Hot runner system

A hot runner system comprising:

• a hot runner plate;
• a nozzle received in a well in the hot runner plate, the nozzle having a nozzle channel for delivering molding material to a respective mold cavity;
• a manifold seated against the nozzle, the manifold having a manifold channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel;
• an actuator plate upstream of the hot runner plate and spaced apart from the manifold, the actuator plate having an actuator bore extending therethrough;
• a support pad separating the manifold and the actuator plate, the support pad having a forward bearing surface seated against the manifold and a rearward bearing surface against which the actuator plate is seated, the rearward bearing surface surrounding a lower mouth of the actuator bore;
• a valve pin extending through the support pad and the manifold to a downstream end of the nozzle;
• a cylinder received in the actuator bore from a rearward side of the actuator plate;
• and
• a piston coupled to the valve pin, the piston received in the cylinder from a forward end of the cylinder,
• wherein the actuator plate includes a fluid duct intersecting the actuator bore on a forward side of the piston, the fluid duct including an outlet at least partially obstructed by the cylinder.