Self-lubricating die cylinder

Claim 2

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from one end of said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible upwardly from the one end of said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible downwardly from the one end of said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts during operation of a press from an open condition to a closed condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means connected with said cylinder and at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to an end of said cylinder opposite from said one end when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to said one end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, said reservoir chamber having an annular cross sectional configuration in a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis of said cylinder, said annular reservoir chamber being coaxial with said cylinder, circumscribing said cylinder, and being coextensive with said cylinder for at least a major portion of the length of said cylinder, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the one end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition, said second passage means includes a standpipe disposed in said annular reservoir chamber.

Claim 3

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from one end of said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible upwardly from the one end of said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible downwardly from the one end of said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts during operation of a press from an open condition to a closed condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means connected with said cylinder and at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to an end of said cylinder opposite from said one end when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to said one end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, said reservoir means includes means for holding the body of lubricating liquid with at least a portion of the body of lubricating liquid at a fluid pressure which his greater than the fluid pressure in the working chamber during at least a portion of the operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, said reservoir means holding the body of lubricating liquid with an upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid exposed to the fluid pressure in said reservoir means when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said first passage means including means for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means along a flow path which extends from a location beneath the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber under the influence of the fluid pressure in said reservoir means upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, said first passage means extending from an opening disposed in said reservoir means above the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the one end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said second passage means extending upwardly past the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to an opening disposed in said reservoir means above the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid during operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition with said cylinder in the first orientation, said second passage means including means for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means along a flow path which extends from a location beneath the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber under the influence of the fluid pressure in said reservoir means upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition with said cylinder in the second orientation.

Claim 4

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from one end of said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible upwardly from the one end of said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible downwardly from the one end of said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts during operation of a press from an open condition to a closed condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means connected with said cylinder and at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to an end of said cylinder opposite from said one end when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to said one end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, said reservoir means includes means for holding the body of lubricating liquid with at least a portion of the body of lubricating liquid at a fluid pressure which his greater than the fluid pressure in the working chamber during at least a portion of the operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, said reservoir means holding the body of lubricating liquid with an upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid exposed to the fluid pressure in said reservoir means when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said first passage means including means for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means along a flow path which extends from a location beneath the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber under the influence of the fluid pressure in said reservoir means upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, said first passage means extending from an opening disposed in said reservoir means above the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the one end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said second passage means extending upwardly past the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to an opening disposed in said reservoir means above the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid during operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition with said cylinder in the first orientation, said second passage means including means for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means along a flow path which extends from a location beneath the upper surface of the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber under the influence of the fluid pressure in said reservoir means upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition with said cylinder in the second orientation.

Claim 5

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second passage means includes means for holding a second body of lubricating liquid when said cylinder is in the first orientation and the press is in the closed condition and for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from said second passage means to said variable volume working chamber upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when is in the first orientation.

Claim 6

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a first direction from said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a second direction from said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts during operation of a press from an open condition to a closed condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means connected with said cylinder and at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to a first end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to a second end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, said reservoir chamber having an annular cross sectional configuration in a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis of said cylinder, said annular reservoir chamber being coaxial with said cylinder, circumscribing said cylinder, and being coextensive with said cylinder for at least a major portion of the length of said cylinder, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the first end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the second end of said cylinder for holding lubricating liquid which is separate from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means, for conducting lubricating liquid held in said second passage means to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, and for conducting lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said second passage means includes a standpipe disposed in said annular reservoir chamber.

Claim 7

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a first direction from said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a second direction from said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts during operation of a press from an open condition to a closed condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means connected with said cylinder and at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to a first end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to a second end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, said reservoir chamber having an annular cross sectional configuration in a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis of said cylinder, said annular reservoir chamber being coaxial with said cylinder, circumscribing said cylinder, and being coextensive with said cylinder for at least a major portion of the length of said cylinder, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the first end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the second end of said cylinder for holding lubricating liquid which is separate from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means, for conducting lubricating liquid held in said second passage means to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, and for conducting lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said second passage means includes a standpipe disposed in said annular reservoir chamber.

Claim 8

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from one end of said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible upwardly from the one end of said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible downwardly from the one end of said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands under the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts under the influence of force applied against said cushion assembly by the press during operation of the press from an open condition to a closed condition against the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, said variable volume working chamber being disposed between said head end portion of said piston and an end of said cylinder opposite from said one end, reservoir means fixedly connected with said cylinder for movement therewith between the first and second orientations, said reservoir means at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a main body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite form said one end and a body of gas which is disposed above the main body of lubricating liquid adjacent to said one end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to said one end of said cylinder and a body of gas which is disposed above the main body of lubricating liquid adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end when said cylinder is in said second orientation, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end for conducting lubricating liquid from the main body of liquid in said reservoir chamber to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the one end of said cylinder for holding a secondary body of lubricating liquid which extends upwardly to a level above the main body of lubricating liquid upon operation of the press to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, for conducting lubricating liquid from the secondary body of lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, and for conducting lubricating liquid from the main body of lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation.

Claim 9

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from one end of said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible upwardly from the one end of said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible downwardly from the one end of said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which expands under the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts under the influence of force applied against said cushion assembly by the press during operation of the press from an open condition to a closed condition against the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, said variable volume working chamber being disposed between said head end portion of said piston and an end of said cylinder opposite from said one end, reservoir means fixedly connected with said cylinder for movement therewith between the first and second orientations, said reservoir means at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a main body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite form said one end and a body of gas which is disposed above the main body of lubricating liquid adjacent to said one end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said first orientation and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to said one end of said cylinder and a body of gas which is disposed above the main body of lubricating liquid adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end when said cylinder is in said second orientation, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the end of said cylinder opposite from said one end for conducting lubricating liquid from the main body of liquid in said reservoir chamber to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the one end of said cylinder for holding a secondary body of lubricating liquid which extends upwardly to a level above the main body of lubricating liquid upon operation of the press to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, for conducting lubricating liquid from the secondary body of lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, and for conducting lubricating liquid from the main body of lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation.

