Applications Cam Clutch － 3. Roller coaster
Application
Overrunning
An application to alternately repeat the conditions where the inner and outer races of the cam clutch engage to transmit the torque and where they continue spinning around depending on the difference in the rotation speed or rotation direction. The operation is the same as the free wheeling of a car.
Supporting model(s)
- ・Special cam clutch
Adopting machine
Roller coaster
Applications
Layout
Purpose of Use and Operation Overview
This is an example where a cam clutch is used to adjust the difference between fast and slow speeds so that a fast moving roller coaster can stop at the specified position safely. The blade attached to the roller coaster is slowed down by the brake installed near the end, and then the coaster is moved to the stop position on the platform via many wheels and drive units. When the roller coaster arrives at the wheels at high speed, the cam clutch overruns. When the roller coaster is slowed down to the speed of the wheels, the cam clutch engages and carries the coaster to the platform and stops it at the specified position.
When a cam clutch is not used ･･･
When the blade of the roller coaster arrives at high speed, it impacts on the wheels and driving units, and the wheels slip each other. The worm gear reducer is damaged by the impact, and the life of the wheels is also reduced significantly.
Advantage of using the cam clutch
- ・The cam clutch switches between overrunning and engagement automatically simply based on the difference in the rotation speed.
- ・Smooth speed change is ensured without the need for a device controlling speed differences.
