US2221079A

US2221079A - Illumination device

Info

Publication number: US2221079A
Application number: US270725A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Eddy
Original assignee: RCA Corp
Current assignee: RCA Corp
Priority date: 1939-04-29
Filing date: 1939-04-29
Publication date: 1940-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1957-11-12

Description

Nov. 12, 1940. w. c. EDDY ILLUMINATION DEVICE Filed April 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. EDDY ATTORNEY.

Nov. 12, 1940. w. c. E DD Y ILLUMINATION DEVICE Filed April 29, 1 959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H w m 2 w H z m m a y H M INVENTOR.

WILL/AM C. EDDY ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 12, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT] OFFICEY 2,221,0i9 ILLUMINATION DEVICE William 0. Eddy, rm Washington, at Y; ass g l 2;:

signor to Radio Corporation ofiAmerica, a corporation ofDelaware Application April 29, 1939, Serial No. 270,725

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in illumination devices and more particularly to a device for illuminating. a subject or object to be photographed or televised in a moving picture or television studio. Likewise the improvement finds substantial"application and utility I in theatrical lighting. A still further function is in connectionwith hospital operatingrooms where adequate lighting is'highly essential. In fact, this device is primarilyof a nature such as to findutility in any form of industrial, theatrical, medical or other use where dirigible light ing devices are desired. a a

In moving picture and television studios which furnish a convenient field of use to which this invention will be related herein for descriptive purposes, considerable care must be exercised in lighting the object to be photographedor televised in order that the resultant picture or image may appear natural T with all undesirable shadows or highlights eliminated. It is customary in such work-to illuminate the studio by means of a plurality of sources ofilight which are generally attached to the ceiling of the studio or to some appropriate grid work for supporting said lighting devices. Since the sources of light are best attached to the ceiling in order to aiTord the desired, illumination, and in order that the lights may be so. removed as to not obstruct the floor of the studio or the shifting of cameras, scenery, and other equipment such as sound effects or sound pick-ups thereabout, it is, often diificult to control the area illuminated and, the angle. of illumination since the light sources per se have not heretofore, been in such.

a. position or have not been so arranged as to be adequately and conveniently controlled from the floor of the studio. With the device described and disclosed herein, it is possible toattach a plurality of groups of sources of illumination to be rotated, tilted, or otherwise shifted in order 7 that they may occupy substantially anyposition within the'confinesof a hemisphere.

Accordingly, it is one purpose of the present invention. to provide a new and improved illumination devicewhichmay be attached to: the ceiling of a moving picture or television studio or to some overhead grid-work in the studio-with the device so arranged as to be capable of. ma-

nipulation; from a, remote point.

(aims-32s) 1 F K Another purpose ioi the present invention resides in the provision of a lighting device in which one or more sources of illumination are attached to a framework with theiramework so mounted as to be-rotatable about a vertical axis throughsubstantially-360 degrees Still another purpose of the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby a framework supporting a plurality "of sources of illumination may be rotated'substantially degrees' about a pivot point somewhat removed from the framework and that point of pivot sit uated inthe vertical axis of rotation.

A further purpose of thepresent invention resides in the provision of means whereby #a framework supporting a plurality of sources: of illumination may be tilted or pivoted about a point relatively adjacent the framework,tthe

framework being capable of a movement of"sub=-. stantially 180 degrees about this pivot'point. a 2

A still further purpose of the pres'e'ntinvem tion resides in'the provisionof means whereby all'of the rotational or pivotal movements may be controlled from a remote' point and the further provision bfmeans whereby such movement F25 may-be accomplished with'a minimum of time andeffort. Another purpose of the present inventionuresides in the provision "of an illumination device including one or more sources of illumination 5130 in'whichthe sources of illumination may be directed at any desiredset or subject .withinJthe confines ofthe studioandwherein the: elevation of the sources of illumination may becontrolled without disturbing. the direction of the iliuminal- -35 tion. Still another purpose of the present invention resides in the provision of an illumination def- ViCBI"iI1 which one or more sources of illumination may: be. moved about so as=to occupy subi stantially any desired position within a. hemisphere and whereby the light from the'sources of illumination may be directed at anyjdesired area in the studio from a desired-position.

