Speed reducer for walk assist apparatus

Abstract

A reduction gear (49) for a walking assistance system is provided that includes first to third planetary gear mechanisms (P1 to P3) between an input shaft (Si) connected to a motor (48) and an output shaft (So), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) being disposed radially outside the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) connected to the input shaft (Si), and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) being disposed outside, in the direction of an axis L, the first planetary gear mechanism (P1). It is therefore possible, while reducing the speed of rotation of the input shaft (Si) in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms (P1 to P3) and transmitting the rotation to the output shaft (So), to reduce the thickness of the reduction gear (49) compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms (P1 to P3) are disposed so as to be stacked in the direction of the axis (L), thereby improving the appearance when a user is fitted with the walking assistance system.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a walking assistance system that assists elderly people with weakened muscle strength or injured people to walk, climb up and down stairs, stand up from a seated posture, sit down from a standing posture, etc. so as to facilitate movement, thus suppressing degradation in muscle strength and correcting the gait mode, and, in particular, it relates to a reduction gear for the walking assistance system.

BACKGROUND ART

Such a walking assistance system has already been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-109046 related to an application of the present applicant. This walking assistance system includes an electric actuator fitted to user's leg joints (i.e., a hip joint and a knee joint ), and the actuator is operated by supplying electric power from a power source within a backpack carried by the user on the back so as to generate a joint torque for extending/bending each joint, thus assisting the user in carrying out a movement such as walking.

Furthermore, a reduction gear in which a plurality of planetary gear mechanisms are axially stacked in multiple stages so as to achieve a large reduction ratio with a small size is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-247225 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-37226.

The above-mentioned conventional walking assistance system includes an actuator integrated with a motor and a reduction gear, and since the reduction gear is required to have a large reduction ratio, there is the problem that the overall dimensions of the actuator increase. As a result, it becomes difficult to fit the actuator under a user's clothing, and since the actuator is exposed outside the clothing, the appearance is poor.

Although the above-mentioned conventional reduction gear, in which the plurality of planetary gear mechanisms are axially stacked in multiple stages, is excellent in having a large reduction ratio, since the axial dimensions are large, it is not suitable for use in an actuator of a walking assistance system.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object thereof to achieve a thin reduction gear for a walking assistance system while ensuring that the reduction gear has a sufficient reduction ratio.

In order to attain this object, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft driven by a motor and transmits the rotation to an output shaft connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear including the input shaft, the output shaft, a first planetary gear mechanism, and a second planetary gear mechanism disposed coaxially on an axis, the second planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, the rotation of the input shaft being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism and the second planetary gear mechanism and transmitted to the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism including a first sun gear provided on the input shaft, a first ring gear rotatably disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the first sun gear, a plurality of first planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and a first carrier rotatably supporting the first planetary gears, and the second planetary gear mechanism including a second sun gear provided on the outer periphery of the first ring gear, a second ring gear disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear, a plurality of second planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and a second carrier rotatably supporting the second planetary gears.

In accordance with this arrangement, since the input shaft, the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism, and the second planetary gear mechanism are disposed coaxially on the axis of the reduction gear for the walking assistance system, and the second planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, it is possible, while reducing in speed the rotation of the input shaft in two stages by the first and second planetary gear mechanisms and transmitting it to the output shaft, to reduce the axial thickness of the reduction gear compared with a case in which the first and second planetary gear mechanisms are disposed so as to be stacked in the axial direction, thereby improving the appearance when a user is equipped with the walking assistance system.

Furthermore, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is proposed the reduction gear for the walking assistance system wherein the first carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism is fixed to a casing, the second ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is fixed to the casing, and the second carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism is connected to the output shaft.

In accordance with this arrangement, fixing the first carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism to the casing enables the rotation input from the first sun gear to be output from the first ring gear, and fixing the second ring gear to the casing enables the rotation input into the second sun gear, which is integral with the first ring gear, to be output from the second carrier, thereby enabling the rotation of the input shaft to be reduced in speed in two stages by the first and second planetary gear mechanisms and transmitted to the output shaft.

Moreover, in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect, there is proposed the reduction gear for the walking assistance system wherein a third planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to be coaxial with and axially be stacked on the first planetary gear mechanism and the second planetary gear mechanism, the third planetary gear mechanism including a third sun gear provided on the outer periphery of a central part of the second carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism, a third ring gear fixed to the casing and disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear, a plurality of third planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and a third carrier rotatably supporting the third planetary gears and connected to the output shaft.

In accordance with this arrangement, fixing to the casing the third ring gear of the third planetary gear mechanism, which is disposed so as to be coaxial with and axially be stacked on the first and second planetary gear mechanisms, enables the rotation input into the third sun gear, which is integral with the second carrier, to be output to the third carrier, thereby enabling the rotation of the input shaft to be reduced in speed in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitted to the output shaft.

Furthermore, in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft driven by a motor and transmits the rotation to an output shaft connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear including the input shaft, the output shaft, a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, and a third planetary gear mechanism disposed coaxially on an axis, the second planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, the third planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism, the rotation of the input shaft being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism, the second planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism and transmitted to the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism including a first sun gear provided on the input shaft, a first ring gear formed on the inner periphery of an inside ring member rotatably disposed so as to surround the first sun gear, a plurality of first planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and a first carrier fixed to a casing and rotatably supporting the first planetary gears, the second planetary gear mechanism including a second sun gear formed on the outer periphery of the inside ring member, a second ring gear formed on the inner periphery of an outside ring member disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear, a plurality of second planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and a second carrier fixed to the casing and rotatably supporting the second planetary gears, and the third planetary gear mechanism including a third sun gear formed on the outer periphery of the outside ring member, a third ring gear fixed to the casing so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear, a plurality of third planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and a third carrier rotatably supporting the third planetary gears and connected to the output shaft.

In accordance with this arrangement, while the input shaft, the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism, the second planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism are disposed coaxially on the axis of the reduction gear for the walking assistance system, fixing the first carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism to the casing enables the rotation input from the input shaft into the first sun gear to be output from the first ring gear; fixing the second carrier to the casing enables the rotation input into the second sun gear, which is integral with the first ring gear, to be output from the second ring gear; and fixing the third ring gear to the casing enables the rotation input into the third sun gear, which is integral with the second ring gear, to be output from the third carrier, thereby enabling the rotation of the input shaft to be reduced in speed in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitted to the output shaft. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism, it is possible, while reducing in speed the rotation of the input shaft in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitting it to the output shaft, to reduce the axial thickness of the reduction gear compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axial direction, thereby improving the appearance when the user is equipped with the walking assistance system.

