US1381637A - Illuminating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

E. A. HAWTHORNE.

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001.23. 1917 1,381, 37, PatentedJune 14,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1.

Inveni/or zsworikdl.flawiiknrzw E. A. HAWTHORNE.

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 23, I917 1,381,637. PatentedJune 14,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I nvenior E'Zlsworiiwflflawihorne by frwd E. A. HAWTHORNE. ILLUMINATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1917.

1,381,637. Patented J1me '14, 192-1.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- E. AJHAWTHORVNE.

ILLUMINATING APP'ARATUS.'

APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1917.

1,381 ,637. Patented June 14, 1921.

4' SHEETS-SHEET 4.

29% M fi ELLSW'ORTH A. IiiAW'TI'IGR-NE, 0E BEIDGEEOBT, CONEIECTICUT.

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 23, 1917. Serial To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLswonTH A. HAW- THUPNE, a citizen oi the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, county of Fair- ;tield, and State of Connecticut, lmve invented an Improvement in Illuminating l'ippnratus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying druwin 's, is e moeciticetion, like characters on the drawings representing lilze parts.

This invention relates to illuminating; apparatus of the type particularly intended for use as a headlight or senrchlight for vehicles, and is more especially concerned with means for controlling the concentration and dispersion of the light rays, and insuring proper illumination of the foreground and distant roadway, while restricting the rays in such a. manner to prevent OlJjQC'tlOllLtlJlG glare above a predetermined height from the roadway.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the l'ollowing (flescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of certain specific embodiments thereof, while its scope will. be more particularly pointed out in the appei t ed claims.

in the drawings:

F i sure 1 is a cntral, vertical, longitudinal section of a headlight ei'nbodying my invcir tion;

Fig. is a front elevation of: the some;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a motor hie-lo equipped with it pair of headlights einbodyiup; my invention, and illustrating; the action of the light rays;

Fig. 42 is a sectional view on line +lal of i i 3. also illustrstin51 the action of the light rays;

Fie'. 5 is a detail plan on an enlarged scale of the light-intercepting means and its mounting;

Fig. 6 a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a. front elevation of a modified form of the ligi ht-intercepting means; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-% of Fig. 2'.

F 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showin the light interecptino means applied t reflector of form d1; rent from that show in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawinos-Jirst to the Form o'l my invention illus fated in Figs. 1 to (l, inclusive. and more particularly to 1 and 2,--I have there shown a headlight Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

comprising a suitable casing 1.0, within which is mounted an appropriate light-concent itine; reflector ll, which may be and is herein of the parabolic type. A suitable light source, preferably an electric bulb 12, provided with filament 13, is associated with, and prefers bly coaxially disposed with relation to, the reflector, as best shown in Fig. 1. The reflector is open at the frontfor the passage o'l. tl e reflected and unreliected riiys, while the front of the casing is provided with a. suitable light-transmitting element or glazing 14.

In most communities, there are now in force laws regulating the use of headlights or motor vehicles, the idea being); to compel the use of headlights which, while "furnishing ample illumination of the roadway, shall produce no objectionable glare above a cerlain height from the roadwa Many attempts have been made to provide suitable devices to comply with the various regulations, but heretofore much difliculty h been experienced in. producing a practicable and SUIYlCQZll'JlO device which will eliminate the objectionable glare, without more or less 5 rious :eduction of the necessary illumination for the safety of the operators of vehicles, wcll'os pedestrians, on the roadway. Some devices, while possibly achieving fairly satisfactory results in this di ectioni are either complex, as well as expensive, or so fragile and delicate as to be injured easily by the shocks and vibrations to which they are subjected.

In producing my invention, I have provided a device which is found in practice to give excellent results as regards illumination of the foreground and distant roadway, while still possessing the necessary sim plicity and strength to enable it to withstand the shocks and vibrations to which it is subjected when in use on e motor vehicle.

