US3426189A - Apparatus for penetrating fog with a light beam - Google Patents

Apparatus for penetrating fog with a light beam Download PDF

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Publication number
US3426189A
US3426189A US655256A US3426189DA US3426189A US 3426189 A US3426189 A US 3426189A US 655256 A US655256 A US 655256A US 3426189D A US3426189D A US 3426189DA US 3426189 A US3426189 A US 3426189A
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Prior art keywords
light
shutters
fog
intensity
lamp
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Expired - Lifetime
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US655256A
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English (en)
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Marshall P Deputy
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MARSHALL P DEPUTY
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MARSHALL P DEPUTY
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/12—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of emitted light
    • F21S41/13—Ultraviolet light; Infrared light

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the field of illumination, and more particularly to fog penetrating lights for vehicles, such as automobiles and boats.
  • intermittent lights have also been proposed for fog penetration, but the maximum intensity at which such lights may be operated is also severely limited.
  • a constant light is directed at fog, the light diflusion tends to be cumulative causing a rapid expansion of the glow zone.
  • the intensity is periodically reduced so that the diffused light does not accumulate as quickly as with the constant light, and the excessive milkiness is not produced as rapidly.
  • an intermittent light does achieve greater fog penetration than does a constant light; but, similar to the filtered light, as the intensity of the intermittent light is increased, the glow zone increases and restricts the fog-penetrating function of the light.
  • apparatus comprising a light source; means for filtering the light emitted by the light source, preferably an amber-colored or blue-colored filter; a plurality of movable shutters secured together at their ends; and means for simultaneously actuating the shutters, such as an ordinary electric motor driving a cam connected to the shutters.
  • the shutters which may consist of bands or blades, are disposed intermediate the light source and the filtering means and interrupt at least a major proportion of the light emitted by the light source.
  • the speed of the shutters is dependent upon the intensity of the light, the degree of penetration desired, and the density of the fog, a heavy fog requiring the greatest speed.
  • the device When the device is to be used as a boat light, it will comprise an ordinary Searchlight as the light source, the movable shutters, and a colored filter capable of being moved into and out of the path of the light beam emitted by the light source. Because of the mobility of the filter, the boat light may function both as a searchlight and as a fog light. It is contemplated that the power source which drives the shutters will also energize a solenoid actuating the filter, so that when movement of the shutters is started, the solenoid will simultaneously actuate the filter into an While the optimum speed of the shutters will vary depending upon the degree of penetration desired and the fog conditions, it has been found that a shutter speed which causes between 12 to 42 flashes per second is preferred.
  • the shutters should preferably be operated at a speed which will cause the light to flash from about 34 to 38 times per second.
  • FIG. 5 shows another embodiment 50 of this invention, which is especially adapted for use on highway vehicles. Similar to embodiment 10, this embodiment 50 also comprises a light source 52, movable shutters 54, and a filter 56. All of the foregoing elements are sealed in a housing 58 which keeps them relatively clean and protects them from moisture and weather conditions.
  • the light source 52 is a conventional sealed beam lamp, commonly used on automobiles, trucks, and other motor vehicles.
  • the intensity of the sealed beam lamp will preferably vary between about 135,000 to 150,000 candlepower.
  • the shutters 54 are preferably bands or blades which are horizontally disposed and parallel to each other.
  • the shutters 54 are actuated in the same way that shutters 13 of embodiment are actuated, namely, by a cam 60 driven by a conventional electric motor.
  • the motor is not mounted within the housing 58, but is located remote from the unit 50.
  • the filter 56 which is preferably amber-colored pot metal glass or blue glass, is fixed, rather than mobile as the filter 14 of embodiment 10.
  • embodiment 50 functions primarily as a fog light; it does not perform the dual function of embodiment 10.
  • sealed beam lamps producing light having the intensity mentioned above, and the aforementioned filters, about 75,000 candlepower of light will be emitted by the fog light 50.
  • the shutters 54 in unit 50 are mounted horizontally, rather than vertically, because this arrangement prevents the side reflection of light which occurs when the latter arrangement is used. In a highway vehicle, such side reflection is particularly undesirable.
