Patent ID: 6546889
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: B62D,B63H

Abstract:
A steering system comprising:(A) a manually operated steering mechanism; (B) a steered mechanism; and (C) a steering transmission coupling said steering mechanism to said steered mechanism, said steering transmission including (1) a multi-ratio speed changer having an input element that is coupled to said steering mechanism, an output element that transmits steering forces to said steered mechanism, and a shifter that is movable between at least first and second shifted positions to release a first rotatable gear of said speed changer and arrest a second rotatable gear of said speed changer from rotation and, thereby, vary a speed change ratio of said speed changer between at least first and second distinct speed change ratios; and (2) a torque gate coupling said output element of said speed changer to said steered mechanism so as to permit steering forces to be transmitted to said steered mechanism from said speed changer while preventing backdrive forces from being transmitted to said speed changer from said steered mechanism.