To this end, I have providez'l ligzhtdntercepting and reflecting means which I will now describe. A. lll1t-l1i(3l'(il3llfl element 15 has 2, segmental wall 16, which for the most part is disposed above the axis All the light source and reflector, although in the present. example, it is provided with two downwardly end forwardly inclined lateral portions 17, which extend below the axis. This see-mental wall may be. and in the present example is, a segment of a cylinder whose axis is coincident with the axis AA of the bulb and reflector. The light-intercept ing element 15 has another all which in the present example is dish-like preferably inv the form of disk, as best. shown in Fig.

be observed that the chord f Lie segment is formed by a horizontal ocge 19 below axis AA. It should be observed that t. or ge is below the. lowermost part of the meat 13, so that the latter completely hiddeu from the eye of a person standing on the roadway when the lamp is so placed that a plane containing the edge and the lowermost portion of; the filament lies below the observers eye. Thus, it will be apparent. that no direct rays from the light source can reach and blind the eye ofllie observer.

In the case of a shallow reflector, or one or moderate depth such as represented at 11 in Fig. 9, it is safe enough to have the edge 19 located closely adjacent the glazing l il, and in lamps of such character, the desc ibcd light-intercepting element gives excellent results when the rear edge of the cylimlro-segmental portion 16 in close proximity to the upper portion of the reflecting surface of the reflector. in such the bulb is naturally placed well forward within the cylindro-segmental portion of the light-intercepting shield, as indicated by Fig. 9, as compared with 1. j

The light-intercepting shie d is interposed. between the light source and the u cr portion of the reflecting" surface of the reflector. ll. follows that the up vard rays which would otherwise reach and be reflected by such upper portion, and cause an obj ctionable ,elaro, are intercepted. By making; the internal surface of the shield as a reflecting surface, these intercepted rays or at least many of them, are reflected onto the lower portion of the reflecting surface of the para bolic reflector, and are thus utilized to form p rt of the projected beam of light.

In the case of a lamp having: an unusually deep reflector, such as that shown in Fig. 1, the light source is necessarily located at a consid rable distance from the glazing, and in this event it is found desirable to provide a disk-like, light-interceptiiu; wall 20 nearer the light source. This wall may be, and preferably is, segmental, and of the same general character as the wall 18, and is similarly provided with a horizontal edge 21, located below the axis AA. hen this wall is provided, its lower edge is substituted for the lower edge 19 of the wall 18, and instead of the plane BB, we have a plane CC containing the edge 21 and the lowermost portion of the filament The wall 20 may be, and uefcrably is, axially adjustable, and preferably also the cylindrosegmental wall of the shield is er:- tensible, so as to adapt the shi ld to reflectors of different depths. Une convenient way of accomplishing this result is to make the wall 20 as a part of second and distinct lipht-intcrcopting element 22, having a cylin- (ll'O-SQglllfillttl wall 23 similar .to the wall 16,

.i 1 1 and concentric therewith. Une of these walls overlaps the other, so that in effect they constitute a single extensible wall.

A means for securing the elements 15 and 22 in the desired positionof adjustment, 1 havi herein provided a clamping screw 2'1 and cooperating nut 25. The screw extends through a perforation in the outer wall 16, and through a longitudinal slot 26 in the inner wall 23, while the nut 25 is preferably placed onthe inside. T he nut may be held against turning movement by a yoke 27, provided with a pair of arms 28 extending illllfllilgdl slots 29 in the wall 16, and. through the slot 26 to the interior of the element 22, where said arms embrace the nut. The latter may be, and herein provided with notches 36 to receive the arms, and by this means the yoke and nut are securely interlocked against relative turning movement. Preferably the free ends of the arms are bent inwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, thereby prevent the nut from dropping out of ulace inv case the screw should. be accidentally unscrewed too far. To adjust the element 22, it is neces. ary merely to turn the screw to a siu'iicient extent to permit the member 92 to be moved lengthwise to the desired position, whereupon it may be l in such position by again tightening;

. of the light-intercepting elethe se mental wall. 23 is for the st part disposed above the axis AA, a oug'h in the present example it is prov ed with two downwardly and forwardly inclined lateral portions 31. It should be understood. however, that the lateral portions of both .1"? the walls 1.6 and 23 may be variously shaped to suit the requirements of the articular lamp, but I have found in pra co that this shape ,ogives excellent results. because while providing for ample illumination of the foreground, it prevents the escape of glaring; rays in a forward and lateral direction. This is a distinct advan tage over some devices which prevent obj ectionable pglaro when viewed from directly in front of the lamp, but permit the emission of glaring rays toward the side, so as to surface of the segmental wall is disposed at an adjmntageous angle to reflect the inter eepted rays back onto the lower portion of the reflecting surface of the parabolic reflcctor, whence they are projected as a part of the beam.

