CAM AND FOLLOWER MECHANISM

In engineering, in the feild of mechanical engineering design/mechanics of machines. A mechanism composed of higher pair links called "the cam and follower mechanism" which is normally used for periodical and sponteneous movement of links with little or no degree of error. the first known cam was build by Hellenistic water-driven automata around the 3rd century and was later found in Al-Jazari design in the 4th century. The cam and follower mechanism is that have this periodic movement and is employ in Internal Combustion Engine, it is used to drive the valves periodically depending on the stroke. meanwhile it is an essential part of the timing system in I.C.E, multiple cams are usually connected a single shaft which is called the camshaft. It is applied in automobile to drive manual fuel pumps which is directly fixed to the engine and connected to a single cam.

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF A CAM & FOLLOWER MECHANISM

This mechanism is seen as combination of two mechanism; the cam and the follower, Just as the crank and slider mechanism earlier explained;

▪the cam mechanism: Consider an imperfect circle or rather an oval shape or an ellipse rotating about its minor axis, if an oval shape is taken into consideration, we will notice that the movement will form a periodic outer burge in its locus. this outer burge can be use effectively for useful periodic mechanical work provided the cam keeps on rotating. cams can be of different forms which are single head cam or multiple head cams but the single head cam is normally used especially in Internal Combustion Engine.

Hence a cam can be easily explained as a mechanical component that transmit reciprocating, linear or oscillating motion to other parts of a machine usually the follower.

▪the follower: the follower is a simple mechanism that is restricted to just a push and pull motion. while the push motion is done by the cam rotation and the pull is either with the force of a spring or effect of gravity. this follower mechanism is simply a link that is used to transfer work or motion to any required part of the machine, for example the pump lever in a manual fuel pump serves as the follower in the I.C.E which drives the tube in the pump.

The cam and follower mechanism is an essential mechanism in the feild of engineering in that it is to drive even the minute component in a system. its also employed in lock system and central locks in cars.

ANTICIPATING A POST ON I.C.E

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