US2811714A - Signalling lamps - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1957 s. A. cooK 2,811,714

SIGNALLING LAMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1954 Oct. 29, 1957 Filed July 16, 1954 SIGNALLING LAMPS S. A. COOK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 29, 1957 s. A. COOK SIGNALLING LAMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 16, 1954 United States Patent Q SIGNALLING LAMPS Sidney Arthur Cook, Shirley, Birmingham, England, assignor to Aldis Brothers Limited, Birmingham, England Application July 16, 1954, Serial No. 443,929

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 5, 1953 1 Claim. (Cl. 340-366) This invention relates to signaliinglarnps for military, naval, and other uses, of the kind comprising the combination of a light source, a reflector, means for interrupting the light, and a sighting device mounted on the body of the lamp.

The object of the invention is to enable the required focussing of the light source relatively to the reflector, and the adjustment of the axis of the light beam into parallel relationship with the axis of the sighting device, to be effected in a convenient manner.

The invention comprises a construction in which the light source and the reflector are individually adjustable relatively to the body of the lamp.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a signalling lamp of the kind to which the invention relates. Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a sectional side elevation, and a sectional front elevation on the line 3-3 (Figure 2), of the portion of the lamp embodying the invention. Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of one of the reflector fastenings.

Referring to the drawings, the body a of the lamp is of hollow cylindrical form and is provided with a handle b at its rear closed end. On the upper side of the body is rigidly mounted a telescope c or other sighting device. Within the body and on its axis is mounted an electric bulb d of spherical form on which is secured a collar e. The front half of the bulb is provided with an opaque coating or covering 7. This apaque coating or covering may be of reflecting material such that the light rays from the bulb filament are reflected back on to a reflector g in the body in such a way as to contribute to the luminosity of the signalling light beam. The reflector has formed in its a central hole which accommodates the bulb holder to be hereinafter described, and also a horizontally reciprocable cylindrical shutter h which is operable by a trigger i associated with the handle and is adapted to intercept the light emitted from the bulb to the reflector.

According to the invention the reflector g is mounted in an annular housing j on which is formed a spherical supporting zone k which co-operates with a complementary seating in in the body, the centre of curvature of which seating coincides as nearly as possible with the focal point of the reflector. Alternatively only one of the said coacting surfaces is made of spherical form, in which case the other surface is of conical or other shape capable of coacting with the spherical surface. The reflector housing is secured to the body by any conveniently arranged screws n which permit angular movement of the said housing relatively to its seating for enabling the axis of the reflector to be adjusted into parallel relationship with the axis of the sighting device.

In the example illustrated there are secured at equidistances apart on the inner side of the part k of the reflector housing, four shallow rectangular sheet metal sockets (Figures 3 and 4), each containing a washer p, and a nut q engageable by the screw it, the adjacent portion of the part k having formed in it a slot 7- (Figure "ice 4) of sufficient length to permit the desired range of angular movement of the reflector housing on its seating. After the housing has been adjusted so as to bring the reflector to the desired position relatively to the axis of the sighting device, it is rigidly secured by tightening the screws n.

At the centre of the body and in or behind the hole in the reflector is mounted a disc t which serves as the bulb holder. The disc is carried on the front ends of three stems u arranged parallel with each other and at equal distances apart around the axis of the body, the rear ends of the stems being secured to the rear end of the body.

The front ends of the stems (which are of reduced diameter and are screw threaded) pass through holes in the disc, and are provided with cylindrical nuts v which bear on the front face of the disc, springs w being also provided on the stems in contact with the rear side of the disc.

By actuation of the nuts the disc t can be conveniently adjusted for accurately focussing the bulb filament relatively to the reflector, either along the axis or in any direction at right angles to the axis. To enable the nuts to be secured after adjustment, screw threaded locking plugs x are inserted into their front ends into contact with the stems.

For attaching the collar e on the bulb to the disc I there are attached to a fixed hollow part 2 the inner ends of stems on which are carried springs z. These stems pass through the disc t and are provided with heads at their outer ends. The collar 2 has formed in it key-hole slots which can be engaged with the stems, for securing the collar between the heads and the disc t under the action of the springs z.

The bulb is of the pre-focus type, and after it has been placed in position, the nuts v are manipulated to bring the filament into coincidence with the focus of the reflector. After this adjustment has been made, the reflector is adjusted to bring the axis of the light beam into parallelism with the axis of the sighting device.

In the above mentioned part 2 is contained a contact stem 3 against which the complementary contact piece on the bulb can abut. The stem 3 is secured to a disc 4 which is loaded by a spring 5, and the rear end of the stem is adapted for the attachment thereto of one of a pair of wires by which electric current is supplied to the bulb. The bulb circuit is controlled by a switch (not shown) which is operable by a second trigger 6.

The trigger-operated shutter h is mounted around the bulb carrying stems u and is arranged to extend through the central hole in the reflector.

The mechanism employed for reciprocating the shutter in response to manipulation of the trigger i is already known and forms no part of the present invention. It consists essentially of an arm 8 loaded by a spring 9 and mounted on a pivot spindle 10. This arm is movable against the action of the spring by a roller 11 on the inner end of an extension 12 of the trigger i. To the arm 8 is secured a stirrup 13 which engages lugs 14 on the sides of the shutter. The range of oscillatory movement of the arm 8 is restricted by stops 15.

By this invention the required adjustment of the reflector can be effected in a very simple and convenient manner without disturbing the adjustment of the light source which has previously been carried out as a separate operation.

The invention is not, however, limited to the example above described as embodiment constructional details may be varied to suit requirements. Thus, an electric arc may be used instead of an electric bulb as the light source. .Moreover, the shutter may be dispensed with, in which case the signalling is effected by actuation of the trigger 6 which controls the current supply to the bulb.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A signalling lamp comprising in combination a hollow body part having a seat therein, a sighting device mounted on said body part, a holder for alight source adjustably mounted within said body part, a reflector arranged to permit the light source to be brought into coincidence with the focal point of said reflector by adjustment of said holder, a housing carrying said reflector and having a supporting zone which is complementary, to and cooperates with said seat for adjustably :supporting said housing and reflector within said body part, and means for interrupting the emission of light from said source, at least one of the partsformed by said supporting zone and seat being of spherical form and having its centre of curvature substantially coincident with the focal point 4 of said reflector so that, after adjustment of said holder to bring said light source into coincidence with said focal point, said reflector can be adjusted to bring its axis into parallel relationship with that of said sighting device without aflecting the relationship of said focal point with said light source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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