5
An air spring is a carefully designed rubber/fabric bellows
which contains a column of compressed air. The rubber bel-
lows itself does not provide force or support load. This is done
by the column of air.
Firestone air springs are highly engineered elastomeric bel-
lows with specially designed metal end closures. Our standard
two ply air spring bellows is actually made up of four layers:
a. An inner liner of calendered rubber.
b. One ply of fabric reinforced rubber.
c. A second ply of fabric-reinforced rubber (with the cords at
a specific bias angle to the first ply).
d. An outer cover of calendered rubber.
Many of our air springs are also available in high strength con-
struction for higher pressures (see page
14
for more detailed
information). In this case, there are four plies of fabric-rein-
forced rubber, with an inner liner and outer cover.
The two ply air spring is standard. Where high strength con-
struction is available, it is so noted in the selection guide
(page
32
), on the individual Data sheets, and in the index
(page
107
). If the high strength style number is omitted, then
it is not currently available in that particular part.
Each air spring bellows is identified by a style number. This
style number is molded into the bellows during the curing (or
vulcanization) process. Examples would be 16, 22, 313,
1T15M-6, etc... This identifies
only the rubber/fabric bellows
and
not the complete assembly. There are several different
end closure options available for most air springs; therefore,
please always specify both the style number and the complete
assembly order number (AON). An example would be: Style
#22, assembly order number W01-M58-6180. Both numbers
are given on the individual data sheets.
OUTER COVER
SECOND PLY
FIRST PLY
INNER LINER
AIR SPRING
BELLOWS CONSTRUCTION
