Kinematics and Lubrication Conditions at Cam Contact in a Centrally Pivoted Cam-Finger Follower

The paper describes the kinematic analysis of the cam/follower contact in a valve gear design in which the valve is operated by a centrally pivoted follower. A novel feature of the analysis is that velocities are determined from the valve lift curve rather than the cam profile. The entraining velocity at the cam/follower contact has been obtained and the variation of elastohydrodynamic film thickness over the operating cycle has been calculated.