See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/282778708

Forces and Efficiency of Cams

Article  in  International Review of Mechanical Engineering · January 2013

CITATIONS READS

5 1,020

1 author:

Florian Ion Tiberiu Petrescu

Polytechnic University of Bucharest
523 PUBLICATIONS   7,169 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

News in Light View project

News in Aero-Space View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Florian Ion Tiberiu Petrescu on 14 October 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 International Review of Mechanical Engineering (I.RE.M.E.), Vol. 7, n. 3

Forces and Efficiency of Cams

F.I. Petrescu1, R.V. Petrescu2

Abstract – The paper presents an original method to determine the efficiency of a mechanism with
cam and follower. The originality of this method consists in eliminating the friction modulus. In this
research it analyses four types of cam mechanisms: 1.The mechanism with rotary cam and plate
translated follower; 2.The mechanism with rotary cam and translated follower with roll; 3.The
mechanism with rotary cam and rocking-follower with roll; 4.The mechanism with rotary cam and
plate rocking-follower. For every kind of cam and follower mechanism one uses a different method to
determine the most efficient design. We take into account the cam’s mechanism (distribution
mechanism), which is the second mechanism in internal-combustion engines. The optimizing of this
mechanism (the distribution mechanism), can improve the functionality of the engine and may
increase the comfort of the vehicle too.

Keywords: Cam, Efficiency, Translated follower, Rocking-follower, Follower with roll

Nomenclature II. Determining of Momentary

Mechanical Efficiency of the Rotary
i : is the mechanical instantaneous efficiency of the
Cam and Plate Translated Follower
transmission with cam and pusher (tappet);
 i : is the mechanical instantaneous coefficient of loss; The consumed motor force Fc, perpendicular in A to
the vector rA, is divided into two components: a) Fm,
: is the pressure angle of the transmission; which represents the useful force, or the motor force
: is the transmission angle; reduced to the follower; b) F, which is the sliding force
Pu: is the utile power, of the tappet movement; between the two profiles of cam and follower (Fig. 1).
Pc: is the power consumption; See the written relations (2.1-2.10).
v2: is the follower velocity;
Fc: is the consumed or motor force;
Fm: is the utile force; Fm  Fc  sin  (2.1)
F: is the sliding force.
v2  v1  sin (2.2)

I. Introduction
Pu  Fm  v2  Fc  v1  sin2  (2.3)
The mechanisms with cam and follower are utilized in
many domains [1-7]. The principal utilization of cams Pc  Fc  v1 (2.4)
gear is the mechanism of the distribution of a heat engine.
In this paper the author presents an original method to
Pu Fc  v1  sin 2 
calculate the efficiency of the cam’s mechanisms. Four i    sin 2   cos 2  (2.5)
kinds of cam and follower mechanisms are analyzed: 1. A Pc Fc  v1
mechanism with rotary cam and plate translated follower;
2. A mechanism with rotary cam and translated follower s '2 s '2
with roll; 3. A mechanism with rotary cam and rocking- sin 2    (2.6)
follower with roll; 4. A mechanism with rotary cam and rA2 (r0  s) 2  s'2
plate rocking follower. For every kind of cams and
followers mechanism, a different method for the cam’s F  Fc  cos  (2.7)
design with a better efficiency has been utilized.
v12  v1  cos (2.8)

P  F  v12  Fc  v1  cos 2  (2.9)

Manuscript received March 2013, revised March 2013 Copyright © 2002 Florian Petrescu - All rights reserved
 F.I. Petrescu, R.V. Petrescu

P Fc  v1  cos 2  rB2  e 2  (s0  s) 2 (3.1)

i    cos 2   sin 2  (2.10)
Pc Fc  v1
rB  rB2 (3.2)

© 2002 Florian PETRESCU r F

cos B  sin  
e
(3.3)
The Copyright-Law
Of March, 01, 1989
U.S. Copyright Office
Fc rB
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20559-6000
202-707-3000
r C  r
r Fm s0  s
v1
 v2 r sin  B  cos  (3.4)
A s’

D B
F rB
r E
rA  v12 s s0  s

cos   (3.5)
r0 ( s0  s)2  ( s'e)2

s'e
O
w sin   (3.6)
( s0  s)2  ( s'e)2

cos(   )  cos   cos  sin   sin  (3.7)

Fig. 1. Forces and speeds to the cam with plate translated follower

rA2  rB2  rb2  2  rb  rB  cos(   ) (3.8)

