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This section provides an overview for cam clutches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 23 cam clutch manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked cam clutch companies as of December, 2024: 1.Dayton Superior Products, 2.Lowell Corporation, 3.TB Wood's, Inc..
Table of Contents
A cam clutch is a one-way clutch that transmits torque in only one direction. It is also called a cam-type one-way clutch or roller-type one-way clutch.
One of the characteristics of a one-way clutch is that it can only rotate in one direction, like a bicycle pedal. A cam clutch has the same characteristic. When a rotational torque opposite to the torque in the specified direction is applied, the clutch does not engage internally, causing it to spin out of alignment.
Cam clutch is widely used in automobiles, helicopters, conveyors, and other industrial machinery.
As a type of one-way clutch, it is mainly used when torque is transmitted in only one direction. Taking advantage of its idling property when reverse rotational torque is transmitted is sometimes used as a component to prevent reverse rotation and blurring of the drive components.
It may also be used as a clutch for two-speed drives by using the properties of spinning and meshing differently. By connecting gears and other drive components to a shaft, mounting two cam clutches on each end of the shaft, and connecting different drive motors with varying speeds to the cam clutches, it is possible to use two various drive sources by having one motor spinning and the other spinning.
Combining drive components makes it possible to combine the torques of two drive motors to create a dual drive.
Cam clutches have an outer and inner ring, with a cam and spring built between them. The cams are laid regularly between the outer and inner rings, like balls in a ball bearing.
What differentiates cams from ball-bearing balls is their shape. Instead of a regular circle, they have a particular oval shape. The lower half is a traditional circle, and the upper half is a triangle with two sides. This is done to prevent the cam from tipping over inside the clutch.
When torque is applied to the cam clutches in the direction of engagement, the cam acts as a bar between the outer and inner rings, thereby engaging the outer and inner rings and applying rotational torque in the same direction.
A groove is cut in the cam for spring, and the spring is installed to cover the entire cam. This spring tightens the cam so that the cam can easily tilt in the direction of engagement. The outer and inner rings do not engage when reverse rotational torque is transmitted because this spring pulls the cam in the direction of engagement. The cam, tilted toward engagement by the spring, slides out of engagement when reverse rotary torque is applied, releasing the torque.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Mountune LLC, was founded in 1980 and headquartered in Carson, California, and is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in motorsport development, performance engines, and related services. The company's product portfolio includes short blocks, long blocks, and cylinder heads. Its engines are primarily utilized by motorsport teams, track day vehicle suppliers, automotive enthusiasts, and manufacturers of performance vehicles. The company also offers services such as precision machining, assembly, and engine development for motorsport applications, and only ships its products to select international destinations.
Dayton Superior Products is a manufacturer and supplier of power transmission components based in Troy, Ohio. The company deals in shaft clutches which have numerous applications in motors, Pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, and Gearboxes whereas the shaft collar is available in different materials and has multiple uses such as mechanically securing and locating specific components on a shaft. The couplings are used for connecting two shafts and transferring motion between them and because of these diverse applications the products have uses in Material handling & conveyors, Packaging machinery, Medical Agriculture, and Motion control industries.
TB Wood’s, Inc., established in 1857 and headquartered in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, is an ISO 9001:2015 certified designer and manufacturer of industrial couplings and belted drive solutions. The company offers a range of products including industrial couplings, belted drive solutions, and highly-engineered coupling products such as Sure-Flex and Dura-Flex elastomeric couplings, Form-Flex disc couplings, and Jaw couplings. Its products are used in various industrial controls, transferring power from motors or engines to industrial machinery.
SDP/SI was founded in 1950 and is situated in New Hyde Park, New York. SDPP/SI is a manufacturer of precision gears and high-quality mechanical components used in the aerospace, industrial manufacturing, medical technology, and robotics fields. The company manufactures parts in a variety of materials including alloy steel, stainless steel, bronze, brass, nylon, and titanium. The company also provides coating services such as heat treating, zinc plating, and painting. Additional custom options are available including manufacturing to customer drawings and specifications.