  • the shutters 54 are also mounted so that they close downward because this prevents upward reflected light, which is also undesirable in a highway vehicle since the drivers line of version is generally above the running lights of the vehicle.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an operating arrangement when two lights 50 are employed in a vehicle.
  • the lights 50 are connected by cable 62 to a reduction gear box 64 which in turn is attached to an electric motor 66.
  • the cable 62 which consists of an inner rotating member and an outer covering, is of the type normally used in automobile speedometers. It is connected to the end of the shaft 61 which is opposite that end thereof to which the cam 60 is attached. Cam 60 and shaft 61 are shown in FIG. 5, but the portion of the shaft 61 to which the cable 62 is attached is not shown.
  • the light should flash at a frequency of about 23 to 26 times per second. Since two lights are normally used with highway vehicles, the shutters of each light will be operated at speeds which will produce approximately 11 /243 flashes per second, since the shutters of one light will be closed when the shutters of the other are open. The combined result of the two lights operating out of phase is equivalent to the optimum frequency of 23 to 26 flashes per second for a single light. Since a lower shutter speed will be used with the vehicle light,
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of the embodiment 50 disclosed in FIG. 5.
  • the circuit includes a power source 67, an on-off switch 68, the lamps 52 and S9 and the electric motor 66.
  • the switch 68 When the switch 68 is moved to the on position, current flows from the power source and energizes the lamps and the motor.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment 70 of this invention.
  • a light source 72 such as a Searchlight
  • a filter 74 are provided.
  • Unit 70 also has shutters 76 which rotate through a 360 degree arc, and thus differ from the shutters 13 and 54 of units 10 and 50, respectively.
  • Each shutter is connected to a corresponding spur gear 78 and each spur gear is meshed with the adjacent gears.
  • Embodiment '70 is powered by an electric motor 79 which drives a spur gear 80 engaging the lowermost of the gears 78.
  • the shutters open and close twice for each full rotation thereof, and thus produce two flashes for each complete rotation.
  • the electrical circuit of embodiment 70 is similar to the one disclosed in FIG. 7 for embodiment 50, except that the ZS-candlepower lamp 59 is omitted.
  • each shutter 78 rotates in a direction opposite to the adjacent shutters, whereas in each of the embodiments 10 and 50, all of the shutters open and close in the same directions.
  • the light beam produced by unit 70 is reflected both upwardly and downwardly, unlike the light beams of embodiments 10 and 50, which are not reflected upwardly.
  • upward reflected light can interfere with the drivers ability to see the highway since his line of vision is located above the lights.
  • a boat light is often mounted atop the pilot house, above the drivers line of vision, so that the matter of upward reflected light would not be important in such applications.
  • FIGS. 10 to 15 show another embodiment of this invention-an automotive fog lamp 100.
  • This embodiment includes a housing 102, a sealed beam lamp 104 mounted therein, and a filter 106.
  • Shutters 108, 110, 112, 114 and 116 are disposed between the lamp 104 and the filter 106. While five shutters are shown, more or less may be used where desired.
  • Shutters 110, 112, and 114 are all the same length; shutters 108 and 116 are shorter.
  • the shutters are located in a housing 118 and are mounted in brackets 120 and 122, which are permanently fixed to the shutter housing 118 by means of screws or other means. Each shutter rotates about a central member 108a, 110a, 112a, 114a, and 116a (see, for example, FIGS. 12 and 15), the ends of the central members being inserted into holes provided in the brackets 120 and 122.
  • the shutters are actuated by a slide 124 that is connected to each shutter by means of pins 126 (see, particularly, FIGS. 12-15).
  • the slide is moved up and down in the shutter housing by a crank 128, consisting of a pin 130 eccentrically mounted on a disc 132, and a shaft 134.
  • the pin 130 extends through a slot 136 provided in the slide 124 (see FIG. 12).
  • the shaft of the crank 128 extends through a bushing 138 and is threadably connected to the rotating member 139 of a cable 140 of the type normally used in automobile speedometers.
  • the cable is driven by an electric motor which runs off the electrical system of the motor vehicle.
  • the slide 124 is provided with openings 142 through which the ends of the shutters are extended.
  • the openings 142 are large enough to permit movement of the slide without interference from the shutters.
  • the shutters move downwardly between a horizontal position and a position which is about 80 degrees from the horizontal.
  • the fog lamp 100 will always emit at least a small quantity of light since the shutters must be substantially vertical to prevent entirely the emission of light. More over, because the shutters close downwardly, the light emitted by the fog lamp 100 will not be reflected upwardly into the drivers line of vision.