III. Determining of Momentary Dynamic
Efficiency of the Rotary Cam and e  ( s0  s ) 2  ( s 'e) 2  rb  ( s 'e)
Translated Follower with Roll cos  A  (3.9)
rA  ( s0  s) 2  ( s 'e) 2
The pressure angle  (Fig. 2), is determined by
relations (3.5-3.6). We can write the next forces, speeds
and powers (3.13-3.18). Fm, vm, are perpendicular to the ( s0  s )  [ ( s0  s ) 2  ( s 'e) 2  rb ]
sin  A  (3.10)
vector rA at A. Fm is divided into Fa (the sliding force)
rA  ( s0  s ) 2  ( s 'e) 2
and Fn (the normal force). Fn is divided too, into Fi (the
bending force) and Fu (the useful force). The momentary
( s0  s )  s ' s'
dynamic efficiency can be obtained from relation (3.18). cos( A   )   cos  (3.11)
The written relations are the following. rA  ( s0  s)  ( s'e)
2 2 rA

Fu, v2 Fn, vn
s'
 cos( A   )  cos   cos2  (3.12)
rA
Fn, vn Fi, vi

rb
B Fm, vm
va  vm  sin( A   )
 A-  (3.13)
s A Fa, va Fa  Fm  sin( A   )
rB
rA B
x vn  vm  cos( A   )

 (3.14)
Fn  Fm  cos( A   )
B0

rb A0 A
  vi  vn  sin 
n s0  (3.15)
0 A Fi  Fn  sin 
e
v2  vn  cos  vm  cos( A   )  cos
C O r0
 (3.16)
Fu  Fn  cos  Fm  cos( A   )  cos

Fig. 2. Forces and speeds to the cam with translated follower with roll

Copyright © 2002 Florian Petrescu - All rights reserved International Review of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 7, n. 3
 F.I. Petrescu, R.V. Petrescu


Pu  Fu  v2  Fm  vm  cos ( A   )  cos 
2 2 rB2  b2  d 2  2  b  d  cos 2 (4.6)
 (3.17)

 Pc  Fm  vm
d 2  rB2  b 2
cos B  (4.7)
P F  v  cos2 ( A   )  cos2  2  d  rB
i  u  m m 
Pc Fm  vm (3.18)
b  sin 2
s' s' 2
sin  B  (4.8)
 [cos( A   )  cos ]2  [  cos2  ]2  2  cos4  rB
rA rA

IV. Determining of Momentary Dynamic sin(   2 )  sin  cos 2  sin 2 cos (4.9)
Efficiency of the Rotary Cam and
Rocking Follower with Roll
Fm, vm, are perpendicular to the vector rA at A. Fm is
cos(   2 )  cos cos 2  sin 2 sin  (4.10)
divided into Fa (the sliding force) and Fn (the normal
force). Fn is divided too into Fc (the compressed force)
and Fu (the useful force); see the Fig. 3. The written
relations are the following (4.1-4.31).

B    2   B  (4.11)
2
b 2  d 2  (r0  rb ) 2
cos 0  (4.1)
2b d cos B  sin(   2   B ) (4.12)

 2    0 (4.2) sin B   cos(   2   B ) (4.13)

cos B  sin(   2 )  cos  B 

Fu, vu (4.14)
F ,v
B  Fn, vn  sin  B  cos(   2 )
A n n

B Fc, vc

 rB b
Fm, vm
rA Fa, va

B B 2
sin B  sin(   2 )  sin  B 
0   (4.15)
 cos  B  cos(   2 )
A
rb b
A0
 r0
0 0
O  d
A D

x
rA2  rB2  rb2  2  rb  rB  cos B (4.16)

rA2  rB2  rb2

Fig. 3. Forces and speeds for the rotary cam and rocking follower with cos   (4.17)
roll 2  rA  rB

rb
sin    sin B (4.18)
RAD  d 2  b2 (1  ' )2  2bd (1  ' ) cos 2 (4.3) rA

d  cos 2  b  'b  A  B   (4.19)

sin   (4.4)
RAD
cos A  cos B cos   sin  B sin  (4.20)
d  sin 2
cos  (4.5) sin  A  sin  B cos   cos B sin  (4.21)
RAD

Copyright © 2002 Florian Petrescu - All rights reserved International Review of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 7, n. 3
 F.I. Petrescu, R.V. Petrescu