Moreover, in accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft driven by a motor and transmits the rotation to an output shaft connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear including the input shaft, the output shaft, a first planetary gear mechanism, a lo second planetary gear mechanism, and a third planetary gear mechanism disposed coaxially on an axis, the second planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, the third planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism, the rotation of the input shaft being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism, the second planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism and transmitted to the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism including a first sun gear provided on the input shaft, a first ring gear fixed to a casing so as to surround the first sun gear, a plurality of first planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and a first carrier rotatably supporting the first planetary gears, the second planetary gear mechanism including a second sun gear formed on the outer periphery of the first carrier, a second ring gear fixed to the casing so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear, a plurality of second planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and a second carrier rotatably supporting the second planetary gears, and the third planetary gear mechanism including a third sun gear formed on the outer periphery of the second carrier, a third ring gear fixed to the casing so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear, a plurality of third planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and a third carrier rotatably supporting the third planetary gears and connected to the output shaft.

In accordance with this arrangement, while the input shaft, the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism, the second planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism are disposed coaxially on the axis of the reduction gear for the walking assistance system, fixing the first ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism to the casing enables the rotation input from the first sun gear to be output from the first carrier; fixing the second ring gear to the casing enables the rotation input into the second sun gear, which is integral with the first carrier, to be output from the second carrier; and fixing the third ring gear to the casing enables the rotation input to the third sun gear, which is integral with the second carrier, to be output from the third carrier, thereby enabling the rotation of the input shaft to be reduced in speed in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitted to the output shaft. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism, it is possible, while reducing in speed the rotation of the input shaft in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitting it to the output shaft, to reduce the axial thickness of the reduction gear compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axial direction, thereby improving the appearance when the user is equipped with the walking assistance system.

Moreover, in accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft driven by a motor and transmits the rotation to an output shaft connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear including the input shaft, the output shaft, a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, and a third planetary gear mechanism disposed coaxially on an axis, the second planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, the third planetary gear mechanism being disposed so as to be stacked on the first planetary gear mechanism and the second planetary gear mechanism in the axial direction, the rotation of the input shaft being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism, the second planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism and transmitted to the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism including a first sun gear provided on the input shaft, a first ring gear fixed to a casing so as to surround the outer periphery of the first sun gear, a plurality of first planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear and the first ring gear, and a first carrier rotatably supporting the first planetary gears, the second planetary gear mechanism including a second sun gear provided on the outer periphery of the first carrier, a second ring gear fixed to the casing so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear, a plurality of second planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and a second carrier rotatably supporting the second planetary gears, and the third planetary gear mechanism including a third sun gear provided on the outer periphery of a central part of the second carrier, a third ring gear fixed to the casing so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear, a plurality of third planetary gears meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and a third carrier rotatably supporting the third planetary gears and connected to the output shaft.

In accordance with this arrangement, while the input shaft, the output shaft, the first planetary gear mechanism, the second planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism are disposed coaxially on the axis of the reduction gear for the walking assistance system, fixing the first ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism to the casing enables the rotation input from the input shaft into the first sun gear to be output from the first carrier; fixing the second ring gear to the casing enables the rotation input into the second sun gear, which is integral with the first carrier, to be output from the second carrier; and fixing the third ring gear to the casing enables the rotation input into the third sun gear, which is integral with the second carrier, to be output from the third carrier, thereby enabling the rotation of the input shaft to be reduced in speed in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitted to the output shaft. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism, and the third planetary gear mechanism is disposed so as to be stacked on the first planetary gear mechanism and the second planetary gear mechanism in the axial direction, it is possible, while reducing in speed the rotation of the input shaft in three stages by the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms and transmitting it to the output shaft, to reduce the axial thickness of the reduction gear compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axial direction, thereby improving the appearance when the user is equipped with the walking assistance system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a walking assistance system in use, FIG. 2 is a first part view of an exploded perspective view of the walking assistance system, FIG. 3 is a second part view of the exploded perspective view of the walking assistance system, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an electric actuator of the walking assistance system, FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a skeleton diagram of the electric actuator of the walking assistance system.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of an electric actuator of a walking assistance system, FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a skeleton diagram of the electric actuator of the walking assistance system.

FIG. 11 to FIG. 13 show a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of an electric actuator of a walking assistance system, FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line 12-12 in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a skeleton diagram of the electric actuator of the walking assistance system.

FIG. 14 to FIG. 17 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of an electric actuator of a walking assistance system, FIG. 15 is a sectional view along line 15-15 in FIG. 14, FIG. 16 is a sectional view along line 16-16 in FIG. 14, and FIG. 17 is a skeleton diagram of the electric actuator of the walking assistance system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention is explained below with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a walking assistance system of the present invention includes a backpack 11 carried by a user on the back, a pair of left and right first electric actuators 12 applying a torque to left and right hip joints, a pair of left and right second electric actuators 13 applying a torque to left and right knee joints, an abdominal belt 14 made of a flexible resin and detachably fitted around the user's abdomen, upper leg supports 15f and 15r made of a flexible resin, split into front and rear portions, and detachably fitted around the user's left and right thighs, lower leg supports 16f and 16r made of a flexible resin, split into front and rear portions, and detachably fitted around the user's left and right lower legs, and two suspenders 17 extending from a front part of the abdominal belt 14 and connected to a rear part of the abdominal belt 14 via the user's shoulders. FIG. 3 shows the upper leg supports 15f and 15r and the lower leg supports 16f and 16r for a left leg, and those for a right leg, which are not illustrated, are laterally symmetrical and have the same structure.

A first link 18 and a reinforcing member 19 are secured by bolts so as to hold an outer face and an inner face of each of left and right sides of the abdominal belt 14 therebetween. A second link 20 bendably connected to the lower end of the first link 18 via the first electric actuator 12 is secured by bolts to the outside of the rear upper leg support 15r. In this arrangement, a pivoting support for the first link 18 and the second link 20, that is, the first electric actuator 12, is positioned outside the user's hip joint.

