Patent Description:
There has hitherto been known a differential gear of this type, including a pair of pinion gears, a pair of side gears meshed with the pinion gears, and a differential case that houses the pinion gears and the side gears and that includes a pinion shaft hole through which a pinion shaft that supports the pinion gears is inserted and drive shaft holes through which drive shafts to which the side gears are fixed are inserted (see <CIT>, for example). The differential case of the differential gear includes a single oil hole for supplying hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil into the differential case, the oil hole being formed so as to be positioned on the radially outer side with respect to side washers disposed between the side gears and the differential case. Further, an oil outflow regulation member is disposed inside the differential case, and extends to the radially inner side with respect to the outer periphery of the side washers to reserve oil in the differential case to the radially inner side with respect to the oil hole. This makes it possible to smoothly supply hydraulic oil into the differential case through the oil hole, and to supply hydraulic oil to the side washers irrespective of the rotational state of the differential case.

<CIT> discloses a differential housing having guide slots formed therein. The guide slots permit movement of pinion shaft axially therethrough. A plurality of apertures are provided in the housing for properly positioning a pinion shaft within the housing. The apertures further provide fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of the housing to aid in adequately lubricating the components within the differential housing. <CIT> discloses a differential assembly with a driven bevel gear assembly provided with a driven bevel gear and a differential left shell in an integrated structure; a differential right shell arranged in the driven bevel gear assembly; four planetary gears arranged at one end of the differential right shell at equal angle intervals; and two opposite short planet gear shafts and the two opposite long planet gear shafts sequentially penetrating through the driven bevel gear assembly, the differential right shell and the two planet gears, with the short planet gear shafts and the long planet gear shafts being connected in a clamped mode. <CIT> discloses discloses a limited slip differential mechanism comprising a gear case having gearing therein and including differential side gears mounted in the casing, clutch means operably associated with said side gears, preload biasing means engaging said gears. A clutch preload assembly is provided between side gears. The preload assembly includes coil springs and spring retaining members with lubricant deflecting tabs. <CIT> discloses a technology for preventing the wear of a differential case and a washer at the differential movement of the washer. A second lubrication groove for circulating and supplying a lubricant which is supplied from an oil sump via a spiral first lubrication groove formed at a surface of an axle support hole for supporting an axle to a washer is formed at a differential case slide-contact face at which a differential case and the washer contact with each other, a third lubrication groove whose end part at a single side is not opened is additionally formed, and a sufficient amount of the lubricant for lubrication can be thereby constantly held. <CIT> discloses a differential case with an outer shell wall portion configured to accommodate a pinion gear therein, and a first groove being formed in an inner surface of the outer shell wall portion on a back surface side of the pinion gear. In addition, a convex portion is formed on the inner surface of the outer shell wall portion on the back surface side of the pinion gear, and the first groove is formed in the convex portion. Further, a diameter of the convex portion is equal to or larger than a diameter of a back surface of the pinion gear.

When the vehicle starts to travel etc., however, the oil level in the differential case is lowered as an oil pump starts suctioning hydraulic oil. Therefore, lubricating oil in the differential case may be insufficient and a sliding portion may not be adequately lubricated or cooled, even if an oil outflow regulation member is disposed in the differential case, as with the differential gear according to the related art described above.

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to render a differential gear compact by suppressing a shortage of lubricating oil for a sliding portion well.

Aforesaid technical problem in view of the aforementioned prior art is solved by a differential gear according to claim <NUM>. The present invention provides a differential gear to be mounted on a vehicle, including a pair of side gears, at least two pinion gears meshed with the side gears, and a differential case that houses the side gears and the at least two pinion gears, lubricating oil being supplied to and discharged from an inside of the differential case via an opening portion, in which the differential case includes at least two seat surfaces formed on an inner peripheral surface of the differential case so as to support the pinion gears, weir portions provided between the adjacent seat surfaces and extending in a direction along a rotational direction of the differential case to connect between the adjacent seat surfaces, and an oil reservoir portion formed on the inner peripheral surface by the weir portions so as to be positioned on an opposite side, in an axial direction of the differential case, of the opening portion from the weir portions.

