Patent ID: 6866607
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A planetary gear device comprising: a carrier rotationally driven about a rotational axis by a rotational force from an engine; an inner gear arranged outside of said carrier and rotatable relative thereto about the rotational axis; a sun gear arranged inside of said carrier and rotatable relative to thereto about the rotational axis; plural retaining protrusions formed in said carrier and extending from a basal portion thereof in a direction of the rotational axis; said plural retaining protrusions including walls shaped as parts of cylindrical surfaces formed in adjacent retaining protrusions; plural receiving portions respectively formed between said walls of the adjacent retaining protrusions; plural planetary gears respectively received between said retaining protrusions, disposed between said inner gear and said sun gear, and rotatable together with said carrier about the rotational axis, each of said plural planetary gears being mounted for rotation about its own rotational axis within one of said receiving portions in contact with said walls of the retaining protrusions and to be gear-engaged with respective of said inner gear and said sun gear; and connection portion provided at distal end portions of said retaining protrusions to connect respective of said retaining protrusions to each other, said connection portion being configured to enhance the strength of said retaining protrusions.