' Other purposes and advantages of-the, present ,inventionwill become more apparent to tho-se skilled in the art fromareading of the following specification, "particularly when considered vice. 55

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the illumination device is provided at the top end thereof with any desired and satisfactory clamp member I0, by

5 means of which the entire device may be attached to a beam or support grid-iron l2 associated with the ceiling of the moving picture or television studio, the attachment being such as to maintain rigid connection between the top of the illumination device and such supporting which is attached to the clamp member ID in any desired manner, such as by threading, and

to this tubular member is connected a fair-leader vice are passed. Depending from the fair-leader I6 is a further tubular member or spindle H! which is terminated at its lower end with a head or enlargement as shown in Figure 3. This tubular member or spindle l8 acts as a support member for the illumination device and is stationary with respect thereto, the device being rotatable thereabout.

Positioned on the spindle I8 is a pulley 20, shown in Figure 3, and a pair of bearings 22 and 24 are provided in order that the pulley 20 may be freely rotated on the spindle l8. Attached to the pulley by means, of bolts 26 is a circular plate member 28 and an extension arm 30. The extension arm may be made in the form of a U-shaped steel bar and the arm 3!! and plate 28 are provided with openings through which the spindle l8 affords a means for counteracting the vertical forces which are present due to the weight of the illumination device. Preferably the extension member 30 is provided with a shoulder 32 in order that the pulley 20, the circular member 28 and the arm 30 cannot be moved axially with respect to the spindle I8, the. shoulder 32 cooperating with the enlarged portion 20 of the spindle.

Attached to the extension 38 is another tubular member 34, the attachment being such as to permit the tubular member 34 to be pivoted about the point of attachment in order that the tubular member 34 may be raised from a dependent position to a position substantially horizontal and parallel with the extension arm 30. This attachment is accomplished by means of a pair'of opposed pivot bolt members or set screws 35, which are best shown in Figure 4 and which are threaded into the U-shaped extension arm. At the lower end of the tubular member 34 is a fair-leader 31 throughwhich the control cables for controlling the sources of illumination may be passed. The operation of this fair-leader and the manipulation of the illumination device will be explained more completely later.

Below the fair-leader 31 is a further tubular member 38 and to the lower end of this tubular member is pivotally attached a framework 40 which supports one or more sources of illumination. Directly attached to the framework 40 are a plurality of outlet boxes 42, each of which is provided with a socket member 44 into which is inserted a source of illumination or lamp 46. The outlet boxes 42 are joined together by means of conduits 48 in order that they may be rigidly supported and in order that conductors for supplying cu rrent to the various sources of illumination 46 may be passed 'therethrough. The framework 40 is pivotally attached to the end of the tubular member 38 by means of a pin 50 and a plurality of support points are provided along the framework 40 in order that the point of pivot I6 through which the control cables for the tie-- with respect to the framework may be altered to suit the desired requirements.

The framework 40, together with the sources with respect to the tubular member 38 and may be rotated with respect thereto through an angle of substantially degrees. This pivotal movement or rotation is accom'plished bymeans of a cable 52 which is attached to the framework 40 at one or another of a plurality of points 54, the grid-work. A tubular member I4 is provided,

cable being passed through the fair-leader 31 and extending through the interior of the tubular member 34. The fair-leader 31 is provided with a plurality of rollers or small pulleys 53 in order to prevent chafing or binding of the control cable 52. At the upper end of the tubular member 34 another roller or pulley 57 is provided in order that the control cable 53 may freely .move therethrough when the sources of illumination are in an elevated position. The control cable 52'extends through the bore of the spindle l8 andzemerges from the fair-leader I6 which is provided with a pulley 58.. When the control cable 50 is released, and tension is removed therefrom, the weight of the framework and the lamps 46 carried thereby is sufiicient to cause rotation of the sources of illumination about the pin 50 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, and when the control cable 52 is pulled or tensioned the framework and sources of illumination or lamps are rotatedin a clockwise direction about the pin 50 approximately 180 degrees from its previous releasedposition.

For elevating the sources of illumination a control member 63 is provided which is passed over a pulley 62- at the end of the extension arm "30. The end of the control cable 60 is permanently attached to the fair-leader 3! by means of an attachment device 64. The control cable 60 passes through the fair-leader 31 and cooperates with pulley 86 in order to prevent chafing or binding of the control cable, the'control cable being extended. through the tubular member 34 and the spindle l8, and finally emerging from the'fairleader It: {The fair-leader I6 is also provided with a pulley'fiflin order to permit free movement of the control cable'therethrough.

