Differential gear assembly with disc-shaped input member

摘要

A differential gear assembly includes a disc-shaped input gear receiving drive force and having a central portion, an outer portion around the central portion, and one or more open space portions formed between the central portion and the outer portion. A pair of output shafts extend opposite each other along the axis of the input gear and one end of each of the output shafts is loosely fitted in a central bore formed in the central portion of the input gear. A pair of side bevel gears is provided each of which is fixedly attached near the end of each output shaft closer to the input gear. One or more support shafts extend radially from the central portion into the open space portions of the input gear. One or more bevel pinions is rotatably supported on the one or more support shafts, respectively, to mesh with the pair of side bevel gears. A friction mechanism is located in at least one of one or more open space portions that permits the bevel pinion to rotate with rotational resistance. With this construction, since it is possible to provide a limited slip effect without using a casing-shaped ring gear, the resulting assembly can be made compact and less costly.