US1367964A - Illuminating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

E. A. HAWTHORNE.

ILLUMINATING A'PPARATLIS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. ms.

1,367,964, Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Inienior E5319 lvorifih JiLHawZkorne UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLSYVOh-TH A. I-IAVJTHOENE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ILLUMINATING AIPARATUS.

Application filed July 20, 1916.

To all whom it may concern p it known that I, ELLSWORTH A. Hawrrmnxn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield ant State or Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in lllunnnatlng Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to lamps such, for cnamplc, those which are on "vehicles and the purpose is to provide a device which will free from objectionable glare and in which the intensity and direction of the illumination may be easily controlled.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description of one illustrative embodiment of my invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. wherein:

Figure l is a central vertical section throueh a lamp embodying my invention;

2 is a view showing some of the parts of Fig. l in another position of adjustment parts being broken away; and I 3 is a view from the left of Fig. :2

the adjusting mechanism it appears on the front of the lamp.

invention may be embodied in many and is applicable to lamps of dif- .cren'i; styles nd structures. In the ac ompanying drawings I have shown one stvle of lamp in which my invention may be advantageously used and for clearness i will describe specifically the form there shown.

Referring, therefore, to F 1g. 1' the lamp illustrated includes a suitable casing l hav ingthe light-transmitting glazing and having an interior reflecting surface conveniently in the form of a separate reflector 5 which is preferably a paraboloicl of comparatively long focus to project forward in parallel beams the rays of light which fall-thereon. Within the lamp casing is the r n light 7 preferably focally disposed with regard to the reflector and this light may be mounted in a longitudinally ad ust-- able light-carryino member or socket 9 to permit proper focusing thereof. The construction and operation of socket 9 may be the same that of the socket shown in my application Serial No. 108,062, filed July 7, 1916.

In the present invention a second re-.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921. Serial No. 110,391.

considerably increase the efiiciency of the in-.

candesccnt lamp which I prefer to use as the light 7. The two reflectors 5 and 11 are connected by the frusto conical portion 13.

I provide means which may be associated with the light-transmitting closure or glazing 3, for screening or cutting off the direct and dazzling rays which proceed from the light 7 and which give the objectionable glare to the head lights of motor vehicles. This screen may take the form of the tubular socket 15 conveniently formed of metal, secured centrally to the glazing 3 in front of the lamp 7 along the axis of the refiector 5. I have here shown (see Fig. *2) this tubular screen member as fastened by the hollow bolt or bush 1'? coiiperating with the clamping nut 19 placed exteriorly of the The nut 19 may be provided with holes 21 as shown at Fig. 3 to accommodate a spanner by which it may be tightened up and the tubular screen 15 secured in place. Preferably the screen is so proportioned that its inner periphery lies approximately on the surface of the cone which is defined by drawing lines from the center of the light source to the outer periphery of the glazing 3. The screen 15 will thus intercept all the direct rays of light which would otherwise pass through the aperture closed by the glazing and the only light emitted by the lamp is the reflected light sent forth from the reflector 5. It is however, within the scope of my invention to provide a screen of different form or effect.

With the parts in the position shown in l and the light source '7 at the focus of the reflector 55, the lamp will function as a true spot light emitting solely a beam of parallel rays. the direct rays which would otherwise be 'dissemii'iated in a divergent cone being cut oil by the screen 15. hen it is desired to light a larger area, the lampcarrying socket 9 is longitudinally shifted to throw the light oil-focus. The rays will then not be reflected from the paraboloid in an axial direction but at angles thereto, as is obvious from the well-known geometrical properties of the paraboloid. The light rays from the lamp will, herefore, form a conical pencil, the spread ot which will vary according to ource.

In accordance with my invention means are provided when eli e ive illumitheposition of the light screen 23 has provision at one side to permit the transmission of light. For example, it

.may be cut away, as shown at to provide the projecting segmental member 21' which,

when the secondziry screen is adjusted toward the left in the figures to the position shown in Fig. 2, will overlie or cover the light '7 at one side thereot'to intercept the rays propagated therefrom inthat sector while permitting the l at the opposite p'artto fall on the reflector.- iiccording t the distance which the secondary screen 23 is adjusted within the tubular screen 15 a gr ater or less amount of light will be out off at one side from the reflector 5 and, when it is moved to its limit, as shown at Fig. 2, no light will be cast on the upper part of the reflector and all the light will be projected at a low level. The interior of the screen 23 may be made of areliecting character so that the light falling thereon will be reflected back to the main reflector 5 and not uselessly consumed.

