US1438390A - Lamp deflsctos - Google Patents

Description

,E. MORRIS.

LAMP DEFLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1922.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

km m% %4 am B Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES E'MIL li'iLOItItIS, OI CLINTON, IOtVfil.

LAMP DEFLECTOR.

Applicationfiled March 24, 1922.

Q '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL Monuis, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Clinton,

in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp Deflectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to vehicle lamps, and refers particularly to means controlling the direction in which the rays of light may be thrown from such lamps.

One of the great problems of the present time is the provision, in the head-lights of motor-driven vehicles which are capable of throwing a strong enough flood of light to illuminate the path of travel of the fast moving vehicle a substantial distance in advance of the vehicle, of means for deflecting the light upon the approach of another vehicle from the opposite direction. One of the most successful methods used for this purpose is that of dimming the lights either by the employment of two sets of lamps of high and low candle power respectively, or by the use of electrical resistances for the purpose of varying the intensity of the light generated in the lamps. But both of these methods are objectionable in some respects. They are too expensive for the ordinary person to in stall. And they are too delicate to with stand the rough usage incident to the travel of such vehicles.

The object of the present invention is the provision of simple and inexpensive means for deflecting the head light of a motordriven vehicle. A further object is to provide a substantial mechanical device capable oi withstanding severe operating condition. Another object is the provision of mechanical device which may be controlled by the vehicle operator from his station.

To this end my invention consists in the combinations hereinafter fully described and explained and which are illustrated in the accompan ing drawing, of which,

Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the head lamp of a motor vehicle embodying the in vention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional side elevations of the front portions of the lamp. showing the structure of my invention in different states of adjustment.

The device of my invention is attachable to any type of motor-vehicle lamp in the marlszet, the present time, and the lamp shown in the drawing supposed to he rep-- resentative of the general type. It com Serial No. 546,362.

prises a substantially semi-circular, or conic shell 1, within which is suitably mounted a. light bulb 2, and the front of which is closed by a glass disc, 01', crystal There is a rim -l which is pressed over the mouth of the shell for the purpose of maintaining the crystal and lamp reflector in position, as usual in practice.

The device of my invention comprises a thin annular ring 5, which is provided with two opposed series of lugs, 6 to 11, bent at right angles to the body of the ring and arranged substantially in circle slightly larger thanthe inner diameter of the rim 4:. The outer extren'iity of each of said lugs is perforated-to receive pivot members 12 to 17, of screen frames 12 to 1'7, which frames also are arcuate in shape and when assembled, as shown, form a circle substantially as large as the inner rim diameter, and of a size to within the opposed lugs of the disc 5, between which cach screen is mounted to opcrate.

As the screens within the frame all are alike, except as to their length, a detailed description of one screen will suiliice. Reference is therefore invited to the screen secured between the opposed lugs 8 and 8 which screen comprises a series of parallel bars, or slats 20 to 28, all of which are alilre, except as to length. In the drawing I have shown nine of these slats to each screen, which number I have found to be convenient, but, of course, the structure may be differently proportioned, if desired, to suit different sizes of lamps. The width of the slats may be about twice the distance between the slats.

But the most important feature to note is the angular relation oi the slats to the frames. The slats are all rigidly secured to the "frames and inclined to an angle f about 25. When the screens are drawn together in a vertical continuation, as indicated in Fig. 2, it is noticed that the slats all are parallel to each other and forwardly inclined so as to throw the light downward in front of the vehicle. In Fig. 3 the screens are shown open and here the slats are shown parallel in a horizontal plane, while the rames are rearwardly inclined. As a result of this construction it is readily seen that a substantially free passage for the light rays itlllldfitl the horizontal rays. when the screens are open, and it is found that, in this position the slats are hardly noticeable at a distance. But when closed they operate to deflect the light downward, and a person may look directly at the lamp with comfort. Of course a practically uninterrupted stream of light still flows from the lamp, spreading its lustre before the vehicle, but this light only reaches the observer indirectly, and the intense and dangerous direct glare is eliminated.

A device of this kind would not be of particular commercial value unless it may be operated from. the drivers station, as I shall now proceed to indicate, and connections for this purpose may readily be made by any mechanic skilled in the art. In Fig. 2 I have shown how such connection may be made, but I do, of course, not limit myself to the particular method illustrated. Vertically through the center of the lamp is placed a thin rod or bar 30, on which a series of arms 31 to 36 are pivotally hung in any suitable manner. Each of these arms extends to the center. of a screen, and they may be fastened on the middle slat of each screen, as shown, or some more substantial method of attach- .ment may be adopted. My aim herein is merely to point out to the mechanic that which I wish to accomplish, and to make my drawing and description as simple and clear as possible. The lower end of the rod is pivotally connected for operation by a'bellcrank 40, which in turn is'hung on a bracket 41 of the lamp rim 4. From this bell-crank extends a rod 42 to the drivers station. In this case the lamp is mounted on automobile, and a fragment 4-3 of the automobile, and a fragment 43 of the automobile dashboard is indicated. The operating rod 42 may terminate IILU. button dd which the driver pulls out to the position indicated in Fig. 2, when he wishes to deflect the light. Where it is founddesirable to providemeai'is for .maintainii'ig the device locked in open or closed position, such means may take the form of a resiliei'it linger 4'5 .)ositioncd to (I14 go notches 4-2, 42 of the rod ()1- more claliioratc operating and locking: means may be employed, if desired.

, The vertical rod 30and the arms 31. to 36 are preferably made from very thin material, set edgewise relative to the light rays, in which case they will hardly be noticeable when the screens are open on account of the halation incident to the light rays passing through the screens.

In order to attach or remove the structure of my invention it is only necessary to remove the rim 4:, to place the ring 5 behind the glass; and then to put the rim back in place.

From the foregoing description it is seen that I aim to provide a deflecting apparatus which will direct substantially the full amount of light, either directly forward or diagonally downward, and that I propose to operate the device from the drivers station. The claims are drawn to such structure, and they are broad enough to cover such mechanical modifications necessary to make the device of my invention durable and easy to operate.

I claim:

1. In a lamp, an annular frame mountable behind the glass front of the lamp, aseries of screens oscillatory in saidframe, each screen comprising end frames and a plurality of thinpara llel bars, obliquely secured between said end frames.

2. In a lamp, a vertical series of oscillatory screens, each screen having obliquely fixed parallel bars for deflecting the light rays, and means for oscillating said screens until said parallel bars reach a horizontal position.

3. In a lamp comprising, a casing, a reflector, a light within the reflector, and a glass closing the frontof the reflector, the

combination with an annular disc placed between the glass and the reflector, said disc provided with opposed series of lugs rearwardly directed, a series of end frai'nes pivotally hung in said lugs, each frame made with a plurality of parallel cross bars obliquely secured 'in said end frames, and

means for rocking said frames to swing all of said cross bars into a horizontal position.

1-. In a vehicle head light, a'disc detachably mounted in said headlight and provided with projecting lugs, end frames pivotally hung in said lugs, a plurality of equidistant bars rigidly and obliquely seemed in each pair of end frames, said ilirames nor mally swung out of line to bring the said bars into horizontal position, and manual means operated from the vehicle dashboard for swinging the frames into continued vertical alinement, thereby deflecting the light of the lamp downward.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto a'fixed my signature.

EMIL norms.

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