US1533360A - Automobile light - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1925.

W. H. WOOD AUTOMOBILE LIGHT Filed Dec. 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Arrow/5V5 April 14, 1925.

r r 1,533,360 w. H. wboo AUTOMOBILE I I GHT Filed Dec. 17. 1924 2 heets-shut 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

, UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. WOOD, OF SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT.

Application filed December 17, 1924. Serial No. 756,495.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. 7001), a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of South Euclid, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Lights, of which the following is a full,"clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automobile lights and has for its main object the provision of a new and improved lamp bulb having its light producing elements so shaped and arranged as, when used with customary types of reflectors, to produce a beam of such shape as shallbe most satisfactory to the driver of the vehicle and at the same time least objectionable to travelers moving in the opposite direction; the provision of a lamp bulb which, when used with a reflector of the conic section type, shall produce a legally acceptable and practically desirable light without the added employment of lenses, dimmers, special reflectors, etc.-; the provision of a lamp bulb which, when used with reflectors of the customary, type, shall produce a diffused illumination of its chosen field and at the same time shall illuminate different portions thereof with varying intensities; the provision of a headlight bulb having a higher factor of safety than previous devices used for this purpose; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several physical forms in which my inventive idea is embodied together with the result obtained by using a preferred form of my improved lamp bulb in connection with paraboloid reflectors. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bulb showing one form of filamentary arrangement; Flg. 2 1s a side elevation showing a preferred form of leading-in wires; Figs- 3 and 4 show a side elevation and plan of a bulb having multiple leadingin-wires and independently operable filaments also embodying my improvements; Figs. 5 to 9inclusive illustrate alternative filamentary arrangements; Fig. 10 is a central vertical sectional view through a paraboloid reflector showing therein a lamp of the type illustrated in Figsfl, and 2; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view like Fig. 10 but taken sufficiently to one. side of the center to intersect the ends of the filaments; and Fig. 12 is an analysis of the light pattern as cast upon a vertical screen by a lamp bulb of the construction herein described in cooperation with a common paraboloid reflector.

My improved lamp comprises the usual glass globe or bulb 1 and press 2, the latter having the usual leading-in wires sealed therein, together with a suitable metal base 3, usually of cylindrical shape, having one or more insulated contact points 4, or 5, 5, carried thereby. The number of leading-in wires varies with the use of the lamp and the number of uses for which it is intended, and the number, shape and arrangement of filaments also varies. In Fig. 1 I have shown two leading-in wires 6, 6, having secured thereto at points spaced longitudinally along the bulb axis a-a three straight crosswise filaments, 7, 7, constituting a plane lattice. Usually these filaments are of fine wire coiled to helical form, and the term straight as I have used it relates to the axis of the helix. Because of their electrical connection these filaments are illuminated simultaneously. Usually they are of equal candle power, say each of 6, 10, 12, 15, or 21 candle power, although they can be made of unequal candle power if desired. For example in sections where legal requirements are severely exercised upon drivers whose lamps have accidentally burned out it is possible to incorporate one filament of low efficiency but proof against burning out. They are spaced sufliciently far apart to come into focus at different times, whereby the light cast by one filament may dissolve any shadows pro- ,duced by the others, either from its location or by reason of inequalities in the reflector (or other light controlling device). The considerations which determine the length and spacing of these filaments will be set forth hereafter. Here it is noted that I .do not limit myself to using three filaments since any number greater than one can be used" as shown in Figs. 1 to 9; and that they need not be straight but can be V-shaped as in Figs. 6 and 7, or curvilinear as in Fig. 8; and that they need not be parallel but can intersect as in Fig. 9 or be otherwise disposed. Also as to their electrical connection, two leading-in wires can be attached, one tothe base 3 and one to the center contact 4: as shown in Fig. 1; or each to an independent insulated contact 5, 5 as shown in Fig. 5.

An important feature of the present invention is the location of successive filaments not only at spaced points along the lamp axis but also at progressively varying distances away from that axis thereby prosubstantially a plane, the filaments consti-- tuting in effect a kind of lattice although minor variations from a strict plane are not important. In order to produce this effect most easily the tips of the leading-in wires are preferably deflected as; shown in Fig. 2; and the operation of the lamp is most satisfactory when the foremost filament substantially touches the lamp axis, .the filaments to the rear thereof being offset fromtbat axis as shown in Fig. 2.

The result produced when such a lamp bulb is employed in a paraboloid head light reflector is shown in Figs. 10 to 12. It is essential that the filaments be substantially horizontal and that the filament lattice rise from front to rear, the foremost filament being located substantially on the focal point. The direction of the reflected beams arising from-the ,middle points of the various filaments is shown in Fig. 10 from which it will be seen that a part is thrown above the reflector axis; but this is true only of the light rays arising at the middle points of the filaments since owing to the elevation of the filaments above the horizontal the light arising from the end portions thereof is deflected downwardly from all parts of the reflector as attempted to be shown in Fig. 11. As a result the light pattern as cast on a vertical screen is substantially shown in Fig. 12, wherein region X is illuminated by the first or focussed filament, region Y by the next filament and region Z by the third filament; this can be carried further if desired but three is suflicient toshow the operation. The upper corners of the pattern (the D points) which ordinarily cause the blinding and dazzling rays are eliminated and in their stead a curb and gutter light is produced known legally as the Q, points. The central upper portion above the axis a-a, known as the C point is feebly lighted by the rays arising from the middle points of the rear-most filaments as heretofore explained, although this region is neither wide nor is it intensely illuminated and the most intense part of the beam comes at B, just below the extended axis a of the lamp,'this being the exact distribution required by the regulations of even the most exactin communities.

