US1200670A - Headlight-controlling device. - Google Patents

Description

R. D. TU'FTS & 0.. P. MILLER.

HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING DEVJCE.

APPLICATION mm mm: 22. 1.915. 1,200,670 Patenmd Oct.10,l916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I R. 0. TUFTS & c. P. MILLER.

HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPUCATION min was 22, 1.915.

Patented Get 10, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- abkowcng 5 earns Ahlh'il oasis.

EAYMCND D. TUFTS AND CHARLES 1?. MILLER, 03: PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS F ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM R. I-IAGYARD, OE PITTSFIELD, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

I HEADLIGHT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

ea er/o.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 10, 1916.

Application filed June 22, 1915. Serial No. 35,638.

ling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to head light controlling devices, and more particularly to devices for turning the head light of an automobile'so as to direct the rays in the direction in which the machine is turned.

It is one aim of the invention to so construct the device that it will efi'ectually serve to turn the head light without vibration and further to so construct the device that it may be readily applied in a few moments to any ordinary motor vehicle by merely .applying the lamp bracket or head oi the device to the ordinary head. light socket or bracket and connecting another element of the device to the distance rod of the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the device mounted in op erative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device removed from the ve hicle. Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the device. Fig. a is aperspective view of one member of the device. Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation of that member of the device which is connected to the distance rod of the steering mechanism.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters. f

The device embodyingthe present invention includes a barrel indicated by the numeral 1 and provided with a cylindrical bore, and this barrel is provided at one side with an arm 2, which projects laterally and V thence downwardly and is adapted to be fitted into the ordinary socket 3 provided upon the vehicle and into which socket is ordinarily fitted the stem of the lamp bracket.

In the drawings the bracket or fork above mentioned is indicated at a and. is in itself of ordinary construction and may vary in size to. accommodate various sizes of lamps. The stemof the bracketincludes a cylindrical body 5 which is preferably solid and which is slidably and rotatably fitted within the bore of the barrel 1 as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and this body is provided at its upper end with an upwardly projecting stem 6 which supports at its upper end and exteriorly of the barrel 1, the said bracket pr fork 4:. Fitted to the stem 6 is one member 7 of a thrust bearing vcomprising a disk having a ball race 8 and a similar member or disk 9 is also fitted to the stem 6 and is provided with a ball race 10, bearing balls 11 being arranged within the said races 8 and 10, whereby toaiford anti-friction bearing between the said members 7 and 9. A cap 12 is threaded onto the upper end of the barrel 1 and serves to close the same and this cap is provided with an opening 13 in which the stem 6 is slidably and rotatably received. The wall of the opening 13 is formed with s an annular groove receiving a washer or gasket 14 of felt or other suitable material for the purpose of excluding dust from the interior of the barrel. A spring 15 is fitted to the stem 6 within the barrel and bears at its lower end against the member 9 of the thrust bearing and at its upper end against the inner side of the cap 12, this'spring exerting a normal tendency tomove the stem or body downwardly within the said barrel.

The body 5is provided at its lower end with a downwardly extending stem 16 and 'fitted to this stem are members 17 and 18 of a thrust bearing, which members correspond to the members 7 and 9 previously described, bearingballs 19 being interposed between the said members 17 and -18. -The lower end of the barrel 1 is closed by means of a cap 20 and a spring 21, corresponding to the spring 15., is arranged within the.

lower end of the bore of the barrel and bears at its lower'end against the cap 20 and at its upper end against the lower end of the body 5 of the bracket supporting stem. The spring 21 opposes the spring 15 will be readily understood and therefore upward and downward sliding movement of the body 5 within the barrel is cushioned and yet the body may have free rotary motion'iwithin the barrel due to the provision of the thrust bearings described above.- The cap is provided with an opening 22 through which the stem 16 projects both slidably and rotatably and the wall of this opening is provided with a groove receiving a washer 23 corresponding to the Washer 14. In order that the wall ofthe bore of the barrel may be lubricated and also the to form spaced ears 7 between which is fitted an ear 28 at the upbnt endlof a rod 29. A pivot pin30 is reinov ably fitted between the said cars 27 and 28 whereby to pivotally connect the same. The rod 29 may vary in length, depending upon the make of machine for which the device is intended or, in other words, depending .upon the distance between the bracket 3 of the machine and the distance rod of the steering mechanism, which rod is indicated at 31, and the rod at its end opposite its end at which the ear 28 is located is bent to-extend downwardly and provided with the ball member 32 of a universal joint. The cup. or socket of this joint comprises two counterpart members 33, each provided at its upper end with a half cup 34: and at its lower end with a half collar 35, the members having their collar portions 35 fitted about the distance rod 31 and secured in clamping engagement with the rod by means of bolts 36 and 37. The bolt 36 extends through the members above the distance rod 31 and the bolt 37 extends through the said members below the saiddistance rod. As stated, these bolts constitute means for clamping the members to the distance rod and the bolt 36 serves also as a means for varying he tightness of fit between the ball and socket members of the joint just described.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be understood that there is provided a device of this class which be readily applied to any ordinary motor vehicle without in any way altering the construction of any part of the vehicle and it will be apparent that as the distance rod 31 is shifted laterally, the stem comprising the portions 5, 6 and 16 will be turned in one direction or the other so as "to direct the rays of the head light into the path of travel of the machine. It will be understood that instead of the pivotal connection between the stem 16 and the rod 29, some other type of connection may be provided if desired.

Having thus described the invention, What i is claimed as new is:

1. In a headlight controlling mechanism of the class described, a barrel, a member mentioned stem extending axially with relation to the said bo'dqy, a spring arranged within the lower end of the barrel. and hearing upwardly against the said body, and means connected with the said last mentioned stem for imparting motion thereto and arranged. for connection with an element of the steering mechanism. of a vehicle.

2. In head light controlling mechanism of the class described, a barreh-a member including a body slidably and rotatably fitted within the barrel, caps rcmova'bly ,fitted upon the ends of the barrel, springs arranged within the ends of the barrel and bearing against the caps and against the opposite ends of the said body, a stem extending fromone end of the body for supporting a lamp bracket, a stem extending from the other end of the bodyand rigidly connected therewith, and a member connected with the last mentioned stem for both sliding and rotary movement therewith and adapted for connection with an element of the steering mechanism.

3. In head light controlling mechanism of the class described, a barrel, a member in cluding a body sli'dably and rotatably fitted within the barrel, caps removably fitted upon the ends of the barrel, springs ar ranged within the ends of the barrel and bearing against the caps and against the opposite ends of the said body, a stem extending from one end of the body for supporting a lamp bracket, a stem extending from the other end of the body and rigidly connected therewith, a member connected with the last mentioned stem for both slid ing andurdtary movement therewith and adapte'il for connection with an element of the steering mechanism, and anti-friction thrust bearings interposed between the said springs and each end of the body.

tures.

RAYMOND D. TUFTS. CHARLES P. MILLER.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signa

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