Patent ID: 7926613
Filing Date: 2011-04-19
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) a steering operation member operable by an operator of the vehicle; (b) a movement-amount variably transmitting device including: (b-1) a housing fixed to a body of the vehicle; (b-2) a differential mechanism including (i) a first element movably disposed in said housing and connected to said steering operation member so as to be moved by an amount corresponding to an operating amount of said steering operation member, (ii) a second element disposed in said housing and movable relative to said first element, and (iii) a third element engaged with said first and second elements; and (b-3) a drive source fixed to said housing and configured to move said third element, such that an amount of a relative movement of said first and second elements is changeable depending on an amount of a movement of said third element; and (c) a wheel turning device connected to said second element so as to turn a wheel of the vehicle by a wheel turning amount corresponding to an amount of movement of said second element, wherein said movement-amount variably transmitting device further includes (b-4) a third-element-movement inhibiting device configured to inhibit the movement of said third element, wherein said steering system further includes (d) a third-element-movement inhibition cancelling device configured to cancel inhibition of the movement of said third element, which is made by said third-element-movement inhibiting device, wherein said movement-amount variably transmitting device further includes a third-element-movement allowing mechanism configured to allow the movement of said third element when an amount of a movement force forcing said third element to be moved becomes larger than a threshold upon the inhibition of the movement of said third element, which is made by said third-element-movement inhibiting device, and wherein said third-element-movement inhibition cancelling device includes said third-element-movement allowing mechanism.