Apparatus for generating proportional cams from a master cam

Claim 2

A cam generating apparatus for moving a cam blank relative to a cam cutter to generate a cam contour from a master cam, comprising: a. a base structure; b. a pair of slides movably carried by said base structure for movement in mutually perpendicular directions; c. a master cam carried on one of said slides; d. a cam follower carried on the other of said slides and engageable with said master cam for moving said other slide in directions perpendicular to the movement of said one slide in accordance with the configuration of said master cam; e. first proportioning means connected to said one slide for generating an output which is proportional to the movement of said one slide; f. second proportioning means connected to said other slide for generating an output which is proportional to the movement of said other slide; and, g. cam blank support means connected to said first and second proportioning means for moving a cam blank relative to a cam cutter in response to said outputs to generate a cam contour on such cam blank.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both of said outputs are connected to said cam support means for translating said cam support means in mutually perpendicular directions in response to said outputs.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said outputs is connected to said cam support means for rotating the cam blank, and said other output is connected to said cam support means for translating the cam blank.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said other output is connected to said cam support for translating the cam blank along its axis of rotation.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said other output is connected to said cam support for translating the axis of rotation of the cam blank.

Claim 7

In a cam forming apparatus of the type including a cam cutter support for supporting a cam cutter and a cam blank support for supporting a cam blank to be cut, a drive system interposed between said supports for effecting relative movement between the cam blank and the cam cutter in accordance with the shape of a master cam, comprising: a. a base structure connected to one of said supports; b. slide means movably carried by said base structure and mounting a master cam for reciprocation in longitudinal directions; c. cam follower means movably carried by said base structure and engaging said master cam for reciprocation in lateral directions perpendicular to said longitudinal directions in response to movement of master cam in said longitudinal directions; d. fiRst proportioning means interconnecting said slide means and the other of said supports for moving said other support proportionally to the movement of said slide means; and, e. second proportioning means interconnecting said cam follower means and said other support for moving said other support proportionally to the movement of said cam follower means.

Claim 8

In a cam forming apparatus of the type including a cam cutter support for supporting a cam cutter and a cam blank support for supporting a cam blank to be cut, a drive system interposed between said supports for effecting relative movement between the cam blank and the cam cutter in accordance with the shape of a master cam, comprising: a. a base structure connected to one of said supports; b. slide means movably carried by said base structure and mounting a master cam for reciprocation in longitudinal directions; c. cam follower means movably carried by said base structure and engaging said master cam for reciprocation in lateral directions perpendicular to said longitudinal directions in response to movement of master cam in said longitudinal directions; d. fiRst proportioning means interconnecting said slide means and the other of said supports for moving said other support proportionally to the movement of said slide means; and, e. second proportioning means interconnecting said cam follower means and said other support for moving said other support proportionally to the movement of said cam follower means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein one of said proportioning means is connected to said other support to rotate said other support.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first and second proportioning means are connected to said other support for moving said other support in mutually perpendicular directions.

Claim 11

A cam generating apparatus for moving a cam blank relative to a cam cutter to generate a cam contour which is proportional in length and amplitude to that of a master cam, comprising: a. a base structure; b. an X-direction slide movably carried by said base structure for movement in X-directions; c. a Y-direction slide movably carried by said base structure for movement in Y-directions which are perpendicular to said X-directions; d. X-direction proportioning means connected to said X-direction slide for generating an X-direction output movement which is proportional to the X-direction movement of said X-direction slide; e. Y-direction proportioning means connected to said Y-direction slide for generating a Y-direction output which is proportional to the movement of said Y-direction slide; f. support means for supporting a cam blank for movement relative to said base structure; g. X-direction connection means interconnecting said X-direction proportioning means and said support means for moving said support means in response to said X-direction output movement; h. Y-direction connection means interconnecting said Y-direction proportioning arm and said support means for moving said support means in response to said Y-direction output movement; i. whereby, a cam blank positioned on said support means can be moved relative to a cam cutter to generate a cam contour which is proportional in amplitude and length to that of the master cam.

Claim 12

A cam generating apparatus for moving a cam blank relative to a cam cutter to generate a cam contour which is proportional in length and amplitude to that of a master cam, comprising: a. a base structure; b. an X-direction slide movably carried by said base structure for movement in X-directions; c. a Y-direction slide movably carried by said base structure for movement in Y-directions which are perpendicular to said X-directions; d. X-direction proportioning means connected to said X-direction slide for generating an X-direction output movement which is proportional to the X-direction movement of said X-direction slide; e. Y-direction proportioning means connected to said Y-direction slide for generating a Y-direction output which is proportional to the movement of said Y-direction slide; f. support means for supporting a cam blank for movement relative to said base structure; g. X-direction connection means interconnecting said X-direction proportioning means and said support means for moving said support means in response to said X-direction output movement; h. Y-direction connection means interconnecting said Y-direction proportioning arm and said support means for moving said support means in response to said Y-direction output movement; i. whereby, a cam blank positioned on said support means can be moved relative to a cam cutter to generate a cam contour which is proportional in amplitude and length to that of the master cam.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein one of said connection means includes rotation means for rotating said support means in response to its associated output movement.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein one of said connection means being one of means selectively connected to translate said support or to rotate said support in response to its associated output movement.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one of said proportioning means includes: a. a body member pivotally connected to said base structure; b. a slide member movably carried by said body member; c. adjustment means interposed between said members to adjustably position said slide member along said body member; d. one of said members being connected to the associated slide; and, e. the other of said members being connected through the associated connecting means to said support means.