US2321510A - Lamp - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1943. N. o. PAQUETTE LAMP Filed Nov. 29, 1341 5 4 1'7 19 Z i 19 16 I 1-7-5!- Patented June 8, 1943 UITED STATES TENT OFFICE LAMP Norman 0. Paquettc, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Application November 29, 1941, Serial No. 421,051

Claims.

This invention relates to lamps and more specifically to lamps particularly adaptable as auxiliary detachable lamps such as for use on motor vehicles or the like and which may derive their energy from the normal lighting circuit of such equipmen The invention is in general direction to the immediate objective of providing a device particularly adapted to current military demands. It will thus be seen that, due consideration having been given to cost of manufacture and conservation of material, simplicity of design is coupled with rigidity of structure. Among the general underlying objects therefore is to provide a simple, durable, rigid-assembly, the whole constituting a substantially fool-proof, weatherresistant, non-breakable, conveniently manipulatable device admirably suited for field service under extreme conditions of heat and cold, rain or drought and where a common soldier with neither technical skill nor special instruments may perform all the necessary operations for attachment and repairs or maintenance of the device.

A more specific object is to provide in a device of the character outlined improved means for connecting the conductor wire and shielding the same not only from attack by the elements but from inadvertent detachment from. the body of the lamp.

Another more specific object is to provide a device having improved means for removably securing the device to a bracket or support and further to provide such means as a part of the assembly itself and which does not require the use of special tools or instruments.

' A further specific object is to provide an improved assembly which, while readily disassembled without requiring special tools or special skill, will present when assembled a substantiallyvibrationless device, vibration points being relieved by the use of metallic tensioning devices which act to preload potential vibration points such as threaded or bayonet joint connections.

Various other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In general terms the preferred form of the invention may be said to include a lamp body from which extends a conductor and a conductor protecting sleeve or loom, each independently secured within the body and each independently sealed with respect to the body to preclude the entrance of moisture. The invention also preferably provides resilient means for maintaining said securement and sealing and further acting to avoid inadvertent movement between parts. The invention :further contemplates the provision of a protecting-cover or guard which may also serve as a cooperating means for securing the assembly to a suitable support. The guard may further act as a watertight lens mounting for the lamp and resilient means are again employed to retainthe parts against inadvertent movement.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device assembled and mounted upon a supporting bracket, and v Figure 2 is a sectional view of that form of the invention shown in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the device comprises a body having a base in of preferably octagonal exterior configuration adapted to fit a conventional size wrench. The forward end of the body l0 is re duced and externally threaded as at H, while the rear end is closed by an end [2 having a central aperture l3. Internally the body I0 is provided with a central smooth bore M which is joined by a reduced bore [5 communicating with th aperture l3. Within the large bore, Hi there is mounted and secured as by press fit a sleeve l6 provided at I? with a pairv of oppositely disposed bayonet .slots. The sleeve I6 is adapted to receive the base I8 of 'a conventional light bulb, the projections IQ of which are adapted to be received within the slots [1, rotary. motion of the bulb acting to secure it in assembled position in conventional manner.

Extending through the aperture I3 is an external conductor protecting and insulating sleeve or loom 2!! which is preferably formed of insulating and water-proofed material, its inner end 2| being flared against the inner wall of the end l2 of the body Ill at the periphery of the aperture I 3.

Loosely mounted within the loom 20 is an insulated conductor 22 which is preferably provided at its free end with a readily detachable connector 23 adapted to be received Within a suitable socket for supplying energy to the conductor from the normal lighting circuit of the vehicle. The opposite end of the conductor ex.- tends through a resilient washer 24, hereinafter discussed, and a fibre insulating disc 25. The inner terminal end of the conducto'r'is secured as by soldering to a suitable contactplate 26 mounted through a second concentric fibre disc 21. The contact plate 25 is adapted to provide contact between the conductor and the inner tip 28 of the bulb to establish an electrical circuit therefor.

Within the bore M surrounding the conductor 22 and between the discs 25 and 21 there is provided a coil spring 29; Upon insertion of the bulb 39 its tip 28 forces back the disc 21, compressing spring 29. One function of the spring 29 is normally to urge the disc 21 outwardly while the tip 28 of the bulb 35 normally presses the disc 21 inwardly against the spring 29, the action of the spring thus providing for maintenance of the bulb projections 19 within the slots ll of the sleeve i6 and securing the assembly against inadvertent displacement or vibration between parts.

Within the bore there is provided the soft rubber resilient gasket or washer 24, the end face of which bears against; the flared end 21 of the conductor casing or loom 20, while its opposite face bears against the disc 25. The normal width of the washer 24 is slightly greater than the depth of the'bore I5 so that when the parts are assembled with the bulb in place the disc 25 presses upon the outer face of the washer, forcing it tightly against the flared end 2| of the loom sealing and preventing accidental displacement of the loom and also compressing the washer around the conductor 22, thereby sealing the entire assembly from the elements. If desired the construction may avoid the spring 29 and disc in which case insertion of the bulb will directly press the disc 21 against the washer 24 to deform the same to sea-ling position.