The present invention provides a differential gear to be mounted on a vehicle, including a pair of side gears, at least two pinion gears meshed with the side gears, and a differential case that houses the side gears and the at least two pinion gears. Lubricating oil is supplied to and discharged from the inside of the differential case via an opening portion. The differential case includes at least two seat surfaces formed on the inner peripheral surface of the differential case so as to support the pinion gears, weir portions provided between the adjacent seat surfaces and extending in a direction along the rotational direction of the differential case to connect between the adjacent seat surfaces, and an oil reservoir portion formed on the inner peripheral surface by the weir portions so as to be positioned on the opposite side, in the axial direction of the differential case, of the opening portion from the weir portions. Consequently, lubricating oil is secured in the oil reservoir portion when the oil level in the differential case is lowered, and it is possible to distribute lubricating oil in the oil reservoir portion to a sliding portion between the pinion gears and the seat surfaces etc. through rotation of the differential case. As a result, an increase in the surface pressure at the sliding portion can be handled by suppressing a shortage of lubricating oil for the sliding portion well, and thus it is possible to render the differential gear compact.

Now, a mode for carrying out the invention according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of a differential gear <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The differential gear <NUM> illustrated in the drawing is to be mounted on a front-wheel drive vehicle, for example, to transfer power from a transmission (not illustrated) to right and left drive wheels (not illustrated). As illustrated in <FIG>, the differential gear <NUM> includes a pair of (two) side gears <NUM> fixed to respective corresponding drive shafts (not illustrated), a pair of (two) pinion gears <NUM> meshed with the side gears <NUM> at right angles, a pinion shaft <NUM> that supports the pinion gears <NUM>, a differential case <NUM> that houses the side gears <NUM> and the pinion gears <NUM>, and a differential ring gear <NUM> fixed (coupled) to the differential case <NUM>.

The side gears <NUM> and the pinion gears <NUM> are each a straight bevel gear. A side washer <NUM> is disposed between each of the side gears <NUM> and the differential case <NUM>. A pinion washer <NUM> is disposed between each of the pinion gears <NUM> and the differential case <NUM>. The differential case <NUM> is supported by a transmission case (not illustrated) so as to be rotatable coaxially with the drive shaft via a bearing BR. In the present embodiment, the differential gear <NUM> is disposed in a differential chamber defined in proximity to a hydraulic oil reservoir chamber formed at a lower portion in the transmission case.

The differential case <NUM> of the differential gear <NUM> includes a case body <NUM> that rotatably supports one of the side gears <NUM>, and a cover <NUM> that rotatably supports the other of the side gears <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the case body <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are each a cast article made of metal. A plurality of bolt holes is formed in each of a flange portion formed at the outer peripheral portion of the case body <NUM> and the outer peripheral portion of the cover <NUM>. The case body <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are coupled (fixed) to each other via a plurality of bolts <NUM> screwed into the corresponding bolt holes of the case body <NUM> and the cover <NUM>, and coupled (fixed) to a differential ring gear <NUM> via the bolts <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the case body <NUM> of the differential case <NUM> includes a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) opening portions (window portions) <NUM> mainly for supplying and discharging hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil, formed at intervals in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM>. During travel of the vehicle including the differential gear <NUM>, hydraulic oil reserved in the differential chamber is splashed by the differential ring gear <NUM> to be supplied into the differential case <NUM> through the opening portions <NUM>, or hydraulic oil is dripped from a supply pipe etc. (not illustrated) into the differential case <NUM> through the opening portions <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the opening portions <NUM> have an opening area that is at least not enough to allow the pinion gears <NUM> to be substantially inserted therethrough, and are not used for assembly of the pinion gears <NUM> etc. to the differential case <NUM>, for example. The torsional rigidity of a torque transfer portion of the differential case <NUM> can be enhanced by reducing the opening area of the opening portions <NUM> in this manner.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) seat surfaces <NUM> that support (receive) the respective corresponding pinion gears <NUM> are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the case body <NUM> of the differential case <NUM>. The seat surfaces <NUM> are each formed in a concave spherical shape by cutting. The pinion washer <NUM> is disposed between each of the seat surfaces <NUM> and the back surface of the corresponding pinion gear <NUM>. Further, a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) weir portions (ribs) 53a and an annular weir portion (rib) 53b are formed by casting on the inner peripheral surface of the case body <NUM>.

