Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism and method according to the present invention transmits the driving force of a single motor selectively to a plurality of driven gears, comprising a sun gear rotated either in a forward or reverse direction by the motor, a planetary gear engaging the sun gear, and a plurality of driven gears arranged along the revolution orbit of the planetary gear. A driven gear with which the planetary gear is desired to engage is selected by rotating the sun gear in one direction. The driving force is transmitted to the selected driven gear via the planetary gear by rotation of the sun gear in the opposite direction. The proper gear is selected by use of a sensor. Using the driving force transmission mechanism, various driving systems can be driven by a single motor without the need for a complex switching mechanism. The transmission mechanism may use more than one planetary gear and may use more than one planetary gear assembly.

Abstract: An electrical generator (10) having particular utility as a vehicle alternating generator includes a planetary gear set (32) for providing counter rotation of a pair of fields (80,82) with respect to a coil (60) so as to provide high power output even at relatively low speeds of driving without providing excessive rotational speed at high speeds of driving. In one embodiment, the planetary gear set (32) includes a ring gear (36), a sun gear (44), and a planet carrier (50) whose planet gears (52) rotate about associated axes parallel to the rotational axis A about which the planetary gear set operates. In another embodiment, the planetary gear set has a bevel gear construction including first and second bevel gears (36',44') rotatable about the rotational axis of the planetary gear set and meshed with bevel type planet gears (52') of the planet carrier (50') so that the two field (80',82') have counter rotation with respect to each other at the same rotational speed.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting mechanism includes a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body arranged parallel to the first cylindrical body, a rotary body disposed parallel to the first cylindrical body, and circumscribed with the first and second cylindrical body, a pressing unit for pressing one of the first and second cylindrical bodies against the other of the first and second cylindrical bodies so as to make the first and second cylindrical bodies contact each other, and a moving unit for moving the rotary body toward a point where the first cylindrical body contacts the second cylindrical body so as to inhibit contact of the first cylindrical body with the second cylindrical body, and to contact the rotary body with the first and second cylindrical bodies, and for retreating the rotary body in a direction opposite to the aforementioned point so as to permit contact of the first cylindrical body with the second cylindrical body, which contact is caused by the pressing unit.

Abstract: A controlling transmission comprising a planetary gear mechanism in which at least one pair of intermediate gears are interposed to mesh with a sun gear and an internal gear and in which intermediate shafts respectively supporting the intermediate gears are fixed on a carrier. The indexing positions for fixing the intermediate shafts on the carrier are set such that a tooth surface contacting state, in which one of the intermediate gears meshes with the sun gear and the internal gear, and another tooth surface contacting state, in which the other of the intermediate gears meshes with the sun gear and the internal gear, are determined to have opposite power transmitting directions.