A removable bulb guard and lens holder is provided by a casing 3| having an external octagonal surface 32 and being internally threaded as at 33 to engage the threads ll of the body It. The guard casing 31 may constitute a securing means for the lamp by insertion of the threaded portion H through a suitable aperture in a bracket, fender, housing, or like portion of a vehicle. The'body l0 constitutes a shoulder, while the casing 3| constitutes a nut for firmly attaching the lamp to its support. It may thus be seen that the device may bereadily attached and removed, the octagonal surfaces of both body and casing providing for the reception of wrenches when required. Forward of the octagonal portion 32 of the casing there is provided a reduced smooth surface 34 which is of a diameter equal to standard internal diameters of pipes or the like. Thus the forward end of the casing may readily receive thereover a pipe or the like which may be used as a light projecting and directing device for preventing stray and random beams of light from being emitted at an angle to the axis of the lamp.

' The outer end of the casing is provided with an internally extending flange 35 the inner face of which is adapted to receive thereagainst a lens assembly, here shown as comprising a rubber washer 36 and three light transmitting discs, the outer and inner discs being of a translucent preferably white material, whil the middle disc is an opaque disc provided with small pin point apertures which provide forflimiting the amount of light emitted and also provide for the projection of a plurality of independent light beams which merge into a general subdued beam of light formed of individual components, The light so projected is found to be less penetrating and thus not as visible at'a distance as is found to be the case with a single direct beam of light. It will, of course, be understood that clear or coloured lenses may be used. For instance, red may be used for tail lights and in fact in some instance it may be preferable to use no lens whatsoever. The lens assembly is retained against the inner face of the flange 35 by a simple coil spring 37 which abuts the edges of the lenses at one end and the inner edge of the body at the other. Thus when assembled the spring 31 is slightly compressed by the threaded engagement of the casing with the body. The compression of the spring not only acts to retain the lenses but also to preload the threaded engagement between the body and the casing, thus precluding vibration between the parts and inadvertent loosening of the threaded connection.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the assembly is particularly designed for use on military vehicles such as tanks, Bren gun carriers and the like. The device may be readily disassembled for purposes of repair and neither its disassembly, re assembly or attachment to a support requires the use of special tools. The provision of metallic springs ensures parts against vibration and inadvertent loosening of connection while avoiding excessive use of rubber. The octagonal faces of the body and casing are uniform and of standard dimensions so as to be fitted by the standard wrench. The outer surface of the casing at its extremity provides for the reception thereover of a standard pipe which may be used to direct th light solely against a specific object and the readily interchangeable lens assembly provides for the projection of a wide variety of types of illumination.

The formation of the lenses of unbreakable material, together with the solid preferably metallic structure of both the casing and body render the device substantially unbreakable. Thus the whole provides a device admirably suited to rough usage in widely varying climatic conditions and one readily adapted to meet a wide variety of unexpected emergencies.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not specifically limited to all of the structural features hereinbefore illustrated and it will also be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a body having an outer hexagonal surface and a for wardly extending threaded surface and an apertured end, said body further having a bore and acounter-bore, the, counter-bore communicating with said aperture, bulb securing means with: in said bore, a spring urged contactor and spring therefor mounted within said bore, a conductor extending into said bore, and engaging said contactor, a resilient washer within said countere bore and encircling said conductor, a loom encircling said conductor and extending therewith through said aperture, said loom having its terminal ends flared within said counter-bore and lying between said washer and the end walls of the counter-bore, said spring being compressible by insertion of a bulb in the bulb holder, and means whereby compression of said spring exerts pressure on the'washer to secure the loom ends and snugly embrace the conductor.

2. A lamp comprising a hollow member constituting a base open at the top and having an opening through the bottom for a current'supply wire, a deformable rubber gasket of substantial thickness normally fitting loosely in said base in an undeformed state, means in said base constituting a bulb socket, a current supply wire con nected to the bottom of the bulb socket and passing through a passage in said gasket and out of the base through said opening, the bottom of said socket being axially movable in the base, a spring interposed between said bottom and said gasket, co-operating connection means on the bulb and socket whereby when the bulb is secured in the socket the bottom of the said socket is forced towards the bottom of the base against the action of said spring, means for transferring the pressure of the spring to the whole cross section of the gasket so as to resiliently compress and deform the gasket and cause it to seal said opening and said passage and a loom for said current supply wire held in the base separately from said wire without passing through said gasket.

3. A lamp comprising a hollow member constituting a base open at the top and having a screw-threaded portion at its forward end, a member constituting a cap having a screwthreaded portion at its rear end for attachment to the base, the screw-threaded portion on one member being formed internally and the screwthreaded portion on the other member being formed externally and terminating at its inner end in a shoulder against which the end of the other member is adapted to bear, said base having an opening through the bottom for a current supply wire, a deformable rubber gasket of substantial thickness in said base, means in said base constituting a bulb socket, a current supply wire connected to the bottom of the bulb socket and passing through a passage in said gasket and out of the base through said opening, the bottom of said socket being axially movable in the base, a spring interposed between said bottom and said gasket, and co-operating connection means on the bulb and socket whereby when the bulb is secured in the socket the bottom of the said socket is forced towards the bottom of the base against the action of said spring, to resiliently compress and deform the gasket and cause it to seal said opening and said passage, and when the bulb is removed the gasket is uncompressed.

4. A lamp according to claim 3, including a spring mounted between the base and the cap and compressed by threaded engagement between said base and cap, said spring upon compression exerting a preloading pressure on the threaded connection.

5. A lamp according to claim 3, including a spring mounted between the base and the cap and compressed by threaded engagement between said base and cap, said spring upon compression exerting a preloading pressure on the threaded connection, an internally extending flange on the outer end of the cap, a gasket adapted to bear against said flange, and alens forced against said gasket by the pressure of said spring.

NORMAN 0. PAQUETTE.

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