Means are also provided whereby the light may be shaded in any one ot a number of sectors about the lamp by adjusting the segmental member 27 to a desired angular posi- 'tion beside the light. Such adjustment in the present embodiment of the invention is effected by rotating the secondary screen member By means oi the two adjust ments described the intensity of the light is varied and the beam may be directed through any part of the closure 3.

I vill now describe suitable means by which such adjustments may be made. In the present instance they may we effected from the exterior of the lamp and for this purpose there is mounted interiorly of the bolt or bush 17, stud 29 to which is secured the angular crank arm 31 connecting with the secondary screen member 23. At the outer end oi the stud 29 an operating handle 33 may be secured by means of the squared surface 35 and a lock nut- 87 with a projecting handle 39 is provided to lock the stud in place. It is apparent that if the lock nut 37 is loosened the stud 29 may be turned by means of the handle 33 and through the angular arm 31 will rotate the secondary screen 23 in its bearings in the primary screen 15. Both the arm 81 and the handle are preferably alined with the segmental projection 27 of the screen so that the handle 33 will serve as an indicating pointer and show by its position the position ot the segmental extension.

To effect the longitudinal or telescouic adjustment of the screen 23, the stud 29 is preterably made tubular and carries the threaded rod ll having threaded engagement with the screen 23. A thumb nut is secured to the outer end of rod ell and it is obvious that by turning this nut the screen will be moved longitudinally while at the same time it is held against rotation by the arm 31 locked by nut 37.

It is customary in lights of this character to provide a secondary or pilot light, usually of lower candle power than the main light, for use when a less intense illumination is desired. In the present instance this secondary light a3 is disposed at one side of the casing and laterally of the light transmitting glazing 3 so that it is substantially hidden behind the reflector 11 and does not directly shine out of the lamp, the illumination being due to the diffused light reflected therefrom. An important feature Oi? my inventionconsists in this that, when the secondary screen 23 is adjusted to itsinnermost position, as shown at Fig. 2, it will have the eliect of preventing the secondary light 4:?) from being mirrored in reflector 5 in any such way that the mirrored image could be seen through the glazing 3. Prior to my in vention, even-although the secondary light itself were hidden, this reflected image could be seen as a brilliant spot of light which wa glaring and unpleasant. The inwardly adjusted screen, however, will cut oil direct incidence of rays from said secondary light on the reflector 5 where it is alined with the glazing 3 so that this glare is prevented and the light emitted "from the lamp is a soft diffused glow.

From this description of the particular embodiment of my invention disclosed in the'accompanying drawings it is apparent that I provide a lamp wherein the intensity of the light may be varied by covering it more or less with the secondary screen 23 and wherein the position of the beam may also be varied by adjusting the light transmitting portion 25 of such screen to a desired angular position laterally of the lamp or, in other words, by placing a suitable segmental screen over the lamp at one side thereof where it is desired to cut on the light. The amount of light thus cut off of course varies with the longitudinal adjustment or the screen which will intercept the rays throughout azone of variable extent in the direction of light projection from the lamp in accordance with the extent to which the segmental portion 27 of the screen is moved over the ligh 7. The primary screen 15 in the embodiment of the invention shown acts to cut out all or substantially all the direct rays from the lamp so that the glare is minimized or eliminated by this means. However, legal regulations of motor vehicles frequently specify a certain height above which the lights of said vehicle shall not shine and by means of the secondary screen 23, I am enabled to cut oil all the upper part of the beam projecting from the reflector 5. Thus, for example, by longitudinal adjustment of the member 9, the light source can be brought away from the focus of the parabola in such manner that a broad cone of light is projected through the glazing 3. Then by suitable adjustment of the screen 93 the upper part of this cone may be cut off and the only light emitted will be directed toward the ground, thus clearly show ing the road to an occupant of the vehicle but not casting light at such a height as to shine into the eyes of othe persons on the road. Furthermore, under varied conditions of use the screen may be shifted so that the lower part is cut off and the upper part utilized or the part to the right or left or various combinations of these. If the inner part of the segmental extension 27 is made so as to reflect the light which falls thereon, comparatively little luminous energy is dissipated.

