CAM FOLLOWER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CAM FOLLOWER

• US 20150013420A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: SHIBUTANI, Naoto, KANBARA, Seiji, OISHI, Shinji, KAWAMURA, Tomoaki, ENSOU, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,482,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 72/340
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 1/76 elements not mentioned in one of the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 13/006 Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/463 consisting of needle rollers held in a cage, i.e. subunit without race rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/466 comprising needle rollers and an outer ring, i.e. subunit without inner ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/78 with a diaphragm, disc, or ring, with or without resilient members F16C33/761 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 53/06 Cam-followers F16H53/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49295 Push rod or rocker arm making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2107 Follower

Abstract

A cam follower is constituted by an outer ring which has an outer track surface in its inner circumference; a stud which has an inner track surface opposed to the outer track surface, a flange portion abutting on one side of the inner track surface, a side plate fitting portion and a mounting shaft portion abutting on another side of the inner track surface in this order, and a fiber flow formed continuously from the flange portion to the inner track surface along their outer circumferences; rolling elements which are arranged between the outer track surface and inner track surface; and an inner side plate which is pressed into the side plate fitting portion to work with the flange portion for limiting axial movement of the outer ring and the rolling elements.

Claims

1. A method for producing a cam follower including a cam follower stud including an inner track surface opposed to an outer track surface, a flange portion abutting on one side of the inner track surface, a side plate fitting portion and a mounting shaft portion in this order abutting on another side of the inner track surface, the cam follower stud containing a fiber flow formed continuously along its surface, from the flange portion to a bearing support portion which has an outer circumference formed with the inner track surface;

rolling elements arranged between the outer track surface and the inner track surface; and

a side plate pressed into the side plate fitting portion for association with the flange portion in limiting axial movement of the outer ring and the rolling elements, said method comprising;

a cold forging process of forming a primary processed stud which has a basic shape of the flange portion, by setting a metal rod into a die and punching the metal rod longitudinally thereof by a punch, the metal rod containing the fiber flow formed axially thereof, the die having a cylindrical cavity of a shape for formation of a track portion, the side plate fitting portion, and the mounting shaft portion; and

a grinding process of grinding an outer circumferential surface of the primary processed stud to form the flange portion, the track portion, the side plate fitting portion, and part of the mounting shaft portion.

2. The method for producing manufacturing the cam follower according to claim 1, wherein the die is formed with a nib for formation of a relief at a base region of the flange portion closer to the track portion.

3. The method for producing the cam follower according to claim 1, wherein the die is formed with a predetermined taper for formation of the stepped portion between the through-shaft portion and the thread portion.

4. The method for producing the cam follower according to claim 1, wherein the punch has a formation cavity for formation of the flange portion, the pressing operation deforming the metal rod and pushing a portion of the metal into the formation cavity to form the flange portion.

5. The method for producing the cam follower according to claim 1, wherein the cold forging process includes formation of a hexagonal hole which has a bottom with a center hole, in an outer end surface of the flange portion;

and formation of a center hole in an outer end surface of the mounting shaft portion.

6. The method for producing the cam follower according to claim 1, further comprising a form rolling process following the cold forging process, for formation of a thread portion in the mounting shaft portion.