US1208845A

US1208845A - Lamplight-deflector and mechanism for operating the same.

Info

Publication number: US1208845A
Application number: US8540716A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Shaffer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-03-20
Filing date: 1916-03-20
Publication date: 1916-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1933-12-19

Description

T. SHAFFER.

LAMPLIGHT DEFLECTOR AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAME. APPLICATION. men MAR. 20. 1916- mm Dec. 19,1916.

FQTENT a, 1 4 s, at. no a l THOMAS SHAFFER, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

LAMPLIG-HT-DEFLEC'I'OR AND MECHANISM FOR OPERATING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11%, il ilfl.

Application filed March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,407.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamplight-Deflectors and Mechanisms for Operating the Same, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to that class of vehicle lamp light deflectors and mechanisms for operating the same, which are particularly adapted for use on automobiles, trucks, street cars, and the like, for downwardly defleeting the upper portion of the light from a head-light or lamp, thereby avoiding accidents incident to the use of an undeflected or unshaded light, and the objects of my improvements'are, first; to provide a simple, substantial and durable combination of this character, by the use of which, the upper portion of the light from a lamp can instantly be deflected downward and forward, thereby shading the upper portion of said lamp and augmenting the lower portion of light projected therefrom, and whereby said light can as quickly be returned to normal condition; second, to so construct said com bination that the same can be operated at any desired point, distant therefrom, such as the dashboard of a vehicle and the like, be devoid of springs, be operated with the minimum amount of energy and require no attention or care; third; to so construct the operating mechanism, that it shall occupy the minimum amount of space, and shallbe housed from view in the body of the lamp, safe from action of the elements and from vandals, thus avoiding the use of unsightly adjuncts or attachments on said lamp. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which v Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism, on the line X seen in Fig. 2, certain parts of the reflector being broken away. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, on the line Y Y, seen in Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on the line Z Z, seen in Fig. 2, looking upward. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section in detail similar to Fig. 2, of a portion of the deflector showing its shaft and the deflector securing means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, reflector 1. (of

parabolic form,) has outwardly projecting ange 1 formed on its front edge, and the semispherical rear end portion l-, formed therewith. Said rear end portion has inward projection 2, (of bead form,) formed around the upper half of its inner surface adjacent to the rear of said deflector. Said rear portion 1 also has nipple 3 therein, which is provided with set screw 4, by which the shank 5 of electric light 6 is secured in said nipple. Said electric light is provided with electric conductors 6', for conducting electric energy therethrough, from a distant source of electric supply, not shown. Said conductors are extended through insulation 7, laced through lamp body 8. Said lamp bo y may be of the form shown, or be of any one of the other various forms, now generally inuse. Said body has inwardly projectlng flange 8", formed therewith, around its front edge, ably secured by screws 9. Deflector 10 is of such form, that it conforms with the shape of the upper part of the interior surface of rear portion 1 of reflector 1. Said deflector has the u wardly projecting flange 10 formed on 1ts front edge, said flange being of such form, that it normally lies flat against the inner surface of reflector 1, which at this point, acts as an auxiliary stop, for limiting rearward movement of said deflector. Said deflector also has the rear flange 10", formed on its rear edge, which acts as an auxiliary stop for limiting forward movement of said deflector, when carried thereby against projection 2, which also forms a hght tight joint, when said deflector is in the position seen in Fig. 1. lit will be understood that all of the inner sur faces of reflector 1, its rear portion 1", deflector 10,

flanges

10 and 10", are so formed, ghat they are highly efficient reflecting suraces.

Referring to Figs. 2 and a, one of the two corners of deflector 10 has pivot stud 11 se curely connected therewith, said stud being oscillatably mounted in the adjacent side of rear portion 1", of reflector 1, while the 0pposite corner of said deflector has the internally threaded eyelet 13 passed through an aperture therein, and is crimped thereon. Shaft 12 has the screw threaded portion 12 formed thereon, which is screwed into said eyelet, after which the inner end of said on which flange 1 is detachwith said deflector.

' to allow said core to rotate,

shaft is headed against said eyelet, for rigidly securing the inner end of said shaft The outer end of said shaft is passed through an aperture in its adjacent side of rear portion 1 of reflector l and is secured in pinion segment 14, by set screw 15. Said pinion segment and set screw form parts of the following described electric mechanism: Solenoid bracket 16 is secured to portion 1", of reflector 1, by being soldered thereon, or by any other substantial securing means. Said bracket has adjusting flanges 16' formed therewith, through which screws 18 are screwed against the outer ends of solenoid spools 17, for longitudinally adjusting said spools and for holding them against longitudinal movement. Said spools are held in 1 lace on bracket 16, by yoke straps 18. two elastic bearings 20, formed therewith, in which the hub portions of pinion segment 14 are oscillatably mounted. Said core guide has spools 17 passed onto the outer end portions thereof, said spools being pressed against said bearings by said screws 16". Solenoid core 21 is mounted for longitudinally reciprocative movement in said core guide, and has its movements limited by adjusting screws 22,which are screwed through core guide caps 23, which latter are screwed onto the ends of said core guide. Core 21 has rack teeth 24 formed therearound, which are in engagement with the teeth of pinion segment 14-. Said rack teeth are thus formed (if such should incidentally take place,) without in any way interfering with its operation as a gear rack.