The weir portions (first weir portions) 53a project toward the side of the axis of the case body <NUM> (radially inner side) around the center portion, in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM> (differential case <NUM>), of the case body <NUM>, and extend in a direction along the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> (side gears <NUM>) between adjacent seat surfaces <NUM> along the opening portions <NUM>. The annular weir portion (second weir portion) 53b projects toward the side of the axis of the case body <NUM> (radially inner side) on the opposite side, in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM>, of the opening portions <NUM> from the weir portions 53a, that is, at an end portion of the case body <NUM> on the cover <NUM> (differential ring gear <NUM>) side, and extends in a direction along the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM>. Further, the weir portion 53b faces the weir portions 53a with a space therebetween in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM>. Consequently, the case body <NUM> (differential case <NUM>) includes a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) oil reservoir portions <NUM> that extends in a direction along the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> between adjacent seat surfaces <NUM>, defined by the weir portions 53a on the opening portions <NUM> side and the annular weir portion 53b on the differential ring gear <NUM> side. That is, the oil reservoir portions <NUM> are positioned on the opposite side, in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM> (differential case <NUM>), of the opening portions <NUM> from the weir portions 53a to be more proximate to the differential ring gear <NUM> than the opening portions <NUM>, and formed on the inner peripheral surface so as to be dented toward the outer peripheral surface of the case body <NUM> (differential case <NUM>) with respect to the seat surfaces <NUM>. The oil reservoir portions <NUM> are formed in the case body <NUM> such that the weir portion 53b, the oil reservoir portions <NUM>, the weir portions 53a, and the opening portions <NUM> are arranged in this order from the differential ring gear <NUM> side.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, one oil introduction port <NUM> is formed in each of the seat surfaces <NUM>. The oil introduction port <NUM> in each of the seat surfaces <NUM> communicates with the corresponding oil reservoir portion <NUM> and at least partially overlaps the pinion washer <NUM> as seen in the axial direction of the pinion gear <NUM> on the front side (lower side in <FIG>) in the rotational direction of the side gears <NUM> (drive shafts) at the time when the vehicle including the differential gear <NUM> travels forward. The oil introduction port <NUM> is formed in the case body <NUM> on the opposite side of the differential ring gear <NUM> side so as to be proximate to the center of the corresponding seat surface <NUM> in the axial direction of the differential case <NUM>.

Further, the oil reservoir portion <NUM> in the differential case <NUM> (the inner peripheral surface of the case body <NUM>) includes a guide portion <NUM> formed by casting to guide hydraulic oil in the oil reservoir portion <NUM> to the corresponding oil introduction port <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> is a projecting portion that projects toward the side of the axis of the case body <NUM> (radially inner side) from the bottom surface of the oil reservoir portion <NUM> so as to gradually narrow the oil reservoir portion <NUM> in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM> (differential case <NUM>) as the guide portion <NUM> extends toward the oil introduction port <NUM> away from the differential ring gear <NUM> in the axial direction of the differential case <NUM>. While the oil introduction port <NUM> is formed so as to extend straight toward the axis of the pinion shaft <NUM> along the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> in the present embodiment, this is not limiting. That is, the oil introduction port <NUM> may be inclined with respect to the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM>, or may be formed so as to be displaced in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM> (drive shafts) with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft <NUM>, or may extend so as to be curved (bent), as long as the oil introduction port <NUM> communicates with the oil reservoir portion <NUM>.

In the differential gear <NUM> configured as described above, hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil is supplied into the differential case <NUM> via the opening portions <NUM> during travel of the vehicle, and a part of the hydraulic oil supplied into the differential case <NUM> is reserved in the oil reservoir portions <NUM> positioned below when travel of the vehicle is stopped. Consequently, hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil can be secured in the oil reservoir portions <NUM> of the differential case <NUM>, even if the oil level in the differential chamber and the differential case <NUM> is lowered as an oil pump suctions hydraulic oil in a hydraulic oil reservoir chamber in the transmission case when the vehicle starts to travel.

