| 摘要 |
A clutch mechanism 10 has an planetary gear train 12 having a ring gear 14 connected to an input shaft 16, planet gears 18 mounted to a planet carrier 20 and a central sun gear 26 inside which is mounted an output shaft 24 connected to the planet carrier 20. The mechanism 10 also has a set of callipers holding friction pads 32 which clamp a disc 34 attached to the sun gear 26. The calliper and disc 34 arrangement, can be spaced from the planetary gear train 12, which allows ease of access to the friction pads 32 when they need to be replaced. In one embodiment, when the calliper grips the disc 34, the sun gear 26 is prevented from rotating so that when the input shaft 16 is rotated the output shaft 24 is also rotated. When the calliper 32 is released, the sun gear 26 is allowed to rotate and so rotation of the input shaft 16 does not rotate the output shaft 24. Alternative embodiments are disclosed whereby different parts of the planetary gear train are attached to the input shaft, output shafts and the disc and calliper arrangement, so that different clutching effects are produces. The planetary gear train may take the form of a differential.
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