Patent ID: 6396386
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: B62D,F16H,G01D,H01C

Abstract:
An angle sensor comprising:a first rotary shaft rotatably held; a first gear having a through hole to which the first rotary shaft is fitted and teeth portions disposed at an outer circumferential surface thereof, said first gear rotating in correspondence with the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft disposed perpendicular to the first rotary shaft and having an axis that is extended in a tangential direction to the first gear; a second gear which is integrally held at and rotates along with the second rotary shaft, said second gear having teeth portions that engage with the teeth portions of the first gear, the teeth portions of the first and second gear being engaged with each other at an intersection point of a normal line from the center of rotation of the first gear that crosses perpendicular to the second rotary shaft; a third gear which is movably held at the second rotary shaft relative to the second rotary shaft and having teeth portions engaged with the teeth potions of the first gear, wherein the third gear is arranged side-by-side with the second gear, and an axial sectional shape of the third gear comprises a shape in which the teeth portions are along the outer circumference of the first gear; a detected member held at the second rotary shaft; and a detecting portion for detecting rotation of the detecting member, a rotating angle of the first rotary shaft being detected by detection at the detecting portion; wherein the first gear, the second gear and the third gear are engaged with each other in a screw gear relationship, and wherein a biasing member is provided to cause the teeth of the third gear to be abutted against the teeth of the first gear without any looseness, and to cause the teeth of the second gear to be abutted against the teeth of the first gear without any looseness, said biasing member being arranged between the second gear and the third gear.