US2132302A

US2132302A - Lamp structure

Info

Publication number: US2132302A
Application number: US72652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeremiah D Kennelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-04-03
Filing date: 1936-04-03
Publication date: 1938-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1955-10-04

Description

Oct. 4, 1938.

- J. D. KENNELLY LAMP STRUCTURE Filed April 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1938.- 2 J. D. K NNELLY LAMP STRUCTURE Filed April 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE 1Claim.

This invention relates particularly to lamp structures adapted for use on motor vehicles or the like. The invention is well adapted, for example, for use on police motor vehicles, fire trucks, or in other situations where warning signals are desirable.

In some respects, the invention constitutes an improvement upon the invention disclosed and claimed in my U. S. Patent 1,991,101, granted February 12, 1935.

The primary object is to provide a simple lamp structure of the character suggested which will operate in a highly effective manner to cast a warning beam in front,,for example, of a fire truck, or other motor-driven vehicle.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a, simple and desirable device for maintaining a circuit to the electric bulb of a lamp which is being oscillated about a vertical axis; a further feature of improvement is the provision of a mounting for the lamp bulb which is adapted to oscillate about a horizontal axis, the reflector in which the bulb is located being, in this instance, stationary; and a further feature of the invention is an improved device which provides for variation of the course of the beam of light without the necessity of physically tilting the bulb or the reflector in which the bulb is mounted to raise and lower the beam of light.

A more complete description of the features of improvement will appear in the description which follows.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a broken vertical sectional view illustrating a lamp device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a broken horizontal sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which a circuit is maintained duringoscillation-oi' the lamp-casing; Fig. -3, a broken horizontal section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1: Fig. 4, a broken horizontal section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, A designates a frame, shown as in the form of a casing, which is adapted to be mounted, for example, upon suitable supporting forks at the front end of a motor ve-. hicle; B, a lamp-casing equipped with a depending shaft B' journaled to oscillate in the front portion of the frame A; C, a lamp-bulb mounting carrying a lamp-bulb C adapted to be oscillated in the rear portion of the reflector; D, a motor mounted in the rear portion of the casing-like frame A; and D, motor-driven mechanism serving to oscillate the shaft B and also to oscillate the lamp-mounting C.

One terminal of the lamp and one terminal of the motor are grounded, preferably.

The lamp casing Bis provided at its lower portion with an opening, as indicated at i, into which projects a flange with which the upper portion of a disk-like cap plate 2 is provided. The shaft B extends through the cap-plate and is secured thereon by nuts 3. Preferably a ballbearing 4 supports the shaft B and the lamp carried thereby.

The lower end of the shaft B is equipped with an arm 5 with which is pivotally connected a link 8 provided with 9, depending pivot-member 6.

The mounting C of the lamp-bulb extends freely through an opening 1 in the rear portion of the reflector 1 which is fixedly mounted in the lamp-casing; and the mounting is connected by a transverse pivot 8 with the hollow neck portion 'l of the reflector. The mounting C is shown equipped with a clamping ring 9 which is connected by a link 10 with a vertical plunger II which works freely through the shaft B.-

The outer terminal of the lamp-bulb is grounded through the mounting C and its connections. The central terminal of the plug-portion l2 of the lamp bulb makes the usual contact with the adapter C and is electrically connected, in a known manner, with a conductor wire i3 which extends downwardly through the shaft B to a contact-carrier H which is insulatingly supported by the lower end of the shaft B. 'As illustrated in Fig. 2, the member 14 is attached to an enlargement at the lower end of the shaft B, as by means of screws l5, suitably insulated. An insulation disk 16 is interposed between the member l4 and the lower end of the shaft.

The member It carries a spring-projected contact-member il which is yieldingly held against a curved, segmental contact-member I! which is insulatingly connected with the frame A at points I1 As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, the conductor 13 preferably extends through an opening in the disk I4 and has a bared end which is electrically connected with the disk H .by means of one of the screws i 5. Thus, current may be passed continuously upward to the lamp bulb, notwithstanding the oscillation of the lamp in a horizontal plane.

