# Does this crank/cam type device have a proper name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-crank-cam-type-device-have-a-proper-name/641941 "2012-11-23T22:17:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-crank-cam-type-device-have-a-proper-name/641941/1 "2012-11-23T22:17:02Z")
Imagine a disc-shaped lollipop with a horzontal slot in it. A crankshaft passes through this slot. The lollipop stick is constrained in a tube or similar, so that it can only move up and down (i.e. along the axis of the stick). As the crank rotates, it raises and lowers the lollipop. So it’s a cam, of sorts, but the follower encloses the cam. Does this construction have a name? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-crank-cam-type-device-have-a-proper-name/641941/2 "2012-11-23T22:44:56Z")
Scotch yoke. **ETA link:** [Scotch yoke - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_yoke) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-crank-cam-type-device-have-a-proper-name/641941/3 "2012-11-23T22:50:26Z")
Excellent - that’s exactly it. Thanks.