A hydraulic cylinder includes: a cylindrical cushion bearing that is clamped between a piston and a step portion of a piston rod; a cushion passage that is formed between the cushion bearing and a bearing receiving portion and that imparts resistance to the flow of the working oil passing therethrough; and a check seal that is provided between the inner circumference of the cushion bearing and the outer circumference of the piston rod. The check seal shuts off the flow of the working fluid from a connection gap between the piston rod and the piston towards the rod side chamber through the annular gap and allows the flow of the working fluid from the annular gap towards the bottom-side chamber through the connection gap.

The claimed invention is an end-of-stroke recirculation system for use with a hydraulic cylinder. Generally speaking, the fluid in a hydraulic cylinder remains trapped on one side of the piston and is unable to recirculate. The claimed invention provides a bypass that allows for hydraulic fluid to circulate through a cylinder when the hydraulic cylinder is at either end or both ends of its stroke.