# US 2017/0282963 A1 · Clutch, steering device, and method for producing clutch

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- Number: US 2017/0282963 A1
- Document ID: US20170282963A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/463,935
- Filed: 2017-03-20
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29
- Assignees: Showa Corporation
- Applicants: Showa Corporation
- Inventors: Shinsuke SEKIKAWA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282963A1

## CPC

- B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup}
- B62D 5/003: {Backup systems, e.g. for manual steering (B62D5/30 takes precedence)}
- B62D 5/0412: {the axes of motor and steering column being parallel}
- B62D 5/043: {characterised by clutch means between driving element, e.g. motor, and driven element, e.g. steering column or steering gear}
- B62D 5/0439: {Controllable friction clutches (B62D5/0436 takes precedence)}
- F16D 11/14: with clutching members movable only axially (F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence)
- F16H 1/28: with gears having orbital motion
- F16H 57/082: {Planet carriers}
- F16D 2001/102: {the torque is transmitted via polygon shaped connections}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A clutch includes a sun gear, an internal gear, planetary gears, a carrier, a first area, a second area, and a third area. The carrier has a through hole through which an output shaft extends. The first area is disposed on an inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole. The second area is disposed on an outer surface of the output shaft and is spline-fitted to the first area. The third area is disposed at a position that is on the outer surface of the output shaft and that is closer to the input shaft than the second area is to the input shaft. The third area has a shape that makes the third area rotatable while being fitted to the first area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clutch configured to mechanically establishing and disestablishing a torque transmission path between an input shaft through which a torque is input and an output shaft through which the torque is output, the clutch comprising:
a sun gear configured to switch between a fixed state and a non-fixed state;
an internal gear coupled to the input shaft in a torque transmittable manner;
planetary gears configured to mesh with the sun gear and the internal gear;
a carrier configured to rotatably support the planetary gears and coupled to the output shaft in a torque transmittable manner, the carrier comprising a through hole through which the output shaft extends;
a first area disposed on an inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole;
a second area that is disposed on an outer surface of the output shaft and that is spline-fitted to the first area; and
a third area disposed at a position that is on the outer surface of the output shaft and that is closer to the input shaft than the second area is to the input shaft, the third area comprising a shape that makes the third area rotatable while being fitted to the first area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clutch according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth area disposed at a position that is on the inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole and that is closer to the input shaft than the first area is to the input shaft, the fourth area being spline-fitted to the third area.

### Claim 3

A clutch configured to mechanically establishing and disestablishing a torque transmission path between an input shaft through which a torque is input and an output shaft through which the torque is output, the clutch comprising:
a sun gear configured to switch between a fixed state and a non-fixed state;
an internal gear coupled to the input shaft in a torque transmittable manner;
planetary gears configured to mesh with the sun gear and the internal gear;
a carrier configured to rotatably support the planetary gears and coupled to the output shaft in a torque transmittable manner, the carrier comprising a through hole through which the output shaft extends;
a third area disposed on an outer surface of the output shaft;
a fourth area that is disposed on an inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole and that is spline-fitted to the third area; and
a first area disposed at a position that is on the inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole and that is farther away from the input shaft than the fourth area is from the input shaft, the first area comprising a shape that makes the first area rotatable while being fitted to the third area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The clutch according to claim 1, wherein the third area comprises a shape that is fitted to the first area and that restricts movement of the output shaft in a radial direction of the output shaft.

### Claim 5

A steering device comprising
a clutch configured to mechanically establishing and disestablishing a torque transmission path between an input shaft through which a torque is input and an output shaft through which the torque is output, the clutch comprising:
a sun gear configured to switch between a fixed state and a non-fixed state;
an internal gear coupled to the input shaft in a torque transmittable manner;
planetary gears configured to mesh with the sun gear and the internal gear;
a carrier configured to rotatably support the planetary gears and coupled to the output shaft in a torque transmittable manner, the carrier comprising a through hole through which the output shaft extends;
a first area disposed on an inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole;
a second area that is disposed on an outer surface of the output shaft and that is spline-fitted to the first area; and
a third area disposed at a position that is on the outer surface of the output shaft and that is closer to the input shaft than the second area is to the input shaft, the third area comprising a shape that makes the third area rotatable while being fitted to the first area.

### Claim 6

A method for producing a clutch configured to mechanically establishing and disestablishing a torque transmission path between an input shaft through which a torque is input and an output shaft through which the torque is output, the clutch comprising:
a sun gear configured to switch between a fixed state and a non-fixed state;
an internal gear coupled to the input shaft in a torque transmittable manner;
planetary gears configured to mesh with the sun gear and the internal gear;
a carrier configured to rotatably support the planetary gears and coupled to the output shaft in a torque transmittable manner, the carrier comprising a through hole through which the output shaft extends;
a first area disposed on an inner wall of the carrier defining the through hole;
a second area that is disposed on an outer surface of the output shaft and that is spline-fitted to the first area; and
a third area disposed at a position that is on the outer surface of the output shaft and that is closer to the input shaft than the second area is to the input shaft, the third area comprising a shape that makes the third area rotatable while being fitted to the first area,
the method comprising:
fitting the first area and the third area to each other;
after the fitting step, adjusting a rotational angle of the carrier relative to the output shaft; and
after the adjusting step, spline-fitting the output shaft and the carrier to each other.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The clutch according to claim 2, wherein the third area comprises a shape that is fitted to the first area and that restricts movement of the output shaft in a radial direction of the output shaft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The clutch according to claim 3, wherein the third area comprises a shape that is fitted to the first area and that restricts movement of the output shaft in a radial direction of the output shaft.