US2586869A

US2586869A - Waterproof pilot lamp

Info

Publication number: US2586869A
Application number: US182386A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sculthorpe Raymond
Original assignee: US Department of Army
Current assignee: US Department of Army
Priority date: 1950-08-30
Filing date: 1950-08-30
Publication date: 1952-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1969-02-26

Description

Feb. 26, 1952 SCULTHORPE 2,586,869

WATERPROOF PILOT LAMP Filed Aug. 50, 1950 WIENEIIL L I lllll g 26 FIG. I

24 INVENTOR. A RAYMOND SCULTHORPE FIG. 2

W m Qfl a/m wg Patented Feb. 26, 1952 WATERPROOF PILOT LAMP Raymond S culthorpe, Oceanport, N. J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application August 30, 1950, Serial N 0. 182,386

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April-30, 1928; 370 0.- G. 757) 7 Claims;

The invention describedhereinmay. he manufactured' and .used by, or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment o'ftany royalty thereon.

This invention. relates to a light assembly, and more particularly to a waterproof pilot light assembly, the intensity .of light therethru being easily adjustable.

In the general commercial use of pilot light assemblies-to give a visual indication of the operativeness ofyarious types of electronic equipment; such as a pilot light located on the outside panel of a radio receiver or transmitter, no prob lem of waterproofing presents itself inasmuch as such equipment is usually located within a buildingor structure which adequately protects the equipment from the atmospheric elements.

However, if such equipment is used for military purposes, as in moving vehicles or in field use, such electronic equipment is constantly exposed to the atmosphere. Complete waterproofing of the equipment then becomes an all important consideration for the eiiicient functioning of the apparatus at all times. It is also desirable for reasons of military security for such visual indicating means to be easily. and readily variable in the light intensities projected therethru.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provideimproved-waterproofing means for a pilot light assembly.

It is a further object of this invention to pro vide a waterproof pilot light assembly with a hood having openings thru which light is projected and means for varying the intensity of the light transmitted.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings; whereinapreferred embodiment of the perfected invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings Fig. l is a side view of the pilot light assembly, onehalf being shown in elevation, and the other half being shown in cross'section.

Fig. 2 is arr-exploded view of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3a and 3b are top views showing two positions of the light intensity varying'means.

Referring to'the drawings, the assembly comprises a light tube I composed of brass, aluminum or similar material is hollowed out to provide a light passageway II, which terminates at the solid outwardly flanged end I3. The solid or closed end I3 is then provided with two small light apertures l5 disposed around the central axis of light tube ID, thus providing for the transmission of light from the threaded end H of tube I9 thru the solid end I3; Fitted over the flanged or closed end It of light tube I0 is'a knurled hood 'or cup-shaped shutter part I2 hav ing a running fit so as to be easily rotatable about the axis of tube ID; The knurled hood I2 is held in position on end I3 by slot It in the outside rim of hood I2, and retaining pin I6. Attached to one end of the open portion of hood 8? is a lens of plastic material I8 or any, other suitable transparent or translucent material. The'lens I8 is firmly held in place by the edges of hood I2.

Adjacent to the inner surface of lens I8 is a shutter which comprises a solid opaque'disc 29' disposed within the passageway provided by hood I2 and formed as an integral part therewith. Disc 25 is also provided with two light apertures 22 similar in size and arrangement tolight apertures I5. Fig-3a shows the position of disc 20 with passageways 22 completely out of visual alignment with passageways I5, thus preventing any light from being transmitted thru the pilot light assembly. To permit light to travel thru the assembly, knurled hood 2B is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction so as to bring passageways 22 into any degree of alignment with passageways I5. It is understood that apertures I5 and 22 need not be limited to W10 holes, but may be any desirednumber eccentrically spaced about the central vertical axis of tube II). Slot i4 is of sufijcient length to allow hood I2 to 1'0- tate to bring the passageways I5 and 22 either completely in or completely out of alignment with each other.

The assembly is made waterproof in the following manner: A solidtransparent plastic disc 24 is-disposedv withinlight tunnel I6 flush with solid end I3 as shown in Fig. l, the edges of disc 24' being hermetically sealed to the inner walls of tube It Flanged portion I3 is undercut circumferentially 360, and a rubber grommet orring 28 is inserted into undercut 25 making a snug fit therewith. The assembly is then threadably secured to panel board 35, and ring 28 is compressed against the outer surface of panel board 30 thus insuring a Waterproof joint between the assembly and the panel board. Any moisture or water which. may enter the assembly thru the joints where the lens I8 is attached to hood I2 or thru the running fit of hood I2 to tube It is effectively prevented from entering the tube It by the water impervious transparent plastic disc 24 which is sealed to the inner wall of tube Ill. The outer end of flange I3 is provided with groove 32 into which spring 34 is inserted to retain it in any adjusted position under conditions of 3. vibration which might cause accidental turning due to the running fit of hood l2 with tube l0. Light source 38 can be any source situated within an apparatus to which tube IE3 is to be attached.

