US1525722A - Signal light - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1925. 1 1,525,722

J. J. DARRELL SIGNAL LIGHT File d Jail. 19, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. dob/1 11' .Qarrd/ FY 7%rf-M- A TTORNEY Feb. 10. 1925.

J. J. DARRELL SIGNAL LIGHT IN V EN TOR.

1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan 19 dob/7 1/, flar/fi/ BY z- W ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. DARRELL, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EUGENE M. FAR-NHAM, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL LIGHT.

Application filed January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,197.

Lights, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal lights and in particular to ships lights, and is an 1mproved lamp box for projecting two separate beams of light from a single source of illumination, such as from the ordinary lamp of the port or starboard light of standard maritime regulation.

A reflector arrangement is positioned within the lamp box andto the rear of the main signal light, to direct light rays laterally from the box and behind the main signal light. The two lights being fixed with respect to each other act in conjunction, and are a guide and check on the angular movement of the vessel to either port or starboard to anobserver, such as the pilot of another ship.

All vessels universally carry the custom ary port and starboard lights, and when approaching and passing other vessels at night govern their movements by these lights and whistle blasts, but many ships, such as sailing vessels, rely on the lights alone. Pilots often misjudge the course taken by an approaching vessel, or mistake the sig nals given and pursue the wrong course until too late to change the direction to avoid a collision. Especiallyis this true if both vessels are approaching each other in a direct line with both port and starboard lights visible to the pilot, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide an auxiliary light, preferably of white color and positioned adjacent and fore-andaft to the said port and starboard lights, so that any deviation of either vessel from their direct approaching courses will show said white light in combination with its respective main guide light of red or green, thus indicating to the navigators the course the other is taking and is an immediate and positive check as to the intention of each pilot.

At present, the pilots of approaching vessels check their movements by sighting tne fixed combination of port or starboard light with the masthead light. Lights are so numerous on vessels of the present day, that the above checking system is more or less unreliable, and I consider my invention an efiicient improvement to the art for the safety of ships and passengers alike.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary light of the character referred to with a lens arrangement adapted to project any desired configuration, that is, the lens arrangement shown in the drawlugs consists of a central lens and several smaller ones set about it in the same frame, the whole substantially presenting a Maltese cross, which projected light from the lenses will tend to distinguish it from other lights aboard the ship.

A. further object is to recess the auxiliary lighta definite distance, so that the main signal light will always stand out well defined, and that the former light shall be visible only when approaching vessels deviate from their head-on courses.

Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of my invention, will appear with reference to the subjoined specification and the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the position of two vessels approaching head-on, and with my combination guide lights radiating from each. The other positions illustrate the vessels deviating from the straight line to pass each other, and show the method of direct and positive checking of such movements by the visible and fixed relation of the main and auxiliary lights. R, G and signify respectively red, green and white lights, and the dotand-dash lines indicate lines of vision.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the port light mounted on the screen bracket and showing my auxiliary light in fixed relation with the main port or red light. Only a portion of the screen bracket is shown.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the port light and screen of Fig. 2, and as it appears to an approaching navigator. Fragmentary portions of the lamp box are broken away to show the air inlet to the box and the manner of securing the box to the screen.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section of the lamp box, auxiliary light lens arrangement and reflectorastaken upon the line 4% through Figs. 2 and 3. The top view of the screen bracket is shown in full.

Adverting to the drawings and figures thereof: The numerals 5 and 6 represent respective vessels nearing each other in a direct line of approach 7. andgoverned by the regulation maritime rules ofthe sea their respective courses were caused to be deviated, each vessel veering to the, right. During the daylight hours the problem of checking the correct movements of ships is simplified, but at night extreme caution is necessary, and my improvement is of benefit and aid during the darkened hours chiefly.

In F 2 and 3 I have shown the main lens 8 in shading to indicate red for the portv light, but it is'to be understood that a similar light but colored green is used in connection with the starboard side of the vessel.

Throughout the figures a standardtype of Government regulation lamp is shown with my improvement incorporated therewith. The signal light comprises the screen bracket 9, which as heretofore stated is the port bracket and therefore is accordingly colored red to correspond with the port lamp lens 8. The lamp casing 10 is of sheet metal construction and substantially rectangular in shape, and is held'to the base 11 by perforated spring clips 12 engaging pintles 13 secured to the lower edge of tliecasin'g 10.

The base 11 is rigidly secured to the bracket 9 as by bolts 14, Fig. 3, through the bottom board thereof. To the side board of the screen bracket is secured the usual tongue member 15 to engage the bracket 16 on the lamp casing 10 for lateral support.

Air inlet passages 17 areformed near the lower edge of the inner side of the casing, and the upper structure of the box isprovided with a series of outlet openings 18 to provide an air circulation through the said lamp box.

The exposed free front corner of the casing is provided with the customary main light. lens 8, and a source of illumination, such as an electric light bulb 19 is situated within the lamp box and is positioned in close proximity to said lens.

The outer side of the casing 10 is recessed as at. 20, Fig. l, and suitably supports'on its flange 21 a perforated plate 22 welded thereto. The latter has mounted thereon a series of smaller lenses 23 and a central lens 24-. A similarly perforated plate 25 secured to plate 22 as by screws 26, holds all the lenses in position. Between the plates is a yielding and weather-proof gasket 27 of rubber or the like. All the lenses in the recess are preferably of white glass, the group constituting my auxiliary light. As stated heretofore the shape of the recess may be of any desired character, also the arrangement of the lenses and their shape.

IVithin the casing 10 and angularly positioned with relation to the bulb 1.9 and auxiliary lenses, is a reflector plate 28 held in place by rigid flanged brackets 29, having guideways 30 therein. The reflector is vertically movable within these guideways and may be removed from the bottom for cleaning purposes when, the casing is detached from the screen bracket 9. This reflector is suitably positioned to receive the rays of light 31 from the bulb and reflect them through the auxiliary lenses 23 and 24. The beams of light being projected substantially at right angles to the longitudinal center of the ship, while those of the main light are projected forwardly. The reflector 28 may be constructed of any bright or polished metal, or it may be of silvered glass.

The lens mounting in the recess 20 may be of any desired configuration, or a single ribbed lens may be used in placeof the lenses 23and 24, although the several diffusions from the different lenses in the recess attract immediate attention as their contrast is marked from the ordinary white lights aboard the ship.

Parts not specifically mentioned are those of usual construction and common to signal lights.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention in its preferred form, I wislr it understood that the same may be modified as practice suggests. Therefore, the patent protection'that I desire is all of that which comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims: I

1. In combination with a light-screen bracket, a ships lamp comprising a casing having a main colored lens in one end thereof and anauxiliary lens in one side, abase for the casing, a lamp within the casing mounted on the base and near the main lens anda reflector near the auxiliary lens posi tionedto receive rays of light .from the lamp and reflect the same through the auxiliary lens outwardly and substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the ship, thebase adapted for permanent securement to the bracket and the casing adapted for removable engagement with the said base.

2. In combination with a light-screen bracket, a ships lamp therefor comprising a unit and removable lamp box having a main color'ed'lens in one end thereof, an auxiliary lensmounted in the side of said box, a source of light within the box and a reflector adjacent thereto and positioned to reflect rays of light from said light sourcethrough the auxiliary lens in a lateral beam discernible from the colored main light, and visible only when out of alignment with the observer.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN J. DARRELL.

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