Helical cam device and method

A helical cam device, comprising:

• a first cam component having a smooth cylindrical surface and an axial end with a first helical cam track;
• a second cam component having a smooth cylindrical surface and an axial end with a second helical cam track;
• and
• an axial guide for maintaining said first and second cam components in a generally coaxial alignment and having a smooth cylindrical surface, wherein said first and second helical cam tracks contact each other along mating helical surface portions at a plurality of separate angular locations and convert relative rotational movement between said cam components into relative axial movement so that at least one of said smooth cylindrical surfaces of said first and second cam components slides along said smooth cylindrical surface of said axial guide;
• and
• wherein two of the mating helical surface portions are angularly spaced from each other by about 180 degrees and are configured to produce a balanced heeling effect with smooth and balanced movement.

A method of converting rotational movement into axial movement, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first cam component having a first helical cam track;
• (b) providing a second cam component having a second helical cam track;
• (c) providing an axial guide for maintaining said first and second cam components in a generally coaxial alignment so that said first and second helical cam tracks contact each other;
• and
• (d) applying either a rotational or an axial force to at least one of said cam components so that said first and second helical cam tracks contact each other along mating helical surfaces that are configured to distribute said rotational or axial force over the mating helical surfaces and produce a balanced heeling effect, wherein said rotational force causes a relative axial movement between said cam components, and said axial force causes a relative rotational movement between said cam components.