US2213012A

US2213012A - Lamp

Info

Publication number: US2213012A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles C Matera
Original assignee: PHILOMENA MATERA
Current assignee: PHILOMENA MATERA
Priority date: 1938-02-23
Filing date: 1938-02-23
Publication date: 1940-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1957-08-27

Description

1940. c. c. MATERA 2,213,012

LAMP v Filed Feb. 23, 1958 Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED srAss ATNT OFFICE LAMP v Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 191,995

3 Claims.

-My invention relates more particularly to that class of lamps which are provided with means for directing the light rays in a manner to avoid glare, as in the use of headlights for vehicles, although the invention is not limited to such uses, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of a lamp of this type having means for so directing the light rays that the intensity of such rays and the objectionable glare produced thereby shall be eliminated in certain localities relatively to the source of the rays, while at the same time producing sufficient illumination for all practical purposes in other localities which the lamp is employed to light. One form of a lamp embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a lamp embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in central vertical section through the lamp.

Figure 3 is a similar view but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view on enlarged scale illustrating the disposition of the filament.

Figure 5 is a view of a fragment of the reflector illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a fragment of the rim illustrating a modified form of my invention;

Figure 7 is a similar view but showing a fragment at the inner end of the reflector.

I have learned from long experience and repeated demonstration that the objectionable glare produced by headlights having reflectors of parabolic or similar shape, and which are of the more desirable type, is principally due to the fact 1 that a large portion of the rays bounding from the reflecting surface at the sides of the light source and adjacent a horizontal plane passing through the focal axis of the reflector are proedges and uncurved crosswise.

(Cl. Mil-41.35)

zontal plane passing through the focal axes of the reflectors when the vehicles are traveling on the same plane. It is of course essential that the light rays shall not be diverted to an extent to impair the illumination by the lamp to a degree to destroy its efliciency for lighting purposes, but I have also found that the light rays produced by the most common type of reflectors and which project in lines parallel with the axes of the reflectors may be reduced to a considerable 10 extent, thereby decreasing the glare without 0bjectionably lessening the lighting efficiency of the lamp. This my improved lamp is illustrated in the drawing herein in which the numeral 5 denotes the shell of the lamp that may be of any 15 suitable shape and composed of any desired masupported by an adjusting screw 9 and upon a spring ill. The front of the shell is closed by a glass ll. 7

The reflector is mounted in the shell, being supported at the edge of the shell adjacent the glass M. This reflector comprises an upper reflecting member l2 and a lower reflecting member 13. The focal centers of these two reflectors are located in the focal axis of the lamp but on opposite sides of the source of light, or filament '1, the focal point of the reflector I2 being back of the filament at the point denoted by the numeral l4 and the focal point of the reflector I3 being located in front of the filament at the point denoted by the numeral l5.

Two secondary reflectors l6 and IT are, located on opposite sides of a horizontal plane passing through the focal axis of the lamp, these reflectors being in the form of bands with parallel These bands are inclined relatively to the horizontal plane hereinbefore referred to and at an acute angle relatively to said plane, said bands extending forwardly from a point just back of the point of illumination. The angle of the band 16 with respect to said plane is more acute than that of the band ll, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This disposition of the-two secondary reflectors is such that all rays from the source of light will either directly or eventually by reflection be projected downwardly below said focal plane and the glare heretofore caused from this area in the reflector is removed from objectionable zones and is projected into areas on the ground where its effects will be beneficial.

= My experiments have further demonstrated that the disposition of the filament affects the glare to an appreciable extent. I propose to use a bulb in which the glowing portion of the filament extends in an axial plane and to position this horizontally so that a minimum number of rays will be projected above the horizontal focal plane hereinbefore referred to, this number being so small as to be unobjectionable. The vast majority of the number of rays will be confined to an area extending not higher than said horizontal plane and the glare above such plane to an unobjectionable extent is avoided. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing in which the glowing portion [8 of the filament is shown as disposed horizontally and across the focal axis of the lamp.

That form of the device shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that hereinbefore described except that the upper reflector I9 is extended below the horizontal axial plane of the lamp to the opposite edge where it is secured. The lower refleeting member 29 is formed of a separate piece of material spaced from the extension 2i just described and as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This reflector 2G is in substantially the same position as that occupied by the reflector !3 shown in Fig. 2. Otherwise the structure shown in Fig. 3 is substantially like that shown in Fig. 2.

As hereinbefore explained a material feature of my invention consists in arranging the filament to extend horizontally, and in combination with this feature I have found that the band hereinbefore referred to and extending along the reflector on opposite sides a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the reflector may be variously constructed. This is accomplished in one instance by the angular disposition of the different portions of the band as hereinbefore referred to. This purpose may be accomplished also by rendering this band nonreflective as illustrated in Fig. 5, and with this in mind the invention may be embodied in a structure with a reflector arranged as shown in Fig. 5 or in a structure in which the reflector is composed of two sections as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.

A satisfactory manner of rendering the band 22 non-reflective is by making it black as shown in Fig. 5, but any other means may be employed for accomplishing this purpose.

In that form of reflector illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the structure is the same as that hereinbcfore described with the exception that the band between the two main reflectors is disposed at a single angle with respect to the horizontal plane hereinbefore referred to, said band extending across said horizontal plane, and it is observed that this band may be reflecting or non-reflecting as hereinbefore mentioned.

I also contemplate as within the spirit and intent of my invention that the members comprising the band at the intersection of the two main reflectors need not necessarily consist of two members but that a greater number may be employed if desired, and it is also not absolutely essential that the angle between the two members of this band be necessarily limited in the horizontal plane hereinbefore referred to.

I claim:

1. A lamp comprising an upper and a lower reflector each of substantially parabolic shape and positioned to locate their focal centers one in advance of the other, a source of light located between said focal centers in the axis of the lamp, and a reflecting band located between said rcflectors and extending across a horizontal plane passing through said axis and comprising two in .nbers angular-1y disposed on each side of and with the angle between them coincident with said horizontal plane to project the rays on op pcsite sides of said plane downwardly below said 1138.118

2. A lamp comprising an upper and a lower reflector each of substantially parabolic shape ani positioned to locate their focal centers one in dvance of the other, a source of light 10- between said focal centers in the axis of the .amp, and a reflecting band located between said reflectors with its upper edge offset at an angle from the upper reflector and extending across a horizontal plane passing through such and comprising two members angularly disposed on each side of and with the angle between them coincident with said horizonal plane to project the rays on opposite sides of said plane downwardly.

3. A lamp comprising an upper and a lower reflector each of substantially parabolic shape and positioned to locate their focal centers one in advance of the other, a source of light located between said focal centers in the axis of the lamp, and a reflecting band located between said reflectors and extending across a horizontal plane passing through said axis, said reflecting band having its upper edge offset at an angle from the upper reflector and then extending backwardly at an angle and then forwardly at an angle, said last mentioned angle being coincident with said horizontal plane to project the light rays on opposite sides of said plane downwardly.

CHARLES C. MATERA.