Patent attributes
A differential apparatus includes: a differential mechanism that distributes an input driving force to a pair of side gears so as to allow differential motion therebetween; a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism; and a clutch mechanism that transmits the driving force between the differential case and pinion shafts of the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes: a slide member that is movable relative to the pinion shafts of the differential mechanism in the axial direction of the differential case and is non-rotatable relative thereto in the differential case; and an actuator that applies an axial moving force to the slide member. The slide member has on one end portion a first meshing portion. The differential case includes a disc-shaped first case member and a bottomed-cylindrical second case member that accommodates the differential mechanism. The second case member has a second meshing portion facing the first meshing portion.