Claim 10

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said reservoir chamber has an annular cross sectional configuration in a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis of said cylinder, said annular reservoir chamber being coaxial with said cylinder, circumscribing said cylinder, and being coextensive with said cylinder for at least a major portion of the length of said cylinder.

Claim 11

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said head end portion of said piston includes surface means for moving a body of lubricating liquid in the variable volume working chamber relative to said cylinder from a location in which the body of lubricating liquid in the variable volume working chamber is below an opening to said first passage means to a location in which at least a portion of the body of lubricating liquid in the variable volume working chamber is at the same level as at least a portion of the opening to said first passage means during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition against the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber when said cylinder is in the second orientation.

Claim 12

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second passage means has surface means forming an opening to said variable volume working chamber, said surface means including means for directing a spray of lubricating liquid into said variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition and expansion of said variable volume working chamber under the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber when said cylinder is in the first orientation and when said cylinder is in the second orientation.

Claim 13

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said reservoir chamber has an annular cross sectional configuration in a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis first of said cylinder.

Claim 14

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second passage means includes a standpipe disposed in said reservoir chamber.

Claim 15

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said reservoir means includes means for holding the main body of lubricating liquid with at least a portion of the main body of lubricating liquid at a fluid pressure which is greater than the fluid pressure in the working chamber during at least a portion of the operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, said reservoir means holding the main body of lubricating liquid with an upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid exposed to the body of gas in said reservoir means when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, said first passage means including means for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from the main body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means along a flow path which extends from a location beneath the upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber under the influence of fluid pressure applied against the upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means by the body of gas in said reservoir means upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, said first passage means extending from an opening disposed in said reservoir means above the upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid to the variable volume working chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, said second passage means extending upwardly past the upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to an opening disposed in said reservoir means above the upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid during operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition with said cylinder in the first orientation, said second passage means including means for conducting a flow of lubricating liquid from the main body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means along a flow path which extends from a location beneath the upper surface of the main body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber under the influence of the fluid pressure in said reservoir means upon operation of the press from the closed condition toward the open condition with said cylinder in the second orientation.

Claim 16

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a first direction from said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a second direction from said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which holds gas under pressure and which expands under the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts under the influence of force applied against said cushion assembly by the press during operation of the press from an open condition to a closed condition against the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means fixedly connected with said cylinder for movement therewith between the first and second orientations, said reservoir means at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to a first end of said cylinder and a body of gas which is disposed above the body of lubricating liquid adjacent to a second end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said first orientation, and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to the second end of said cylinder and a body of gas which is disposed above the body of lubricating liquid adjacent to the first end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the first end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the second end of said cylinder for holding lubricating liquid which is separate from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means, for conducting lubricating liquid held in said second passage means to said variable volume working chamber and directing a spray of lubricating liquid into the gas in said variable volume working chamber in a direction toward said head end portion of said piston during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, and for conducting lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber and directing a spray of lubricating liquid into the gas in said variable volume working chamber in a direction toward said head end portion of said piston during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation.

Claim 17

A cushion assembly adapted for use in either one of two orientations in a press which is operable between open and closed conditions, said cushion assembly comprising a piston having a head end portion and a piston rod extending from said head end portion, a cylinder enclosing said head end portion of said piston with said piston rod extendible from said cylinder, said cylinder being mountable in a press in a first orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a first direction from said cylinder and being mountable in a press in a second orientation in which said piston rod is extendible in a second direction from said cylinder, said piston and cylinder cooperating to at least partially define a variable volume working chamber which holds gas under pressure and which expands under the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber during operation of a press from a closed condition to an open condition when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation and which contracts under the influence of force applied against said cushion assembly by the press during operation of the press from an open condition to a closed condition against the influence of gas pressure in said variable volume working chamber when said cylinder is in either the first or the second orientation, reservoir means fixedly connected with said cylinder for movement therewith between the first and second orientations, said reservoir means at least partially defining a reservoir chamber for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to a first end of said cylinder and a body of gas which is disposed above the body of lubricating liquid adjacent to a second end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said first orientation, and for holding a body of lubricating liquid which is disposed adjacent to the second end of said cylinder and a body of gas which is disposed above the body of lubricating liquid adjacent to the first end of said cylinder when said cylinder is in said second orientation, first passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir chamber which is disposed adjacent to the first end of said cylinder for conducting lubricating liquid to said variable volume working chamber from said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation and for conducting lubricating liquid from said variable volume working chamber to said reservoir chamber during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation, and second passage means extending from said variable volume working chamber to an end of said reservoir which is disposed adjacent to the second end of said cylinder for holding lubricating liquid which is separate from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means, for conducting lubricating liquid held in said second passage means to said variable volume working chamber and directing a spray of lubricating liquid into the gas in said variable volume working chamber in a direction toward said head end portion of said piston during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the first orientation, and for conducting lubricating liquid from the body of lubricating liquid in said reservoir means to said variable volume working chamber and directing a spray of lubricating liquid into the gas in said variable volume working chamber in a direction toward said head end portion of said piston during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition when said cylinder is in the second orientation.

Claim 18

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said reservoir chamber has an annular cross sectional configuration in a plane extending perpendicular to a central axis of said cylinder, said annular reservoir chamber being coaxial with said cylinder, circumscribing said cylinder, and being coextensive with said cylinder for at least a major portion of the length of said cylinder.

Claim 19

A cushion assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second passage means includes a standpipe disposed in said reservoir chamber.