An outside third link 21 and an inside third link 22 are secured by bolts to the outside and the inside respectively of the rear upper leg support 15r, and an outside fourth link 23 and an inside fourth link 24 are secured by bolts to the outside and the inside respectively of the rear lower leg support 16r. The lower end of the outside third link 21 and the upper end of the outside fourth link 23 are bendably connected to each other via the second electric actuator 13, and the lower end of the inside third link 22 and the upper end of the inside fourth link 24 are bendably connected to each other via a hinge 25. In this arrangement, pivoting supports of the two third links 21 and 22 and the two fourth links 23 and 24, that is, the second electric actuator 13 and the hinge 25, are positioned on the outside and the inside of the user's knee joint.

Housed within the backpack 11, which is detachably fitted to the suspenders 17, are an electronic control unit 26 for controlling the operation of the first electric actuators 12 and the second electric actuators 13, an indicator 27 for indicating the state of torque generated by each of the actuators 12 and 13, a motor driver 28 for driving a motor of each of the actuators 12 and 13, and a power source 29 (e.g., an Ni—Zn battery) for supplying electric power to the motors and the electronic control unit 26.

The first electric actuators 12 and the second electric actuators 13 have a common structure, and are formed from a DC motor and a reduction gear, a casing thereof is secured by bolts to the lower end of the first link 18, and an output shaft thereof is joined by a bolt 30 to the upper end of the second link 20. Driving the first electric actuator 12 therefore generates a torque for rotating the second link 20 relative to the first link 18, thus enabling the user's hip joint to be extended/bent. Furthermore, the second electric actuator 13 has a casing thereof secured by bolts to the lower end of the outside third link 21 and an output shaft thereof joined to the upper end of the outside fourth link 23 by a bolt 30. Driving the second electric actuator 13 therefore generates a torque for rotating the outside fourth link 23 relative to the outside third link 21, thus enabling the user's knee joint to be extended/bent.

The structure of the first electric actuator 12 is now explained with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7. The structure of the second electric actuator 13 is the same as that of the first electric actuator 12.

A casing 41 of the first electric actuator 12 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an axis L as the center. The casing 41 is formed by layering a first support ring 42, a second support ring 43, a support plate 44, a motor housing 45, and a motor cover 46 and integrally securing them with a plurality of bolts 47. A motor 48 is housed within the motor housing 45 and the motor cover 46, and a reduction gear 49 is housed within the first support ring 42 and the second support ring 43. An input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 is supported on the support plate 44 and the motor housing 45 via ball bearings 50 and 51, a rotor 52 of the motor 48 is fixed to the input shaft Si, is and a stator 53 surrounding the outer periphery of the rotor 52 is fixed to the motor housing 45. A permanent magnet 52a and a coil 53a are provided on the rotor 52 and the stator 53 respectively, and when the coil 53a is energized, the input shaft Si rotates together with the rotor 52.

The reduction gear 49 includes a first planetary gear mechanism P₁ and a second planetary gear mechanism P₂ housed inside the second support ring 43, and a third planetary gear mechanism P₃ housed inside the first support ring 42. The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is disposed radially inside the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is disposed outside, in the axis L direction, the first and second planetary gear mechanisms P₁ and P₂.

The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ includes a first sun gear ZS₁, a first ring gear ZR₁, a plurality of first planetary gears ZP₁, and a first carrier C₁. The first sun gear ZS₁ is connected to a shaft end of the input shaft Si via an electromagnetic clutch 54. The first ring gear ZR₁ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of a ring member 55 disposed rotatably around the axis L. The first carrier C₁, which rotatably supports the first planetary gears ZP₁ meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear ZS₁ and the first ring gear ZR₁, is formed as part of the support plate 44. The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is therefore of a star type in which the first carrier C₁ is fixed and the first ring gear ZR₁ is rotatable, and when the first sun gear ZS₁, which is connected to the input shaft Si via the electromagnetic clutch 54, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed and reversed, and output to the first ring gear ZR₁ (i.e., the ring member 55).

The reduction ratio of the star type first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is defined as nr₁/ns₁, where ns, is an input rotational speed of the first sun gear ZS₁ and nr₁ is an output rotational speed of the first ring gear ZR₁. If zs₁, zr₁, is and zp₁ denote the number of teeth of the first sun gear ZS₁, the first ring gear ZR₁, and the first planetary gear ZP₁ respectively, the reduction ratio nr₁/ns₁ is given by nr₁/ns₁=−zs₁/zr₁.   (1) The minus sign of the right-hand side of Equation (1) indicates that the direction of rotation of the first ring gear ZR₁ is opposite to the direction of rotation of the first sun gear ZS₁.

The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ includes a second sun gear ZS₂, a second ring gear ZR₂, a plurality of second planetary gears ZP₂, and a second carrier C₂. The second sun gear ZS₂ is formed on the outer periphery of the ring member 55, on the inner periphery of which is formed the first ring gear ZR₁. The second ring gear ZR₂ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of the second support ring 43, which is fixed to the casing 41. The second carrier C₂, which rotatably supports the second planetary gears ZP₂ meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear ZS₂ and the second ring gear ZR₂, is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the second support ring 43 via a ball bearing 56. The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is therefore of a planetary type in which the second ring gear ZR₂ is fixed and the second carrier C₂ is rotatable, and when the second sun gear ZS₂, which is an input member, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed and output in the same rotational sense to the second carrier C₂.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is defined as nc₂/ns₂, where ns₂ is an input rotational speed of the second sun gear ZS and nc₂ is an output rotational speed of the second carrier C₂. If zs₂, zr₂, and ZP₂ denote the number of teeth of the second sun gear ZS₂, the second ring gear ZR₂, and the second planetary gear ZP₂ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₂/ns₂ is given by nc₂/ns₂=zs₂/(zs₂+zr₂).   (2)