It maybe seen, therefore, that when no tension is applied to the control cable EU the illumination device will hang substantially vertically from the pivot point 36, but when the cable 60 is tensioned or'pulled the'entire illumination device including the tubular'members 34 and 38 will be rotated about the pivot points 36 and the sources of illumination will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction substantially'90 degrees. In order to permit ready and easy movement or elevation of the sources of illumination, a mechanical advantagemay be derived through the use of the block and tackle arrangement including the pulley 82. Any degree or type of mechanical advantage may, of course, be used to suit the de-- sired requirements.-'

For rotating the entire assembly about a vertical axis, that is, about the spindle ill, the pul ley 23 is provided with a cable 10 which is wound about the periphery of the pulley. By pulling either end of the cable III the pulley 20 is rotated and since the extension arm 30 and the circular member 38 are rigidly attached thereto by means of the bolts 36 the entire illumination de vice is rotated about the spindle l8 on the bearings 22 and 24', The bearings are provided particularly in view of the fact that when the sources of illumination are elevated or raisedas a result of the cable BO being tensioned, considerable torque isexertedon the spindle and the bearings minimize the frictionwhich would re sult thereby. For properly directing or guiding the cable is on the pulley 20 astationary fairleader housing 12 is provided which is attached to the spindle 18 by meansof a setscrew T4,the fair-leader cap or housing being provided with a plurality of openings 16 through which-the control cable'ili is passed; As shown in Figures. 2 and 4, these openings T6 are displaced. vertically in order that the control cable 7 0 may properly cooperate with the pulley 20. In orderthatthe fair-leader casingo'r housing 12 may completely enclose the pulley 20, the circular member: 2a is provided with anannular recess'lB into which the lower edge of the housing 1 2 may extend.

It may be seen from the above explanation that when either end of'the controlcable HI is pulled or tensioned, a rotation'of the entire illumination device about the spindle I8 is accomplished, regardless of the actual position of the sources of illumination as determined by

thecontrol cables

52 and 60.

For supplying electrical current to the sources of illumination, a pair of conductors 80 are provided, these conductors being passed through a conduit 82 which is attached tothe

tubular members

34 and 38 bymeans of brackets 84; At the lower end of the conduit 82 a flexible 1oom..or similar flexible conduit 86 is provided through which the conductors 8U arepassed in. order that they may enter the outlet boxes and. conduits to. The flexible loom 86. is'used: in order that the sources of illumination may be easily, pivoted about the point 50 and the conduit 82 is so bent that the upper end thereof is relatively adjacent the support tube M in order to minimize the amount of flexing of. the conductors 80 when the 40 illumination device is rotated or manipulated. If

desired, the plurality of sources of light may be included in two or more separate electrical circuits in order that selective energization of the various lamps of the device may be exercised.

Such a feature is particularly useful during rehearsal where full illumination is not necessary.

From the above, the advantages of the present invention may be well appreciated and it may be seen that the plurality of sources of illumination 45 may be rotated substantially 360 degrees about a vertical axis. Furthermore, these sources of illumination may also be elevated or lowered by pivoting about the points 36 so as to increase or decreasethe area illuminated by the device 46.

Also, regardless of the rotational position or the elevation of the sources of illumination, the framework 4!! and the sources of illumination carried thereby may also be pivoted about a point 50 which is relatively adjacent the framework in order to alter the angle of illumination so that the area illuminated by the sources of illumination 48 may be changed. In actual moving picture or television studio work, a plurality of illumination devices such as shown and described herein are normally attached to the ceiling of the studio so that the spacing of the devices is such as to prevent any possible interference regardless of the manipulation of any individual device. Regardless of the number of such devices positioned in the studio, all of the control cables therefor may terminate at a single control board along a portion of one wall of the studio, from which point a single operator may control any one or all of the illumination devices and may also adjust the sources of illumination of each individual device so as to occupy any p sition within substantially a complete hemisphere. i

In order to-facilitate operation ofthe device and to assure proper} positioning of the devices, the

I control-cables 52', 60 and"! may be provided at thereby causing all of theillumination devices to be oriented orititledto' the. desired prescribed position.. i

The energization of the various sources of illumination or lam'psrwhich are located onv eachof the illumination devices usedin thestudio may also be controlled from the control panel at which the control cables terminate by means of electrical: switches in order that; each lamp or group of lamps may bea'sel'ectivel'y controlled and be made operative or-inop'erative in accordance with the lighting requirements.

