US1777498A - Antiglare system - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1930.

A. LARQU EMIN ANTIGLARE SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 7, 1930. A. LARQUEMIN ANTIGLARE SYSTEM SSheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5,` 1928 alfalfa/7e @yf Oct; 7, 1930. A. LARQUEMIN ANTIGLARE SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 7, 1930 PATENT oFFloE ADOLPHE LARQUEMIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE ANTIGLARE SYSTEM Application` led November 5, 1928,'Seria1 No. 317,137, and in Belgium August 30, 1928.

The present invention relates to anti-glare systems for vehicle projectors.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a positioning and screening system which eliminates any possibility of glare from the vehicle projectors.

Another object is to provide means for protecting the projectors. i

Still other objects will appear in the course of the detailed description now to be given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which y Fig. 1 is a perspective of one illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig.' 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the same device; V

Fig. 3 is a diagram, in plan, of the form of device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4: illustrates a second constructive embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the projecting and screening assembly represented in the preceding gures; Y

Fig. 6 is an end oblique diagram ofthe assembly shown in Fig. 5; Y

Figs. 7 to 10 are details of the projector control.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 to l0 of the drawings, there is shown a light source @,-a parabolic reflector L, source a being positioned at the focal point of 79,- a screen Z positioned in front of the projector assembly and having a lower edge e adapted to cut olf the upper part of the light beam,-a protecting cylinder f,-a hinged doorg adapted to close the front end of f,- and al combined control for door g and source a consisting of a pair of lateral supports h1, f-a pair of shafts 1, 2, supported on 71,1 and h2,-a pair of gears jl, j2 keyed to al and 2 respectively, gear jl having a larger radius than 7`2,-a lever l@ (moving against the action of spring Z) and a contact m keyed to shaft il, contact m being i.n sulated from the latter,-a pulley 0 keyed to shaft 2f-two series of contact points al and n2 mounted on h2 and positioned so that in itstwo eXtreme positions, m short circuits pairs of contacts nl or 712,--a cable p connected to door g and passing over pulley 0,-a

flexible cable g,-and a control lever 71 adapted to move lever 7c to either of its eX- treme' positions. i

rlfhedevice shown in Fig. 4 differs from those represented in the remaining figures only in the position ofthe .projector` which is, here, mounted behind the vehicle and provided with a mirror or prism positioned to direct the light beam forwardly and under the latter.

Whether the form of projector shown in Fig. l or in the other figures :beemployeth the axisV of the light beam emanating` therefrom should have a direction (l) substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, (2) either parallel to or, preferably, slightly inclined towards, the ground and (3) as low as operation over ordinary roads permits. In addition, projector b should be placed as far back as possible.

' 'll ieprojector is either suspended from the chassis or from the rear of the vehicle and its screen cl is attached under the `vehicle as far forward as possible. In actual practice it is found that thc distance between screen (Zand mirror L should not be less twice the diameter of b and, if possible, should be placed at a distance eight times this latter diameter. The lower edge e of screen cl should extend (l) far enough laterally to cut off the laterally expanded upper portion of the light beam and `towards the ground so as to reach a limitingl plane A. (F ig. 2) below which glare is allowable and, above which, glare is not to be permitted. The position of pla-nc A may be varied with condiitons but, preferably, edge e and the beam are adjusted so that said plane rises very slightly from the horiaontal as the beam moves forward (Fig. but remains 'below C It will be noted that cylinderl f acts to cut off lateral glare from the projector. Then it is used in combination with screen CZ, the low r edge e of the latter may be raised laterally (Figs. 5 and 6), since the lateral portions of the mirror (F are cut off irom the lineof sight by element f, the amount of light projected on the road being Vthus increased.

If possible, screen (Z should be positioned slightly behind the front wneels so as to act as a n'iudguard preventing dirt from the road being projected by said wheels into t-ube y. The screen may be inclined at 450 to the road so as to project the beam cut oill down vonto the latter and provide a source ol? dillused light tending to diminish the sharpness ol the shadows produced by the direct beam.

The manner in which the assembly shown in Figs. 7 to l0 operates is as follows a circuit controlling a pair of ordinary front dimmed lights is connected to one pair of cenltact points nl or n2 and a circuit controlling projector a, 'Z2 to the other. The electrical connections are arranged so that when lever r is actuated to close door g, contact mmoves off of the pair of contact points closing the circuit to projector b and onto the pair of points closing the circuit to the dimmed lights. The simple movement of lever r in one direction therefore closes door g, extinguishes projector and lights the dimmed lights, While its movement, in the opposite direction7 opens door g, illuminates the projector and extin-y guishes the dimmed lights. Y

It is to be understood, of course, that screen CZ need not form a detached struct-ure. The various operative elements and casings normally positioned under a vehicle may be shaped to perform the function thereof.

1. In combination with a vehicle, means for projecting alight beam thereunder, a continuous opaque screen separate from, and independent, of said means rigidly positioned in the path of said light beam and forming an angle less than 90o with the axis of said beam.

2. In combination with a vehicle provided with front and rear Wheels, means ior projecting a light beam under said vehicle positioned towards the rear end of the latter. and a screen rigidly positioned in the path of said light beam and between the front and rear wheels, said screen being inclined to a horizontal plane.

3. In combination with a vehicle, a projector positioned to project a beam under the vehicle, a tube connected to the front of said projector, a. door adapted to cover the free end of said tube, and means operative to simultaneously move said door into closed position and extinguish said projector.

4. In combination with a vehicle a light projector positioned to direct a beam under ,fies

the vehicle, a tube connected to the front end of said projector, and a screen independent of said tube of greater Width than the maximum section of the latter, said screen being positioned to intercept the upper poi'- tion of the beam issuing from said tube and having a lower edge extending downward a greater distance near the axis of the light beam than at points lateral to the latter.

5. In combination with a vehicle, a light projector positioned to direct a beam under the vehicle, a tube connected to the front end of the projector and limiting the lateral spread of the projected beam, and a single continuons opaque screen independent of said tuberigidly positioned in advance of the latter and termed so as to cut oli' the upper portion ol the projected beam.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ADOLPHE LARQUEMIN.

Images