  • crank 128 For each revolution of the crank 128 the slide will open and close the shutters once, thereby creating a single flash. Thus, to produce light flash 11% to 13 times per second, it will be necessary to rotate the crank at a speed of 11 /2 to 13 revolutions per second.
  • a single motor operates both cranks of the two lights of a motor vehicle, and the cranks rotate at the same speed.
  • fog lamp 100 Using the fog lamp 100 in a motor vehicle, light fog may be penetrated as much as 300 feet whereas a dense fog may be penetrated a distance of 200 feet. This is in sharp contrast to the fog lamps of the prior art which can only penetrate light fog up to about 100 feet, and heavy fog up to about 25 feet.
  • the light may be applicable to aircraft and other vehicles and craft than those described; the size, shape and number of the shutters may be varied; different types of light sources may be employed; other than amber-colored or blue glass may be used as a filter; and, where suitable, different means may be used to actuate the shutters and filter.
  • the light may be applicable to aircraft and other vehicles and craft than those described; the size, shape and number of the shutters may be varied; different types of light sources may be employed; other than amber-colored or blue glass may be used as a filter; and, where suitable, different means may be used to actuate the shutters and filter.
  • Apparatus for penetrating fog with a beam of light comprising a light source; means for filtering the light emitted by said source; a plurality of horizontally disposed shutters positioned between the light source and the filtering means, said shutters being adapted to rotate downward from a parallel, open position to a substantially closed position so that a major proportion of said light is oscillated between a high intensity and a low intensity and said shutters being operated at a speed fast enough to prevent excessive flickering and slow enough to prevent the creation of an excessive glow zone; means for actuating said shutters so that all of the shutters open and close at essentially the same time.
  • the means for actuating said shutters includes a movable slide connected to said shutters, which slide moves the shutters between their open and closed positions; a cam connected to said slide, the rotation of said cam causing movement of said slide; and an electric motor for powering said cam.
  • a cable is attached to said electric motor and has a rotatable inner member which is actuated by the motor, said cable being connected to said cam and rotating therewith.
  • the light source is a sealed beam lamp; the intensity of the light emitted from apparatus is approximately 75,000 candlepower; and the cam comprises a rotatable crank having an eccentrically mounted pin inserted in a central slot in said slide, the rotation of said crank causing movement of said slide.
  • crank rotates at a speed which causes the shutters to produce light flashing at approximately 23 to 26 times per second.
  • Apparatus for penetrating fog including at least two sources of light radiating in essentially the same directions, each of said light sources comprising a sealed beam lamp, meansf-or filtering the light emitted by said lamp; and a plurality of shutters disposed between the lamp and the filtering means, said shutters being adapted to rotate downward from a parallel, open position to a substantially closed position so that a major proportion of .said light is oscillated between a high intensity and a low intensity and said shutters being operated at a speed fast enough to prevent excessive flickering and slow enough to prevent the creation of an excessive glow zone; and means for actuating the shutters of each lamp so that the shutters of one lamp are open when the shutters of the other lamp are substantially closed.
  • the means for actuating the shutters is an electric motor, at least two cables each having a rotatable inner member actuated by said motor, and at least two rotating cams, each cam being connected to said shutters and to said cable inner member and rotating therewith.
  • Apparatus for penetrating fog with a beam of light comprising a light source; means for filtering the light emitted by said source, said means being movable between operative and inoperative positions; at least one shutter interrupting a major proportion of the light emitted by the light source; means for actuating said shutter to oscillate at least a major proportion of the light between a high intensity and an essentially zero intensity at a speed fast enough to prevent excessive flickering and slow enough to prevent the creation of an excessive glow zone; means for effecting movement of the filtering means and synchronizing such movement with actuation of the shutters so that when the shutters are actuated, the filtering means is moved to its opeartive position, and when the shutters are stopped, the filtering means is moved to its inoperative position.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
US655256A 1967-06-12 1967-06-12 Apparatus for penetrating fog with a light beam Expired - Lifetime US3426189A (en)