The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ includes a third sun gear ZS₃, a third ring gear ZR₃, a plurality of third planetary gears ZP₃, and a third carrier C₃. The third sun gear ZS₃ is formed integrally with the outer periphery of a central part of the second carrier C₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂. The third ring gear ZR₃ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of the first support ring 42, which is fixed to the casing 41. The third carrier C₃, which rotatably supports the third planetary gears ZP₃ meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear ZS₃ and the third ring gear ZR₃, is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the first support ring 42 via a ball bearing 57. The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is therefore of a planetary type in which the third ring gear ZR₃ is fixed and the third carrier C₃ is rotatable, and when the third sun gear ZS₃, which is an input member, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed and output in the same rotational sense to the output shaft So, which is integral with the third carrier C₃.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is defined as nc₃/ns₃, where ns₃ denotes an input rotational speed of the third sun gear ZS₃ and nc₃ denotes an output rotational speed of the third carrier C₃. If ZS₃, zr₃, and Zp₃ denote the number of teeth of the third sun gear ZS₃, the third ring gear ZR₃, and the third planetary gear ZP₃ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ is given by nc₃/ns₃=zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃).   (3)

Since the output rotational speed nr₁ of the first ring gear ZR₁, which is the output member of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₂ of the second sun gear ZS₂, which is the input member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and the output rotational speed nc₂ of the second carrier C₂, which is the output member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₃ of the third sun gear ZS₃, which is the input member of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the product of the reduction ratio nr₁/ns₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁ shown in Equation (1), the reduction ratio nc₂/ns₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ shown in Equation (2), and the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ shown in Equation (3) is given by the ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the rotational speed nc₃ of the third carrier C₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the third carrier C₃ being the output member of the reduction gear 49, relative to the rotational speed ns₁ of the first sun gear ZS₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, the first sun gear ZS₁ being the input member of the reduction gear 49. (nr₁/ns₁)×(nc₂/ns₂)×(nc₃/ns₃)=nc₃/ns₁   (4)

From Equation (1) to Equation (3), the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 is given by nc₃/ns₁=(−zs₁/zr₁)×{zs₂/(zs₂+zr₂)}×{zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃)}  (5)

and in the embodiment, since the number of teeth of each gear is set as follows:

	zs1 = 18	zp1 = 27	zr1 = 72
	zs2 = 96	zp2 = 24	zr2 = 144
	zs3 = 36	zp3 = 54	zr3 = 144,

the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 obtained by substituting these numbers of teeth in Equation (5) is 1/50. That is, when the input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 rotates 50 times, the output shaft So rotates once in the opposite direction.

As hereinbefore described, since the reduction gear 49 is formed by connecting the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃, it is possible to increase the torque of the motor 48 while ensuring that there is a sufficient reduction ratio. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is disposed so as to overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, it is possible to reduce the thickness in the axis L direction of the reduction gear 49 compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃ are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axis L direction. That is, the first electric actuators 12 and the second electric actuators 13 can be made compact by suppressing the thickness of the reduction gear 49 to a thickness corresponding to two planetary gear mechanisms while ensuring that there is a reduction ratio corresponding to three planetary gear mechanisms, thereby enabling fitting under a user's clothing with a good appearance.

The structure of a first electric actuator 12 related to a second embodiment of the present invention is now explained with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 10. The structure of a second electric actuator 13 is the same as that of the first electric actuator 12.

A casing 41 of the first electric actuator 12 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an axis L as the center. The casing 41 is formed by layering a support ring 42, a support plate 44, a motor housing 45, and a motor cover 46 and integrally securing them with a plurality of bolts 47. A motor 48 is housed within the motor housing 45 and the motor cover 46, and a reduction lo gear 49 is housed within the support ring 42. An input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 is supported on the support plate 44 and the motor cover 46 via ball bearings 50 and 51, a rotor 52 of the motor 48 is fixed to the input shaft Si, and a stator 53 surrounding the outer periphery of the rotor 52 is fixed to the motor housing 45. A permanent magnet 52a and a coil 53a are provided on the rotor 52 and the stator 53 respectively, and when the coil 53a is energized, the input shaft Si rotates together with the rotor 52.

The reduction gear 49, which is housed within the support ring 42, includes a first planetary gear mechanism P₁, a second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and a third planetary gear mechanism P₃; the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is disposed radially outside the first planetary gear mechanism Pi, and the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is disposed radially outside the second planetary gear mechanism P₂.

The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ includes a first sun gear ZS₁, a first ring gear ZR₁, a plurality of first planetary gears ZP₁, and a first carrier C₁. The first sun gear ZS₁ is connected to a shaft end of the input shaft Si via an electromagnetic clutch 54. The first ring gear ZR₁ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of an inside ring member 55i disposed so as to surround the axis L. The first carrier C₁, which rotatably supports the first planetary gears ZP₁ meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear ZS₁ and the first ring gear ZR₁, is provided as a portion close to the center of the support plate 44. The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is therefore of a star type in which the first ring gear ZR₁ is rotatable and the first carrier C₁ is fixed, and when the first sun gear ZS₁, which is connected to the input shaft Si via the electromagnetic clutch 54, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed and reversed, and output to the first ring gear ZR₁.

The reduction ratio of the star type first-planetary gear mechanism P₁ is defined as nr₁/ns₁, where ns₁ is an input rotational speed of the first sun gear ZS₁ and nr₁ is an output rotational speed of the first ring gear ZR₁. If zs₁, zr₁, and zp₁ denote the number of teeth of the first sun gear ZS₁, the first ring gear ZR₁, and the first planetary gear ZP₁ respectively, the reduction ratio nr₁/ns₁ is given by nr₁/ns₁=−zs₁/zr₁.   (6) The minus sign of the right side of Equation (6) indicates that the direction of rotation of the first ring gear ZR₁ is opposite to the direction of rotation of the first sun gear ZS₁.

The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ includes a second sun gear ZS₂, a second ring gear ZR₂, a plurality of second planetary gears ZP₂, and a second carrier C₂. The second sun gear ZS₂ is formed on the outer periphery of the inside ring member 55i. The second ring gear ZR₂ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of an outside ring member 55o disposed so as to surround the axis L. The second carrier C₂, which rotatably supports the second planetary gears ZP₂ meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear ZS₂ and the second ring gear ZR₂, is provided as a portion close to the outer periphery of the support plate 44. The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is therefore of a star type in which the second ring gear ZR₂ is rotatable and the second carrier C₂ is fixed, and when the second sun gear ZS₂, which is integral with the first ring gear ZR₁, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed and reversed, and output to the second ring gear ZR₂.

