Damping device for abruptly occurring forces in a shear or shear press machine

In a damping device for abruptly occurring forces in a shear or shear press machine, wherein a moving tool is guided opposite a stationary tool in the machine frame, a damping piston movable in the line of action of the moving tool attached to the stationary tool and slidable in a damping cylinder so as to displace a pressurized medium from said damping cylinder, a control piston slidable in a control cylinder positioned in axial direction within said damping piston so as to displace a pressurised medium from said control cylinder through a passage defined between said control piston and said control cylinder, said passage volume decreases by a relative amount as the loading increases down to a minimum volume at the moment of maximum loading, said control piston being secured to a base portion of said damping cylinder and adjustable over the entire stroke distance of said moving tool, a pressurized medium supply line through said control piston into said control cylinder and closeable by a non-return valve means associated therewith which also serves as a shunt throttle, said valve means having a valve element secured to a rod which extends through a piston rod which is secured to said control piston and in axial alignment therewith, said rod being selectively adjustable within said piston rod so as to permit selective adjustment of said valve element and thereby control the passage of pressurized medium through said valve means.