Thus, it is possible to distribute hydraulic oil in the oil reservoir portions <NUM> to a sliding portion between the side gears <NUM> and the differential case <NUM>, between the pinion gears <NUM> and the seat surfaces <NUM>, etc. through rotation of the differential case <NUM>, even if hydraulic oil splashed by the differential ring gear <NUM> or supplied into the differential case <NUM> through a supply pipe is insufficient when the vehicle starts to travel. As a result, an increase in the surface pressure at the sliding portion can be handled by suppressing a shortage of lubricating oil for the sliding portion well, and thus it is possible to render the differential gear <NUM> compact by reducing the diameter of the side gears <NUM>, for example. That is, a sufficient amount of hydraulic oil (lubricating oil) can be secured in the differential case <NUM> during operation of the differential gear <NUM>, that is, during travel of the vehicle, even if the area of a sliding portion around the side gears <NUM> and the pinion gears <NUM> etc. is decreased by rendering the differential gear <NUM> compact. Thus, an increase in the surface pressure at the sliding portion can be handled well. Additionally, the weir portions 53a, 53b for defining the oil reservoir portions <NUM> in the case body <NUM> also function as ribs, and thus it is possible to further improve the strength of the differential case <NUM> and hence the differential gear <NUM>.

The oil introduction port <NUM> is formed in each of the seat surfaces <NUM> of the differential case <NUM>, and communicates with the corresponding oil reservoir portion <NUM> on the front side in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> (side gears <NUM>) at the time when the vehicle travels forward, and at least partially overlaps the pinion washer <NUM> as seen in the axial direction of the pinion gears <NUM>. That is, the oil introduction port <NUM> is formed only on the front side, in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> at the time when the vehicle travels forward, with respect to the seat surface <NUM>, and not formed on the rear side of the seat surface <NUM> against which a portion of the pinion washer <NUM> on the rear side is pressed. Consequently, an increase in the surface pressure that acts on the seat surface <NUM> can be suppressed compared to the case where the oil introduction port <NUM> is formed on the rear side of the seat surface <NUM>, and thus the durability of the seat surface <NUM> can be secured well, even if the surface pressure is increased with a portion of the pinion washer <NUM> on the rear side, in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM>, pressed against the seat surface <NUM> when the vehicle travels forward while accelerating. Thus, it is possible to lubricate and cool each seat surface <NUM> and the pinion washer <NUM> pressed against the seat surface <NUM> well by supplying a sufficient amount of hydraulic oil (lubricating oil) to a space between the pinion washer <NUM> and the seat surface <NUM> while securing the durability of the differential case <NUM> (case body <NUM>) well by forming the oil introduction port <NUM> only on the front side, in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM>, of each seat surface <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the oil introduction port <NUM> is blocked so as not to communicate with the pinion shaft hole through which the pinion shaft <NUM> is inserted, and thus hydraulic oil guided to the oil introduction port <NUM> can be spilled out of the oil introduction port <NUM> to be efficiently supplied to a space between the seat surface <NUM> and the pinion washer <NUM>. Further, the pinion shaft hole is not formed to have a notch for the oil introduction port <NUM>, and thus it is possible to suppress a reduction in the strength of the pinion shaft hole.

In the differential gear <NUM>, further, the differential ring gear <NUM> is fixed to the differential case <NUM>, and the oil reservoir portions <NUM> are formed so as to be more proximate to the differential ring gear <NUM> than the opening portions <NUM> in the axial direction of the differential case <NUM>. That is, the outside diameter of the differential case <NUM> is largest on the differential ring gear <NUM> side, and thus it is possible to secure a sufficient volume of the oil reservoir portions <NUM> by forming the oil reservoir portions <NUM> in the differential case <NUM> using the weir portions 53a, 53b so as to be proximate to the differential ring gear <NUM>.

The case body <NUM> of the differential case <NUM> includes the guide portion <NUM> that guides hydraulic oil in the corresponding oil reservoir portion <NUM> to the oil introduction port <NUM> on the opposite side of the differential ring gear <NUM> side by gradually narrowing the oil reservoir portion <NUM> as the oil reservoir portion <NUM> extends away from the differential ring gear <NUM> in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM>. Further, the oil introduction port <NUM> is formed in the differential case <NUM> so as to be proximate to the center of the corresponding seat surface <NUM> in the axial direction of the differential case <NUM>. Consequently, it is possible to supply hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil to the periphery of the pinion gears <NUM>, the pinion washers <NUM>, and the seat surfaces <NUM> through the oil introduction port <NUM> by smoothly introducing hydraulic oil in the oil reservoir portions <NUM> to the oil introduction port <NUM> through rotation of the differential case <NUM>. By offsetting the oil introduction port <NUM> from the center of the oil reservoir portions <NUM> in the axial direction of the differential case <NUM> toward the side of the center of the seat surface <NUM> in the axial direction, the differential case <NUM> can be rendered compact, compared to the case where the oil introduction port <NUM> is proximate to the center of the oil reservoir portions <NUM>, while efficiently supplying hydraulic oil to the seat surface <NUM> and securing a sufficient area of the opening portions <NUM>.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention provides a differential gear <NUM> to be mounted on a vehicle, including a pair of side gears <NUM>, two pinion gears <NUM> meshed with the side gears <NUM>, and a differential case <NUM> that houses the side gears <NUM> and the two pinion gears <NUM>, hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil being supplied to and discharged from the inside of the differential case <NUM> via the opening portions <NUM>. The differential case <NUM> includes two seat surfaces <NUM> formed on the inner peripheral surface of the differential case <NUM> so as to support the pinion gears <NUM>, weir portions 53a that extend in a direction along the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> between adjacent seat surfaces <NUM> to connect between the adjacent seat surfaces <NUM>, and an oil reservoir portion <NUM> formed on the inner peripheral surface by the weir portions 53a so as to be positioned on the opposite side of the opening portions <NUM>, in the axial direction of the side gears <NUM>, from the weir portions 53a.