     A  2   (4.22) Fn; vn


A Fm ; vm
A 
Fa; va
cos    cos( 2     A )  l.’
(4.23)
 sin( 2   )  sin  A  cos( 2   )  cos  A r .’
H
 I
G 2
 l

A0 
 

 'b
cos   cos (4.24) G0 M

x
B0
B
rA m b 
r0
 d

 'b
O D

cos  cos   cos2  (4.25) 1

rA

Fa  Fm  sin  Fig. 4. Forces and speeds for the rotary cam and general plate rocking
 (4.26)
va  vm  sin 
follower

Fn  Fm  cos AH  [ d 2  (r0  b) 2  cos 

 (4.27)
vn  vm  cos ' (5.1)
 (r0  b)  sin ] 
1  '
Fc  Fn  sin 
 (4.28)
OH  b  (r0  b)  cos 
vc  vn  sin  (5.2)
 d 2  (r0  b) 2  sin

Fu  Fn  cos  Fm  cos  cos r 2  AH 2  OH 2 (5.3)

 (4.29)
v2  vn  cos  vm  cos  cos AH AH 2 AH 2
sin   ; sin 2   2  (5.4)
r r AH 2  OH 2

  Fn  Fm  cos   Fm  sin  ;
Pu  Fu  v2  Fm  vm  cos   cos 
2 2



(4.30)
 (5.5)
Pc  Fm  vm v  v  cos   v  sin 
 n m m

Pn Fn  vn Fm  vm  sin 2 
P i    
i  u  cos 2   cos 2   (cos   cos  ) 2  Pc Fm  vm Fm  vm
Pc (5.6)
(4.31) AH 2
 'b  '2 b 2  sin 2  
(  cos 2  ) 2   cos 4  AH 2  OH 2
rA rA2

VI. Conclusion
V. Determining of Momentary
The follower with roll makes the input-force be
Mechanical Efficiency of the Rotary
divided into several components. This is the reason why,
Cam and General Plate Rocking the dynamics and the precise-kinematics (the dynamic-
Follower kinematics) of mechanism with rotary cam and follower
The written relations are following, (5.1-5.6) (see the Fig. with roll, are more different and difficult. The presented
4): dynamic efficiency of followers with roll is not the same
like the classical mechanical efficiency. For plate

