Patent ID: 8505404

Claim:
A switching device for switching driving force between forward and reverse directions, said device comprising a fixed shaft ( 11 ), an input gear ( 14 ) and an output gear ( 15 ) fitted on the fixed shaft ( 11 ) so as to face each other, a switching mechanism ( 10 ) disposed between said input gear and said output gear, said switching mechanism ( 10 ) being configured to transmit driving torque applied to said input gear ( 14 ) to said output gear ( 15 ) to selectively rotate said output gear ( 15 ) in one of two opposite directions, wherein said switching mechanism ( 10 ) comprises an input bevel gear ( 16 ) integral with said input gear ( 14 ), an output bevel gear ( 17 ) integral with said output gear ( 15 ), an intermediate shaft ( 12 ) fitted on the fixed shaft ( 11 ), support shafts ( 13 ) extending from said intermediate shaft ( 12 ) perpendicular to the intermediate shaft ( 12 ), intermediate bevel gears ( 22 ) supported on the respective support shafts ( 13 ) and meshing with said input bevel gear ( 16 ) and said output bevel gear ( 17 ), a one-way clutch disposed between the intermediate shaft ( 12 ) and the input bevel gear ( 16 ), and a control means for selectively locking and unlocking said one-way clutch, and wherein said one-way clutch includes an adaptor portion ( 30 , 57 ) fitted to the intermediate shaft ( 12 ), and coupled to the intermediate shaft ( 12 ) through a complementary coupling structure.