Consequently, an increase in the surface pressure due to sliding can be handled by suppressing a shortage of lubricating oil well for a sliding portion between the side gears <NUM> and the differential case <NUM>, between the pinion gears <NUM> and the seat surfaces <NUM>, etc. As a result, it is possible to render the differential gear <NUM> compact.

The seat surfaces <NUM> of the case body <NUM> may each be additionally provided with an oil introduction port that communicates with the oil reservoir portion <NUM> on the rear side in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM> at the time when the vehicle travels forward and that overlaps the pinion washer <NUM> as seen in the axial direction of the pinion gear <NUM>, and may be provided with an oil introduction port formed only on the rear side in the rotational direction of the differential case <NUM>. Further, the differential gear <NUM> may include three or more pinion gears <NUM> and seat surfaces <NUM>.

As has been described above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a differential gear (<NUM>) to be mounted on a vehicle, including a pair of side gears (<NUM>), at least two pinion gears (<NUM>) meshed with the side gears (<NUM>), and a differential case (<NUM>) that houses the side gears (<NUM>) and the at least two pinion gears (<NUM>), lubricating oil being supplied to and discharged from an inside of the differential case (<NUM>) via an opening portion (<NUM>), in which the differential case (<NUM>) includes at least two seat surfaces (<NUM>) formed on an inner peripheral surface of the differential case (<NUM>) so as to support the pinion gears (<NUM>), weir portions (53a) provided between the adjacent seat surfaces (<NUM>) and extending in a direction along a rotational direction of the differential case (<NUM>) to connect between the adjacent seat surfaces (<NUM>), and an oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) formed on the inner peripheral surface by the weir portions (53a) so as to be positioned on an opposite side, in an axial direction of the differential case (<NUM>), of the opening portion (<NUM>) from the weir portions (53a).

Such a differential gear is to be mounted on a vehicle, and includes a pair of side gears, at least two pinion gears meshed with the side gears, and a differential case that houses the side gears and the at least two pinion gears, lubricating oil being supplied to and discharged from the inside of the differential case via an opening portion. The differential case includes at least two seat surfaces formed on the inner peripheral surface of the differential case so as to support the pinion gears, weir portions provided between the adjacent seat surfaces and extending in a direction along the rotational direction of the differential case to connect between the adjacent seat surfaces, and an oil reservoir portion formed on the inner peripheral surface by the weir portions so as to be positioned on the opposite side, in the axial direction of the differential case, of the opening portion from the weir portions. Consequently, lubricating oil is secured in the oil reservoir portion when the oil level in the differential case is lowered, and it is possible to distribute lubricating oil in the oil reservoir portion to a sliding portion between the pinion gears and the seat surfaces etc. through rotation of the differential case. As a result, an increase in the surface pressure at the sliding portion can be handled by suppressing a shortage of lubricating oil for the sliding portion well, and thus it is possible to render the differential gear compact.

A pinion washer (<NUM>) may be disposed between a back surface of each of the pinion gears (<NUM>) and the seat surface (<NUM>), and an oil introduction port (<NUM>) may be formed in each of the seat surfaces (<NUM>), the oil introduction port (<NUM>) communicating with the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) on a front side in the rotational direction of the differential case (<NUM>) at a time when the vehicle travels forward and at least partially overlapping the pinion washer (<NUM>) as seen in an axial direction of the pinion gear (<NUM>).

