US2014454A - Spotlight - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1935. I J K. RUSSELL 2,@14,454

SPOTLIGHT Filed June 26, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR Jo/wv K QUSSELL sept- 1 J. K. RUSSELL ZQMAEQ SPOTLIGHT Filed June 26, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 llg w 3/ J4 Em Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UTE STTS

TENT OFFIQE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to the type of lamps or lights which may be bodily moved for substantially universal direction of its rays.

An object of the invention is to pro ide a novel and simple mechanism whereby the lamp body may be caused to revolve about a vertical axis or a horizontal axis, either by a distant manipulative element or by force directly applied to the lamp body, and whereby either of such revolving movements may be simultaneously accomplished.

An object is to provide simple, novel, durable and inexpensive means, for mounting and moving a body simultaneously about a vertical or horizontal axis by a distant manipulative control element that be simultaneously rotated or reciprocated to effect such vertical andhorizontal movements.

Another object is to provide a simple and novel means mounting and moving a lamp body about a vertical or horizontal axis, and which means include a gear drive to effect one of said movements and whereby a reciprooatory movement of the gear drive operating means will efiect the other of said movements; and a further ob- 25 ject is to accomplish both of such movements of the lamp body about either its vertical or horizontal axis by simultaneously rotating and reciprocating such gear drive operating means.

A further object is to provide a novel and 30 simple lamp of the above character in which the lamp will, when moved to adjusted position, not be likely to he accidentally displaced by wind pressure or by operation of the device to which it is connected, such as a motor vehicle or boat 35 or other moving device.

A further object is to provide a novel mounting for securing a lamp of the above character to a supporting member, such as the cowl or top of a motor vehicle, so that the lamp may be 40 mounted to revolve about a substantially true horizontal axis notwithstanding varied degrees of inclination of the supporting member, as such cowl or top.

Simplicity, cheapness, ease of operation an assembly, durability and reduction to a minimum of chattering, are other objects and advantages.

A still further object is to provide asimple and novel operating mechanism for adjusting spotlights in horizontal and vertical planes and w i b. will be compact and compound with the leverage of the operating member without the use of levers.

A still further object is to provide a novel, simple and compact operating mechanism for adjusting spotlights in vertical and horizontal planes whereby a spotlight may be mounted on a y part of an automobile and be eiiiciently ope: d without lost motion and as effective in 60 obtaining visibility as other spotlights mounted (Cl. Zeb -61.13)

on the corner post of an automobile or other spotlights operated with solid shafts.

A still further object is to provide a simple, compact and novel mechanism for adjusting a spotlight in a horizontal plane by movement of 5 a rotary shaft whereby the rays of the spotlight will be adjusted in the same direction as the rotation of such shaft.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying 10 drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

he accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in some of the forms I at present deem preferable. 15

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, of a lamp mounting and rotating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, and secured to a supporting member, such as the cowl of an automobile and a portion of which is shown. Parts are broken away to contract the View.

Fig. 2 is a symbolic illustration of the electrical connections and wiring diagram.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3- 3, Fig. 1, showing the connection between the saddle and the turret fixture.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View taken on line 4- 5, Fig. 1, showing the planetary gear drive for effecting movement of the lamp about a horizontal axis.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of the turret fixture, as viewed from the right and looking to the left in Fig. 1, and with the variable tensioning means in place.

Fig. 6 is a View analogous to Fig. 5, but as Viewed from the left and looking to the right in Fig. l, and with the tensioning means for the reciprocating member in place.

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevational view of the reciprocating member assembly. Parts being broken away to disclose portions that would otherwise be hidden.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the saddle member showing the associated cam pins.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, on reduced scale and partly in section, showing a modified form of mounting my lamp, such as on a motor boat cowl or top of a motor vehicle a fragment of which is shown.

Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view showing the engagement of the cam pins with the cam slots as viewed on a plane indicated by lines iii-4t, Figs. 7 and 8.

In the drawings the spotlight or lamp l is supported by the support 2 from any suitable memher or fixed support such as the side wall 3 of the cowl of an automobile which cowl in many instances extends upwardly at various inclinations to a true vertical plane.

In Fig. 1, the support 2 comprises an arm 4 that extends at one end from a base fixture 5 and is provided at its other end with a flange 6 from which extends a stud bolt I that may be inserted through a recess 8 formed in wall 3 and upon which nut 9 and lock nut I!) are threaded to secure the support 2 to wall 3. A cup shaped washer I I provided with a detent I2 is received over stud bolt 7 on one side of wall 3 and a pair of circular washers I2, are also received on stud bolt I on the other or outside of wall 3. Washers I2 are provided with cooperating angular faces I3 so that by proper rotation of the washers I2 the angular faces may be brought into proper cooperating engagement with each other so that regardless of the inclination of wall 3 from the true vertical the lamp I will be mounted so that it may revolve in a horizontal plane as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The spotlight supporting and adjusting means I4 comprises a body portion or fixture I5 that is provided with a reduced threaded lower end I 6 that is in threaded engagement with the internally threaded upper end ll of base fixture 5.

