US1314639A

US1314639A - of connersville

Info

Publication number: US1314639A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1936-09-02

Description

C. L. DE MARTIN. ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I,19I8.

Patented Sept. 2.81919.

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PTH@ FFQEQ CHARLES L. DE MARTIN, OF CONNERSVILLE, NDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO INDIANA LAMP COMPANY, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

ramassa- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

tain new and useful lllectric lleadlight (.Lon-

trolgland lv do hereby declare that the 'tollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

tion of the lamp needless.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction and operation o'tf headlights for automobiles, launches and the like, wherein there isA a. tilting reflector, and wherein said tilting reflector is operated or controlled by means utilizing the partial vacuum or suction in the intake manifold or other chamber in communication' with the cylindersl of an internal combustion engine. This invention is made with particular reference for use in connection with what are known as Ford headlights, but it may also be used in. connection with other headlight constructions. V

One feature of the invention consists in mounting the cylinder 'for utilizing the partial Vacuum or suction, outside and to the rear of the lamp casing. ln lamps oil this type, the casing is relatively small and there is no relatively great space between the casing and the reflector and with this feature of the invention, said cylinder for utilizing the partial vacuum or suction to operate the reflector can be attached to such lamps already made and makes a special construc- 'lhis gives to the invention great practical value.

Another feature of the invention consists` in the means 'for connecting the piston of the vacuum cylinder with the reflector.

Since such cylinder is located out ot' the lamp casing, the piston must extend through a small hole bored in the lamp casing and special means must be provided for connecting or coupling the inner end ol the piston with the reflector, when it cannot be seen 0r manipulated. To that end, nieans is secured to the reflector adapted to engage the inner end of the piston when the latter is pushed .into place, and so that it can be disengaged by merely withdrawing the piston.

`Another feature of the invention consists in mounting the vacuum cylinder so that it can be adjustable toward or away from the lamp casing for the purpose, of permanently changing the normal position ol the rellector and thus changing' the focus. This is a very important l'eature olf the invention as it enables one to permanently adjust the direction ot' light from the ,lamp and so that it can still be ten'iporarily adjusted by the vacuum control.

Another feature ol the invention consists in the means for mounting the vacuum cylluder, in the form olE a bracket, litting against and secured to the llat rear end oi' lsurlace ol. the lamp case around the connection or socket member at the rear end ol the lamp case.

The full nature otl the invention will be understood ll'rom the accomlvmnying drawings and the following description and claims:

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the lamp with the parts in inoperated and unadjusted position. Fig. 2 is the same, with lthe suction cylinder adjusted so that the piston rod holds the relleelor normally in a tilted position so as to change the direction ol the rays oil the lamp. Fig. 3:5 is the same with the suction apparatus operated so as to tilt the rellector more than in Fig. Fig. l is a section on the line `rl-1lv o'l" Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation ol a portion of the lamp showing' the mounting oi the vacuum cylinder, the lamp casing being partially broken away. Fig. (l is a central vertical section through the rear portion olt the lamp casing and associated parts, parts being broken away. Fig. 7 is a radial section through a portion ol. the lamp structure showing the connection between the lamp casing, door, lens, rclecl-or and reflector ring, on an enlarged scale. elevation oi. a portion oll the lamp casing and the rcllector ring in locking position, parts being broken away.

'lhe Ford lamp has a casing l() shaped like the end ol au ellipse` the apex bcing flattened at 1l where the, rearn'm-dlv exlending socket housing 1;). is secured.

The lamp has at its l'roul end the usual leus ll which is held in by a ring l-l which is mounted in a door ol' the. lamp by clips l5. The door has inwardly-cxtending lugs 16 which enter slots in the l'ront portion ol the lamp casing, whereby the door is held Fig. S isa front in place. A lens bears and presses against a cord packing 17 on the reflector ring 18 which is removably mounted ,in the front part of the casingand'bears against spring fingers 19.