The reduction ratio of the star type second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is defined as nr₂/ns₂, where ns₂ is an input rotational speed of the second sun gear ZS₂ and nr₂ is an output rotational speed of the second ring gear ZR₂. If zs₂, zr₂, and zp₂ denote the number of teeth of the second sun gear ZS₂, the second ring gear ZR₂, and the second planetary gear ZP₂, respectively, the reduction ratio nr₂/ns₂ is given by nr₂/ns₂=−zs₂/zr₂.   (7) The minus sign of the right-hand side of Equation (7) indicates that the direction of rotation of the second ring gear ZR₂ is opposite to the direction of rotation of the second sun gear ZS₂.

The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ includes a third sun gear ZS₃, a third ring gear ZR₃, a plurality of third planetary gears ZP₃, and a third carrier C₃. The third sun gear ZS₃ is formed integrally with the outer periphery of the outside ring member 55o. The third ring gear ZR₃ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of the support ring 42, which is fixed to the casing 41. The third carrier C₃, which rotatably supports the third planetary gears ZP₃ meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear ZS₃ and the third ring gear ZR₃, is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the support ring 42 via a ball bearing 57. The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is therefore of a planetary type in which the third ring gear ZR₃ is fixed and the third carrier C₃ is rotatable, and when the third sun gear ZS₃, which is an input member, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction and output to the output shaft So, which is integral with the third carrier C₃.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is defined as nc₃/ns₃, where ns₃ denotes an input rotational speed of the third sun gear ZS₃ and nc₃ denotes an output rotational speed of the third carrier C₃. If zs₃, zr₃, and zp₃ denote the number of teeth of the third sun gear ZS₃, the third ring gear ZR₃, and the third planetary gear ZP₃ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ is given by nc₃/ns₃=zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃).   (8)

Since the output rotational speed nr₁ of the first ring gear ZR₁, which is the output member of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₂ of the second sun gear ZS₂, which is the input member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and the output rotational speed nr₂ of the second ring gear ZR₂, which is the output member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₃ of the third sun gear ZS₃, which is the input member of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the product of the reduction ratio nr₁/ns₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁ shown in Equation (6), the reduction ratio nr₂/ns₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ shown in Equation (7), and the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ shown in Equation (8) is given by the ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the rotational speed nc₃ of the third carrier C₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the third carrier C₃ being the output member of the reduction gear 49, relative to the rotational speed ns₁ of the first sun gear ZS₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, the first sun gear ZS₁ being the input member of the reduction gear 49. (nr₁/ns₁)×(nr₂/ns₂)×(nc₃/ns₃)=nc₃/ns₁   (9)

From Equation (6) to Equation (8), the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 is given by nc₃/ns₁=(−zs₁/zr₁)×(−zs₂/zr₂)×{zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃)}  (10)

and in the embodiment, since the number of teeth of each gear is set as follows:

	zs1 = 18	zp1 = 27	zr1 = 72
	zs2 = 96	zp2 = 24	zr2 = 144
	zs3 = 168	zp3 = 24	zr3 = 216,

the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 obtained by substituting these numbers of teeth in Equation (10) is 1/13.7. That is, when the input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 rotates 13.7 times, the output shaft So rotates once in the same direction.

As hereinbefore described, since the reduction gear 49 is formed by connecting the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃, it is possible to increase the torque of the motor 48 while ensuring that there is a sufficient reduction ratio. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is disposed so as to overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, and the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is disposed so as to overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, it is possible to reduce the thickness in the axis L direction of the reduction gear 49 compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃ are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axis L direction. That is, the first electric actuators 12 and the second electric actuators 13 can be made compact by suppressing the thickness of the reduction gear 49 to a thickness corresponding to one planetary gear mechanism while ensuring that there is a reduction ratio corresponding to three planetary gear mechanisms, thereby enabling fitting under a user's clothing with a good appearance.

The structure of a first electric actuator 12 related to a third embodiment of the present invention is now explained with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13. The structure of a second electric actuator 13 is the same as that of the first -electric actuator 12.

A casing 41 of the first electric actuator 12 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an axis L as the center. The casing 41 is formed by layering a support ring 42, a support plate 44, a motor housing 45, and a motor cover 46 and integrally securing them with a plurality of bolts 47. A motor 48 is housed within the motor housing 45 and the motor cover 46, and a reduction gear 49 is housed within the support ring 42 and the support plate 44. An input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 is supported on the support plate 44 and the motor cover 46 via ball bearings 50 and 51, a rotor 52 of the motor 48 is fixed to the input shaft Si, and a stator 53 surrounding the outer periphery of the rotor 52 is fixed to the motor housing 45. A permanent magnet 52a and a coil 53a are provided on the rotor 52 and the stator 53 respectively, and when the coil 53a is energized, the input shaft Si rotates together with the rotor 52.

The reduction gear 49, which is housed within the support ring 42, includes a first planetary gear mechanism P₁, a second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and a third planetary gear mechanism P₃; the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is disposed radially outside the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, and the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is disposed radially outside the second planetary gear mechanism P₂.

The first planetary gear mechanism Pi includes a first sun gear ZS₁, a first ring gear ZR₁, a plurality of first planetary gears ZP₁, and a first carrier C₁. The first sun gear ZS₁ is connected to a shaft end of the input shaft Si via an electromagnetic clutch 54. The first ring gear ZR₁ is formed integrally at a position close to the center of the support plate 44 so as to surround the axis L. The first carrier C₁, which rotatably supports the first planetary gears ZP₁ meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear ZS₁ and the first ring gear ZR₁, is disposed rotatably around the axis L. The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is therefore of a planetary type in which the first ring gear ZR₁ is fixed and the first carrier C₁ is rotatable, and when the first sun gear ZS₁, which is connected to the input shaft Si via the electromagnetic clutch 54, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction, and output to the first carrier C₁.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is defined as nc₁/ns₁, where ns₁ is an input rotational speed of the first sun gear ZS₁ and nc₁ is an output rotational speed of the first carrier C₁. If zs₁, zr₁, and zp₁ denote the number of teeth of the first sun gear ZS₁, the first ring gear ZR₁, and the first planetary gear ZP₁ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₁/ns₁ is given by nc₁/ns₁=zs₁/(zs₁+zr₁).   (11)

