Airstroke Actuators
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.
Marsh Mellow
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.
AirPicker & AirGripper
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.
Advantages of Airstroke Actuators / Isolators
LOW COST
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
WIDE SIZE RANGE
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.
SIDE LOADING CAPABILITY
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.
NO MAINTENANCE OR LUBRICATION REQUIRED -NO INTERNAL ROD OR PISTON
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.
FRICTION FREE FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
Since Airstroke actuators have no sliding seals, there is no breakaway friction as with conventional cylinders
ANGULAR CAPABILITY
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
Advantages of Marsh Mellow
Constant Vibration Isolation with Changing Loads
The variable spring rate allows for a nearly constant natural frequency with changing loads. This results in consistent vibration isolation with variable loading
High Load Carrying Capacity
Due to the Marsh Mellow™ spring’s greater deflection capabilities and load carrying influences of the fabric reinforcement, it can carry a greater load when compared to an all rubber part of the same modulus and dimensions
Excellent Vibration Isolation
Low natural frequencies provide excellent isolation of forced frequencies in the range of 800-1200 cycles per minute (13-20Hz).
Lateral Vibration Isolation
The lateral spring rate of a Marsh Mellow spring can be less than the vertical spring rate, resulting in a lower lateral natural frequency. Marsh Mellow springs provide better vibration isolation in all degrees of freedom.
Corrosion Resistant for a Durable, Long Life
Due to its rubber and fabric reinforced construction, the Marsh Mellow spring has been proven in the damp and corrosive environments of mines and mills where a standard coil spring will fail.
Does Not Bottom-Out
Due to the rubber construction, Marsh Mellow springs do not bottom-out like coil springs. Bottoming-out under overload or surge load sends a large amount of stress to all of the machine’s components.
Advantages of AirGrippers and AirPickers
Conforms to Any Shape
The inflatable rubber construction of AirPicker™ and AirGripper™ end-effectors allows a multiple number of shapes to be handled with one model.
Multiple Sizes Handled with One Gripper
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.
Delicate Handling
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.
High Load Capacity
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.
Non-marring Contact
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.
Wide Size Range
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.