Patent ID: 8303459

Claim:
A forward-reverse switching device for a vehicle, comprising: a planetary gear set that has first, second and third rotating elements, the first rotating element corresponding to one of a sun gear, a carrier that rotatably and revolvably supports pinion gears, and a ring gear that is in mesh with the sun gear via the pinion gears, the second rotating element corresponding to one of the remaining of the sun gear, the carrier and the ring gear, and the third rotating element corresponding to the other of the remaining of the sun gear, the carrier and the ring gear; and a one-way clutch that is coupled to the planetary gear set and connected between any two rotating elements among the sun gear, the carrier and the ring gear, wherein the first rotating element is coupled to a driving force source so that power is transmittable, the third rotating element is coupled to a drive wheel so that power is transmittable, the third rotating element is rotated in a direction opposite to a rotational direction of the first rotating element in such a manner that rotation of the second rotating element is prohibited, and the third rotating element is rotated in the same direction as the rotational direction of the first rotating element in such a manner that the first, second and third rotating elements are integrally rotated, and the one-way clutch engages to place the planetary gear set in an integrally rotatable state in which torque is transmitted from the third rotating element to the first rotating element when the rotational speed of the third rotating element exceeds the rotational speed of the first rotating element, and idles when the rotational speed of the third rotating element does not exceed the rotational speed of the first rotating element.