dies are pressed into the openings within the tray and over the dough to form the dough into the desired pizza crust shape. Each die extends between the preform and the tray within the opening to force portions of the dough into the preform corrugations to thereby secure the formed dough to the preform.