Power transmission apparatus

A power transmission apparatus comprising:

• a clutch housed in a clutch housing that rotates together with an input that rotates due to a driving force of an engine of a vehicle, the clutch housing including a plurality of driving clutch plates attached thereto, the clutch being connected to an output that is able to rotate a wheel of the vehicle;
• a pressure applicator having at least one driven clutch plate attached thereto, the driven clutch plate being alternately arranged with the driving clutch plates, the pressure applicator movable between an operating position where the driving and driven clutch plates are pressed against each other so as to enable transmission of the driving force of the engine to the wheel and a non-operating position where a pressing force exerted on the driving and driven clutch plates is released so as to cut off transmission of the driving force of the engine to the wheel;
• and
• a centrifugal clutch including a mass movable from a radially inner position to a radially outer position due to centrifugal force produced by rotation of the clutch housing, the centrifugal clutch being configured to, when the mass is located at the radially outer position, press the driving and driven clutch plates against each other so as to enable transmission of the driving force of the engine to the wheel and configured to, when the mass is located at the radially inner position, release the pressing force exerted on the driving and driven clutch plates so as to cut off transmission of the driving force of the engine to the wheel;
• wherein
• the centrifugal clutch includes:
• a holder including a plurality of housing portions in a circumferential direction housing the mass and a plurality of holder pawl portions on an outer peripheral surface thereof and attached to the clutch housing, and holding the mass such that the mass is movable between the radially inner position and the radially outer position;
• and
• a presser to press the driving and driven clutch plates against each other by moving in a stacking direction of the driving and driven clutch plates in response to movement of the mass from the radially inner position to the radially outer position;
• the presser is located on an opposite side of the holder across the mass and between the mass and the driving clutch plates and the driven clutch plate in an axial direction of the output member;
• and
• some of the holder pawl portions at least partially overlap with the housing portion when the holder pawl portions are respectively seen in a radial direction of the output, and others of the holder pawl portions at least partially do not overlap with the housing portion when the holder pawl portions are respectively seen in the radial direction of the output.