US1536978A - Headlamp-control device - Google Patents

Description

G'. H. SOLDANI HEADLAMP GONTRQL DEVICE Filed May 3, 1924 2 Sheets--Sheei'l 2 WITNESS:

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Patented May `5, 11925.

`UNITED STATES GEORGE H. SOLDANI, OF PONGA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

HEADLAMP-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed May 3,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that'I, GEORGE H. SoLDANI, a

.citizen of the United States, residing at 'Ponca City, in the county of Iay and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Headlamp-Control Devices, of which the following is a'specication.

@This invention relates to headlamps of m'otor vehicles, and has for its object the provision of novel electromagnetically operated means for tilting the reflectors and bulbs of the lamps so that the light may be thrown downwardly onto the road way to prevent glaring into the eyes of drivers of ap reaching cars.

nother object is the provision o1' a headlamp in which the reflector is pivotally mounted so that it may be moved without changing'the position oi the lamp itseli Yet another object is the provision o1 a structure of this character which requires no manual manipulation on the part of the operator other than the closing of a switch, means being furtl'lermore provided for holding the parts in either selected position.

An additional object isi the provision of a device ofthis character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install, simple to operate, positive in action, efficient and durable in service and a general im rovement in the art. l

iiith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the forward portion of an automobile showing an elevation of my headlamp control device in position,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale through the lamp and a portion of thc operating mechanism,

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the casing containing theelectromagnets,

Figure l'is a horizontal section through the casing showing a plan view of the operating mechaism,

Figure 5 is a diagram of the electric circuit. ,l Referring more particularly to the draw ings the letter. A designates the forward portion of an automobile, B represents the radiator, C a headlamp mountedm a bracket 1924. Serial No. 710,868.

D. In carrying out my invention I provide the lamp with a reliector which is pivotally mounted within the lamp casing so as to he capable ot vertical swinging movement. At the back of this reflector is a sleeve 11 carried by a depending arm 12 for a purpose 'to be described. Slidable within the sleeve is a socket 13 which carrios the bulb '14 and whichis adjustable for iocusingthe light, I1`he adjusting means is here shown as consist-ing of an angular bracket 15 carried by the sleeve 11 and slid-l ably engaged by a bracket 16 on the socket 13. An adjusting screw 17 passes through the bracket 16 and is journaled in the ends of the bracket 15. By turning the screw one way or the 'other it is apparent that the socket 13 andconsequcntly the bulb 14 may be moved longitudinally to focus the light.

Mounted within the hood of the car and scoured on any convenient portion of the engine, timing gear, frame or anywhere else, is a casing designated broadly by the numeral 18 and including a stationary base portion 19 and a cover portion 20. Located within this casing are twoelectromagnets 21 arranged in superposed relation with Vtheir cores 22 spaced apart. Any suitable brackets 23 are provided for mounting these magnets. Journaled through the opposite sides of the casing 18 is a rock shaft 24 equipped with an arm 25 carrying an armature 26 positioned 4between and adapted to be attracted by the magnets 21. Secured upon the ends of this rock shaft are arms 27 which are connected at 28 with forwardly Y extending rods 29 which connect at 30 with the depending arms 12 of the reectoritilting means-(lhese rods 29 are formed of vsections 31 and 32 connected by a turn buckle 33 so that adjustment may be made :tor maintaining the reflectors of the lamps -in proper normal position.

The control device consists of any suitable switches connected in circuit with the magnets and with a source of current. Push buttons or a single switch arm movable over two contacts may be used, as preferred and there is no restriction in this respect. However for the sake of illustration, I have shown' a switch device including a pivoted arm 33 connected by awire 311 with one pole o1' a source of current 35 and movable selectively to engage either of a pair of contacts 36 and 37, the former of which is connected by a wire 38 with the 'upper magnet 21 andv -engagement with the contact 36, the u the lower of which isconnected by a wire 39 with the lower magnet. The coils of the two magnets are connected with the source of current by a return wire 40.

In the operation, it will be apparent that as the operator moves the switch arm 33 into PP electromagnet 2l will be energized and will swing the arm 25 upwardly, rocking the shaft 24;, swinging the arms 27 forwardly and moving the rods 29 forwardly, all of- Which results in movingvthe reflectors l0 into their uppermost or normal straight ahead position. The numeral 4l represents a spring catch device which will hold the reflectors in this position without it being necessary to maintain a constant current flow through the upper magnet. iVhen approaching another car or when passing through a town where bright lights are prohibited, the operator may avoid the blinding effect of his headlights by moving the switch arm 33 into engagement with the contact 3 for energizing the lower magnet 2l. Then this is done the arm 25 swings downwardly and the arms 27 swing rearwardly, pulling the rods 29 rearwardly and tilting the reflectors downwardly, the spring deviare 41 operating to retain the reflectors in this position unt-il they are returned to normal position by energization of the upper magnet.

v F rom the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simple, inexpensive and easily' operated device for the purpose specified which will be a great safe guard to the motoring publie and which will avoid any necessity for the employment of special lenses or other dimming devices.

Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, 'con- `the headlamps,

struction and arrangement of parts as willi not depart from the spirit of the invention: or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

I claim:

:1. In an apparatus of the character described, headlamps mounted u on a Vehicle, vertically tiltably mounted re ectors within depending arms eXtendin from thereiectors, a casing located beneatl the hood of the vehicle, a rock shaft journaled through said casing and having crank arms connected with said rstnamed arms, an arm on the rock shaft located within the casing and carrying an armature, a spring within the casing, and a pair of electromagnets mounted'within said frame in vertically spaced relation and having cores located above and bclowthe armature wherebyfupon energization of a selected electromagnet the last named arm will .be swung to rockthe Shaft and tilt the reflectors. 4

In an apparatusvof the character describe headlamps mounted upon a vehicle, vertically tiltably mounted reector's within the headlamps, depending arms extending from the reflectors, a casing located beneath the hood of the vehicle, arock shaft journaled through said casing and having crank arms connected with said first named arms, an arm on the rock shaft located within the casing and carrying an armature, a frame within the casing, and a pair of electromagnets mounted within said frame in vertically spaced relation and having their cores located above'and below the armature whereby upon energization of a selected electromagnet the last named arm will be swung to rock said shaft and tilt the reflectors and a spring connected with the frame and the last named arm for normallyv maintaining the parts in normal position.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

GEORGE IISOLDANI.

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