Cam Machine Adjustment Mechanism for Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cam mechanisms face issues with mechanical wear due to friction and periodic contact interruptions, and the adjusting mechanism is cumbersome with difficult access to position nuts and excessive inertial forces leading to increased wear.

Innovation Solution

A cam machine design with a 3D cylindrical tubular cam and asynchronously moving followers, featuring tubular main bearing journals with threaded holes for screw regulators and indirect/direct contact through elastic elements and pins, allowing for simplified adjustment and reduced wear by minimizing additional roller displacement and facilitating easy assembly/disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If position nuts are used to adjust additional rollers in the cam mechanism, then the contact between additional rollers and cam profiles is maintained, but the access to position nuts becomes difficult as they are located inside the compound cam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact maintenance between additional rollers and cam profilesVSAvoidaccess to position nuts for adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the adjustment mechanism from the interior of the compound cam by providing access holes in the compound cam body. These access holes allow the position nuts to be reached and adjusted from the exterior, eliminating the need to disassemble the entire cam mechanism to perform adjustment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The access holes act as intermediaries that bridge the gap between the exterior adjustment tools and the interior position nuts. Through these holes, adjustment tools can be inserted to engage with the position nuts, enabling remote adjustment without direct contact with the interior components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If two-way restriction is imposed on plungers through bilateral contact with position nuts, then the plunger movement is controlled, but the mechanism complexity increases and weight of followers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplunger movement controlVSAvoidnumber of bearing elements required
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the plunger movement control into two independent one-way restrictions. Instead of using bilateral contact with position nuts to achieve two-way restriction, the design uses two separate one-way bearing contacts that each handle movement in one direction, simplifying the overall mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using one-way bearings instead of two-way bearings. The one-way bearings allow movement in the permitted direction while preventing movement in the opposite direction, achieving the same functional result with simpler components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If position nuts are used to restrict plunger movement, then the plunger is controlled in both directions, but inertial forces increase due to additional bearing elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebidirectional plunger controlVSAvoidinertial forces during cam machine operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bidirectional control into two independent unidirectional controls using one-way bearings. This segmentation reduces the number of bearing elements and their associated inertial forces while maintaining the ability to control plunger movement in both directions through the combined action of the two one-way bearings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design enhances contact between cam profiles and followers, reducing wear and extending service life, while simplifying the adjustment process and reducing inertial forces, thus improving the operational reliability and longevity of the cam machine.

Implementation Method 1

The indirect contact between the plungers and the adjacent screw regulators is made through elastic and bearing elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The connections between the pistons and the cam are made by two V-shaped followers, which are in contact with the cam profiles of the channel by means of main bearing rollers. The main bearing rollers reduce friction and wear of the cam profile, respectively.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

The tubular main bearing journals have threaded holes in which screw regulators are mounted, contacting indirectly or directly with the plungers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 4

The auxiliary rollers are elastically connected to their respective follower so that each auxiliary roller can be moved in the direction of the axis of its respective main roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic connection: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4004342B1Cam machine with adjustment mechanism
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 BAHNEV BOYAN K
  • EP4004342B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4004342B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4004342B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2d

AI summary

(57) The invention relates to a cam machine with a control mechanism which will find application in various fields of mechanical engineering, such as compressor machines, hydraulic pumps, internal combustion engines and other types of engines in various land, sea and air vehicles, or in stationary units. The created cam machine improves the contact between the cam profiles (15a, 15b) of the cam bushings (16a, 16b) and the followers (la, lb). The main improvement of the machine is in the design of the regulating mechanism, which increases the reliability and the service life of the cam machine. In addition, simple and reliable control mechanisms are integrated in the machine, which at the same time simplifies the process of adjusting the cam machines.