Nexen Group Inc. was established in 1902 and is based in Minnesota as a manufacturer of industrial motion control products. The company offers different products in the Power Transmission line that generate twisting power in clutches, brakes, torque limiters, and coupling products, and their various designs are compatible with imperial and metric components. Their Precision Rotary Motion technology consists of rotary drive systems, torque rotary brakes, and mechanical torque limiters, all delivering zero backlashes. And for Linear Motion Control, Nexen provides a wide selection of Rail Brakes and Rod Locks.
Machine Components Corp. (MCC) is an American manufacturer of standard as well as custom machine components established in Plainview, New York in 1961. The company produces various machine components with different functions and applications in industrial manufacturing or processing facilities. These include mechanical and slip clutches, toggle and joystick switches, friction hinges, and solenoid-operated clutch brakes. MCC products are utilized by clients in the aerospace, telecommunication, security, and military industries, as well as by manufacturers and OEMs in the commercial sector.
Lowell Corporation, based in West Boylston, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of mechanical hand tools since 1869. The company specializes in providing a range of standard and custom-designed tools that incorporate their renowned ratchet technology. Their product lineup, including ratchet arms, ratchet clutches, socket wrenches, roller clutches, and related items, which are made in the USA. Lowell Corporation places a strong emphasis on the significance of utilizing appropriate tools and well-designed machinery to achieve maximum productivity and performance in work environments.
Hilliard Corporation was founded in 1905 and headquartered in Elmira, New York. The company is an engineer, manufacturer, and distributor of motion control, braking systems, and filtration products to industries such as power generation, oil & gas, refinery, and steel in their ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing facilities. The company provides direct contact between customers and engineers and has the manufacturing and design capabilities to customize orders to meet any challenge in the motion control and filtration industries, whether the end products are industrial clutches, engine starters, or braking systems.
ISC Companies, founded in 1939 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a distributor and supplier of mechanical power transmission systems and electrical components. The company provides millions of electrical parts, including machine safety parts, mechanical power transmission, plant suppliers, fluid power, and motion control to clients in almost all industries. These products come in categories such as bearings, gears, electric motors, brakes, and collars as well as roller chains, lubrication accessories, and safety sensors , to name but a few.
Thomas Sno Sports, an American company established in 1988 and based in Ogilvie, Minnesota, is a distributor specializing in Arctic Cat recreational vehicles. The company's recreational vehicle portfolio includes snowmobiles, side by sides, watercrafts, and ATVs. These vehicles serve various purposes, including winter recreational activities, ice fishing, rock crawling, farming, and ranching. The company provides technical support and after-sale services with experienced technicians, warranty support, and seasonal considerations. The company ships its products across the Unites States and Canada.
Accent Bearings Co. Inc. was established in 1993 and is a distributor for industrial bearings. Accent Bearings offers a full range of bearing-related parts including ball, cylindrical, radial, thrust, and standard, as well as CAM followers, rod ends, belts, sheaves, busings, bronze busings, bar stock, pulleys, chains, sprockets, gears, speed reducers, motors, clutches, brakes, couplings, shafts, shaft accessories, oil seals, gauges, retaining rings, air cylindeers, conveyor belts, and fluid power process control equipment.
Schaeffler Japan Co., Ltd., founded in 1955, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, is a subsidiary of Schaeffler Group, a German manufacturer and supplier of precision components and systems for automotive and industrial applications. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including bearings, precision components, and systems for engines, transmissions, and chassis applications. The company’s products are utilized in various industries, ensuring the upmost performance. The company also offers a range of customer services, including technical assistance, product consulting, and after-sales support.
NSK Ltd., based in Japan, is a manufacturer of precision bearings and motion control solutions which started its journey in 1916. The company has established itself as a major supplier for multiple industries, including automotive, industrial machinery, and aerospace. Their extensive product portfolio encompasses ball bearings, roller bearings, and linear motion components. Their Motion & Control products and technologies support the motion that brings comfort and convenience in cars, planes, wind turbines, satellites, and almost anything with moving parts.
NMTG, a company founded in 1975 and headquartered in Gujarat, India, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in mechanically power-transmitting products. The company's product portfolio includes keyless transmission elements, freewheel one-way clutches, tensioner nuts and bolts, and cam followers. These mechanical products find applications in various industries, including agriculture, power generation, material handling, aerospace, and several others. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified and exports its products to Australia, Brazil, Dubai, Malaysia, and New Zealand.
