Loading cam device

Abstract

A loading cam device is constructed of a first cam surface, a second cam surface, a ring-shaped retainer disposed between the first and second cam surfaces and defining pockets at angular intervals, and rolling members maintained in contact with the first and second cam surfaces while rotatably held within the respective pockets. The circumferential width of each pocket is smaller at each side of the retainer but greater along a thicknesswise central axis of the retainer, both compared with the outer diameter of the rolling members. As an alternative, the thickness of the retainer is a little smaller at a location adjacent to each pocket but significantly smaller at a location remote from the pocket, both compared with the thickness the outer diameter. As a further alternative, springs are disposed between surface portions of the retainer, said surface portions being on opposite sides of the retainer, respectively, and being located between each two adjacent pockets, and the first and second cam surfaces, whereby the springs resiliently urge the retainer in directions away from the first and second cam surfaces, respectively.