Helices of insulated wire are wound on spools 17, as seen at 25 and 26 in Fig. 1. The outer end portion of helix 25 is extended and connected with one of the terminals of push-button 27, while the similar portion of helix 26, is in like manner connected with push-button 28. Electric conductors 29 and 30 connect the opposite terminals of said push buttons respectively, with 'one pole of battery 31, while the opposite pole of said battery is connected with the extended inner end portions of helices 25 and 26, by electric conductor 32.

t will be understood, that in actual practice, push buttons 27 and 28, may be secured on the dashboard of a vehicle, such as an automobile, truck, or the like, or be placed at any desired point, accessible to the operator of the vehicle, and distant from the previously described deflector. It will also be understood, that the weight of deflector 10, when in the position seen in Fig. 1, is more than suflicient to counterbalance the weight of solenoid core 21, to such extent that the gravity of said deflector holds the same in place.

In operation, with the parts in the position seen in Fig. 3, the operator pushes push- Solenoid core guide 19 has the neonate button 27, thereby closing an electric circuit from battery 31, through conductor 29, said push-button and helix 25, and thence through conductor 32, to said battery. Electric current through the thus closed circuit energizes said helix, which lifts solenoid core 21, which latter by its previously described gear, oscillates shaft 12 and the therewith con-' nected deflector 10, from the position seen in Fig. 3, to the position seen in Fig. 1. While in this position, the upper portion of the light from lamp 6, is projected from said lamp, against the inner surface of said deflector, is thereby reflected against the inner surfaces of the lower portions of reflector 1 and its rear portion 1"; and since said electric light is below the center of said rear portion of said reflector, its light strikes said inner surfaces and is reflected therefrom at such various angles thereto, that practically all of the light from electric light 8, is ultimately reflected downward and forward, beneath the front edge of deflector 10, thereby intensifying the thus reflected light.

It will be further understood that the electromagnetic force exerted as previously described, is suflicient for quickly moving the parts, that the same takes place, practically, in an instant of time and that a mere touch and instant removal of the operators thumb, from thumb-button 27, is suflicient; thereby opening the described circuit, deenergizing helix 25 and thus consuming the minimum amount of electric energy.

For returning deflector 10 from the position seen in Fig. 1, to the position seen in Fig. 3, the operator, in like manner, serves thumb button 28, thereby momentarily closing an electric circuit from battery 31, through conductor 30, thumb button 28, helix 26 and thence through conductor 32 to battery 31, thereby energizing said helix, which draws solenoid core 21, downward, which, by the previously described parts, reversely oscillates deflector 10,to normal position, seen in Fig. 3.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an oscillatably mounted deflector shaft, adapted to have a deflector secured on one end thereof; of a segment of gear pinion secured on the other end of said shaft; a slidably mounted solenoid core; rack teeth formed on said core said teeth being in engagement with the teeth of said pinion; a pair of helices for reciprocatively moving said core; a source of electric energy; and electric conducting means whereby an electric current is alternately conducted through said helices; and stopping means whereby said movement ofsaid core is limited.

2. The combination with a reflector having an outwardly extending flange formed I said ing a smaller on the front edge thereof; of a semispherica if rear portion formed with said reflector, said rear portion having an Inward pro ection of th bead form formed on the inner surface of the upper half thereof adjacent to said reflector; a light deflector oscillatably mounted in rear portion; a front flange formed on the front edge of said deflector said front flange being adapted to snugly fit against the upper, rear portion of said reflector; a rear flange formed on the rear edge of said deflector said rear flange being adapted to be moved against and to be stopped by said bead flange for forming a light tight joint; and oscillating means whereby said deflector is oscillated.

3. The combination with a pair of helices, of a solenoid core slidably mounted for re ciprocative movement therein; of rack teeth formed on said core entirely around the central portion thereof; a segment of gear pinion in engagement with saidrack teeth; and an oscillatably mounted shaft adapted to have a deflector secured on one end thereof while the other end of said shaft is secured in said pinion.

4- The combination with a reflector havrear end portion said reflector being adapted to be lamp body leaving a end portion of said a solenoid bracket said space between said rear reflector and said body' rear portion; a solenoid core guide of tubular said guide detachably secured in a secured on one side'o 6 through one side of the central portion there- 0 a pair of elastic bearings formed with e central portion of said core guide at each slde of said opening, respectively; a seg ment of gear pinion oscillatably mounted in said bearings with its periphery extended into said opening; a solenoid core having rack teeth formed on the central portion thereof, said core being mounted for reciprocative movement in said core guide with its rack teeth inengagement with said pinion; a solenoid spool on each end portion of said core guide; asolenoid helix wound on each one of said spools; a pair of yoke straps whereby said spools are secured on said bracket; a cap screwed on each end of said core guide; a core adjusting screw screwed into each one of said caps for adjusting the reciprocative movement of said core; spool adjusting means whereby said spools are adjusted and secured against longitudinal movement on said bracket; a deflector shaft having one of its ends secured in said pinion the other endof said shaft being adapted to be connected with a lamp light deflector; and electric energizing means whereby said helices are alternately energized.

In testimony whereof I afiix'my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SHAFJFER. Witnesses: Y

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