The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ includes a second sun gear ZS₂, a second ring gear ZR₂, a plurality of second planetary gears ZP₂, and a second carrier C₂. The second sun gear ZS₂ is formed on the outer periphery of the first carrier C₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁. The second ring gear ZR₂ is formed at a position close to the outer periphery of the support plate 44 so as to surround the axis L. The second carrier C₂, which rotatably supports the second planetary gears ZP₂ meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear ZS₂ and the second ring gear ZR₂, is disposed rotatably around the axis L. The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is therefore of a planetary type in which the second ring gear ZR₂ is fixed and the second carrier C₂ is rotatable, and when the second sun gear ZS₂ rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction, and output to the second carrier C₂.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is defined as nc₂/ns₂, where ns₂ is an input rotational speed of the second sun gear ZS and nc₂ is an output rotational speed of the second carrier C₂. If zs₂, zr₂, and zp₂ denote the number of teeth of the second sun gear ZS₂, the second ring gear ZR₂, and the second planetary gear ZP₂ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₂/ns₂ is given by nc₂/ns₂=zs₂/(zs₂+zr₂).   (12)

The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ includes a third sun gear ZS₃, a third ring gear ZR₃, a plurality of third planetary gears ZP₃, and a third carrier C₃. The third sun gear ZS₃ is formed on the outer periphery of the second carrier C₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂. The third ring gear ZR₃ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of the support ring 42. The third carrier C₃, which rotatably supports the third planetary gears ZP₃ meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear ZS₃ and the third ring gear ZR₃, is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the support ring 42 via a ball bearing 57. The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is therefore of a planetary type in which the third ring gear ZR₃ is fixed and the third carrier C₃ is rotatable, and when the third sun gear ZS₃ rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction and output to the output shaft So, which is integral with the third carrier C₃.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is defined as nc₃/ns₃, where ns₃ denotes an input rotational speed of the third sun gear ZS₃ and nc₃ denotes an output rotational speed of the third carrier C₃. If zs₃, zr₃, and zp₃ denote the number of teeth of the third sun gear ZS₃, the third ring gear ZR₃, and the third planetary gear ZP₃ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ is given by nc₃/ns₃=zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃).   (13)

Since the output rotational speed nc₁ of the first carrier C₁, which is the output member of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₂ of the second sun gear ZS₂, which is the input member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and the output rotational speed nc₂ of the second carrier C₂, which is the output member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₃ of the third sun gear ZS₃, which is the input member of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the product of the reduction ratio nc₁/ns₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁ shown in Equation (11), the reduction ratio nc₂/ns₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ shown in Equation (12), and the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ shown in Equation (13) is given by the ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the rotational speed nc₃ of the third carrier C₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the third carrier C₃ being the output member of the reduction gear 49, relative to the rotational speed ns₁ of the first sun gear ZS₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, the first sun gear ZS₁ being the input member of the reduction gear 49. (nc₁/ns₁)×(nc₂/ns₂)×(nc₃/ns₃)=nc₃/ns₁   (14)

From Equation (11) to Equation (13), the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 is given by nc₃/ns₁={zs₁/(zs₁+zr₁)}×{zs₂/(zs₂+zr₂)}×{zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃)}  (15)

and in the embodiment, since the number of teeth of each gear is set as follows:

	zs1 = 18	zp1 = 27	zr1 = 72
	zs2 = 96	zp2 = 24	zr2 = 144
	zs3 = 168	zp3 = 24	zr3 = 216,

the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 obtained by substituting these numbers of teeth in Equation (15) is 1/28.5. That is, when the input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 rotates 28.5 times, the output shaft So rotates once in the same direction.

As hereinbefore described, since the reduction gear 49 is formed by connecting the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃, it is possible to increase the torque of the motor 48 while ensuring that there is a sufficient reduction ratio. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is disposed so as to overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, and the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is disposed so as to overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, it is possible to reduce the thickness in the axis L direction of the reduction gear 49 compared with a case in which the first to the third lo planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃ are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axis L direction. That is, the first electric actuators 12 and the second electric actuators 13 can be made compact by suppressing the thickness of the reduction gear 49 to a thickness corresponding to one planetary gear mechanism while ensuring that there is a reduction ratio corresponding to three planetary gear mechanisms, thereby enabling fitting under a user's clothing with a good appearance.

The structure of a first electric actuator 12 related to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is now explained with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 17. The structure of a second electric actuator 13 is the same as that of the first electric actuator 12.

A casing 41 of the first electric actuator 12 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an axis L as the center. The casing 41 is formed by layering a first support ring 42, a second support ring 43, a support plate 44, a motor housing 45, and a motor cover 46 and integrally securing them with a plurality of bolts 47. A motor 48 is housed within the motor housing 45 and the motor cover 46, and a reduction gear 49 is housed within the first support ring 42 and the second support ring 43. An input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 is supported on the support plate 44 and the motor housing 45 via ball bearings 50 and 51, a rotor 52 of the motor 48 is fixed to the input shaft Si, and a stator 53 surrounding the outer periphery of the rotor 52 is fixed to the motor housing 45. A permanent magnet 52a and a coil 53a are provided on the rotor 52 and the stator 53 respectively, and when the coil 53a is energized, the input shaft Si rotates together with the rotor 52.

The reduction gear 49 includes a first planetary gear mechanism P₁ and a second planetary gear mechanism P₂ housed inside the second support ring 43, and a third planetary gear mechanism P₃ housed inside the first support ring 42. The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is disposed radially inside the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is disposed outside, in the axis L direction, the first and second planetary gear mechanisms P₁ and P₂.

The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ includes a first sun gear ZS₁, a first ring gear ZR₁, a plurality of first planetary gears ZP₁, and a first carrier C₁. The first sun gear ZS₁ is connected to a shaft end of the input shaft Si via an electromagnetic clutch 54. The first ring gear ZR₁ is formed integrally with the support plate 44 so as to surround the axis L. The first carrier C₁, which rotatably supports the first planetary gears ZP₁ meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear ZS₁ and the first ring gear ZR₁, is disposed rotatably around the axis L. The first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is therefore of a planetary type in which the first ring gear ZR₁ is fixed and the first carrier C₁ is rotatable, and when the first sun gear ZS₁, which is connected to the input shaft Si via the electromagnetic clutch 54, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction, and output to the first carrier C₁.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type first planetary gear mechanism P₁ is defined as nc₁/ns₁, where ns₁ is an input rotational speed of the first sun gear ZS₁ and nc₁ is an output rotational speed of the first carrier C₁. If zs₁, zr₁, and zp₁ denote the numbers of teeth of the first sun gear ZS₁, the first ring gear ZR₁, and the first planetary gear ZP₁ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₁/ns₁ is given by nc₁/ns₁=zs₁/(zs₁+zr₁).   (16)

