Metal core cam follower and method of assembling

A cam follower comprising:

• a shaft extending from a first axial shaft end to a second axial shaft end;
• a metal core having a first axial core end and a second axial core end with a substantially cylindrical through bore extending between the first axial core end and the second axial core end, the substantially cylindrical through bore having an annular shoulder extending inwardly from an interior surface thereof at a position between the first and second axial core ends such that the annular shoulder defines a first through bore section opening toward the first axial core end and a second through bore section opening toward the second axial core end, said metal core further defining an outer peripheral surface;
• at least two bearing assemblies disposed in the through bore of said metal core, wherein at least one of said at least two bearing assemblies is disposed in the first through bore section of said metal core, and wherein at least one other of said at least two bearing assemblies is disposed in the second through bore section of said metal core, said at least two bearing assemblies being disposed over the first axial shaft end such that said metal core is rotatable with respect to said shaft via said at least two bearing assemblies;
• and
• a tire affixed to the outer peripheral surface of said metal core and rotatable with said metal core with respect to said shaft, said tire being formed from a polymeric material;
• wherein the first axial shaft end comprises a crimp adapted to retain said at least two bearing assemblies, said metal core and said tire on said shaft.

A method of assembling a cam follower comprising the steps of:

• providing a tire formed from a polymeric material and having a metal core with a first axial core end and a second axial core end with a substantially cylindrical through bore extending between the first axial core end and the second axial core end, the substantially cylindrical through bore having an annular shoulder extending inwardly from an interior surface thereof at a position between the first and second axial core ends such that the annular shoulder defines a first through bore section opening toward the first axial core end and a second through bore section opening toward the second axial core end, the metal core further defining an outer peripheral surface;
• inserting at least one first bearing assembly into the first through bore section of the metal core from the first axial core end;
• inserting at least one second bearing assembly into the second through bore section of the metal core from the second axial core end;
• providing a shaft extending from a first axial shaft end to a second axial shaft end, and disposing the at least one first bearing assembly and the at least one second bearing assembly over the first axial shaft end such that the metal core and the tire are rotatable with respect to the shaft via the at least two bearing assemblies;
• and
• crimping the first axial shaft end so as to retain the at least one first bearing assembly, the at least one second bearing assembly, the metal core and the tire on the shaft.

A cam follower comprising:

• a shaft extending from a first axial shaft end to a second axial shaft end;
• a metal core having a first axial core end and a second axial core end with a substantially cylindrical through bore extending between the first axial core end and the second axial core end, the substantially cylindrical through bore having an annular shoulder extending inwardly from an interior surface thereof at a position between the first and second axial core ends such that the annular shoulder defines a first through bore section opening toward the first axial core end and a second through bore section opening toward the second axial core end, said metal core further defining an outer peripheral surface;
• at least three bearing assemblies disposed in the through bore of said metal core, wherein at least two of said at least three bearing assemblies is disposed in the first through bore section of said metal core, and wherein at least one other of said at least three bearing assemblies is disposed in the second through bore section of said metal core;
• a spacer disposed between the least two of said at least three bearing assemblies disposed in the first through bore section of the metal core and the at least one other of said at least three bearing assemblies disposed in the second through bore section of said metal core, said spacer having an axial width substantially equal to an axial width of the annular shoulder extending inwardly from the interior surface of said metal core;
• wherein said at least three bearing assemblies and said spacer are disposed over the first axial shaft end such that said metal core is rotatable with respect to said shaft via said at least three bearing assemblies and wherein the first axial shaft end comprises a crimp adapted to retain said at least three bearing assemblies, said spacer and said metal core on said shaft;
• and
• a tire affixed to the outer peripheral surface of said metal core and rotatable with said metal core with respect to said shaft, said tire being formed from a polyamide material.