A pilot light assembly constructed according to the invention described above has been successfully tested by submersion in six feet of water for one hour at room temperature, no measurable leakage of water thru the assembly having been detected. Although the invention has been described in its particular embodiment as a pilot light assembly, it will be readily apparent that the invention is equally applicable to any light projection system such as a flashlight. Other obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A waterproof light projection assembly comprising a body part having a first end portion shaped for insertion into a light source, said body part being hollow for the transmission of said light, a second end portion of said body part having a first opaque closure, said first closure having at least one light passageway therethru, a hood rotatably mounted on each second end portion, said hood having a translucent closure at its outer end, a second opaque closure disposed within said hood, said second opaque closure having at least one light passageway therethru, said light passageways being positioned relatively to each other so that they are brought into and out of axial alignment by the rotation of said hood, translucent means disposed between said second end portion and said hollow portion, said translucent means being sealed to the inner walls of said hollow portion to prevent the seepage of water therethru, and means disposed about said first end portion to constitute a waterproof seal between said body part and said light source.

2. In a Waterproof light projection assembly, as described in claim 1, wherein said translucent means comprises a water impervious plastic disc.

3. In a waterproof light projection assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said last mentioned means comprises a rubber gasket compressably fitted around the outer walls of said first end portion.

4. In a Waterproof pilot light, a hollow body part closed at one end thereof and open at the other end, said part being provided with an aperture through the closed end thereof and disposed eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said part, a shutter part fitted to said closed end and rotatable relatively with respect to said body part and about said axis, said shutter part being provided with an aperture substantially complementary with respect to said first-named aperture in both size and disposition, means holding said parts against movement with respect to each other in the direction along said axis while permitting said relative rotary movement, and translucent means disposed within said body part and sealed thereto over said first-named aperture.

5. In a dimmer device for a light source, a hollow body part closed at one end thereof and open at the other end, said part being provided with an aperture through the closed end thereof .4 and disposed eccentrlcally with respect to the longitudinal axis of said part, a cup-shaped shutter part fitted over said closed end and rotatable relatively with respect to said body part and about said axis, said shutter part being provided with an aperture substantially complementary with respect to said first-named aperture in both size and disposition, said shutter part in the wall structure thereof being provided with a slot, a pin fixed in said body part and extending into and having a sliding fit in said slot thereby to hold said parts against movement with respect to each other in the direction along said axis while permitting said relative rotary movement, and translucent means disposed within said body part and sealed thereto over said first-named aperture.

6. In a dimmer device for a light source, a hollow body part closed at one end thereof and open at the other end, said part being provided with an aperture through the closed end thereof and disposed eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said part, a cup-shaped shutter part fitted over said closed end and rotatable relatively with respect to said body part and about said axis, said shutter part being provided with an aperture substantially complementary with respect to said first-named aperture in both size and disposition, said shutter part in the wall structure thereof being provided with a slot, a pin fixed in said body part and extending into and having a sliding fit in said slot thereby to hold said parts against movement with respect to each other in the direction along said axis while permitting said relative rotary movement, said body part in the closed end thereof being provided with a groove, and a ring of spring-like material disposed in said groove and compressed bet veen said closed end and the adjacent face of said shutter part.

7. In a dimmer device for a light source, a hollow body part closed at one end thereof and open at the other end, said part being provided with an aperture through the closed end thereof and disposed eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said part, a cup-shaped shutter part fitted over said closed end and rotatable relatively with respect to said body part and about said axis, said shutter part being provided with an aperture substantially complementary with respect to said first-named aperture in both size and disposition, and translucent means disposed within said body part and sealed thereto over said first-named aperture.

RAYMOND SCULTHORPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,729,080 Miessner Sept. 24, 1929 1,997,471 Schwarze Apr. 9, 1935 2,371,080 Trautner Mar. 6, 1945 2,405,809 Berejkoff Aug. 13, 1946 2,474,677 Kirkland Jan. 28, 1949