The lamps or sources of illumination shown and described herein are preferably of the type wherein each: lamp is provided with an integral or internal-reflecting surface; although the specific lamp used is not material so far as the subject matter of this inventionis concerned. Furthermore, theplurality of lamps may be replaced by a single tubular gaseousdischarge lamp having a luminescent interior coating. Such a lamp would be so shaped and constructedas to project light from a sizeable area.

l The illumination device is particularly useful as a device for producing back lighting of subjects or objects andsince the device may be remotely controlled no attendantneed be stationed at the light source. ,Ihrough the use of the remote control and in view of the extreme flexibility of the device any moving subject may be readily followed.

Although the device disclosed herein is described and illustrated in more or less detail, it is tobe understood that various obvious alterations or modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired that any and all such modifications be considered within the purview of this invention except as limited by the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. An illumination device comprising a source of illumination, means including an extension for dependently supporting said source of illumination from a structure, means for rotating said source of illumination and the extension about a predetermined axisof rotation, means for pivoting said source of illumination about a pivot point near one end of the extension, means for further pivoting said source of illumination about a pivot point near the other end of the extension, and means for controlling the rotational and pivotal movements from a remote control point.

2 An illumination device for illuminating a field of action comprising a plurality of lamps, means for supporting said lamps from an elevated structure, means for rotating said lamps about a vertical axis, means for. rotating said lamps about a horizontal axis, means for pivoting said lamps about a pivot point relatively adjacent the point of support and spaced from the horizontal axis of rotation, means for controlling the retational and pivotal motions from a remote con-. trol point, and meansto control the rotational and pivotal motionsinstantaneously operating and remotely controlling all of said rotational movements whereby the source of light may be caused to occupy substantially any point in a hemisphere, and means for controlling the energization of said source of light.

4. An illumination device comprising a plurality of sources of illumination, means for dirigibly and dependently supporting said sources of illumination, means forrotating said sources of illumination through substantially 360 degrees about a vertical axis, means for independently rotating said sources about'a pair of spaced parallel horizontal axes to provide arcuate motions of the sources throughout arcs of substantially 180 and 90 degrees respectively, and means for remotely and selectively controlling all of said rotational movements whereby the sources of illumination may be caused to occupy, in accordance with the selected rotations, substantially any point on the surface of a hemisphere having its boundary limits described by maximum rotation in all directions.

5. An illumination device comprising a plurality of lamps, means for dependently supporting said lamps, means for rotating said lamps through substantially 360 degrees about a vertical axis, means for rotating said lamps through substantially 180 degrees about a horizontal axis, means for rotating said lamps through substantially 90 degrees about a second horizontal axis spaced from but parallel to said first horizontal .axis whereby said lamps may be caused to occupy substantially any position in a hemisphere, means for remotely controlling the energization of said lamps, and means for controlling the rotational movements of said lamps from a remote control point.

6. An illumination device comprising a plurality of lamps, means for dependently supporting said lamps, means for rotating said lamps through substantially 360 degrees about a vertical axis, means for rotating said lamps about a horizontal axis to describe thereby an arcuate motion of at least substantially 90 degrees whereby said lamps may be caused to occupy substantially any position on the surface of a hemisphere/and means for remotely controlling the rotational movements of the lamps.

'7. A lighting device comprising a lamp, means including an extension for pendently supporting said lamp in spaced relationship from an elevated structure, means for rotating said lamp about a first horizontal axis near one end of the extension, and independent means for rotating said lamp about a second horizontal axis co-planar with the first horizontal axis and near the other end of the extension.

8. A lighting device comprising a lamp, means including an extension for pendently supporting said lamp in spaced relationship from an elevated structure, means for rotating said lamp about a first horizontal axis near the end of the extension adjacent said lamp, independent means for rotating said lamp about a second horizontal axis co-planar with the first horizontal axis near the end of the extension adjacent the elevated structure, and means for remotely and selectively controlling both of said rotational movements.

WILLIAM C. EDDY.