A turret fixture I8 is provided with a collar l9 that is rotatably fitted into body portion I5 that is provided at its upper end with a flange 23 that rests upon the upper edge of body portion I5 that is provided with an internal ring gear 2| associated with and in fixed relation to the body portion I5. The turret fixture I8 is secured against upward withdrawal from body portion I5 by means of an assembly disc 22 which is secured to the collar I9 of the turret fixture I8 as by the plurality of screws 23 that pass through disc 22 and into the lower end of collar R9. The collar I9 is provided intermediate its ends with an annular recess 24 into which a Marcel spring or spring 25 of sinuated contour is fitted and which spring serves to tension the rotary movement of turret fixture I8 relative to body portion I5 and to also aid in preventing chattering between the two members.

Surmounting the body proper of the turret fixture I8 and formed integral therewith, is a head 26, of substantially cylindrical shape and whose axis is horizontal and at a right angle to the axis of the collar I9.

Fitted within the collar I9 is a plurality of idler gears 2'5 each mounted upon a pin or shaft 21' (see Fig. 4) and one of which gears 21 meshes with ring gear 26 so that a rotation of the gears 21 as by applied energy will effect rotation of the whole turret fixture I3 in the same direction as that given to the applied energy.

The fixture I8 is provided vertically therethrough along the axis thereof with a square bore 28 and in which a vertically sli-dable or reciprooable member 25 is non-rotat-ably mounted. The member 29 is provided at its lower end with a recess or cut-out portion 39 and into which an elongate gear M is mounted for engagement with one of the gears 23. The gear 3| is mounted upon a sleeve or bushing 32 that extends through a bore 33 that forms a bearing for said bushing and gear 3! in the lower end of member 2;! and such bushing also extends into -a bearing 34 formed in member 253 at the upper end of recess 38 and the gear 38 is secured in fixed relation to bushing 32 by means of the pin 35 that extends therethrough and secures such parts together (see Fig. l).

A flexible shaft 35 is operably connected to gear 3i as by solderin or brazing one end of shaft 36 to bushing or sleeve 32 and this connection also operably connects shaft 35 to slidable member 29.

A knob 3'! is fixed to the other end of shaft 36 and such knob 37 may be located at a point remote from the lamp such as on the instrument board (not shown) of an automobile. The knob 3'! may be fixed to shaft 36 as by the set screw 38. A housing tube 39 secured to base fixture 5 encloses the shaft 236 for such distance as may be deemed practicable or desirable. The base fixture 5 has secured thereto an insulated ring 43 to which an annular contact plate 4i is fixed and from which a Wire d2 leads through an opening d3 formed in support 2 and base fixture 5 to any suitable source of electrical energy such as to the live side of battery 44 (see Fig. 2). A switch 35 (see Fig. 2) may be interposed in wire 52 for manual control of the circuit to the light id that is mounted in the lamp I.

A brush 41 is secured to the assembly disc 22 preferably by passing some of the screws 23 therethrough when the disc 22 is secured to collar I9. The brush 4! is insulated from disc 22 by any suitable insulating means 33 and a wire 49 extends from brush 6"! through a suitable opening 58 in turret fixture l8 and an opening (not shown) in disc 22 to the electric bulb 46 in the light I where it is grounded so as to complete the circuit to the other side of battery 44.

The saddle or lamp supporting fixture 5i which has cheeks 52 provided with threaded openings 53 is slipped over the turret head with its cheeks coinciding with the cheeks of the turret head and is journalled or hinged thereto as by the journal pins 5 1 that are threaded into openings 53 and have a reduced inner portion or nose 55 that is received in bearings 55 formed in the turret head. At the upper end of the saddle, means such as a perforated cap 51 provide for the attachment of the lamp body or barrel 58; and such lamp body 58 may be securely held to the saddle and in fixed relation thereto as by means of the screws and nuts 59. At one side of the saddle 5| an extension or lug 58 is provided (see Figs. 1 and 8), and which extension may be said to extend from and into the lamp body 58 in rear of the usual reflector 6! found in lamps of this character and lug 63 extends from the fixed pivotal connection of the lamp body into said body. The extension 39 is provided with a plurality of posts or cam pins 62 that extend inwardly therefrom and in fixed relation thereto.

On one side of the head 26, I have provided an annular opening 63 that extends through the head 26 so that portions thereof open to the square bore 2d and in said opening 63, I mount a Marcel spring 64 which operates between its associated cheek 52 and the member 29 to apply a friction or tension on member 29 and cheek 52 so as to prevent accidental displacement of the light from its adjusted position and which displacement may otherwise result from road shock and the like.