Copyright © 2002 Florian Petrescu - All rights reserved International Review of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 7, n. 3
 F.I. Petrescu, R.V. Petrescu
followers the dynamic and the mechanical efficiency are
the same. This is the great advantage of plate followers.
References
[1] J. Angelas, C. Lopez-Cajun, Optimal synthesis of cam
mechanisms with oscillating flat-face followers. Mechanism and
Machine Theory 23,(1988), Nr. 1., p. 1-6., 1988.
[2] P. Antonescu, F. Petrescu, O. Antonescu, Contributions to the
Synthesis of The Rotary Disc-Cam Profile, In VIII-th
International Conference on the Theory of Machines and
Mechanisms, Liberec, Czech Republic, p. 51-56, 2000.
[3] Z. Ge, a.o., Mechanism Design amd Dynamic Analysis of Hybrid
Cam-linkage Mechanical Press, Key Engineering Materials
Journal, Vol. 474-476 (2011), p. 803-806.
[4] Z. Ge, a.o., CAD/CAM/CAE for the Parallel Indexing Cam
Mechanisms, Applied Mechanics and Materials Journal, Vol. 44-
47 (2011), p. 475-479.
[5] A. Ghazimirsaied, a.o., Improving Volumetric Efficiency using
Intake Valve Lift and Timing Optimization in SI Engine, IREME
Journal, March. 2010, Vol. 4, N. 3, p.244-252.
[6] F. Giordana, s.a., On the influence of measurement errors in the
Kinematic analysis of cam. Mechanism and Machine Theory 14
(1979), nr. 5, p. 327-340, 1979.
[7] K. Hain, Optimization of a cam mechanism to give good
transmissibility maximal output angle of swing and minimal
acceleration. Journal of Mechanisms 6 (1971), Nr. 4, p. 419-434.
[8] M. Hamid, a.o., Using Homotopy Analysis Method to Determine
Profile for Disk Cam by Means of Optimization of Dissipated
Energy, IREME Journal, July 2011,Vol. 5, N. 5, p. 941-946.
[9] M. Liu, Z. Qian, Research on Reverse Design of the Cam
Mechanism, Applied Mechanics and Materials Journal, Vol. 43
(2011), p. 551-554.
[10] F. Petrescu, R. Petrescu, Contributii la sinteza mecanismelor de
distributie ale motoarelor cu ardere internã. In E.S.F.A.’95, Vol.
1., p. 257-264., Bucuresti, mai 1995.
[11] F.I. Petrescu, R.V. Petrescu, Contributions at the dynamics of
cams. In the Ninth IFToMM International Symposium on Theory
of Machines and Mechanisms, SYROM 2005, Bucharest,
Romania, 2005, Vol. I, p. 123-128.
[12] F.I. Petrescu, Theoretical and Applied Contributions about the
Dynamic of Planar Mechanisms with Superior Joints, Doctoral
Thesis, Bucharest Polytechnic University, 2008.
[13] Y. Samim, a.o., Analytical Dynamic Response of Elastic Cam-
Follower Systems with Distributed Parameter Return Spring,
Journal of Mechanical Design (ASME), Vol. 115, Issue 3, (online
June 2008), p. 612-620.
[14] R. Shriram, a.o., Design and Development of Camless Valve
Train for I.C. Engines, IREME Journal, July 2012, Vol. 6, N. 5,
p. 1044-1049.
[15] D. Taraza, "Accuracy Limits of IMEP Determination from
Crankshaft Speed Measurements," SAE Transactions, Journal of
Engines 111, p. 689-697, 2002.
[16] W. Wang, Creation Design of Cam Mechanism Based on
Reverse Engineering, Advanced Materials Research Journal, Vol.
230-232 (2011), p. 453-456.
[17] F. Xianying, a.o., Meshing Efficiency of Globoidal Indexing Cam
Mechanism with Steel Ball, Advanced Materials Research
Journal, Vol. 413 (2012), p. 414-419.
[18] H.D. Zhao, a.o., Research on Dynamic Behavior of Disc Indexing
Cam Mechanism Based on Virtual Prototype Technology, Key
Engineering Materials Journal, Vol. 499 (2012), p. 277-282.
[19] G. Zhou, a.o., Seriation Design and Research on Cam Shedding
Mechanism of Looms, Advanced Materials Research Journal,
Vol. 479-481 (2012), p. 2383-2388.
Copyright © 2002 Florian Petrescu - All rights reserved
View publication stats
Authors’ information
1
Dr. Eng. Florian Ion T. Petrescu, Senior Lecturer at UPB (Bucharest
Polytechnic University), TMR (Theory of Mechanisms and Robots)
department.
2
Dr. Eng. Relly Victoria V. Petrescu, Senior Lecturer at UPB
(Bucharest Polytechnic University), TTL (Transport, Traffic and
Logistics) department.
1. Ph.D. Eng. Florian Ion T. PETRESCU
Senior Lecturer at UPB (Bucharest Polytechnic
University), Theory of Mechanisms and Robots
department,
Date of birth: March.28.1958; Higher education:
Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Faculty of
Transport, Road Vehicles Department, graduated
in 1982, with overall average 9.63;
Doctoral Thesis: "Theoretical and Applied Contributions About the
Dynamic of Planar Mechanisms with Superior Joints".
Expert in: Industrial Design, Mechanical Design, Engines Design,
Mechanical Transmissions, Dynamics, Vibrations, Mechanisms,
Machines, Robots.
Association:
Member ARoTMM, IFToMM, SIAR, FISITA, SRR, AGIR. Member of
Board of SRRB (Romanian Society of Robotics).
2. Ph.D. Eng. Relly Victoria V. PETRESCU
Senior Lecturer at UPB (Bucharest Polytechnic
University), Transport, Traffic and Logistics
department,
Citizenship: Romanian;
Date of birth: March.13.1958;
Higher education: Polytechnic University of
Bucharest, Faculty of Transport, Road Vehicles Department, graduated
in 1982, with overall average 9.50;
Doctoral Thesis: "Contributions to analysis and synthesis of
mechanisms with bars and sprocket".
Expert in Industrial Design, Engineering Mechanical Design,
Engines Design, Mechanical Transmissions, Projective and descriptive
geometry, Technical drawing, CAD, Automotive engineering, Vehicles,
Transportations.
Association:
Member ARoTMM, IFToMM, SIAR, FISITA, SRR, SORGING,
AGIR.
International Review of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 7, n. 3