Compudrive Corporation

Carl J Holt, Jr

Michel A Pierrat

Continuous-curvature lobed cams, such as are variously used after the manner of gearing in orbital-drive mechanical transmissions, hydraulic motors and the like, are formed with the precise and continuous distinctive contouring which is essential to their successful operation by way of a simple and inexpensive cutting tool rotated about a fixed axis in a conventional machine while the cam blank with which it is in a material-removing engagement is both rotated relatively slowly in one angular direction and orbited relatively rapidly and synchronously along a circular path in the opposite angular direction. Synchronism between the slow rotary and rapid orbital motions is achieved in a machine-mounted fixture through geared drive of two rotary tables from a common motive source on the same movable platen which mounts the two rotary tables. One of the rotary tables orbits the platen along an adjustable-eccentricity path relative to the supporting machine bed, as accommodated by an X-Y mount, and the number of cam lobes to be fashioned is determined by introducing an appropriate gear in an adjustable gear train between the motive source and the other rotary table which rotates the cam blank.

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Andover, MA, United States of America

Carl J Holt, Jr