Patent ID: 7500537

Claim:
A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a steering transmission mechanism mechanically connecting a steering member to a steerable wheel of the vehicle, the steering transmission mechanism mechanically transmitting to the steerable wheel steering operation applied to the steering member, to thereby turn the steerable wheel in accordance with a predetermined first characteristic in relation to the steering operation applied to the steering member; a connection-disconnection device interposed in the steering transmission mechanism, the connection-disconnection device mechanically connecting the steering member to the steerable wheel when the connection-disconnection apparatus is in a connected state and breaking the mechanical connection when the connection-disconnection apparatus is in a disconnected state; a turning actuator device, including first and second turning actuators operating jointly with each other, disposed in the steering transmission mechanism located between the connection-disconnection device and the steerable wheel, the turning actuator device turning the steerable wheel when the connection-disconnection apparatus is in a disconnected state; turning control means for controlling operation of the turning actuator device in accordance with the steering operation applied to the steering member so as to turn the steerable wheel in accordance with a predetermined second characteristic in relation to the steering operation applied to the steering member, the second characteristic differing from the first characteristic; failure detection means for detecting an anomaly of the connection-disconnection device or the first and second turning actuators; and turning characteristic changeover control means for controlling operation of one of the first and second turning actuators to gradually change the turning characteristic of the steerable wheel in relation to the steering operation applied to the steering member from the second characteristic to the first characteristic when the failure detection means detects an anomaly of the connection-disconnection device or in the other of the first and second turning actuators.