My improved filamentary arrangement can be combined with an independently usable filament of the same or different candle power if desired for city driving or parking purposes. In this case three leading-in wires are employed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, two of the same as 6 and 8 supportiueeasee ing the high power filaments 7 7- and the third 9 supporting one end of the independent filament 10, whose other end is fastened to one of the first leading-in wires as 6. This common terminal is preferably grounded to the base, and the others are connected to the insulated contacts 5, 5. This independent filament can be used either with the straight .or the deflected leading-in wires, but-is preferably kept as near the focal point as practical. It may be either of the same or of different candle power as the main filaments, inequality of illumination being obtained in large degree bythe multiplication.

Another feature of my improved lamp bulb is that it has to be moved a substantial distance along the reflector axis before the character of the light beam is appreciably changed, thus, in effect, approaching the desirable condition of universal focus.

In certain of my claims I have employed the expressions planej substantially a plane, and similar words, but it is to be understood that I do not intend thereby. to confine myself to a true geometric plane,

wholly without thickness and entirely with-- out irregularities, but desire to include such human variation from flatness and such ap proximations to smoothness as still produce the results herein described.

I do not restrict myself to the use of this lamp with any specific form of reflector or lens, although certain features of my improved lamp exhibit their complete advantage only when used with reflectors of the conic section type such as the common paraboloid variety and one of its main advantages is that it does not require the employment of any special lens or peculiar warping of the reflector to eliminate glare. It will be understood, however, that lenses and warped reflectors may be used in addition thereto and that I do not limit myself to dcing-in wires being so deflected relative to the lamp axis that the plane of said lattice is oblique thereto.

2. A lamp-bulb for the purpose described comprising a globe, a base coaxial with said globe, and a lattice of simultaneously usable luminous filaments located inside said globe and defining a single plane which intersects at an oblique angle thecommon axis of said base and globe.

3. An incandescent lamp bulb comprising wires and'arranged cross-wise of the lamp axis, said filaments being confined substantially within a single plane which intersects the bulb axis obliquely.

4. An incandescent lamp a press, non-luminous leading-in wire prejecting therefrom, a plurality of luminous filaments connected across the free ends of said leading-in wires in multiple circuit, said filaments defining substantially a plane lattice and the tips of said leading-in wires being bent so as to cause the plane of said lattice to intersect the bulb-axis obliquely.

5. An incandescent lamp bulb comprising a globe and a base, a pair of non-luminous, leading-in wires projecting into said globe from said base and having their free ends substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart laterally, said free ends being bent so as to define oblique angles with the common axis of said base and globe, and a plurality of luminous filaments connected across the free ends of said leading-in wires in multiple circuit, said filaments together constituting a plane lattice which is located wholly at one side of the common axis of said base and globe.

6. An incandescent lamp bulb comprising a globe and a base concentric to a common axis, a pair of non-luminous, leading-in wires projecting into said globe from said base and confined to adjacent quadrants about said axis, the .tips of said leading-in wires being parallel to and spaced from the meeting plane between said quadrants and also oblique to and terminating substantially at the bounding planes of said quadrants, and a plurality of luminous filaments con nected across thetips of said leading-in wires in multiple circuit.

7. An incandescent lamp bulb comprising a globe and a base concentric to a common axis, a pair of non-luminous, leading-in wires projecting into said globe from said base and confined to adjacent quadrants about said axis, the tips of said leading-in wires being parallel to and spaced from the meetin plane between said quadrants and also 0 lique to and terminating substantially at the bounding planes of said quadrants, and a plurality of V-shaped filaments connected parallel to each other across the tips of said leading-in wires, each filament consisting of a fine wire wound in a small helix and the ciding with the inclmed plane defined by the tips of said leading-in wires.

8. An incandescent lamp bulb comprising bulb comprising lam lanes of the. Vs coin-' a globe and a base, a pair of non-luminous, leading-in Wires projecting into said globe from said base and having their free ends substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart laterally, said free ends being bent so as to define oblique angles with the common axis of said base and globe, but

without crossing that axis, and a plurality of V-shaped filaments connected arallel to each other across the free ends 0 said leadingin wires, each filament consisting of a fine wire'wound, in a small helix and the planes of the VS coinciding with the inclined plane defined by the free ends of the leading-in wires, the VS nested one within the other but without touching, and the apex of the foremost V terminating substantially at the common axis of the base and globe.

9. An incandescent electric lamp bulb having therein a plurality of simultaneously illuminated filaments arranged transversely of the lamp axis at unequal distances from the base certain of said filaments being displaced from said axis in a direction perpendicular to'said filament so as to define substantially a single plane which meets said axis obliquely.

10. An incandescent electric lamp bulb having therein a pair of longitudinal leading-in wires and a plurality of filaments connecting said wires in multiple circuit, said filaments being arranged crosswise of the bulb axis and at different distances therealong and certain of the same being displaced to one side of said axis and other of the same intersecting said axis, said filaments defining and confined within a single plane which meets said axis at an oblique angle.

11. An incandescent electric lamp bulb having therein a plurality of simultaneously illuminated filaments arranged transversely of the lamp axis and at unequal distances from said axis and also from the lamp base, said filaments defining a single inclined plane.

12. An incandescent electric lamp bulb having therein a plurality of simultaneously illuminated filaments defining and confined .within a plane which intersects the lamp axis obliquely.

13. An incandescent electric lamp bulb having therein a plurality of "simultaneously illuminated filaments defining and confined within a plane which intersects the axis obliquely said filaments being con ned substantially to a region at one side of the lamp axis.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. WOOD.

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