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US65525667A 1967-06-12 1967-06-12

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US (1) US3426189A (pt)
BE (1) BE710963A (pt)
DE (1) DE1622845A1 (pt)
FR (1) FR1554450A (pt)
GB (1) GB1168689A (pt)
LU (1) LU55193A1 (pt)
NL (1) NL6802184A (pt)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3555264A (en) * 1967-04-06 1971-01-12 Licentia Gmbh Searchlight apparatus
US4222094A (en) * 1978-10-30 1980-09-09 William Wolar Means including a light distribution louver for the protection of lighting fixtures
US4314320A (en) * 1978-10-30 1982-02-02 William Wolar Means including a light distribution louver for the protection of lighting fixtures
US5031080A (en) * 1990-05-24 1991-07-09 Gulton Industries, Inc. Portable cockpit light assembly
US5073847A (en) * 1990-09-06 1991-12-17 Vari-Lite, Inc. Variable color lighting instrument
US5186536A (en) * 1990-09-06 1993-02-16 Vari-Lite, Inc. Lighting instrument with movable filters and associated actuation mechanism
US5367444A (en) * 1990-09-06 1994-11-22 Vari-Lite Inc. Thermal management techniques for lighting instruments
US11885472B1 (en) * 2022-10-13 2024-01-30 Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. Lamp for vehicle

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102007010724A1 (de) * 2007-02-26 2008-08-28 Schefenacker Vision Systems Germany Gmbh Leuchte für Fahrzeuge, insbesondere für Kraftfahrzeuge

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2278142A (en) * 1940-02-20 1942-03-31 Lawrie L Witter Illumination
US2423322A (en) * 1944-08-10 1947-07-01 Jr Samuel C Hurley Vehicular light control device having polarizing elements
US2502880A (en) * 1947-07-11 1950-04-04 William P Olinger Combined fog lamp and head lamp
US3034029A (en) * 1958-07-22 1962-05-08 J G Mcalister Inc Plural motor selective control system
US3049962A (en) * 1955-10-03 1962-08-21 Baulio Ets Method and apparatus for eliminating the dazzling effect of strong sources of light, particularly for automotive vehicles
US3333094A (en) * 1964-12-14 1967-07-25 John F Steel Means for removing glare of a light beam

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2278142A (en) * 1940-02-20 1942-03-31 Lawrie L Witter Illumination
US2423322A (en) * 1944-08-10 1947-07-01 Jr Samuel C Hurley Vehicular light control device having polarizing elements
US2502880A (en) * 1947-07-11 1950-04-04 William P Olinger Combined fog lamp and head lamp
US3049962A (en) * 1955-10-03 1962-08-21 Baulio Ets Method and apparatus for eliminating the dazzling effect of strong sources of light, particularly for automotive vehicles
US3034029A (en) * 1958-07-22 1962-05-08 J G Mcalister Inc Plural motor selective control system
US3333094A (en) * 1964-12-14 1967-07-25 John F Steel Means for removing glare of a light beam

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3555264A (en) * 1967-04-06 1971-01-12 Licentia Gmbh Searchlight apparatus
US4222094A (en) * 1978-10-30 1980-09-09 William Wolar Means including a light distribution louver for the protection of lighting fixtures
US4314320A (en) * 1978-10-30 1982-02-02 William Wolar Means including a light distribution louver for the protection of lighting fixtures
US5031080A (en) * 1990-05-24 1991-07-09 Gulton Industries, Inc. Portable cockpit light assembly
WO1991018241A1 (en) * 1990-05-24 1991-11-28 Gulton Industries, Inc. Portable cockpit light assembly
US5073847A (en) * 1990-09-06 1991-12-17 Vari-Lite, Inc. Variable color lighting instrument
US5186536A (en) * 1990-09-06 1993-02-16 Vari-Lite, Inc. Lighting instrument with movable filters and associated actuation mechanism
US5367444A (en) * 1990-09-06 1994-11-22 Vari-Lite Inc. Thermal management techniques for lighting instruments
US11885472B1 (en) * 2022-10-13 2024-01-30 Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. Lamp for vehicle

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Publication number Publication date
GB1168689A (en) 1969-10-29
DE1622845A1 (de) 1970-07-30
LU55193A1 (pt) 1968-03-27
NL6802184A (pt) 1968-12-13
BE710963A (pt) 1968-07-01
FR1554450A (pt) 1969-01-17

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