Reciprocating apparatus and cam follower for winding a package
AssigneeOwens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
InventorEugene V. Galloway
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cam follower includes a radially inner arcuate bearing surface that matches the curvature of the outer surface of the cam. Engagement of this bearing surface with the surface of the cam opposes undesired motion of the cam follower, including motion radially away from the cam, about an axis perpendicular to the cam rotation axis, and/or about an axis parallel to the cam rotation axis. This arcuate engagement also facilitates effective lubrication of the cam follower. The cam housing is formed with arcuate bearing surfaces that define with the cam surface an annular cam follower cavity and that engage a radially outer arcuate bearing surface of the cam follower, maintaining the cam follower in position against the cam surface.
Claims20
A cam follower for use with a cylindrical cam barrel having a predetermined outer radius, an outer surface, and a cam groove disposed oblique to an axis of rotation of the cam barrel and adapted to urge the cam follower along a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam, and a cam housing having an arcuate, radial bearing surface with a radius of curvature, comprising:
- a cam groove engaging member adapted to engage the cam groove;
- and
- a cam surface engaging member coupled to said cam groove engaging member and having an arcuate cam bearing surface with a radius of curvature matching the radius of the cam barrel and a cam housing bearing surface with a radius of curvature matching the cam housing arcuate, radial bearing surface, wherein said cam surface engaging member is in continuous contact with the cam barrel outer surface and the cam housing arcuate, radial bearing surface.
A reciprocating apparatus for use with an elongate cam follower guide having an arcuate, radial bearing surface with a radius of curvature, the apparatus comprising:
- a cylindrical barrel cam having a central cam axis, a predetermined outer radius, an outer surface, and an oblique cam groove formed therein, said barrel cam being mounted for rotation about said cam axis;
- and
- a cam follower having a cam groove engaging surface and an arcuate cam bearing surface with a radius of curvature matched to said outer radius of said cam and a second arcuate, radial bearing surface with a radius of curvature matched to the radius of the elongate cam follower guide, said cam follower being disposed with said cam groove engaging surface engaged with said cam groove, said cam bearing surface being continuously engaged with said outer surface of said cam and said second arcuate, radial bearing surface being continuously engaged with the cam follower guide arcuate, radial bearing surface, whereby rotation of said cam about its central axis drives said cam follower parallel to said cam axis.
A reciprocating apparatus comprising:
- a cam cylinder having an outer radius and an outer, cam surface mounted for rotation about a longitudinal, cam axis of the cam cylinder;
- a cam groove formed in the outer, cam surface of said cam cylinder;
- a cam housing having an arcuate, radial bearing surface disposed to face radially inwardly adjacent said cam surface and having an axis of curvature coaxial with said cam axis, said radial bearing surface and said cam surface defining therebetween an annular cam follower cavity;
- and
- a cam follower having a cam groove engaging portion, a radial bearing flange having a first, inner, radial cam follower bearing surface and a second, outer, radial cam follower bearing surface, said first and second cam follower bearing surfaces being arcuate, with radii of curvature matching said cam outer surface and said cam housing radial bearing surface, said cam follower being disposed with said cam groove engaging portion engaging said cam groove and said radial bearing flange disposed in said cam follower cavity with the axes of curvature of said cam follower radial bearing surfaces coaxial with said cam axis, and with said cam follower radial bearing surfaces disposed in continuous slidable bearing engagement with said outer cam surface and said cam housing radial bearing surface, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.