While the particular combination and arrangement of parts herein disclosed are not essential to my invention in its broader aspects, they do have certain cooperative functions which are of considerable advantage. For example, it is found desirable to use a parabolic reflector of comparatively long focus, and only a certain amount thereof, since the eniciency of the reflector is comparatively small for low angles of incidence. The part of the lamp constituting the re flector 5 is, therefore, quite shallow. The use or" the spherical reflector 11 permits, without waste of luminous energy, the use of the small section of the paraboloid as shown and enables me to use a reflector of long focus without unduly increasing the size of the lamp. structional advantage in that it brings the lazing 3 comparatively far away from the light 7 and reduces the size of the aperture f the lamp. Consequently the cone whose base is the aperture of the lamp and the apex of which is the light source is of comparatively great altitude. Ample room is,

Furthermore, its use is a corn there-tore, provided for mounting the screen 15 on the interior of the glazing 3. As the edge of this screen lies on the surface of the cone to which I have reterrec. it may be made comparatively small and long and completely intercept the direct rays of light from the light source without occupying a large proportion of the glazing and thus interfering with the transmission of reflected light from the reflector 5. l urthermore, when the light source is adjustable so that it may be thrown oil focus to give a diverging cone or light as explained, a clearance between the bulb and the end of the screen 23 is necessary to permit movement of the bulb. This renders necessary a greater distance between the light source and the lamp aperture if a reasonable ratio-between the diameter of the screen and that of the aper-' ture is to be maintained. It is desirable, moreover, that the member 15 be fairly long in that it will provide a firm bearing for the adjustable screen member 23 which may be housed completely within the same. it will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 2 that the member 15 could not receive the member 23 conveniently and still be mounted on the interior of the glazing 3 if that glazing were closer to the bulb 7. The construction of lamp with the spherical screen 11, therefore, makes possible the addition of the screening devices in a neat and worlnnanlike manner. permits the use of the most efficient form or projecting reflector, and economizes radiant energy in that a por ion of the direct rays are returned to the lamp bulb as heat. It will, therefore, be seen that the arrangement of reflectors which is here disclosed has a true cooperative relationship to the screening mechanism embodying the stationary screen 15 and the secondary, movable screen 23.

lVhile l have described in considerable detail the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, I have done so, so that the structure and its operation might be more quickly a p parent and not because all the parts referred to are essential. The mechanism employed might be widely varied within the scope of T my invention and what I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lamp comprising, in combination, a light source and a parallel beam reflector therefor, a screen disposed before said light source and adapted to cut oil direct rays therefrom and a secondary screen associated therewith, arranged to overlie laterally said light source and rotatable for adjustment to selected positions angularly thereof.

2. A lamp comprising, in combination, a light source and a parallel beam reflector therefor, a screen disposed before said light source and adapted to out off direct rays therefrom and a secondary screen associated therewitln and adjustable to overlie "more or less said light source at any one of a number of positions laterally thereof. 3. A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface, a light therein, a light-transmitting element for said casing, a tubular screen disposed before said light and adapted to prevent the transmission of the central cone of di-' rect rays therefrom, a tubular screen carried thereby and adjustable to cover more or less said light, said screen having provision to permit the passage of light at one side and means to rotate said screento permit such passage in a desired angular direction relative to said light,

at. A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface,

a li ht therein a li httransmitting c ement for said casing, telescoping tubular menr bers carried by said l1ght-transmitting ele- 'ment and adapted on telescopic movement more or less to cover said light, saidmeinher having provision for light transmission at one side thereof, andmeans exterior to the light-transmitting element for tively and telescopically adjustingthe tubular member covering said light.

5. A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface, a main light substantially focally located therein, a light transmitting closure for said casing, a secondary or pilot light located laterally of said casing and a screen adjustable along the axis of the reflector and adapted in extreme position to cut oil direct incidence of rays from said secondary light 011 that part of the reflectoraxially alined with said closure. e

6. A lamp comprising, in combination, a

casing having an interior reflecting surface, a light therein, a lighttransmitting element for said casing, a tubular member secured on the interior of said light-transmitting element, a second tubular member telescoping therewith and adapted on telescopic adjustment to inclose more or less said light, said member having provision for light transmission at one side thereof, and means exterior to said light-transmitting element for independently rotating said second member and longitudinally moving the same.

7 A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface, a light therein, a light-transmitting closure for said casing, a tubular screen carried by said closure before said light and a segmental opaque member telescoping therewith and adjustable to desired angular position beside said light and longitudinally to overlie said light in desired degree.

