Patent ID: 9702449
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: F16H

Claim:
1. A power plant for driving two driven parts for propelling a means of transportation, comprising: a first energy input/output unit that is capable of inputting and outputting rotational energy; a second energy input/output unit that is capable of inputting and outputting rotational energy; a differential gear unit, wherein said differential gear unit includes: a rotatable carrier; a triple pinion gear that is formed by a first pinion gear, a second pinion gear, and a third pinion gear which are externally-toothed gears integrally formed with each other, and is rotatably supported by said carrier; a first gear that is one of a first sun gear which is formed by an externally-toothed gear and is provided, in a manner associated with said first pinion gear, radially inward of said first pinion gear, and a first ring gear which is formed by an internally-toothed gear and is provided, in a manner associated with said first pinion gear, radially outward of said first pinion gear; a second gear that is one of a second sun gear which is formed by an externally-toothed gear and is provided, in a manner associated with said second pinion gear, radially inward of said second pinion gear, and a second ring gear which is formed by an internally-toothed gear and is provided, in a manner associated with said second pinion gear, radially outward of said second pinion gear; a third gear that is one of a third sun gear which is formed by an externally-toothed gear and is provided, in a manner associated with said third pinion gear, radially inward of said third pinion gear, and a third ring gear which is formed by an internally-toothed gear and is provided, in a manner associated with said third pinion gear, radially outward of said third pinion gear; and an additional pinion gear that is in mesh with at least one of said first to third pinion gears, and one of said first to third gears associated with the at least one, said additional pinion gear being rotatably supported by said carrier, wherein said first pinion gear is in mesh with said first gear, when said additional pinion gear is not in mesh with either of said first pinion gear and said first gear, wherein said second pinion gear is in mesh with said second gear, when said additional pinion gear is not in mesh with either of said second pinion gear and said second gear, wherein said third pinion gear is in mesh with said third gear, when said additional pinion gear is not in mesh with either of said third pinion gear and said third gear, wherein rotational speeds of four rotary elements formed by said carrier and said first to third gears satisfy a collinear relationship in which the rotational speeds are aligned in a single straight line in a collinear chart, and wherein out of said four rotary elements, first and second outer rotary elements that are positioned at opposite outer sides of the straight line in the collinear chart, respectively, are mechanically connected to said first and second energy input/output units, respectively, and first and second quasi-outer rotary elements that are positioned adjacent to said first and second outer rotary elements, respectively, are mechanically connected to one and the other of the two driven parts, respectively.