Airsprings are highly engineered elastomeric bellows with specially designed metal end closures.The bellows itself are constructed from plies of cord-reinforced rubber with standard construction utilizing two plies of special cord fabric. High strength versions designed to handle greater loads and pressures are also available on many of the styles. Airmount isolators and Airstroke actuators are capable of handling loads up to 100,000 pounds and can be designed into systems to utilize up to fourteen inches of stroke. The standard airspring will operate in temperatures from –35°F to 135°F and special compounds are available on some parts to extend this range.
Durable, simple to mount, and virtually maintenance free operation-Firestone’s Marsh Mellow fabric & rubber springs are your solution to vibration and isolation problems. Marsh Mellow springs are fabric reinforced rubber cylinders that do not require air. They will not break, trap particles, corrode or bottom-out, but will accommodate a wide load range and perform consistently. Replace those old-fashioned steel springs with Firestone's tough, quiet Marsh Mellow springs for long lasting, low-cost isolation performance.
Firestone’s AirPicker and AirGripper end effectors offer a wide range of advantages over traditional pick and place devices. By simply controlling the amount of pressure within the bladder, Firestone end-effectors can handle delicate objects with the soft touch of rubber and air.
Generally, initial cost is one-half or less than conventional pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders of the same force capabilities. This initial cost advantage is many times greater in the larger sizes
Airstroke actuators are available in sizes ranging from 2.2 inches to 37 inches in diameter. The force capability is 100,000 pounds. Strokes of up to 14 inches are possible.
Airstroke actuators, within certain limits, are not affected by side loads unlike conventional cylinders. This misalignment capability eliminates potential rod bending, scoring, and excessive seal wear common to conventional cylinders.
Airstroke actuators have no internal rod, piston, or sliding seals like conventional cylinders. This allows for the design of Airstroke actuators into applications where dirt or grit would destroy the seals on conventional cylinders.
Since Airstroke actuators have no sliding seals, there is no breakaway friction as with conventional cylinders
An Airstroke possesses the unique capability of stroking through an arc without a clevis. Angular motion of up to 30 degrees is possible, along with the design advantage of generally less complex linkages
Generally, initial cost is one-half or less than conventional pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders of the same force capabilities. This initial cost advantage is many times greater in the larger sizes
Airstroke actuators are available in sizes ranging from 2.2 inches to 37 inches in diameter. The force capability is 100,000 pounds. Strokes of up to 14 inches are possible.
Airstroke actuators, within certain limits, are not affected by side loads unlike conventional cylinders. This misalignment capability eliminates potential rod bending, scoring, and excessive seal wear common to conventional cylinders.
Airstroke actuators have no internal rod, piston, or sliding seals like conventional cylinders. This allows for the design of Airstroke actuators into applications where dirt or grit would destroy the seals on conventional cylinders.
Since Airstroke actuators have no sliding seals, there is no breakaway friction as with conventional cylinders
An Airstroke possesses the unique capability of stroking through an arc without a clevis. Angular motion of up to 30 degrees is possible, along with the design advantage of generally less complex linkages
The inflatable rubber construction of AirPicker™ and AirGripper™ end-effectors allows a multiple number of shapes to be handled with one model.
The large expansion of Firestone end-effectors allows for multiple part sizes to be handled with just one size model. The diameter of an AirPicker™ end-effector can grow by as much as 1.86 times the deflated diameter, while an AirGripper™ end-effector can grip around an object that is only 40% of the deflated diameter.
By controlling the amount of pressure within the bladder, Firestone end-effectors can handle delicate objects with the soft touch of rubber and air. The holding force is distributed over a greater surface area than a mechanical gripper, resulting in a soft and secure touch even with heavy loads.
The wide contact area associated with an AirGripper™ and AirPicker™ end-effector results in a higher load capacity. A mechanical gripper only contacts the small area with its "fingers". The greater contact area results in a firmer grip and higher load carrying ability.
The soft touch of the rubber and air allows for glass and plastic objects to be handled without marring their surface. This has been proven in applications handling freshly molded test tubes, glass bottles, and photosensitive copier drums.
Our standard AirPicker™ end-effector line can handle objects with an inside diameter as small as 0.33 inches (8.5mm), and as large as 4.13 inches (105mm). It can also handle objects ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 inches (5 to 45mm) in outside diameter.