US2280548A - Battle light - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1942. w. F. SHEFFIELD BATTLE LIGHT Filed larch 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Swan M W/LL/HM f. SHEFFIELD.

April 21, 1942. w. F. SHEFFIELD 2,280,543

BATTLE LIGHT Filed March 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I E i I-I IIIHIIIIIIIII WILL lflM F: SHE/ F/ELD Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATTLE LIGHT William F. Sheffield, Sparrows Point, Md. Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,811

1 Claim.

This invention refers to belligerent weapons and more particularly to a lamp for incapacitating hostile persons as far as their eyesight is concerned. It has among its objects to provide a lamp capable of distributing light rays from a source within it, with sufficient intensity and effect to seriously affect the sight of normal persons coming within its range. Another object is to provide the lamp with facilities for utilizing various materials that are more eiiective than conventional lighting elements. A further object is to have the lamp capabl of performing several functions advantageous to its operations and enabling it to make it more adaptable to the objects for which it is intended. A still further object is to have the lamp suitable for use in war vessels or with ordinance and operable manually by individuals in whose possession it may be. A still further object is to have the lamp suitable for use as a signal light or fog light. A still further object is to have the lamp suitable for use with a special port-hole located below the water line of war vessels for use in locating mines.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

The lamp is in general construction similar in many respects to that of a conventional searchlight. Its purpose is not for illuminating uses but for bringing about the transmission of rays through a relatively long distance at an intensity sufllcient to paralyze the nerves of the eyes and induce blindness, at least temporarily to those Figure 5 is a sectional view of the casing on line 5-5 of Figure 2 to illustrate the feeding arrangements for the electrodes;

within the range of its light. This is in general produced by using metallic rods, such as are used for welding, to produce an arc of the intensity and eiIect considered suitable. The composition of the rods is a matter of empirical solution, but for general purposes, it has been found that the various commercial welding rods provide the necessary light and rays to create the source of intensity required. The light and rays are reflected in a conventional manner with mirrors and reflectors, but the feeding of the electrodes is done in an especial manner to permit welding rod in the form of coils of wire to be used in a continuous manner. In addition, arrangements are provided for dampening the molten material and disposing it as it drops from the rods, so it will not injure the lamp or its parts. To produce a greater effect the electrodes are provided in plural pairs arranged in line with each other to increase the intensity of the light and rays in a coordinate-manner.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the welding rod connector for joining the ends of rods for con tinuous operation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown, I represents a pro jector lamp casing having reflectors or mirrors 2 in the back portion, and its front portion 3 converged to make the stream of rays intense for the entire area as they leave the lamp. An adjustable barrel I is mounted on the front and locked in position by bolts 30 and hinged at 8 thereto, to absorb the rays and force them through same with such intensity as its lens 5 may produce. The adjustment is made through the use of a rack 6 pinion H6, and wheel I as indicated. The casing is preferably of cylindrical form and mounted on a base 25 and is provided with a vent 9 in the upper portion of its wall and an air inlet III in the floor portion. Handles II are mounted on the back for the manipulation of the lamp, and the bifurcated trunnion l2 supporting the latter enables it to be tilted or turned at any angle horizontal or vertical angle.

This trunnion is provided with a collar 25 which contacts the base 25 so the projector may be rotated in a circular direction. The upper end of the trunnion engages in a channel l3 mounted directly on the lamp body or casing and may be slid along same to change the tilting action or balance of the lamp, to suit the operator and conditions under which it is used. The trunnion and casing are held in locked position by nut 21. The wall of the casing is provided with bushings I through which welding rod II in the form of wire is propelled to suit the rate at which the same is burned during its arcing. The rods are conventional welding rod, and preferably of the so-called steel type having a steel content with 10% carbon admixture, which melts at about 7500' F. and produces I imposed rollers l6 9. very bright light with a color and high frequency spluttering, that is hard on the eyesight of a person, having to look at it directly. These rods are fed from magazines 28 through superof asbestos or other fireproof material, and are joined together by connectors 29 made of material similar to that of the rods. The rollers are mounted in joumals II on the wall of the casingl and operated through gears l8 and a handle It], or motor 20. The rate at which the rollers are operated is made to conform with the rate of the burning of the welding rods, and to keep the arc in a predetermined position in the casing, and may be inspected through peephole and protective glass 24. Under the points of arcing at which the light or rays are produced, is located a dampening funnel 2| hung to swing toits normal horizontal position during all tiltings of the casing I. The funnel is preferably made of suitable fireproof material and is lined with wet or moistened loose asbestos or the like adapted to catch the molten material from the arcs and cool same. A suitable tubing 22 is attached to the funnel and brought out through a hole 23 in the casing. The funnel catches the molten material and guides it to the tubing 22 which in turn carries it away from the lamp without injury to the latter. The use of wet asbestos has been found to be most effective and avoids the explosions that would otherwise occur if the material fell directly into a pan of water As the metal is cooled, it solidifies and drops through the tubing in small pieces.

The operation of the. lamp needs little explanation as it is simply operated by keeping the electrodes feeding properly, while it is being used to direct its rays against the faces of the victims at which it is pointed. As the rays strike the eyes of the victims it paralyzes their nerves and causes blindness which practically places them hors de combat. The continuous removal and disposal of, the molten materials of combustion prevents damage being done to the lamp by the use of these fast burning substances and enables it to be used under a great variety of ited by the scope of this application, appreciated that other forms and constructions could be used that would employ the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

by the falling melted particles from the arcing and partially wet same to promote their solidilcation, a tube attached to the funnel for carrymgtotf the said particles after striking the said ma WILLIAM F. SHEFFIELD.

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