In both forms, the shield is provided at the bottom and front with an opening to permit the passage of forwardly and downwardly directed, UD-IGflGCtECl rays as a diffused light onto the roadway, and to per-- mit the passage of rays from the light source onto the lower portion of the reflecting surface, whence they will be concentrated and emitted through the front of the reflector as a beam. The effect of this is well illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1-, more particularly Fig. 4-, in which the concent 'ated rays forming the beam are shown in heavy, substantially parallel, horizontal lines, while the direct unreflected rays are shown as lighter, diverging lines intersecting the plane of the roadway at various points. It should be understood that in practice, the rays of the beam may be substantially parallel, as shown in heavy lines in Fi g. l, or somewhat divergent, forming a cone rather than a, cylinder of light, depending of course on the location of the light-source with relation to the focal point of the reflector.

In either form of my invention, the lightintercepting element or elements may be supported by any suitable means, but in the present example, they are supported on the glazing 14, the latter to this end being pro vided with a perforation to receive a bolt 34 which extends through the front wall of the shield, and is provided with a nut 35 by means of which the shield may be held in fixed position. I prefer to interpose between the glazing and the shield a washer 36, which may be formed of any suitable mate rial, such for example as compression fiber, which is sufficiently yielding to insure a firm clamping action without danger of the glazing l l being broken. If desired, the front well 1.8 may be recessed or chambered as at 37, to bring the greatest pressure to hear at a considerable distance from the axis of the bolt and provide a somewhat yielding pressure due to the springdilre action of the central portion of the wall, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 6. Any suitable means may be provided for preventing the washer 36 from turning, but in the present example I have provided the wall 18 with a pair of forwardly extending lugs 38, engaging the lower edge of the washer, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6. if desired, a second washer 39, also made of fiber, may be interposed between the head of the bolt 3 and the front face of the glazing 14.

Any suitable material may be used for the light-intercepting element or elements, and they may be either opaque or translucent.

W hen opaque, they are preferably made of metal, and preferably of aluminum, because of its lightness. ll hen trai'islucent, they may be made of celluloid, balrelite, or some similar substance, containing sufficient coloring matter to prevent the emission of glaring rays while still allowing the escape of more light than is the case with an opaque snield. In practice, however, I prefer to employ a metallic shield, because of its great strength and durability, and where aluminum is employed for this purpose, it possesses the additional advantage of excellent heat coductivity. This is a distinct advantags, as will be readily appreciated when it is considered that modern high power bulbs give out considerable heat, which is sometimes found. to be injurious to the silverel surface of the reflector.

While I have herein shown and described two specific forms or embodiments of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in dc til the construction anu a 'rangement incidental to two specific apg ilications thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement parts, nor to its specific embodiments herein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated forms or embodiments of the invention may be made, without departing from. the principles thereof.

Having thus desxribed my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

l. A lamp for vehicles comprising, in combination, a light-source, a. lightconeen trating reflector open at the front for the passage of both reflected and unreflccted rays, light-interce iting means having a portion above the axis of said reflector and between said light-source and the upper portion of the reflecting surface of said retleo tor, and having another portion in front of said light-source and above and below said axis to obstruct the passage of forwardly emitted, unreflected rays above said axis and a part of those below said axis, said means having at its bottom and front an opening to permit the passage of forwardly and downwardly directed unreflected rays as a diffused light onto the roadway and to permit the passage of direct rays from said light-source onto the lower portion of said reflecting surface to be concentrated and emitted through the front of said reflector a beam, a means to support said light intercepting means forward of ight source and independently of said light source, said light intercepting means being separated from said light source and said reflector above the axis of the latter by a space permitting the upward escape of heat from said light source.