U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission LLC., founded in 1971 and based in Wheeling, Illinois, is a manufacturer and supplier of motion control and power transmission products and is ISO 9001 certified. Its products include sprockets, conveyor chains, and roller chains used in several industries, including automotive, primary metals, and forest products. It’s a subsidiary of the Tsubakimoto Chain Company, and it has several manufacturing facilities in the United States, including Milwaukee (WI), Sandusky (OH), and Chicopee (MA). The company sells its products through distribution channels but can sell directly to qualified OEMs.
TOK America Inc., established in 2016 in the USA, is a manufacturer of mechanical and motion control components and parts for commercial and industrial clients. The company's product line includes ball bearings, one-way clutches, rotary dampers, torque limiters, and guides used in furniture, electrical appliances, home appliances, office equipment, and medical devices. TOK America specializes in the use of stainless steel, steel, ceramic, polyacetal, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, and PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride). The company also provides custom product design, testing, and production services.
Tsubaki of Canada was founded in 1973 as a Canadian subsidiary of Tsubakimoto Chain Company, originally founded in Japan in 1917. The company is a producer and distributor of precision roller chains and other power transmission products to industries including food & beverage, aggregate & cement, automotive, forestry, and primary metals. The company’s primary product lines are roller & engineering class chains, sprockets, cable & hose carriers, PT components, and backstops & clutches. The company also offers advanced customer service including chain, sprocket, and system analysis, optimization, maintenance, and training.
MiMotion was founded in 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama and today operates under Genuine Parts Company. The company operates as a distributor and supplier of custom parts for both maintenance repair and operating replacement part market and the OEM market. The company’s product line includes many types of products including abrasives, chemicals & lubricants, hand & power tools, hose & fittings, and process pumps & equipment. The company also provides maintenance repair and operating replacement parts as well as OEM parts ensuring compatibility with existing customer operations.
SERVICE COMPANY was founded in the 1930s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today BEARING is a manufacturer and national distributor of bearings and power transmission parts and components. BEARING offers services such as field service inspections, damage analysis, surveys, reverse engineering, repair, part identification, and selection. BEARING parts include seals, gaskets, accessories, couplings, electric motors, gearboxes & gearing, chains, sprockets, belts, sheaves, material handling equipment, linear motion equipment, lubrication, and, naturally, many varieties of bearings.
Walterscheid NZ Ltd, a company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Taupo, New Zealand, is a distributor specializing in agricultural products. The company's agricultural products include clutches, PTO drive shafts, and tractor attachment systems. These products find applications in various sectors such as landscaping, construction, agriculture, transportation, and among agricultural equipment dealers. The company provides services, including product sales, installation, overnight delivery, and servicing options for its customers. The company serves a wide market with an annual volume of approximately 200 cam clutches throughout New Zealand.
Rigging Loft, Inc., established in 1984 and based in Fairhaven, Massachusetts is a supplier and distributor of sailboat hardware and rigging. The company’s product portfolio includes standing riggings, life lines, shackles, roller furlings and winches. These products have applications in boat yards, sail makers, boat builders, sailors, and maritime and nautical industries. It mainly provides a comprehensive suite of services related to sailboat rigging and hardware, ranging from technical guidance and custom solutions to installation and maintenance. The company provides its hardware and rigging solutions to sailors globally, maintaining a global customer base.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dayton Superior Products |
8.7%
|
| 2 | Lowell Corporation |
8.7%
|
| 3 | TB Wood's, Inc. |
7.2%
|
| 4 | Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument - SDP/SI |
7.2%
|
| 5 | mountune LLC |
5.8%
|
| 6 | NMTG |
5.8%
|
| 7 | Nexen Group, Inc. |
5.8%
|
| 8 | Machine Components Corp. |
5.8%
|
| 9 | TOK America, Inc. |
5.8%
|
| 10 | Schaeffler Japan Co., Ltd. |
5.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the cam clutch page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
12 | 66.7% |
|
Japan
|
3 | 16.7% |
|
India
|
1 | 5.6% |
|
Canada
|
1 | 5.6% |
|
New Zealand
|
1 | 5.6% |
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