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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. A casing includes an axially extending side wall, an open end, a transversely extending closed end wall axially spaced from the open end, 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 in part 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 may be carried in a vent passage through the casing and/or in the piston rod housing.

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 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.