Consequently, the durability of the seat surfaces can be secured well, even if the surface pressure is increased with a portion of the pinion washer on the rear side, in the rotational direction of the differential case, pressed against the seat surface when the vehicle travels forward while accelerating. Thus, it is possible to lubricate and cool each seat surface and the pinion washer pressed against the seat surface well by supplying a sufficient amount of hydraulic oil (lubricating oil) to a space between the pinion washer and the seat surface while securing the durability of the differential case well by forming the oil introduction port only on the front side, in the rotational direction of the differential case, of each seat surface.

Further, a ring gear (<NUM>) may be fixed to the differential case (<NUM>), and the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) may be formed in the differential case (<NUM>) such that the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>), the weir portions (53a), and the opening portion (<NUM>) are arranged in this order from a ring gear (<NUM>) side in the axial direction.

Consequently, it is possible to secure a sufficient volume of the oil reservoir portion.

The weir portions may include a first weir portion (53a) disposed on an opening portion (<NUM>) side of the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) and a second weir portion (53b) disposed on the ring gear (<NUM>) side of the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>).

Further, the differential case (<NUM>) may include a guide portion (<NUM>) that guides the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) toward the oil introduction port (<NUM>) on an opposite side of the ring gear (<NUM>) side by gradually narrowing the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) as the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) extends away from the ring gear (<NUM>) in the axial direction, and the oil introduction port (<NUM>) may be formed in the seat surface (<NUM>) so as to be proximate to a center of the seat surface (<NUM>) in the axial direction.

Consequently, it is possible to supply hydraulic oil that serves as lubricating oil to the periphery of the pinion gears, the pinion washers, and the seat surfaces through the oil introduction port by smoothly introducing hydraulic oil in the oil reservoir portions to the oil introduction port through rotation of the differential case. By offsetting the oil introduction port from the center of the oil reservoir portions in the axial direction of the differential case toward the opposite side of the ring gear side in the axial direction and forming the oil introduction port in the seat surface so as to be proximate to the center of the seat surface in the axial direction, the differential case can be rendered compact, compared to the case where the oil introduction port is proximate to the center of the oil reservoir portions, while efficiently supplying hydraulic oil to the seat surface and securing a sufficient area of the opening portions.

Claim 1:
A differential gear (<NUM>) to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising a pair of side gears (<NUM>), at least two pinion gears (<NUM>) meshed with the side gears (<NUM>), and a differential case (<NUM>) that houses the side gears (<NUM>) and the at least two pinion gears (<NUM>), lubricating oil being supplied to and discharged from an inside of the differential case (<NUM>) via an opening portion (<NUM>), wherein
the differential case (<NUM>) includes at least two seat surfaces (<NUM>) formed on an inner peripheral surface of the differential case (<NUM>) so as to support the pinion gears (<NUM>), weir portions (53a, 53b) provided between the adjacent seat surfaces (<NUM>) and extending in a direction along a rotational direction of the differential case (<NUM>) to connect between the adjacent seat surfaces (<NUM>), and an oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) formed on the inner peripheral surface by the weir portions (53a, 53b) so as to be positioned on an opposite side, in an axial direction of the differential case (<NUM>) coaxially corresponding to an axial direction of the side gears (<NUM>), of the opening portion (<NUM>) from a first weir portion (53a) of the weir portions (53a, 53b); and
a ring gear (<NUM>) is fixed to the differential case (<NUM>);
characterised in that
a pinion washer (<NUM>) is disposed between a back surface of each of the pinion gears (<NUM>) and the seat surface (<NUM>);
an oil introduction port (<NUM>) is formed in each of the seat surfaces (<NUM>), the oil introduction port (<NUM>) communicating with the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) on a front side in the rotational direction of the differential case (<NUM>) at a time when the vehicle travels forward and at least partially overlapping the pinion washer (<NUM>) as seen in an axial direction of the pinion gear (<NUM>);
the differential case (<NUM>) includes a guide portion (<NUM>) that guides the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) toward the oil introduction port (<NUM>) on an opposite side of the ring gear (<NUM>) side by narrowing the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) as the oil reservoir portion (<NUM>) extends away from the ring gear (<NUM>) in the axial direction; and
the oil introduction port (<NUM>) is formed in the seat surface (<NUM>) so as to be proximate to a center of the seat surface (<NUM>) in the axial direction.