Patent ID: 7392775

Claim:
A helical cam device, comprising: a first cam component having an axial end with a first helical cam track; a second cam component having an axial end with a second helical cam track; and an axial guide for maintaining said first and second cam components in a generally coaxial alignment, wherein said first and second helical cam tracks contact each other and convert relative rotational movement between said cam components into relative axial movement; wherein at least one of said first and second helical cam tracks includes a quadrant section that is: i) aligned in a radial direction, ii) continuous throughout its circumferential extent, and iii) arranged according to the following formulas: x=r *cos(α); y=r *sin(α); and z=p *α; wherein x, y and z represent coordinates of a point lying on said helical cam track(s), r represents a radius of said helical cam track(s), p represents a pitch of said helical cam track(s), and α represents an angle relating to said point.