Dynamic Cam Follower Assembly for Skid-Free Cam Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cam follower arrangements in manufacturing machinery experience premature wear and reduced lifespan due to skidding between cam followers and cam surfaces, caused by directional changes and uneven forces, leading to unnecessary wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A cam follower assembly with a housing, first and second cam followers, and holding elements that move relative to each other, utilizing a compressible adjusting element to maintain constant contact with the cam surface, minimizing skidding and average load, and optionally incorporating working elements to absorb energy and reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cam followers are rigidly mounted to maintain constant contact with cam surfaces, then reliability is improved, but skidding occurs due to directional changes causing increased wear and reduced duration
Solution Approach 1:
The cam follower mounting is changed from rigid to dynamic by introducing a pivot point that allows the cam follower to rotate freely. This dynamic adjustment eliminates skidding during directional changes while maintaining constant contact with the cam surface, resolving the contradiction between reliability and duration.
2Reliability
If spring force is increased to counteract acceleration forces, then contact maintenance is improved, but unnecessary average force increases causing increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static spring-loaded mounting to a dynamic pivot-mounted system. The pivot allows the cam follower to automatically adjust its position during acceleration and deceleration, eliminating the need for high spring forces while maintaining reliable contact with the cam surface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If clearance is increased to accommodate dimensional variations, then adaptability is improved, but skidding occurs when cam followers go from not contacting to contacting the cam surface
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot-mounted cam follower can dynamically adjust its angular position to compensate for dimensional variations in the cam surface. This maintains consistent contact without requiring excessive clearance, eliminating the skidding that occurs during contact transitions.
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 solution effectively minimizes skidding and reduces the average load on cam followers and surfaces, increasing the lifespan of the turret assembly by up to 33% compared to conventional systems, while also reducing noise and operational forces.
Implementation Method 1
an adjusting element formed from a compressible material, the adjusting element providing a bias to the first holding device and the second holding device
Data Source
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AI summary
A cam follower assembly includes a housing. The cam follower assembly includes a first cam follower and a second cam follower to contact a cam surface. The cam follower assembly includes a first holding element coupled to the first cam follower, and a second holding element coupled to the second cam follower. The second holding element is assembled with the first holding element and received in an opening of the housing, where the first holding device moves relative to the second holding device. An adjusting element of compressible material determines the relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device. The first cam follower moves relative to the second cam follower according to the relative movement between the first holding element and the second holding element. The first cam follower and the second cam follower maintain contact with the cam surface according to their relative movement.