Steering column for vehicle and steering apparatus having the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering column for a vehicle and a steering apparatus having the same. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent loads transmitted to the steering column from being concentrated to a part of the steering column, to uniformize the distribution of operation force of the adjusting lever, and to prevent the deformation and damage of the steering column when the driver operates the steering wheel by maintaining the bearing forces of the upper tube and the lower tube at the time of tightening and releasing the adjusting lever for a tilt or telescope operation while increasing the rigidity of the entirety of the steering column.

1 . A steering column for a vehicle comprising:
 a hollow lower tube configured to enclose a steering shaft; and   an upper tube fitted on the outer periphery of the lower tube,   wherein the upper tube is formed with a first slot that is slit axially, a second slot that is slit circumferentially at the lower end of the first slot, supporting parts protruding from the outer periphery of the upper tube at the upper side of the second slot to be diametrically opposed to each other, and one or more stress dispersion parts formed on the outer periphery of the upper tube at the axially upper side of the supporting parts to disperse stresses.   
     
     
         2 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting parts are formed at circumferentially opposite sides of the first slot. 
     
     
         3 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second slot is formed at a boundary area between the lower ends of the bearings and the outer periphery of the upper tube. 
     
     
         4 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first slot and the second slot are formed to communicate with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the lower end of the first slot communicates with the center of the second slot. 
     
     
         6 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more stress dispersion parts are formed to communicate with the first slot and to extend circumferentially. 
     
     
         7 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the stress dispersion parts are formed at a boundary area between the upper ends of the supporting parts and the outer periphery of the upper tube. 
     
     
         8 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the stress dispersion parts are formed at the circumferentially opposite sides of the first slot to be symmetric to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the stress dispersion part is formed by a through-hole spaced from the first slot by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         10 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the stress dispersion part is formed at a position forming a predetermined angle from the upper end of the first slot in relation to the upper side axial direction. 
     
     
         11 . The steering column as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the stress dispersion parts are formed at circumferentially opposed and symmetric positions with reference to the first slot. 
     
     
         12 . A steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
 a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel; and   a steering column coupled to the steering shaft and assembled to a vehicle body, wherein the steering column comprises:   a hollow lower tube configured to enclose a steering shaft; and   an upper tube fitted on the outer periphery of the lower tube,   wherein the upper tube is formed with a first slot that is slit axially, a second slot that is slit circumferentially at the lower end of the first slot, supporting parts protruding from the outer periphery of the upper tube at the upper side of the second slot to be diametrically opposed to each other, and a stress dispersion part formed on the outer periphery of the upper tube at the axially upper side of the supporting parts to disperse stresses.