Patent ID: 9377095
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: F16H

Claim Text:
1. A differential device comprising: a differential gear mechanism; and an integrated differential case which houses the differential gear mechanism, the differential case including: first and second bearing bosses formed integrally therewith on one side portion and another side portion of the differential case and aligned on a same axis to be rotatably supported by a transmission case; a work window for inserting the differential gear mechanism, the work window being provided in a peripheral wall of the differential case; and a pair of sleeves fitted to the first and second bearing bosses from sides of outer ends thereof and connected to a pair of left and right side gears of the differential gear mechanism, wherein oil seals are to be set between outer end portions of the sleeves which protrude from the first and second bearing bosses and the transmission case, and left and right drive shafts are to be fitted and inserted into the sleeves and to be spline-fitted to the pair of side gears, wherein for each said sleeve and the side gear corresponding thereto an outer tube portion is formed in one of the side gear and the sleeve, and an inner tube portion fitted to an inner periphery of the outer tube portion is formed in the other, an engagement portion is provided in the outer tube portion, a key member capable of moving between a first position where the key member is detached from the engagement portion to allow withdrawal of the sleeve and a second position where the key member is engaged with the engagement portion to prevent falling-out of the sleeve, is attached to the inner tube portion, a biasing device is provided for biasing the key member toward the first position, and when the drive shaft is fitted and inserted into the sleeve and spline-fitted to the side gear the key member is forcibly held at the second position by the drive shaft, thereby to connect the side gear and the sleeve together to prevent falling-off of the sleeve, and when the drive shaft is detached from the side gear, the key member is moved back to the first position by biasing force of the biasing device, thereby to disconnect the side gear and the sleeve from each other to allow withdrawal of the sleeve.