On one side of head 26 opposite opening 63, I provide a recess 55 that is formed with an abutment 65 and in which recess 55 a plurality of coil compression springs 61 are mounted and each of which at one end engage abutment 55 and at each of their other ends engage a block 58 which is provided with a threaded opening 59 into which is threaded one end of screw 15 that passes through one of the cheeks 52. Oscillation of the saddle 5| about head 26 will cause compression of one of the springs 5'! depending upon the direction of rotation and such compression of the springs 61 will apply a resistance or load upon the operating means to enable the operator to have a positive control of the lamp adjustment so that the lamp may be more accurately adjusted to direct its rays to the desired spot.

The vertical reciprocating or slidable member 29 is preferably made square in cross-section so as to prevent rotation thereof relative to the turret fixture it through which it is slidably mounted. However it is not necessary that the member 29 be made square in cross-section as any suitable construction that will present a fiat surface 99 as hereinafter referred to, and which will prevent relative rotation between member 29 and fixture It will suffice. The flat surface 99 and at the upper end of member 29 is provided with cam means in the form of a plurality of arcuate grooves or cam slots ll into which the cam pins 62 project. When member 2d and saddle are in assembled position the cam pins t2 extend into the arcuate grooves or cam slots M and the cam slots being formed so as to extend downwardly at an acute angle from one side of member 29, such cam slots l i, when the slidable member 29is reciprocated will engage the cam pins or projections 62 and apply a wedge action to said projections or cam pins 52 and thereby provides a compact structure which applies a compound leverage to the lamp body to move such lamp body about its pivot in a vertical plane without requiring the use of a series of levers or gears to obtain such compound leverage. It will be seen in operation that upon reciprocation of member 29 in a fixed plane relative to the fixed pivotal connection of the lamp for adjustment in a vertical plane, that the projections or cam pins 62 will move within the grooves of the cam slots "H and transversely througha plane parallel to the fiatface 89 of slidable member 29 and it will also be seen from the foregoing that the pivotal connection for the lamp body straddles the flat face 99, or in other words the member 29 and its fiat face 99 moves in a path directly through the pivotal axes of the lamp body for vertical adjust ment of the light rays in a vertical plane.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a modified form of mounting the supporting and adjusting means upon the support and with this mounting the lamp i may be mounted upon the top of an automobile as shown at 212 or such member 12 may be a motor boat and the operating means shown in Fig. 1. may in that case be used to operate the lamp from a remote control or in the case of mounting the lamp upon an auto top, a shaft it may be used in place of the flexible shaft 3t and the knob ill may be connected directly to shaft l3 so that the same will be positioned above the auto drivers head within easy reach for adjustment of the lamp. In this construction for mounting the lamp, the base fixture 5 is extended at its lower end to form the fiange 5' in a horizontal position instead of in a vertical position as shown in Fig. l and the washers it with their annular contacting and cooperating faces l3 will satisfactorily compensate for any curvature or angularization of the top or support 2 from a true horizontal plane. In all other respects the parts shown in Fig. 9 are the same as those hereinbefore described.

In operation when it is desired to adjust the rays from the light in a horizontal plane the operator grasps the knob 3i and upon rotation thereof the flexible shaft 3% will rotate the gear 3i which rotation through the medium of the gears 27! and the internal gear M will rotate the turret fixture it about its axis and the lamp l being secured to said turret fixture it will rotate therewith in ashorizontal plane,

the saddle 5i and its associated lamp body or bar- 101 rel 53 about its journal formed by the pins 54 and 1 during such movement gear 3i will, because of its length compensate for such reciprocatory movement of member 29 relative to gears 2i. 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that the spotlight may be simultaneously adjusted with respect to the horizontal or vertical direction of its rays thereby the operator is enabled to make a compound adjustment of the directional rays of the spotlight without being required to first 201 adjust the light in one direction and then in another direction.

I have found that by constructing the reciprocating member 28 with the cam slots ii extending downwardly at an acute angle from one side of the member 29 that such angle of the slots provide for easy operation of the lamp when adjusted by the hand operating means, including the shaft it and knob 3?, but that in the event a person grasped the lamp body proper and at- 30 tempted to manually move the lamp in a vertical plane, that such manual movement of the lamp is relatively hard. This also tends to reduce to a minimum the movement of the lamp body which may be occasioned by wind pressure, road shock and the like.