The lower end of the plunger ll 1.. engaged 5 Source.

with the worm-wheel 2|.

by a bell crank lever l8 adapted to be actuated by a link IS.

The motor D has a shaft equipped with a worm 20 which serves to actuate a worm-wheel 2| journaled on a vertical axis and a worm-wheel 22 journaled on a horizontal axis. The pivotmember 6* of the link 6 is eccentrically connected That is, the member 6 serves as a crank for actuating the arm I and effecting oscillation of the shaft B.

The link 9 is connected by an eccentric pin I9 with the worm-wheel 22, and thus the bellcrank lever |8 will be oscillated by the rotation of the wheel 22.

Current is supplied to the motor and lamp through a conductor 23 which has a branch 23 leading to the motor and a branch 23* which is' electrically connected with the segmental contact through the medium of one of the bolts 24 which serve to connect the segment insulatingly to the frame A. I

The base frame, which constitutes a housing for the motor and the driving mechanism actuated by the motor, is shown provided with perforate lugs 25 by means of which the frame may be securely mounted upon forks or brackets at the front end of the motor vehicle.

Current may be supplied from any suitable In connection with Fig. 1, 26 indicates a battery having one terminal grounded at 21. Current from the battery may be passed through a switch 28 to the conductor 23. From the description given, it will be understood that as the motor operates, the worm 20 actuates the wormwheels 2| and 22 continuously, thus causing the lamp casing to oscillate about a vertical axis and causing the lamp bulb to oscillate about a horizontal axis. The efiect is to cause the beam of light thrown by the lamp to cross itself. Any desired timing of the oscillations about the vertical axis with respect to the oscillations about a horizontal axis may be employed. It is possible, by selecting a suitable gear ratio, to produce a figure 8 configuration of the beam-path, as more fully explained in the above-mentioned patent.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the general construction is the same as already described, and corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters. In this case, the oscillating lamp-bulb mounting is dispensed with. Instead, an adapter C is longitudinally adjustable, for focusing purposes, in a sleeve 29 with which the rear portion of the fixedly mounted reflector is provided. The adapter, or mounting, carries a lamp-bulb C which is provided with filaments 30 and 3|, spaced one above the other.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 provides for alternate energizing of the filaments 30 and 3|, thus alternately raising and lowering the lightemitting source. The outer terminal of the plugportion of the lamp, designated 32, is grounded through the reflector and lamp casing. The central or intermediate terminals of the filaments 30 and 3| are designated 30 and 3| respectively. They contact with members 33 and 34 which are electrically connected with conductors 33* and 34 which lead downwardly through the shaft .8 which carries the lampcasing. The shaft B is' oscillated through the medium of the worm-wheel 2| in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1-4. A wormwheel 22 replaces the worm-wheel 22 of the other construction and serves to actuate a camsegment 35 which is adapted to alternately close switches 36 andjl-which are mounted inthe casing-like frame A. The switch 36 controls the energizing of the conductor 33; and the switch 31 controls the energizing of the conductor 34. As stated, the filaments 30 and 3| are'alternately energized and heated to incandescence. Owing to the fact that the filaments are located in different horizontal planes, or at diflerent levels, the effect is to cause an up-and-down movement of the beam as the filaments are alternately energized. Also, an interruption of the light occurs, the length of interruption depending upon the length of the arc of the segment 35 which closes the switches in alternation. Preferably, the interruption is long enough to enable the interruption to be readily detected by the eye, so that distinct flashes are noticeable.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a signal lamp device of the character set forth, a motor casing, a motor therein, a lamp casing supported by said motor casing, a reflector fixedly supported in said lamp casing, said reflector being centrally apertured at its rear side, a lamp bulb mounting extending, through and pivotally supported on a horizontal axis within said aperture for vertical oscillatory movement therein, said mounting having a rearwardly extending shank portion of substantially uniform diameter, a light bulb in said mounting, a clamping ring mounted on said shank and adjustable therealong toward and away from the pivot of said mounting whereby to vary the throw of said light bulb, and actuating means, driven by said motor and connected to said clamping ring.

JEREMIAH D. KENNELLY.