Patent ID: 8622865

Claim:
A speed change mechanism, comprising: a. a first planetary gear set, comprising a first sun gear, a plurality of first planet pinions, a first carrier arm and a first ring gear, wherein one of the first sun gear and the first ring gear comprises a first input and the other of the first sun gear and the first ring gear comprises a first output; b. a second planetary gear set, comprising a second sun gear, a plurality of second planet pinions, a second carrier arm and a second ring gear, wherein one of the second sun gear and the second ring gear comprises a second input and the other of the second sun gear and the second ring gear comprises a second output; c. a power input connection for drivingly connecting the first input with an output from a power source and a drive arrangement directly coupling the first output to the second input to transfer drive from the first output to the second input, the first and second planetary gear sets being drivingly coupled so that the first and second outputs are driven in opposite rotary directions; d. a sleeve ring surrounding the first and second planetary gear sets; e. a first one-way clutch for transmitting drive from the first output to the sleeve ring in a first rotary direction only; and f. a second one-way clutch for transmitting drive from the second output to the sleeve in the first rotary direction only.