I claim:

1. In a spotlight holder and moving means, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion for rotation in a horizontal direction; a lamp body pivot-ally mounted on said fixture for adjustment in a vertical direction; an internal ring gear associated with said body portion; a member slidably mounted in said fixture; gear means in said slidable member operatively connected to said internal gear so that upon operation thereof said fixture will be rotatably moved in said body portion; means connected to said lamp body and to said slidable member so that upon reciprocation of said slidable member said lamp body will be moved in a vertical direction; and means for operating said gear means and for reciprocating said slidahle member.

2. Spotlight supporting and adjusting means comprising a supporting fixture; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said supporting fixture; a lamp pivotally connected to said turret fixture;

a member slidably mounted in said turret fixture and connected to move said lamp in a vertical direction about its pivot; a shaft connected to reciprocate said slidable member; a gear connected to said shaft; and gear means associated with said supporting fixture and the gear on said shaft whereby said turret fixture may be rotated in a horizontal direction upon rotation of said shaft.

3. Spotlight supporting and adjusting means comprising a lamp pivotally mounted for adjustment in a vertical direction; a member slidably mounted relative to the pivotal connection of said lamp, said member being provided with a plurality of slots; a member connected to said lamp in fixed relation thereto and being provided with projections adapted to be received in said slots; and 7 and such movement will v.5

means for reciprocating said slidable member whereby reciprocation of said member will move said lamp and said fixed member in a vertical direction about said pivotal connection.

4. In an adjustable spotlight, supporting, means; a lamp housing pivotally mounted on said supporting means; a member extending from said lamp housing and provided with projections; and a reciprocal member having slots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamp housing about its pivot when said member is reciprocated.

5. In an adjustable spotlight, supporting means; a lamp housing pivotally mounted on said supporting means; a member extending from said lamp housing and provided with a plurality of projections; and a member slidable relative to the pivotal connection of said lamp housing and provided with a plurality of slots adapted to receive said projections and move said lamp about its pivot upon reciprocation of said slidable member, said slidable member being non-rotatable relative to said lamp housing.

6. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member extending from said lamp body; projections extending from said member; a non-rotatable reciprocal member provided with a flat surface having slots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member; and means associated with said fixture and the pivotal connection for said lamp body and said reciprocal member to apply friction to said pivotal connection and to said reciprocal membar.

7. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement to fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; a non-rotatable reciprocal member having a flat surface provided with cam slots and being mounted in said fixture; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture, a member connected to said lamp body; and means extending from said member and adapted to be received in said cam slots to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of said non-rotatable member in said fixture.

8. Spotlight support and adjusting means comprising a body portion for securement to a fixed. support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a non-rotatable member slidably mounted in said fixture and having a surface provided with cam slots; a member fixedly connected to said lamp body; projections extending from said fixed member and adapted to be received in said cam slots to move said lamp body about its pivotal connection with said fixture when said reciprocal member is reciprocated; and means connected to said turret fixture to move said fixture rotatably in said body portion.

9. In an adjustable spotlight, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; means cooperating with said body portion and said fixture to prevent longitudinal movement of said fixture relative to said body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member extending from said lamp body; projections extending from said member; a non-rotatable reciprocal member provided with a flat surface having slots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member, said reciprocal member being mounted in said fixture; means connected to said turret fixture to move said fixture rotatably in said body portion; and means associated with said fixture and the pivotal connection for said lamp body and with said reciprocal member to apply friction to said pivotal connection and to said reciprocal member; said projections being moved transversely across the face of said reciprocal member upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member.

10. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member extending from said lamp body; projections extending from said member; and a non-rotatable reciprocal member having a flat surface provided with slots adapted to receive said 2.

projections to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member.

11. In an adjustable spotlight, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body portion; means cooperating with said body portion and said fixture to prevent longitudinal movement of said fixture relative to said body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member extending from said lamp body; projections extending from said member; a non-rotatable reciprocal member having a fiat surface provided with slots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member, said reciprocal member being slidably mounted on said fixture; and means connected to said turret fixture to rotatably move said fixture in said body portion, said projections being moved transversely across the face of said reciprocal member upon reciprocation of said reciprocal member.

12. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted in said body por- 4 tion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member fixed to and extending into said lamp body; projections extending from said member, the longitudinal axis of each of said projections extending in a plane parallel to the 5 pivotal axis of said lamp body; and a reciprocal member non-rotatable relative to said lamp body and having a fiat surface provided with slots adapted to receive said projections to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of 5 said reciprocal member.

13. In a light holder and moving means, a body portion for securement to a fixed support; a turret fixture rotatably mounted on said body portion; a lamp body pivotally mounted on said fixture; a member fixed to and extending into said lamp body; means extending from said member; a reciprocal member having a fiat surface provided with cam slots and being mounted in said fixture and non-rotatable relative to said 6 lamp body, said slots being adapted to receive the means extending from said member to move said lamp body about its pivot upon reciprocation of said non-rotatable member relative to said fixture 70

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