Patent ID: 7073620

Claim:
A vehicle steering system comprising: front vehicle motive members; rear vehicle motive members; a steering input device; a front steering subsystem operably coupled to the steering input device and coupled to the front motive members to steer the front motive members; a rear steering subsystem coupled to the rear motive members to steer the rear motive members; and a rear steering control mechanism including: a movable input member coupled to the steering input device so as to move in response to input from the device; a movable output member coupled to the rear steering subsystem, wherein the rear steering subsystem adjusts steering of the rear motive members in response to movement of the output member, wherein the control mechanism operates in a rear steering state in which force is transmitted from the input member to the output member to move the output member and a dwell state in which the output member does not move in response to movement of the input member; and a force transmission route from the input device to the input member, wherein the force transmission route includes a force augmenting device, wherein the force augmenting device includes at least one powered steering gear having an output shaft coupled to the input member.