Shut the gate on maintenance woes

A virtually maintenance-free way to actuate valves, pumps, clamps, conveyors and other materials handling equipment is provide by Firestone Airstroke actuators from Air Springs Supply.

Airstrokes operate without seals, shafts or internal moving parts to provide ultra-reliable actuation alternatives for materials handling technology exposed to grime, debris and waste, which can disrupt the seals and shafts of convention pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders.

The Airstroke range offers actuation strokes ranging from 12.5mm for the tiny (16mm high def lated) Airomatic polyactuator types typically used on conveyors, through to single, double and triple convoluted models with strokes of more than 300mm used as both actuators and isolators across industries such as manufacturing to food and beverage.

Eliminating lubrication eliminates another sticky surface for waste adherence. Another advantage of this form of actuation is the inherent f lexibility of the actuators when they meet their working surface. Being made of rubber and not having any rods or seals to damage, they can bend or f lex to the surface of belts, pipelines or conveyor sections, for example, Airstrokes can be incorporated into pipe crawlers, gas pumping systems, and pipe weld clamps.

Their f lexibility also makes them ideal for applications such as belt takeups or roller friction applications, where they may be applied against an oscillating surface.

Airstrokes are used for lift gates, drive tables, transfer sections, belt tensioners, belt centring guides, waste scrapers and friction brakes.

The rubber and fabric actuators – in effect, balloons or bellows engineered to particular shapes for particular tasks – are manufactured by Firestone in exactly the same way as the air springs used as suspension springs in heavy vehicles such as semi-trailers.

They can also stroke through a radius without a clevis, eliminating both complexity and cost when engineers need to actuate through an angle.

Their ability to soak up shock without damage while delivering highrepetition strokes means they are highly applicable to engineering applications ranging from stamping and clamping to pumps and conveyors.

Go to demm.co.nz/ enquiry quote: D140722