Abstract: A telescopic shaft (5) has an inner shaft (12) and a tubular outer shaft (13) that are fitted to each other so that they can move relative to each other in the axial direction and that they can transmit torque to each other. A plurality of balls (14) are aligned between respective raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) are provided that limit the amount of relative rotation to not more than a predetermined amount of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13) when a ball (14) comes off the raceway grooves (15; 16). The limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) include a pair of engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) engageable with each other in a circumferential direction (C1). The engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) are provided at ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28) that are adjacent to the raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13), respectively.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft (5) has an inner shaft (12) and tubular outer shaft (13) that are fitted to each other so that they can move relative to each other in the axial direction and that they can transmit torque to each other. A row of balls (14) is placed in respective raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) are provided in the telescopic shaft (5), and the mechanisms limit the amount of relative rotation of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13) when a ball (14) comes off the raceway grooves (15; 16). The limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) include a pair of engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) engaging with each other in a circumferential direction (C1). The engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) are provided at ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28), and the ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28) are adjacent to the raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13), respectively.

Abstract: A planetary gear apparatus whose gears are all constituted by continuous shifted gears. A backlash between the input sun gear and each of the input side planetary gears is adjusted by pressing a second carrier plate supporting each integrated pair of the input side planetary gears and the output side planetary gears and moving it in the axial length direction by a ball bearing by a screwing operation of an adjusting nut. A backlash between the output sun gear and each of the output side planetary gears is also adjusted by pressing the output sun gear and moving it in the axial length direction by the ball bearing by the screwing operation of the adjusting nut. Accordingly, the backlash of all meshing portions can be adjusted during or after completion of the assemblage.

Abstract: A planetary gear apparatus whose gears are all constituted by continuous shifted gears. A backlash between the input sun gear and each of the input side planetary gears is adjusted by pressing a second carrier plate supporting each integrated pair of the input side planetary gears and the output side planetary gears and moving it in the axial length direction by a ball bearing by a screwing operation of an adjusting nut. A backlash between the output sun gear and each of the output side planetary gears is also adjusted by pressing the output sun gear and moving it in the axial length direction by the ball bearing by the screwing operation of the adjusting nut. Accordingly, the backlash of all meshing portions can be adjusted during or after completion of the assemblage.