Patent ID: 8388487

Claim:
A differential apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a differential mechanism having a carrier rotated about the axial direction of the differential apparatus by driving torque from a driving source, an input gear rotating with said carrier and capable of self-rotation around the axis thereof, and a pair of output gears distributing a rotational force of said carrier to a pair of output shafts by receiving the rotational force of said carrier from said input gear, wherein said carrier is disposed between said pair of output gears in the axial direction, and wherein the pair of output gears are able to rotate differentially, and wherein friction sufficient to restrict the differential rotation of said pair of output gears is generated between said input gear and said carrier by the self-rotation of said input gear; and a clutch provided for selectively mutually connecting said output gears for torque transmission between said output gears, whereby a differential action of the differential mechanism is restricted, wherein the clutch includes clutch plates mounted directly to one of said output gears.