A reflector 20 is hinged' at its upper por@ tion to the reflector rin l18 by a pivot or hinge 21, so that the re ector is suspended and can tilt backward or forward, as shown. The invention, however, is not limited to any particular mounting of the reflector or arrangement thereof so long as the reflector is movable or tiltable. in a socket 23 in the rear central portion of the reflector and a suitable insulating wiring connection 2el-is provided whereby the current issupplied to the lamp. The lamp on the Whole is supported on the automobile by a single arm or post 25 which at-its up` er end is secured to a plate 26 having four radiating arms that are riveted to the casing of the lamp. l In order to equip an ordinary Ford` lamp or the like with this invention, the old reflector is removed and the reflector construction shown herein, including reflector ring 18 and reflector 20 hinged thereto, is substituted. Also the focusingdevice found in such lamps is. also .removed and in place thereof the socket and socket housing 12 are secured,.the inner end of the housing 12 having a flaring plate which is fastened to the Hat portion of the casing by the screws 27. Also a ho1e`28 has to be drilled in the casing for the piston rod 30 when the reflector is actually controlled by the means herein shown. The reflector actuating and controlling means is then added to the lamp and the fo-rm thereof herein disclosed is as follows: A vacuum cylinder 31 is adjustably mounted in a clamping member 32 that is connected with the bracket 33. The upper portion of this bracket is circular and surrounds the socket housing 12 and is secured to the flat portion of the lamp I.casing by the screw 27. The clamp 32 is held tight b a screw 34, see Fig. 5. The vacuum cylin er 31 is connected by a small pipe or conduit 36 with the manifold of an internal combustion engineor other means for creating a vacuum in said cylinder so as to cause the withdrawal or operation of the piston 37 in the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 3. Such movement of the c linder, through the piston rod 30 draws I ackward ,the lower end of the reflector 2() and ti'ltsit so as to change the focus or direction of the shaft of light from the lamp. The piston is returned to its normal position, as shown in Fig. \1, Vby a spring 38 within the cylinderl' The piston rbd 30 can be connected in any desired Way'With the reflector, but it should be in such way' as to to en'able the connection -to be made without either seeing the con-- necting parts or manipulating them. In

A lamp 22 is secured other word-s, -the through the hole-28 and in the forms here shown the inner end of the piston rod is a ball 39, that is forced between a pair ofv spring metal plates ll0 secured to the un'- derside of. the reflector' and having oppositely located holes 41 therein into which the ball of the piston rod seats itself. The

friction between the b all 39 and the plates j L11 is sufficient to maintain the. connection and yet permit the separation ofthe piston rod by its forcible withdrawal and, as stated above, 'permit the connection to be established by the forcible insertion of the piston rod.

Onefeature of the invention consists in the connection between the reflector 20 and reflector ring 18 and the shape of the latter so that no. dust or water can enter the lamp behind the reflector. To make such joint, the internal dia-meter of the outer edge of the reflector is greater than and overlaps piston 30 is inserted .I

the inner edge of the reflector ring 18, and

the ring is transversely offset, as shown in cross section, toward the front so 'as to deflect dust and water to the front and pro-v tect the reflector. Also the ring 18 is pro vided with a groove or annular seat into which the flange of the reflector is seated tc the rear of the'ring.

In order that the Ireflector when -put inl the lamp may be positioned to cause the spring holders to register with and properly receive the enlarged end of the piston rod when it is inserted through the hole 28 in the casing, there are stop lugs'50 on the reflector ring 18 adapted to engage stamped in lugs 51 on the lamp casing as said ring is given angular movement. The details of this construction are indicated in Figi 8.

This invention, therefore, is 'rigidly attached to an ordinary lamp of the Ford type. and when so attached, affords a tilting reflector with all of its ,advantages and a satisfactory means for operating and controlling the reflector, by utilizing the artial vacuum or suction in the manifol or some part of the engine.-

The invention claimed is: c 1. A lamp having a casing, a reflector mounted therein so as to be tiltable, a fluid `actuated means mounted outside of the casing, a rod connected with said fluid actuated means and extending loosely through the casing, and means whereby said rod may be insertibly connected with the reflector for actuating the same and disengaged by withdrawing it therefrom.

2. A= lamp having a casing with a flattened rear surface, a reflector mounted in said casing so as to be tiltable, al bracket secured to the outer surface of the flattened portion of the lamp casing, a vacuum cylinder carried by said bracket outside of the lamp casing, and a eisten rod extendjug from said cylinder loosely through seid vacuum casing :md connected. with the reflector for operating and controlling it.

3,'A lump having n lump easing, :L reflector tiltnbly mounted therein, u Socket liolisiiugr extending eentrelly from the rear portion of said casing, u bracket surrounding said housing and secured to the easing, a vacuum cylinder carried by Suid bracket outside of the lmnp easing, und :i piston rod extending from seid cylinder loosely through Said vacuum easing und connected with the reflector' for operating und conn trolling it.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto nlxed 15 my signature in the pr'wenee of the witnesses herein named.

CHARLES L. DE MARTIN.