The Main Versions of Cam Gears - Essay Example

Author’s name Instructors’ name Course Date Саm Gеаr Abstract The essay will introduce and cover the main versions of the Cam Gear, It will also highlight and elaborate the functions and finally summarize all the discussed issues under conclusion. Cam gears are those gears that are mounted to the front of camshafts. The function of the crankshafts is to rotate the timing belts that are further connected to the cam gear, which then ensures that the camshaft is rotated. Introduction There are different types of cam gears including the intake gears, adapters and exhaust gears. The following paper intends to discuss cam gears, including the main versions and how they work in machines (Davis 2005). The Main Versions of Cam Gears As indicated above, one of the main versions of cam gears is intake gears. Intake gears also come in different types, which are determined by the implementation of the variable timing control, holes around the inner hub, the bolts on outer cogs, as well as the depth of their camshaft pockets (Davis 2005). These attributes further determine their functionality. However, there are two phases of intake cam gears namely phase II and I. They both have varying designs but with variable timing control systems. Phase II have adjustable cam phasing as is the case with many aftermarket gears. The two are considered as early and late style types of intake cam gears. Adapters are the second type of cam gears, which allow one to install either phase I or II cams. This is critical since most of the aftermarket cam gears do match with fitment and dimensions of phase II gears (De Garmo et al. 2012). The last category is the exhaust cam gears, which are simply identical as well as non-adjustable types of cam gears. Functions of cam gears In order to understand these functions, it is important to understand how cam gears work. The best way is looking at how a car engine works. A car engine gets its power through a violent means, which is by harnessing the energy that has been locked in gasoline (Breen, 2008)It is only after the pistons located in a cylinder have been pumped out as well as down at high speed that the engines work efficiently. These pistons still need to be pushed up and down roughly at 1000 times in one minute , even when a car is idling at the road side. If this does not happen, the engine may cut out. This means that the car engine has its minimum speed with which it works best at about 1000 rpm. However, this brings a direct problem as if the engine was to be connected to the wheels directly, then these wheels would have a minimum of 1000 rpm as far as the speed is concerned (Bhandari 2010). This corresponds to about 120 km/hr. Another aspect look at is that if one was to switch on the ignition of his car in this way, then the car will be instantly started at that speed! Further, if one was to put his foot down until the rev counter reaches 7000 rpm, then the wheels would turn round seven times faster which translates to about 840 km/h. The above Illustration is wildly exciting though there is a snag. It is important to note that it takes a lot of force and energy for a car or a machine to move from a stand still. For this reason, it cannot generate enough energy to move by itself (Breen, 2008)This is why there is a need for gearboxes. It is as well important to note that cars usually needs the huge amount of energy but just little speed for them to get moving. This means that cam gears are helpful in ensuring that the speed of a given engine is reduced while at the same time increasing the force at the same proportion in order to get the car moving (Davis 2005). A driver can then switch to a higher gear when the car is moving. This means that through changing gears, one is using the power of the engine in different ways in order to match the driving conditions. At the same time, one can use the cam gearshifts in making his engine have more force or speed, which depends on the conditions under which one is driving or using his machine. This is the same concept used where gears are in place. The main function of cam gears is to transmit power from one part of a machine to the other. A good example is the case of a bicycle where with the help of a chain, they take power from pedals to the back of the wheel. In the same way, cam gears in cars or vehicles are essential in the transmission of power from crankshafts (which is a rotating axle taking power from car’s engine) up to the running driveshaft under the car (Bhandari 2010). This is what powers the wheels of a vehicle. It is important to note that one can have any number of cam gears to be connected, as well as being in different sizes and shapes. Therefore, each power of a vehicle is passed from one a cam gear wheel to the other. The following are some of the main functions of cam gears. The first functions are increasing the speed of a vehicle or machine. If one connects the two cam gears where one has more teeth than the other does, meaning it is bigger in size, the second wheel will have to turn round in a much faster speed ion order to keep up (Bhandari 2010). This arrangement denotes that the second wheel is turning at a faster speed than the first wheel but using less energy. This is one of the functions of cam gears and any other gear in any moving machine. It is worth noting that the size of the cam is crucial depending on the speed with which a machine is intended to move (Davis 2005). On the same note, the bigger the size of cam gears, the lesser the number of times the wheels will have to rotate in a given period. Further, cam gears ensure that there is increased force in a machine or the entire system. For instance if the second wheel which is in a pair was fixed with more teeth than the other one, meaning it is larger in size, then this will result in its using more energy in turning, as well as turning at a slower speed compared to the other cam gear (Breen, 2008) The increased force on the second cam gear means that the wheels can be effective in operations that need a lot of force. It is one way of ensuring that machines perform where much force is needed. In addition, cam gears can as well be used in ensuring that a machine changes from one direction to the other. This is easily observed in the arrangement of two cam gears. One aspect that is observable is that after two cam gears have been meshed together, they move in the opposite direction. It means that if one is turning clockwise, the other one will be turning anticlockwise. This is a clear indication that if one would like his machine to turn in a given direction the simple way is to mesh cam gears to direct the wheels in the direction of his choice. Additionally, one can as well use cam gears that are specially shaped in order to ensure that the power of a machine is turning through a given angle (Davis 2005). This can then result in a machine going into a given direction. A good example is in the car where a differential ,which is a gearbox located in the middle of a rear-wheel’s axle of a drive car, can use a cone-shaped bevel cam gear in order to turn the driveshaft power through 90 degrees and then turning the back wheels of the machine (Davis 2005). The above functions explain some of the core functions of cam gears in machines. It is critical to note that the basic aspect of cam gears include the speed with which one would like his machine to move. This is determined by the size of cam gears used in the system (De Garmo et al. 2012). In addition, one can have specially arranged and modified cam gears to turn his machine in a direction of his choice. Conclusion It is important to realize that that cam gears are gears that are mounted to the front of camshafts. Further, crankshafts rotate the timing belts, which are connected to the cam gear. This ensures that the camshaft is as well rotated. Cam gears come in different versions such as intake gears, adapters, and exhaust gears. The basic aspect of cam gears includes the speed with which one would like his machine move. This requires the use of force or power, which is provided by these gears. Bibliography Bhandari, V. B. (2010). Design of machine elements. New Delhi, Tata McGraw-Hill. Breen, C, Frakes, D, Loyola, R, & Moren, D 2008, 'THE MAC WORLD GEAR GUIDE Macworld, 25, 12, pp. 62-87, EBSCOhost, viewed 19 March 2015. Davis, J. R. (2005). Gear materials, properties, and manufacture. Materials Park, Ohio, ASM International. Read More