2. A lamp for vehicles compmsing, in

combination, a light-source, a light-concentrating reflector open at the front for the passage of both reflected and unreliected rays, light-intercepting means having a portion'above the of said reflect and between said light-source an d the upper portion of the reflecting surface of said reflector, and having another potion in front of suit light-source and aoove and below said axis to obstruct the passage. of forwardly emitted, unrei ected rays above said axis and a part of those below said ax s, said means having at its bottom and front an opening to permit the passage of fori ardly and downwardly uirected unreflected rays as a diffused light onto the roadway and to permit the passage of direct rays from said light-source onto the lower portion of said reflecting surface to be concentrated and emitted through the front of said. reflector as a beam, and ieans for supporting saic light-intercepting means indep 'idently of i. light-source, said ligatin ercepting means l aving its rear upper portion sepafrom said li rht-source and said reflecior by a space permitting the upward of heat'from said light-source.

lamp for vehicles comprising, in tion, a light-source, a light-concentrating reflector open the front for the passe of both reflected and unreflected rays, light-inter opting means having a portion above the axis of said reflector and between said light-source aer portion'of the reflecting sur "ace of u reflector, and h ving another portion in front of said light-source and above and below said axis to obstruct the passage of for ardly emitted, unreflected rays above said anis and a part of those helo y said axis, said means having; at its bottom and front an opening to permit the passage of forwardly and downwardly directed unrefiected rays as a diffused light onto the roadway and to permil; the passage of directirays from said lightource onto the lower portion of said rel; c si rfaco to be concentrated. and emitted through the front of said reflector as a beam, and a glazing at the front of said reflector, said light-intercepting means being supported by said glazing, said light-intercepting means having its rear upper portion separated from said light-source and said reflector by a space permitting the upward escape of heat from said light-source.

4i. lamp coin iris ng, in

for Vehicles 1 light-source, a light-concenthe front for the i reflected and unreflected rays om sail light-source, lightin.- ercepting means laying a wall comprising 5 gment of a cylinder above the axis of said reflector and between said light-source and the upper portion o; i

A t e reflecting 1rface of said reflector, 11K having a vertical names? wall in front of said light-source above and below said axis to obstruct the passage of forwardly emitted, unreflected rays above said axis and a part of those below said axis, said means having at its bottom and front an opening to permit the passage of forwardly and downwardly directed unreflccted rays as a diffused light onto the road way and to permit the passage of direct rays from said light-source onto the lower porion of said reflecting surface to be concentrated and emitted through the front of said reflect as a beam, a means to support said verti al wall forward of said light-source providiig for the support of said segment of the cylinder independently of said light source and separated therefrom and from reflector by a space permitting the upward escape of heat from said light source.

5, Light-intercepting means for headlights and search-lights comprising a pluity of axially adjustable shields, and cans including a screw extending tl'irough id shields, a nut cooperating with said row to secure said shields in the desired position of adjustment, and a yoke having a pair of arms engaging said nut to hold the same turning movement.

(3. Light-intercepting means for headlights and search-lights comprising a plurality of 21' ally ad ustable shields, and

s 1 i .ding a screw ex e ding through said Sl1l6l(5, a nut cooperating with said screw to secure said shields in th desired position of adjustment, and yolie having a pair of arms extending througu one of said shields and engaging said nut to hold the same against turning movement.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a lightdntcrcepting shield for head-lights, comprising a disk-like segmental wall pro vided with an edge forming the chord of the segment, and a oylindro-segmental wall provided with two edges inclined with relation to he axis and joining the first-mentioned dge.

8, i-is new article of manufacture, a light-intercepting shield for head-lights, comprising a oi lr-lilre segmental wall provided with an ed 'e forming the chord of the segment, and cylindro-segmental wall provided with two edges which are in part substantially parallel with the axis and in part inclined with relation to said axis.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a light-intercepting shield for headlights comprising a disk-like segmental wall. provided with an edee forming the choi, of the segment, and a cylindro-segmental wall. provided with two edges which are in part substantially parallel with the axis and in part inclined with relation to said axis and join the first-mentioned edge.

A light-intercepting lights and search-lights comprising 811161? shield for headtensible cylinclro-segmental wall and a disklilie segmental Wall.

11. A ligl1tinte1cepting shield for headlights and search-lights eempi'ising an axially extensible cylindro-segmental Wall and a disk-like segmental Wall.

12. A light-intercepting shield for head- ELLSWORTH A. HAWTIIORNE.

lights anal search-lights comprising an extensible eyhnclre-segmental Wall and a (llS In testimony whereof, I have signed my

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