The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ includes a second sun gear ZS₂, a second ring gear ZR₂, a plurality of second planetary gears ZP₂, and a second carrier C₂. The second sun gear ZS₂ is formed on the outer periphery of the first carrier C₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁. The second ring gear ZR₂ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of the second support ring 43, which is fixed to the casing 41. The second carrier C₂, which rotatably supports the second planetary gears ZP₂ meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear ZS₂ and the second ring gear ZR₂, is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the second support ring 43 via a ball bearing 56. The second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is therefore of a planetary type in which the second ring gear ZR₂ is fixed and the second carrier C₂ is rotatable, and when the second sun gear ZS₂, which is an input member, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction, and output to the second carrier C₂.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is defined as nc₂/ns₂, where ns₂ is an input rotational speed of the second sun gear ZS₂ and nc₂ is an output rotational speed of the second carrier C₂. If zs₂, zr₂, and zp₂ denote the number of teeth of the second sun gear ZS₂, the second ring gear ZR₂, and the second planetary gear ZP₂ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₂/ns₂ is given by nc₂/ns₂=zs₂/(zs₂+zr₂).   (17)

The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ includes a third sun gear ZS₃, a third ring gear ZR₃, a plurality of third planetary gears ZP₃, and a third carrier C₃. The third sun gear ZS₃ is formed integrally with the outer periphery of a central part of the second carrier C₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂. The third ring gear ZR₃ is formed integrally with the inner periphery of the first support ring 42, which is fixed to the casing 41. The third carrier C₃, which rotatably supports the third planetary gears ZP₃ meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear ZS₃ and the third ring gear ZR₃, is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the first support ring 42 via a ball bearing 57. The third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is therefore of a planetary type in which the third ring gear ZR₃ is fixed and the third carrier C₃ is rotatable, and when the third sun gear ZS₃, which is an input member, rotates, the rotation is reduced in speed in the same direction and output to the output shaft So, which is integral with the third carrier C₃.

The reduction ratio of the planetary type third planetary gear mechanism P₃ is defined as nc₃/ns₃, where ns₃ denotes an input rotational speed of the third sun gear ZS₃ and nc₃ denotes an output rotational speed of the third carrier C₃. If zs₃, zr₃, and zp₃ denote the number of teeth of the third sun gear ZS₃, the third ring gear ZR₃, and the third planetary gear ZP₃ respectively, the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ is given by nc₃/ns₃=zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃).   (18)

Since the output rotational speed nc₁ of the first carrier C₁, which is the output member of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₂ of the second sun gear ZS₂, which is the input member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, and the output rotational speed nc₂ of the second carrier C₂, which is the output member of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂, is equal to the input rotational speed ns₃ of the third sun gear ZS₃, which is the input member of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the product of the reduction ratio nc₁/ns₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁ shown in Equation (16), the reduction ratio nc₂/ns₂ of the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ shown in Equation (17), and the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ shown in Equation (18) is given by the ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the rotational speed nc₃ of the third carrier C₃ of the third planetary gear mechanism P₃, the third carrier C₃ being the output member of the reduction gear 49, relative to the rotational speed ns₁ of the first sun gear ZS₁ of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, the first sun gear ZS₁ being the input member of the reduction gear 49. (nc₁/ns₁)×(nc₂/ns₂)×(nc₃/ns₃)=nc₃/ns₁   (19)

From Equation (16) to Equation (18), the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 is given by nc₃/ns₁={zs₁/(zs₁+zr₁)}×{zs₂/(zs₂+zr₂)}×{zs₃/(zs₃+zr₃)}  (20)

and in the embodiment, since the number of teeth of each gear is set as follows:

	zs1 = 18	zp1 = 27	zr1 = 72
	zs2 = 96	zp2 = 24	zr2 = 144
	zs3 = 36	zp3 = 54	zr3 = 144,

the reduction ratio nc₃/ns₁ of the reduction gear 49 obtained by substituting these numbers of teeth in Equation (20) is 1/62.5. That is, when the input shaft Si of the reduction gear 49 rotates 62.5 times, the output shaft So rotates once in the same direction.

As hereinbefore described, since the reduction gear 49 is formed by connecting the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃, it is possible to increase the torque of the motor 48 while ensuring that there is a sufficient reduction ratio. Furthermore, since the second planetary gear mechanism P₂ is disposed so as to overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism P₁, it is possible to reduce the thickness in the axis L direction of the reduction gear 49 compared with a case in which the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃ are all disposed so as to be stacked in the axis L direction. That is, the first electric actuators 12 and the second electric actuators 13 can be made compact by suppressing the thickness of the reduction gear 49 to a thickness corresponding to two planetary gear mechanisms while ensuring that there is a reduction ratio corresponding to three planetary gear mechanisms, thereby enabling fitting lo under a user's clothing with a good appearance.

Although embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail above, the present invention can be modified in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

For example, the reduction gear 49 of the first embodiment includes the first to the third planetary gear mechanisms P₁ to P₃, but the third planetary gear mechanism P₃ may be omitted and only the first and second planetary gear mechanisms P₁ and P₂ may be employed.

Furthermore, in the first to the fourth embodiments, the electromagnetic clutch 54 is disposed between the input shaft Si and the first sun gear ZS₁, but the electromagnetic clutch 54 may be provided at any position between the input shaft Si and the output shaft So.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As hereinbefore described, the present invention can be suitably applied to a reduction gear for a walking assistance system assisting an injured person or an elderly person with weakened leg force to move.

Claims

1. A reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft (Si) driven by a motor (48) and transmits the rotation to an output shaft (So) connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear comprising: the input shaft (Si), the output shaft (So), a first planetary gear mechanism (P1), and a second planetary gear mechanism (P2) disposed coaxially on an axis (L), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the rotation of the input shaft (Si) being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) and the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) and transmitted to the output shaft (So); the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) comprising a first sun gear (ZS1) provided on the input shaft (Si), a first ring gear (ZR1) rotatably disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the first sun gear (ZS1), a plurality of first planetary gears (ZP1) meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear (ZS1) and the first ring gear (ZR1), and a first carrier (C1) rotatably supporting the first planetary gears (ZP1), and; the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) comprising a second sun gear (ZS2) provided on the outer periphery of the first ring gear (ZR1), a second ring gear (ZR2) disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear (ZS2), a plurality of second planetary gears (ZP2) meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear (ZS2) and the second ring gear (ZR2), and a second carrier (C2) rotatably supporting the second planetary gears (ZP2).

