An experimental study on cam-controlled planetary gear trains

In general, a mechanism is driven by a motor at uniform speed. However, more and more researches indicate that there are many advantages if a mechanism can be driven at non-uniform speed, and this kind of mechanism is called a variable input mechanism. The purpose of this work is to propose a novel approach for driving a variable speed mechanism by using a cam-controlled planetary gear train, and to investigate its feasibility by conducting prototype experiments. First, the geometrical design is performed. Then, the kinematic equations and the cam profile equations are derived based on the geometry of the mechanism. Furthermore, the detail design process is illustrated with an example. Finally, the validity of the design is confirmed by kinematic and dynamic simulations using ADAMS software. In addition, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified by conducting prototype testing. The experimental results show that the CCPGT is a suitable alternative for driving variable speed mechanisms. In addition, due to its mechanical nature, the CCPGT has the advantages of higher reliability, faster response, and larger power output compared to a servomotor solution. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.