Patent ID: 7878294

Claim:
A variable gear ratio steering apparatus comprising: a steering operating member; a turning unit configured to turn a vehicle wheel; and a gear ratio varying unit arranged between the steering operating member and the turning unit, the gear ratio varying unit comprising: a differential gear mechanism including a first outside internally toothed gear that is coupled to the steering operating member, a second outside internally toothed gear that is coupled to an input shaft of the turning unit and arranged coaxially with respect to the first outside internally toothed gear, at least one common inside gear meshing with both the first outside internally toothed gear and the second outside internally toothed gear, and an inside gear support member rotatably supporting the inside gear, with the first outside internally toothed gear being disposed closer to the turning unit than the second outside internally toothed gear with respect to a direction along an input shaft of the gear ratio varying unit; a gear ratio control motor operatively coupled to the inside gear support part; and a steering torque assistance motor operatively coupled to the second outside internally toothed gear, with the gear ratio control motor and the steering torque assistance motor being coaxially disposed about the input shaft of the gear ratio varying unit.