2. The reduction gear for the walking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the first carrier (C1) of the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) is fixed to a casing (41), the second ring gear (ZR2) of the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) is fixed to the casing (41), and the second carrier (C2) of the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) is connected to the output shaft (So).

3. The reduction gear for the walking assistance system according to claim 2, wherein a third planetary gear mechanism (P3) is disposed so as to be coaxial with and be stacked on the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) and the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) in the axis (L) direction, the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) comprising a third sun gear (ZS3) provided on the outer periphery of a central part of the second carrier (C2) of the second planetary gear mechanism (P2), a third ring gear (ZR3) fixed to the casing and disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear (ZS3), a plurality of third planetary gears (ZP3) meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear (ZS3) and the third ring gear (ZR3), and a third carrier (C3) rotatably supporting the third planetary gear (ZP3) and connected to the output shaft (So).

4. A reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft (Si) driven by a motor (48) and transmits the rotation to an output shaft (So) connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear comprising: the input shaft (Si), the output shaft (So), a first planetary gear mechanism (P1), a second planetary gear mechanism (P2), and a third planetary gear mechanism (P3) disposed coaxially on an axis (L), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism (P2), the rotation of the input shaft (Si) being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2), and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) and transmitted to the output shaft (So); the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) comprising a first sun gear (ZS1) provided on the input shaft (Si), a first ring gear (ZR1) formed on the inner periphery of an inside ring member (55i) rotatably disposed so as to surround the first sun gear (ZS1), a plurality of first planetary gears (ZP1) meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear (ZS1) and the first ring gear (ZR1), and a first carrier (C1) fixed to a casing (41) and rotatably supporting the first planetary gears (ZP1); the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) comprising a second sun gear (ZS2) formed on the outer periphery of the inside ring member (55i), a second ring gear (ZR2) formed on the inner periphery of an outside ring member (55o) disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear (ZS2), a plurality of second planetary gears (ZP2) meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear (ZS2) and the second ring gear (ZR2), and a second carrier (C2) fixed to the casing (41) and rotatably supporting the second planetary gears (ZP2); and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) comprising a third sun gear (ZS3) formed on the outer periphery of the outside ring member (55o), a third ring gear (ZR3) fixed to the casing (41) so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear (ZS3), a plurality of third planetary gears (ZP3) meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear (ZS3) and the third ring gear (ZR3), and a third carrier (C3) rotatably supporting the third planetary gears (ZP3) and connected to the output shaft (So).

5. A reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft (Si) driven by a motor (48) and transmits the rotation to an output shaft (So) connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear comprising: the input shaft (Si), the output shaft (So), a first planetary gear mechanism (P1), a second planetary gear mechanism (P2), and a third lo planetary gear mechanism (P3) disposed coaxially on an axis (L), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the second planetary gear mechanism (P2), the rotation of the input shaft (Si) being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2), and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) and transmitted to the output shaft (So); the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) comprising a first sun gear (ZS1) provided on the input shaft (Si), a first ring gear (ZR1) fixed to a casing (41) so as to surround the first sun gear (ZS1), a plurality of first planetary gears (ZP1) meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear (ZS1) and the first ring gear (ZR1), and a first carrier (C1) rotatably supporting the first planetary gears (ZP1); the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) comprising a second sun gear (ZS2) formed on the outer periphery of the first carrier (C1), a second ring gear (ZR2) fixed to the casing (41) so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear (ZS2), a plurality of second planetary gears (ZP2) meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear (ZS2) and the second ring gear (ZR2), and a second carrier (C2) rotatably supporting the second planetary gears (ZP2); and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) comprising a third sun gear (ZS3) formed on the outer periphery of the second carrier (C2), a third ring gear (ZR3) fixed to the casing (41) so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear (ZS3), a plurality of third planetary gears (ZP3) meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear (ZS3) and the third ring gear (ZR3), and a third carrier (C3) rotatably supporting the third planetary gears (ZP3) and connected to the output shaft (So).

6. A reduction gear for a walking assistance system that, in order to assist walking movement by extending/bending a user's leg joint, reduces the speed of rotation of an input shaft (Si) driven by a motor (48) and transmits the rotation to an output shaft (So) connected to the leg joint, the reduction gear comprising: the input shaft (Si), the output shaft (So), a first planetary gear mechanism (P1), a second planetary gear mechanism (P2), and a third planetary gear mechanism (P3) disposed coaxially on an axis (L), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) being disposed so as to substantially overlap the radially outer side of the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) being disposed so as to be stacked on the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) and the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) in the axis (L) direction, the rotation of the input shaft (Si) being reduced in speed by the first planetary gear mechanism (P1), the second planetary gear mechanism (P2), and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) and transmitted to the output shaft (So); the first planetary gear mechanism (P1) comprising a first sun gear (ZS1) provided on the input shaft (Si), a first ring gear (ZR1) fixed to a casing (41) so as to surround the outer periphery of the first sun gear (ZS1), a plurality of first planetary gears (ZP1) meshing simultaneously with the first sun gear (ZS1) and the first ring gear (ZR1), and a first carrier (C1) rotatably supporting the first planetary gears (ZP1); the second planetary gear mechanism (P2) comprising a second sun gear (ZS2) provided on the outer periphery of the first carrier (C1), a second ring gear (ZR2) fixed to the casing (41) so as to surround the outer periphery of the second sun gear (ZS2), a plurality of second planetary gears (ZP2) meshing simultaneously with the second sun gear (ZS2) and the second ring gear (ZR2), and a second carrier (C2) rotatably supporting the second planetary gears (ZP2); and the third planetary gear mechanism (P3) comprising a third sun gear (ZS3) provided on the outer periphery of a central part of the second carrier (C2), a third ring gear (ZR3) fixed to the casing (41) so as to surround the outer periphery of the third sun gear (ZS3), a plurality of third planetary gears (ZP3) meshing simultaneously with the third sun gear (ZS3) and the third ring gear (ZR3), and a third carrier (C3) rotatably supporting the third planetary gears (ZP3) and connected to the output shaft (So).