Patent ID: 7946195

Claim:
A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of steering road wheels by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device, the apparatus comprising a clutch capable of mechanically connecting the steering device and the steering mechanism, wherein the clutch includes: a shaft which is rotated by operating force onto the steering device and has a rotating protrusion rotated integrally therewith; an internal gear ring which is rotatable around a center axis of the shaft as a rotation center, has internal teeth on an inner circumference, and is mechanically connected to the steering mechanism; an external gear ring which is rotatable around an axis and eccentrically located with respect to the center axis of the shaft, is disposed between the shaft and the internal gear ring, and has external teeth partially intermeshed with the internal teeth on a constant basis; lock members which are disposed between the shaft and the external gear ring and are rotated by being pushed by the rotating protrusion while the shaft is rotated, and makes the external gear ring intermeshed with the internal teeth on a constant basis; and a lock operating member which is rotated in synchronization with the lock members and is capable of moving the lock members between a lock position and an unlock position, wherein the lock members are rotated by the rotating protrusion without wedging the lock members between the external gear ring and the shaft when the lock members are located at the unlock position by the lock operating member and thereby the external gear ring and the internal gear ring rotate partially intermeshed with each other and independently of rotation of the shaft, and wherein the shaft, the lock members and the external gear ring are rotated integrally by wedging the lock members between the external gear ring and the shaft when the lock members are located at the lock position by the lock operating member and thereby the external gear ring is rotated by the internal gear ring being partially intermeshed therewith due to rotation of the shaft.