8. A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface, a light therein, a. light-transmitting closure rotafor said casing, a screen for intercepting direct rays from the light through said closure, and asecondary screening means adjustable to interceptrays propagated in any one of a number of sectors laterally of said light and throughout a zone of variable exof light projection from said closure before said light and secondary screening means telescoping therewith and adjustable to overlie more or less said light at diiferent positions angularly about the axis of light projection.

' 10. A lamp comprising, in combination, a parabolic reflector, a light substantially tocally placed therein, a tubular screenaxially alincd with said light and a secondary segmental screen carried by said tubular screen and adapted to extend substantially parallel to the axis of the reflector laterally to overlie said light, saidsecondary screen being rotatable about said axis whereby to screen said light in any one of a number of sectors laterally thereof.

.11. A lamp comprising, in combination, a parabolic reflector, light substantially tocally placed therein, a tubular screen axially alined with said light and secondary screening means carried by said tubular screen and adjustablethereon in a substantially axial direction to overlie said light laterally in any one of anumber of sectors thereabout.

12. A. lamp comprising, in combination, a casing, a parabolic reflector therein, a light substantially focally placed in said reflector, a glazing for said casing, a tubular screen axially alined with said light carried on the interior of said glazing, a secondary tubular screen telescoping with said firstscreen and cut away at one side'adjacent its inner end, a rotatable stud having an operating portion external to said glazing and an arm connected eccentrically to said secondary tubular screen with provision for sliding movement thereof, and an axial adjusting screw entering said secondary screen having anope'rating portion external to said glazing.

13. A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface, a light source, a light transmitting opening and a glazing for said opening, a flanged bush mounted on said glazing, a primary screen carried by said bush, a secondary 14-. A lamp comprising, in combination, a

casing having an interior light-reflecting surface, a light source, a llght transmitting opening and a glazing for said. opening, a

bush mounted on said glazing, an axial rod carried thereby, a screen on said rod and means to clamp the screen to the bush and against rotation.

15. A lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having an interior reflecting surface, a light therein, a light-transmitting element for said casing, a tubular screen disposed before said light and adapted to prevent the transmission of direct rays therefrom, a secondary tubular screen carried thereby and adjustable to inclose said light in desired degree.

16. A lamp comprising a casing having an interior reflecting surface and a light transmitting opening, a closure for the opening, a substantially axially located light in said casing and a screening device carried by the closure andhaving an outer tubular part and an inner segmental part adapted laterally to overlie the light.

17. ii lamp comprising a casing having an interior reflecting surface and a light transmitting opening, a closure for the opening, a substantially axially located light in said casing and a screening device carried by the closure and having an outer tubular part and an inner segmental part adapted laterally to overlie the light and adjustable in the axial direction.

18. A lamp comprising a casing having an interior reflecting surface and light transmitting opening, a closure for the opening, a light source located in the axial line of the reflector and arranged for adjustment therealong and a screen fixedly supported in front of said light and having an outer part extending symmetrically about the axial line and an inner se mental part adapted laterally to overlie the light source.

19. A lamp comprising a casing, a parallel beam reflecting surface thereiman opposed, peripherally disposed reflecting surface in the form of a spherical zone centered substantially at the focus of said first reflector,

a glazing across the base of said zone, a lig' t source arranged to lie in the axial line of said reflectors, a tubular screen carried by said glazing terminating adjacent the surface of the cone defined by the focus of the reflecting surface and the light transmitting aperture of the lamp and a segmental screen slidably assembled therewith.

20. A lamp comprising a casing, a parallel beam reflecting surface therein, an opposed, peripherally disposed reflecting surface in the form of a spherical zone centered substantially at the focus of said first reflector, a glazing across the base of said zone, a screen carried by said glazing having an inwardly extending wall terminating adjacent the surface of the cone defined by the focus of the reflecting surface and the light transmitting aperture of the lamp, a light carrying membcr extending through said parallel beam refleeting surface to the exterior of the casing and mounted for longitudinal adjustment along the axis of the reflecting surfaces, at light source carried by said member and means to shield from the light a sector of the parallel beam reflecting surface, comprising a segmental portion slidably mounted on said Wall.

21. In a lamp, in combination, a casing having an interior light-reflecting surface, a light-transmitting opening at the front of the casing and a glazing for the opening, a ligl'it source in the casing, an inwardly extending screen mounted on said glazing, a secondary screen slidable with respect to'the first and adapted to overlie the light source on one side thereof, means having a manipulating portion exterior to the glazing for sliding said secondary screen and means to hold the secondary screen against rotation relative to the first during such sliding movement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this soecification.

ELLSW RTH A. HAWTHORNE.

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